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More on Spike TV, Bellator and GLORY Potential
- Written by Rian Scalia
Yesterday we posted word via Dave Meltzer that K-1 on Spike was not happening and that GLORY are in talks with Spike TV. Today Dave Meltzer elaborated on the situation on mmafighting.com, this time with Bellator in the equation.
Along with the talks between Spike TV and GLORY, Bellator are apparently in the mix and looking at potentially getting involved. Ideas include cross-promotion between Bellator and GLORY which would include some kickboxers potentially fighting in MMA or some MMA fighters potentially fighting in kickboxing. If both promotions were on Spike, it would allow for fighters to stay active while still being shown on Spike TV while almost still fighting for the same promotion.
Here are some quotes of Spike TV president Kevin Kay and Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney from Dave Meltzer's article on mmafighting.com, which can be read in its entirety here. I'd definitely suggest giving this a read.
Kevin Kay: "We're probably not going to move forward and continue with K-1," said Kay. "It was a little bit of an experiment. Those guys are great. We're trying to figure out our kickboxing plans. It did okay. It was a digital play (K-1 aired on Spike.com late 2012). There are other things we can do in the kickboxing spectrum."
"It was a great night of fights (GLORY 4) and we're impressed by the organization and continuing discussions," said Kay. "There are serious discussions also as well as discussions with Bjorn (Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney) with any potential partners we get into kickboxing with. Right now we're launching Bellator. We're all about Bellator. If we do end up in the Glory business, that's going to be a little later down the line. We don't want anything to get in the way of our launch with Bellator."
Bjorn Rebney: "We've got a different view on the fight business from the other guys (UFC)," said Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney. "If we can find the right kind of guys, we'd like those (kickboxing) promoters to keep our guys busy if they'd like to fight as kickboxers. And we'd also like to bring guys in from other organizations. It just depends on the right guys. Kickboxing is wildly fun to watch and it's exciting. Not all our guys can make a great transition from MMA to kickboxing, or from kickboxing to MMA. But for those who can, we'd like to bring that knockout excitement with them to our shows."


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Ultimatetransfan wrote:If gender has nothing to do with the quality of the product, why draw attention to it at all?
That's my point. The problem is, as I have articulated already numerous times: gender is constantly drawn attention to in inappropriate ways.
Don't shoot me; I am just the messenger.

subset: commoncrawl


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From her home office window, Heather Wilson has a fine view of One Tree Hill.
So fine, in fact, that the Auckland archeologist could watch clearly when, over a decade ago, Maori activists took a chainsaw to Maungakiekie's iconic lone pine tree in an attack which led to its removal.
"I could see the whole scene unfolding, with helicopters flying overhead. So I took a roll of photos, which I will give to the museum for their records," says Heather.
A self-confessed stickler for detail, which she attributes to her archeological training, Heather had an equally analytical eye when she and husband Charles first looked through their Stoneyroyd Gardens property 17 years ago.
"It was a hell of a mess. The garden was overgrown, the front decks were falling off, most of the doors and windows were tiny and there was an ugly plastic conservatory out the back.
"But the house was extremely well built and I could immediately see the potential of the different spaces, including exactly where I would put the grand piano - even though we didn't own one at that stage."
The 1920s Californian-style bungalow was originally built in Victoria Ave, possibly by a timber merchant, but was moved to Stoneyroyd Gardens, a quiet cul-de-sac at the Meadowbank end of Remuera Rd, in the 60s.
Heather and Charles had been living in Bucklands Beach with Heather's two teenage daughters, and all four were tired of commuting so far into the city to study and work.
Stoneyroyd Gardens appealed because it is an easy bus ride into the city from the end of the street.
Also, the house, which faces north and sits at the top end of the cul-de-sac, is on a private, elevated site with views out over the Waiatarua Reserve to Karaka and across to One Tree Hill.
One look convinced Heather that this would be a perfect family home that could, in the future, accommodate the couple's grandchildren.
Their alterations over the years have included replacing pokey windows with French doors, renewing existing decks and extending the southwest-facing kitchen.
The house is anchored by a formal, tiled foyer and central stairwell that leads to the upstairs level. Living spaces on the ground level include a formal dining room that adjoins a cosy family room and kitchen - both open onto a sheltered west-facing patio that soaks up the afternoon sun.
"Whenever we have parties here, it doesn't matter how many people there are, they always congregate on the patio."
This level also includes a toilet and laundry tucked behind the central staircase, a double internal access garage and a large formal lounge that runs down the eastern side of the house.
This elegant room steps out onto a deck that leads down to an immaculate lawn, garden and spa pool area, as well as a secret lower garden full of whimsical animal statues for the grandchildren.
Beautiful original leadlight doors in the dining and living rooms have been matched with leadlight windows in these rooms, which are perfect spaces to showcase Heather's antiques.
Upstairs, four generous double bedrooms - including one that Heather uses as her home office - open off a landing large enough to double as a third living space.
The master bedroom includes an en suite, and the main bathroom and a separate toilet are also on this level.
Now that their grandchildren are getting older, the Wilsons are ready for a change, which includes renovating a house at Muriwai on 4ha of land.


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You know when you've been away too long when friends write you asking if you're still alive.
I am. Forget the rumors to the contrary.
What happened? I'd like to say it was a pirate kidnapping, but I had to give up kidnapping pirates years ago. What really happened was far more mundane. It was the new job and a case of the Flu.
I've been very busy with the new job. Things are hopping around here. I've built more computer servers in six months than in the previous 15 years. It feels good to be working for a growing business again-- a trucking/warehouse/packaging company out of Walton, KY. Good news: They first interviewed me last year in the middle of turkey season. I came out of the woods, showered, donned my monkey suit and drove to the interview from camp. They know about my hunting habit and that I won't be available for at least a week in April.
So everything was humming along. I got a new digital recorder for XMAS and was recording material for a new batch of podcasts. Then I started feeling funny at work and went home. By 6 PM I had a raging fever. I knew I was delirious, because:
a) I'd been watching FOX News Channel and the TV was off.
b) There was a raccoon on top of the set, eying me.
I might have been suckered in and grabbed the shotgun next to the bed, but raccoons are noisy critters, and this one was silent. Being a turkey hunter helps in so many ways. I called the doc and told her I had raccoon on the TV. She understood and got me lots of good meds.
I tried to go back to work after a couple days, but I kept getting ashen and folks started telling me I looked terrible. All told there was about 3 weeks there that I spent going bed to chair to bed and feeling completely drained. This all started the second week in January. I'm finally fully dug out at work. I finally stopped needing to take naps when I got home from work so I could be rested enough to go to bed. If you've had this crud, you'll know what I'm talking about.
I won't open Turkey Camp this weekend. The weather is still lousy. However, I'm starting to pack. Angus' shotgun is still at the 'smith-- his 870 ate itself at the end of last season. I can't wait until I'm sitting on the front porch listening to the gobblers.
More news: Angus, my bagpiping #3 son has decided to give up on competitive bagpiping. He was on his way to the World Championships in Glasgow this summer, and decided it was no longer fun. He wanted to play banjo, so I bought him a banjo. Within 6 hours he was picking out Dueling Banjos, and he is currently working his way through the Ralph Stanley catalog. He may end up a better banjo player than a bagpiper. It was a bit of a jolt, but hey! It saves me the trouble of trying to get a passport this year.
#1 Granddaughter, Mooselette, is up walking around on her own. She made noise on a Quaker Boy push pin call the other day. I'm hoping to have her on box calls before season starts. Momma Moose has pronounced her fit for Turkey Camp.


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Title: Downtown Kansas City
Description: Looking northeast, near 15th and Washington.
Date: 1955
Photographer: Montgomery
Item Type: Photograph, b/w
Collection: General Collection (P1), Kansas City, Missouri--Downtown--Aerial Views, Number 38
Local Subject: Downtown; Aerials; Union Station
Digital Format: JPEG
Barcode: 10004253
Repository: Missouri Valley Special Collections, Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City, Missouri
Rights: Reproduction (printing, downloading, or copying) of images from Kansas City Public Library requires permission and payment for the following uses, whether digital or print: publication; reproduction of multiple copies; personal, non-educational purposes; and advertising or commercial purposes. Please order prints or digital files and pay use fees through this website. All images must be properly credited to: "Missouri Valley Special Collections, Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City, Missouri." Images and texts may be reproduced without prior permission only for purposes of temporary, private study, scholarship, or research. Those using these images and texts assume all responsibility for questions of copyright and privacy that may arise.


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By NEMS Daily Journal
Postal service fudges on the facts of move
Again I find the truth hard to find in statements made by folks and printed in your paper. This time it is statements made by the U.S. Postal Service. First, they stated that as of the end of this week all mail will be processed in Memphis. The truth is that all mail has been processed in Memphis as of last week. I suppose that they felt that little falsehood would not matter. It follows along with other little bits of false info that has been released by them. For instance, they are now saying that they will save $400,000-plus by this change. About two years ago or maybe three, the word they gave out was $186,000 would be saved. It could be that they had to increase the amount saved because it was pointed out to them that they could have saved $96,000 in one year that was paid for 20 postal officials elsewhere to have a Christmas party.
They said one would be laid off. Let me tell you about one employee who has been a loyal employee of the postal service – born, raised and has lived his life in this area except for his time in service. After 23 years with the postal service he is being put in the position of having to move his family off to another state and lose his seniority. If a job should be open in this area he would be dropped down several pay grades which would reduce his income severely.
Where have our U.S. representatives and senators been while all this has been going on? Were they not elected to look after our interests? If they needed suggestions, I believe that among people that they are supposed to represent, they could have found many that could have helped them.
Maybe if they would do something now, it might not be too late.
Tom Hewitt
Gun facts are essential in the nationwide debate
There have been several letters and articles recently "to do something about guns." This includes bashing of the NRA (Rep. Holland, Dec. 28, 2012) and either ignorance about guns or ignoring facts. I suppose in the future I will have to address Holland as "Sir Holland" since he states: "Semi-automatic guns don't need to be available to common citizens." A semi-automatic rifle or shotgun is the choice of many hunters. I have been a proud member of the NRA over 50 years and will continue my support in annual dues and additional contributions for the rest of my life.
The focus should be twofold: Enforcement of gun laws already on the books and on individuals whose actions pose a threat to others. The evidence almost without exception has revealed evidence after the fact that could and should have been reported before the fact.
The following facts are from chapter 10 of Larry Elder's book "Ten Things You Can't Say in America."
Less than 1 percent of all guns are ever involved in crimes. Thirty-one states allow concealed weapons; nearly all require a permit and training. In all 31 states, the murder rate declined. Britain removed all registered guns a few years ago and the crime rate is increasing.
Everyone is entitled to have an opinion, but that opinion to be valid must be accurate.
The NRA is not an irresponsible organization. We do focus on the Second Amendment and the enforcement of gun laws already on the books. We abide by the law.
Ken PIckens


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Web Stories
Floudas earns chemical engineering award
Posted November 29, 2001; 01:59 p.m.
Christodoulos Floudas, professor of chemical engineering , has received the Professional Progress Award for Outstanding Progress in Chemical Engineering. The prize is given annually by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers in recognition of outstanding progress in research by a member of the profession under 45 years of age.
Floudas was honored for his seminal contributions to research on the theory, methods and applications of deterministic global optimization in chemical process system engineering, computational chemistry and molecular biology. The author of two textbooks and the co-author of more than 100 scientific papers, he has applied the techniques of deterministic global optimization to the protein folding problem, which is widely regarded as one of the major scientific challenges in computational chemistry and structural biology.
Contact: Marilyn Marks (609) 258-3601


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Set to open the Auckland Arts Festival in spectacular style with their new show The Breath of the Volcano, Groupe F return next week for their fourth visit to New Zealand. An impressive combination of street theatre, music, fireworks and other eye-catching visual effects, the French company's artistic director Christophe Berthonneau believes that while the 55-minute performance might not be their biggest to date, it will surely be their best.
"What we do is definitely on a human scale," he says. "I know people are curious to see what we're going to do when we come back and this year the show is really geared towards New Zealand because we know the country a little bit better. So we've been preparing something that is about our perception of the land. What we create is fiction and we're using Auckland and New Zealand as material for our stories."
Established in 1990, Groupe F have created dazzling extravaganzas at several well-known world landmarks, including the Stade de France for the 1998 Fifa World Cup, the London Eye and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
"In 2000, we did a show for the 100th anniversary of the Eiffel Tower," recalls Berthonneau. "On that occasion, we wrote a story that talked about historical events like the French Revolution, and we used video to tell it. It was very interesting to talk about the story of your own country but it was not the official story but more the story of the people."
Drawing on their knowledge of the country from their previous trips to Wellington in 1996 and 1998, and Auckland in 2007, The Breath of the Volcano has been designed for Kiwi sensibilities. "It's about what makes us different and what we have in common," explains Berthonneau. "As a land, New Zealand has a lot of beautiful space and it's very specifically an island because it's a long way from anywhere. When you arrive for the first time, you definitely feel something strange because it seems like another world from those of us from the Northern Hemisphere."
Inspired by the cluster of volcanoes upon which Auckland is built, the show draws on the city's unique natural environment. "When you first arrive in the country, you feel the earth differently and it's almost like a 3D sensation of where you are," says Berthonneau. "New Zealand is on the opposite side to Europe on the map, so you feel like you're on the other side of the globe and, 'What's in the middle of that? An enormous ball of fire!' The volcanoes help you remember that we live on a very small part of the planet and that to me is not funny; it is reality. We're very fragile and we're like a small line in the big story of the universe." Berthonneau has drawn inspiration from the pioneering work of the late French conservationist and scientist, Jacques Cousteau.
"You see how small the people are as they walk across this huge landscape in his films," he says. "What we're doing is really a social story, first between the Maori and the animals and then we have the Europeans arriving and having a conflict with the Maori. But the land is always there and what's funny in New Zealand is that some of the land wasn't there when the Maori first arrived. So you have to remember it's a young land beneath your feet."
Set in the grounds of the Domain, Berthonneau believes that Auckland Museum will make for a perfect backdrop. "We can use it for video projections to tell something about the little things in New Zealand such as the birds," he says. "We don't want to explain any historical facts; we just want to make the people feel emotional about their own landscape."
Although about half of the 50-strong crew hail from France, the spotlight will be firmly on 12 local actors, who will take centre stage throughout the performance. "When we arrive, we will have a workshop with them," says Berthonneau, who reveals that the soundtrack by American composer Scott Gibbons will also play a crucial role.
"The show itself is made with music because we never have any words or talking. It's more choreographic and about communicating through dance. We also have a huge video component and then, of course, we have the fireworks, which makes you feel at home in that landscape. We work in the moment between the landscape and the people."
Frictions and ironies
A quick chat with Breath of the Volcano composer, American Scott Gibbons
Q: You visited Auckland last year to record sounds for Breath of the Volcano. How was that?
My first impression was that it's such a vibrant and modern city.
Auckland is rooted very much in the present, while anticipating the future, but it also retains a strong connection with its past that is not merely superficial.
The water and character of the land and air are constant reminders of strong forces at work here, and I sensed in Aucklanders a general recognition of the transience of things, accompanied by a genuine curiosity.
Q: What is it about Auckland that interests you sonically?
I was struck by Auckland's many frictions and ironies. Kiwis love native birds to the point of adopting a nickname from one of them.
But they also love their dogs and cats, which are a serious threat to kiwi in particular.
Aucklanders embrace speed; they love fast boats and the velocity of a modern lifestyle. But they also enjoy moments at the beach or playing sports and the pleasure of simply being while time is suspended. Auckland is full of such contradictions.
The city is so fast-paced, dense and contemporary, but uninhabited Rangitoto Island is only a few minutes away. Auckland is rich and multi-faceted; it's one of the most profoundly diverse cities I could imagine.
Q: What are your favourite places?
I really enjoyed being able to spend time at Auckland War Memorial Museum as I love museums, and that's a great one.
You have a sophisticated coffee culture and I had some great espressos.
All the people I've met have been very friendly and outgoing, but I also enjoyed just listening to the birds and crunch of rocks underfoot on Rangitoto Island. The waves at Piha beach are unlike anything I'd ever seen before; that place made me delight in feeling small and insignificant.
Q: You're collaborating with Richard Nunns on the soundtrack?
At the moment, Richard is working with Paddy Free from Pitch Black to weave new elements into the music we've already developed for the show. It's been a long-distance collaboration, but Richard and Paddy have carte blanche to do as they feel and I'm very anxious to hear what will happen.
Q: As it is primarily a visual experience, does music play a significant role in Breath of the Volcano?
The music is just one element of the project and it's not even the only sound element. The fireworks are also part of the rhythm and dynamics, as is the choreography, the lights, the video and the flames. I write the music to embrace and work with these other elements.
Auckland Arts Festival
What: The Breath of the Volcano with French pyrotechnic wizards Groupe F
Where and when: Auckland Domain upper field, March 7-9, gates open 6.45pm; show starts 9pm


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In 2006, former Mexican president Felipe Calderón, in conjunction with the United States, launched a massive crackdown against drug trafficking organizations, escalating a conflict that would contribute to the deaths of tens of thousands of people in drug-related violence. While the United States has supplied funding and intelligence to increase Mexico's institutional capacity to address drug trafficking, its primary focus has been on stanching the flow of drugs into the country and domestic law enforcement. Analysts differ on how to address Mexico's festering internal strife, but a growing number agree that the U.S. war on drugs is a failure and necessitates a new approach. Enrique Peña Nieto, who succeeded Calderón as president in December 2012, has tried to reframe Mexico's image as an investment hotspot while emphasizing a strategy to quell violence against civilians. Meanwhile, gradual moves have been made at the U.S. state level toward legalization and decriminalization of marijuana, one of the primary substances involved in the drug war, raising new questions about overall policy.
Mexico's Drug Trafficking
Weak judicial and police institutions, as well as proximity to the world's largest consumer economy, have made Mexico the hub of one of the world's most sophisticated drug networks. For decades, drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) used Mexico's entrenched political system to create "a system-wide network of corruption that ensured distribution rights, market access, and even official government protection for drug traffickers in exchange for lucrative bribes," writes David Shirk, director of the Justice in Mexico project at the University of San Diego, in a 2011 CFR report. However, it was not until the late 1980s, in the wake of the successful dismantling of Colombia's drug cartels, that Mexican drug organizations rose to their current prominence. As the Colombian route was disrupted, Mexican gangs shifted from being couriers for Colombia to being wholesalers.
Today, Mexico is a major supplier of heroin to the U.S. market, and the largest foreign supplier of methamphetamine and marijuana. Mexican production of all three of these drugs has increased since 2005, as has the amount of drugs seized at the southwest border, according to the U.S. Department of Justice [PDF]. More than 90 percent of cocaine now travels through Mexico into the United States, up from 77 percent in 2003. Officials estimate that the drug trade makes up 3 to 4 percent of Mexico's $1.2 trillion annual GDP—totaling as much as $30 billion—and employs at least half a million people.
Mexico's drug cartels have splintered, forged alliances, battled one another for territory, and evolved over the decades. Some of the most prominent organizations today include the Zetas, Sinaloa Cartel, Juárez Cartel, Tijuana Cartel, Beltran Leyva, and the Knights Templar. Some of these groups, like Sinaloa, are older, more established organizations, while others, like the Knights Templar, have emerged more recently.
Mexico's War Effort Under Calderón
Corruption and weakness in Mexico's judicial and police sectors have largely allowed the drug trade to flourish. The police are easily bought, in part because of their meager earnings (about $9,000-$10,000 a year), which fall below the average salary for public-sector employees. On the website InSight Crime, Patrick Corcoran says "an underpaid officer could double or triple his salary by simply agreeing to look the other way." Mexico's judicial system—with its autocratic judges and lack of transparency—is also highly susceptible to corruption.
Drug violence was on the rise by the time Calderón took office in 2006 with a pledge to eradicate trafficking organizations, says Shirk. "Moving very aggressively to promote a law-and-order agenda was a deliberate strategy to cope with this chaotic moment," he says of the Calderón administration. Calderón attempted to counter police corruption and combat the cartels by increasing the role of the military in local security efforts, a trend that first began under President Ernesto Zedillo in 1999. Calderón dramatically intensified this effort, deploying tens of thousands of military personnel to supplement, and in many cases replace, local police forces, as well as to lead civilian law enforcement agencies. Under this strategy, the military has made several high-profile arrests and killings of cartel leaders. Through bilateral cooperation with the United States, the military under Calderón killed or captured twenty-five of the top thirty-seven most-wanted drug kingpins in Mexico.
Escalating Violence
But Calderón's military offensive did little to diminish the cartels' presence. The crackdown on cartel leaders splintered the organizations, creating between sixty and eighty new drug trafficking gangs, according to Mexican secretary of the interior Miguel Ángel Osorio Chong. Succession battles and territorial rivalries have also intensified. The violence has also branched out beyond the cartels: More than forty mayors and former mayors have been killed, along with dozens of city council members and other municipal leaders. Kidnappings and extortion are commonplace, and massacres of civilians have increased. In February 2014, the government confirmed that 26,000 people remain "disappeared."
The crackdown on cartel leaders splintered the organizations, creating between sixty and eighty new drug trafficking gangs, according to Mexican secretary of the interior Miguel Ángel Osorio Chong.
Analysts from the University of San Diego's Trans-Border Institute write that the worst cases of violence are confined to 10 percent of Mexico's municipalities, but observers remain alarmed because of their quick escalation during Calderón's term. According to government figures, total homicides spiked to around 120,000 over Calderón's six-year term—double the figure under the previous president, Vicente Fox.
But because official Mexican government statistics do not differentiate between drug-related deaths and other types of homicides, quantifying the precise toll of the drug war has been a challenge for analysts. The Trans-Border Institute's 2013 report on drug violence in Mexico estimates that during Calderón's term, organized crime–style killings made up anywhere from 30 to 60 percent of total homicides in a given year, depending on the sources used to calculate the figures.
The militarization strategy has also resulted in accusations of serious human rights abuses. Human Rights Watch reports that Mexican security officials violated human rights in the offensive against the cartels through killings, torture, and forced disappearances. "Almost none of these abuses are adequately investigated, exacerbating a climate of violence and impunity in many parts of the country," HRW's 2013 report states.
The Committee to Protect Journalists cites Mexico as the seventh-deadliest country for reporters. Traditional media outlets have come to fear reprisals for reporting drug-related crimes, which has led to an increased use of blogs and social-media outlets, although these too have been targeted by the cartels.
Peña Nieto's Drug War Strategy
Peña Nieto, upon taking office in late 2012, pledged to refocus the government's priorities on curbing kidnappings, extortion, and other forms of violence affecting Mexican civilians on a daily basis. He began his term by centralizing Mexico's security operations under the Interior Ministry, which analysts say improved coordination between intelligence and operations agencies, and calling for judicial reforms. This has resulted in more high-profile captures of drug lords, including Mexico's most wanted kingpin, Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán of the Sinaloa Cartel, in February 2014. Shirk writes that one major policy difference between Peña Nieto and Calderón is that Peña Nieto has focused on shifting the government's rhetoric on the drug war: "Whereas the Calderón administration was obsessed with security, President Peña Nieto has been obsessed with not being obsessed with security. An aggressive press campaign has tried to make Mexico the new darling of international investors, as the BRIC countries have begun to lose their luster."
"Whereas the Calderón administration was obsessed with security, President Peña Nieto has been obsessed with not being obsessed with security." —David Shirk, University of San Diego
But even while statistics show that the overall homicide rate has dropped during Peña Nieto's first year, InSight Crime notes that extortion and kidnapping have risen, reflecting "increasing diversification of criminal activities in the country."
Rise of the Autodefensas
As drug-related violence and criminal activity have continued in many regions, vigilantes known as autodefensas, or self-defense groups, began to emerge near the end of Calderón's term. Made up largely of farmers in rural areas, the militias have attempted to fight drug traffickers and restore order to towns, filling in where local police have failed. These groups gained momentum and have become a formidable force against the cartels in states like Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Michoacán.
But the autodefensas have presented a dilemma for Mexican officials: While vigilante groups are illegal and undermine state security forces, they have provided an effective short-term means of combating the cartels where police have been unsuccessful. Moreover, concerns have arisen over whether some of these groups are tied to organized crime or whether they may turn on the people they say they are protecting. "The critics are right that the ultimate solution to Mexico's struggle against organized crime lies in the modernization of its security sector," write Patricio Asfura-Heim and Ralph H. Espach in Foreign Affairs. "But in the near term, the Mexican government may not have the ability or the will to effect dramatic institutional changes, such as creating more police forces. Until it does, policymakers cannot overlook the immediate need to keep the country's communities safe."
U.S.-Mexico Cooperation
Security cooperation between the United States and Mexico expanded significantly with the Mérida Initiative, launched in 2007, which designated nearly $1.4 billion in U.S. funds for Mexico, Central America, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. The bulk of the money went to Mexico, with a mandate to "break the power of organized crime, strengthen the U.S. southern border, improve Mexican institutional capacity, and reduce the demand for drugs," according to CFR's Shannon O'Neil [PDF]. In March 2010, this partnership was renewed with Beyond Mérida, which placed a larger emphasis on addressing the socioeconomic factors underneath the violence.
Over the past few years, the United States has sent unarmed drones to collect intelligence on traffickers, and has also sent CIA operatives and retired military personnel to a Mexican military base, while training Mexican federal police agents to assist in wiretaps, interrogations, and running informants. The United States has also ramped up security on its own side of the border, spending approximately $3 billion annually on patrolling the border. More than twenty thousand border patrol agents have been deployed, double the number from a decade earlier. U.S.-Mexico cooperation has also been effective in targeting drug kingpins: In a 2013 Congressional testimony, O'Neil said that many of the Mexican government's high-profile arrests or killings of top-level drug lords "resulted from bilateral intelligence and operational cooperation."
However, O'Neil notes, the United States has not made substantial progress combating some of the domestic issues factoring into Mexico's drug war. U.S. drug consumption and demand remain high, and firearms continue to be trafficked into Mexico from the United States. The arms component has been high-profile in recent years due to a controversial U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) gun-trafficking sting known as "Fast and Furious." In 2009, two thousand U.S. weapons were sold to people known to be involved with the drug cartels to track down cartel leaders, but some 1,400 weapons were lost, many of which later turned up at crime scenes, including at the site of a shooting of a U.S. border-patrol agent in December 2010.
Policy Options
Decriminalizing the use and possession of drugs—particularly marijuana—is one of the most argued-for policy options. In 2009, a commission of Latin America experts, including three former presidents from the region, concluded that the drug war required a paradigm shift [PDF] to focus on decriminalization and health services. A 2011 report by the Global Commission on Drug Policy [PDF] advocated treatment services instead of arresting users, noting successful decriminalization programs in Portugal and Australia that did not lead to increased drug use in either country.
In November 2012, two U.S. states passed measures to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, signaling growing popular support for decriminalization. Uruguay became the first Latin American country to legalize marijuana use in 2013. Peña Nieto, however, has opposed such measures, calling marijuana a "gateway drug."
While acknowledging that decriminalization would result in fewer U.S. incarcerations, drug policy expert Mark Kleiman questions this strategy in Foreign Affairs, arguing that it would put more drugs into the hands of users and increase the size of Mexico's export market. Instead, he advocates focusing U.S. enforcement efforts on the most violent dealers and dealing organizations while simultaneously working to reduce the drug demand of criminally active heavy users. Frequent drug testing and swift but mild probation and parole for these users has seen remarkable success in programs like Hawaii's HOPE program [PDF], which has reduced both drug use and days incarcerated.
A major piece of the U.S. and Mexican strategy against cartels has been to target so-called "high-value" individuals or low-level, highly visible "foot soldiers." But Vanda Felbab-Brown of the Brookings Institution advocates aggressively targeting the middle layer, which is integral to the operational capacity of cartels and not as easily replaceable. Their ouster also does not result in the same number of people violently vying for leadership roles. She and other experts support a more hierarchical approach to targeting traffickers, prioritizing those who are most violent rather than "lashing out in an indiscriminate manner whenever any intelligence comes in."
Aimee Rawlins contributed to this report.
Additional Resources
A Congressional Research Service [PDF] report details the sources and scope of violence in Mexico's drug war.
A report from the University of San Diego's Trans-Border Institute [PDF] details the challenges of calculating the toll of Mexico's drug violence, and analyzes shifting patterns in the country's organized crime.
A Wilson Center [PDF] report compiles various policy proposals on how Mexico should combat the drug trade.
Patricio Asfura-Heim and Ralph H. Espach write about the rise of Mexico's self-defense forces in Foreign Affairs.
CFR's Shannon O'Neil discusses the United States' bilateral security relationship with Mexico in this June 2013 testimony before the Senate subcommittee on Western Hemisphere and global narcotics affairs.
More on this topic from CFR
The Rise of Mexico's Self-Defense Forces
Authors: Patricio Afura-Heim, and Ralph Espach
Is it part of the U.S. anti-drug policy to sell weapons to Mexico to combat drug cartels?
Expert: Jeanne Hull
What can the United States do to help weaken the grip of drug cartels in Mexico?
Expert: Shannon K. O'Neil, Nelson and David Rockefeller Senior Fellow for Latin America Studies and Director of the Civil Society, Markets, and Democracy Program


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#2 Oregon Looks to Put A Scare into USC
Posted on 27 Oct 2010 by Rob Parness.
Some would say that being snubbed from the top national seed by the BCS has the #2 ranked Oregon Ducks irritated. Those people do not know the Oregon Ducks, or college football in general for that matter. There is no difference between being ranked #1 and being ranked #2, other than the glaring fact that no team ranked #1 can seem to stay that way for more than 6 days. People seem to forget tha...


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Shigellosis is a gastrointestinal disease caused by a group of bacteria called Shigella. Illness often occurs 1 to 2 days after exposure to Shigella, and lasts 5 to 7 days. This disease can be quite severe and lead to hospitalization, especially in young children and the elderly. Some people with shigellosis have very few or no symptoms, but can still pass Shigella to others. The diagnosis is usually made when a laboratory finds Shigella in the stool of an infected person. The stool of an infected person contains Shigella while they are sick, and for more than a week afterwards. Shigella is spread when the stool of a sick person passes into the mouth of another person. Spread of the illness most often occurs due to person-to-person contact, especially within families and childcare centers due to inadequate hand washing and poor hygienic habits. Sometimes, Shigella can contaminate food and cause illness among those who eat the tainted item. Food items that have been sources of outbreaks have included parsley, cilantro, lettuce, raw oysters, and even a commercially prepared bean dip. Shigellosis can also occur after drinking or swimming in contaminated water. Outbreaks have been reported among men who have sex with men, and among people living in crowded conditions with poor hygiene, such as jails and refugee camps.
To prevent shigellosis:
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Florence Hoff
STOUGHTON--Florence Hoff, age 87 passed away on Friday, February 22, 2013 at Agrace HospiceCare Center in Fitchburg. She was born June 10, 1925 in the Town of Sumpter, the daughter of Christian and Anna (Baumgartner) Huber. Florence married Charles Hoff on July 3, 1954. Florence worked at Boreva Sportswear and Wickus Grocery in Baraboo before moving to Stoughton in 1956. She worked at Piggly Wiggly in Madison, then as head cashier at Piggly Wiggly in Stoughton and later the Eagle Store. Florence enjoyed dancing, sewing, cooking and spending time with her grandchildren.
Florence is survived by her husband, daughter Betty (Lenny Gilbert) Brietzman, Stoughton; son Eldred (Charmaine) Schrofer, Batavia, IL; four grandchildren, Dale (Pam Sandmire) Seffens, Dan Seffens, Deb (David) Blaney, Carrie (Brandon) Duck; six great-grandchildren, Troy (Kilea Kerns) Luchsinger, Megan and Connor Blaney, Grace, Elle, and Haley Duck; three great-great grandchildren, Breleigh, Kennedi and Morgan Luchsinger; sister, Erma Klotz of Baraboo, and extended family. Florence was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Nora Haskins, Marie Gardner and Gertrude Huber.
A special thank you to Azura Memory Care and Agrace HospiceCare for their wonderful care.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at Cress Funeral Home, 206 W. Prospect Ave, Stoughton with Pastor Katya Ouchakof officiating. A visitation will be held Monday from 4 until 7 p.m. at Cress Funeral Home and again on Tuesday, one hour prior to service. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery, Stoughton followed by a luncheon at the Stoughton American Legion Post 59, 803 N. Page Street.


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"Us rich insurance agents are Rollin in chedda." I know several "insurance agents", and they don't seem to be hurting financially. Hunt and fish whenever they want. Drive the nicest trucks, have top line boats and guns. Must be something to it. LOL
Your a real Richard Cranium dood. Either a Troll or LIV, which is it? What's YOUR NAME so we can look up stats on EE?
Do you even have a dog? Cats & pot plants?
I do know what you were saying with your clever little play on words though. And don't call me "dood".:cool:
At 50 and female I will not ever need maternaty or newborn coverage. With no children under whatever the age was I don't need kids preventive DENTAL , yup dental is required. The only other thing our policy didn't cover was expanded mental health crap that again we will never use. Yet our policy must include this.
Maternaty has always been a rider you could purchase if you wanted.
We LOSE our healthy rating. The left will not say that, what they will say is that the 400lb obese person who caused 90 % of their health issues by being a fat disgusting pig will not pay more.
Think about it like this.
You are a safe driver.
You have never had a ticket
You have mever been at fault in an accident.
As such you get a really good rate on auto insurance.
Now KING BUMFACE come along and says, gee that who got a dui , crunched someone elses car, etc shouldn't be charged more that not right.
So now DUI CRASH king gets insurance even though nobody would insure him or if they would he gets a big rate cut but YOU the SAFE driver has to pay double. Bet you would not stand for that.
"We LOSE our healthy rating. The left will not say that, what they will say is that the 400lb obese person who caused 90 % of their health issues by being a fat disgusting pig will not pay more." I have a thyroid condition that causes my weight to be high. Not 400 lbs though. You stereotype overweight people. Maybe someone should call you a mean, hateful, B$%^&, because you despise anybody that doesn't fit your standard of living. You seem to have a lot of anger toward your fellow man. Have you been this way all of your life? Maybe you need to see someone for your anger issues. That would be included in your insurance for the mental health part you were complaining bout. Sounds to me like you do need to use it, even though you don't think so. First sign of someone having a problem is them saying that they don't have a problem. You do have issues whether you admit it or not.


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Redirected from Burglary
this wiki
Burglar is a side mission in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. The mission is available at the start of the game, although it is first introduced to the player during the mission Home Invasion.
The mission can be activated whenever the player enters a black Boxville between the hours of 20:00 and 6:00. The mission requires the player to quietly search houses for anything worth stealing, such as: TVs, stereos, radios, video game consoles, VCRs, CJD 500s and microwaves. In addition, on the floor in living rooms and bedrooms the player may also find money ($20-$70), knife baseball bats, pistols, Silenced Pistols and shotguns (but only the first time he enters a home; once he is out and back in the additional items will no longer appear).
Accessible Houses
Not all the houses in a certain area can be stolen from, and sometimes some houses can either be accessible or not. Only those with a yellow arrow in front of the door can be entered and looted.
Los Santos
Accessible homes in Los Santos could be found in:
- East Los Santos
- El Corona
- Ganton
- Glen Park
- Idlewood
- Jefferson
- Las Colinas
- Marina
- Market
- Mulholland
- Mulholland Intersection
- Playa del Seville
- Richman
- Temple
- Willowfield
San Fierro
Homes in San Fierro are accessible in:
- Calton Heights
- Chinatown
- Downtown
- Financial
- Hashbury
- Juniper Hill
- Juniper Hollow
- Ocean Flats
- Paradiso
- Santa Flora
Las Venturas
Las Venturas homes can be accessed in:
Once inside a house, the player must find an item and take it back to the van. The player must also be quiet, as making too much noise will wake the house's occupants, and they will call the police, giving the player ten seconds to escape the house before they do so. On some occasions, the inhabitants will already be awake upon entering the home, and sometimes it will be a whole house full of gang members.
When it becomes morning, specifically after 06:00, if the player still has items in the truck, the player must unload all of the items stolen at a nearby garage marked on the map.
Boxville Locations
The Black Boxville can be found parked in each of the 3 cities:
- Across the street from the gym in Ganton, Los Santos
- Behind the building across from the fire station in Doherty, San Fierro
- Behind the building closest to the southeast freeway exit in Pilgrim, Las Venturas.
Lockup Locations
Bringing the goods to the lockup before 06:00 is unnecessary. If CJ is inside the truck by 6, he will receive five in-game hours to head to the lockup. There is one lockup in every city.
- In Playa del Seville, Los Santos where Ryder and CJ take the stolen goods to.
- At the abandoned Harry Plums Wholesale Fruit building in Doherty, where the Boxville also spawns.
- Next to the Las Venturas Boxville spawning location.
The money earned from burglary depends on the amount of goods being picked up (TV, stereo, game consoles, etc.). It's calculated with the following formula: number of items2 x 20 = money.
The burglary mission is not required for 100% completion, but getting a total of $10,000 (not during one session) from the mission will give the player infinite sprint, as well as an additional $3,000.
Upon entering a house, the noise meter appears. It is similar to other meters in the game that gradually fill while performing a certain action. There are ways you can walk throughout the house that will not make the meter fill up completely. You can crouch and then slowly walk. Crouching reduces noise while being able to move quickly. Alternatively, you can walk very slowly, or walk with a heavy weapon that prevents running. Bumping into the interior or opening a door inside the house also fills up the noise meter.
One of the easiest methods is obtaining a Silenced 9mm and shooting the occupants of the house in the head, thus eliminating the noise meter. Shooting sleeping occupants can be difficult, as they automatically rise and the player has barely seconds to aim straight at the head and kill the occupant before the police are notified. However, if CJ kills the occupant and leaves just before the police arrive, when he returns inside, (assuming there is only one occupant) the noise meter will be gone. It is also possible to kill the occupants with the help of a Flamethrower, but CJ must aim at them and fire and be cautious that it may harmful to the player. You can also eliminate the noise meter by accidentally filling up the meter and alerting the occupants of your presence, though this is not recommended.
Another method is to sneak to an item, pick it up, walk to the living room, and just run to the door. Although this will alert the occupants and the 10 second countdown will appear, you should have time to run out of the house. Once you do, put the item in the Boxville and go back into the house. The occupant(s) will be asleep again, giving you the ability to repeat your actions and take everything in the house.
Before 20:00 head to a place filled with residential houses like Prickle Pine. At 20:00, start the mission and quickly look for a house to rob. You cannot choose a house before the game starts because not all houses are accessible and are randomly selected to open. This way, one can possibly have more time in robbing, but still has to watch out for the countdown timer. You can also park the Boxville with the back facing the entrance to the house, saving you the time used to run all the way to the back of the vehicle, wherever you parked it.
If you are on the PC, a very useful background tool to use is TimeSync 1.81, which turns an in-game minute (which normally lasts a second) into a real-life minute. This gives the player plenty of time to rob as many items as s/he pleases, and therefore maximizing the reward.
Some walkthroughs and the BradyGames Official Strategy Guide list earning over $10,000 or more from the Burglar mission as required for 100% completion, although it is not.
It appears that the closer to 20:00 the player enters the house, the greater the chance will be to encounter the occupants while they are awake. A dangerous situation can also present itself in Los Santos, in which a room full of enemy gang members, even allied gang members, can be encountered. Gang members with weapons will shoot at the player and police will still be notified.
Homes and Residents
If you steal in Grove Street territory and are caught by fellow GSF members, they will still shoot you if armed. Pedestrians who have guns (A topless black male DJ in a red hat and pants, a black car-jacket wearing blue, and an older rich Hispanic man wearing purple) will also attempt to shoot you, with the Hispanic man being the most dangerous as he is armed with a shotgun. Robbing in enemy territory (including the Triads) may have a threat that they could shoot you. Aiming at sleeping pedestrians with a gun will cause them to wake up. If you shoot them in the head quickly enough, they will not sound the alarm and alert other residents in the house. If you shoot them in somewhere unfatal and a second shot it required to kill, the police will be alerted. Shooting all the residents in the head will remove the Noise Meter.
Homes in Los Santos have the poorest value. Residential homes in San Fierro are moderate, but very far from the lockup, as buildings near the lockup are more commercial. Las Venturas has the most to offer, especially Prickle Pine.
The best place to go in Prickle Pine is the streets along Millie Perkins's home, as many of them are more likely to be accessible. They are all adjacent to each other, so distance is not a problem. The interiors of all homes have two stories of fancy rooms with expensive objects and sometimes money and pistols lying around. There are at least two residents inside in each house, usually sleeping, but in some occasions, there is one sitting in the living room.
To maximize the time, Carl must be in Prickle Pine with the Boxville already parked in front of the first house before the time starts. It usually takes two hours in-game time to drive to Prickle Pine, so by 15 or 16:00, Carl needs to be in the Boxville. To quickly get to Prickle Pine, head north using the Pilgrim Entrance to the Freeway. Go off-road after passing the vehicle overpass to Spinybed, and continue until you reach Prickle Pine. Because there is no fence, entering Prickle Pine is easy, as there is an empty lot next to the Prickle Pine vehicle overpass. Wait for the 20:00 time at the side of the road. When the game starts, look for the nearest house. Once the player starts, he has to take note of the timer. By the few seconds until six, CJ has to be in the truck for the next part to start. The player has five in-game hours to drive back to the lockup. They can simply retrace the steps in the freeway, and then make their way out. If the player can maximize their time as well as be lucky enough to steal very expensive objects, they can reach the $10,000 requirement in just one rob.
Another great place to go is Ocean Flats in San Fierro. Although it is a slight bit further from the location of the lockup, there are more accessible houses here and features spacious interiors, giving the player more items to rob. Playa del Seville is also recommended, as there is a fork-in-the-road near the lockup that features smaller, easy-to-rob houses.
- There is a bug in the PC version that sometimes prevents an item from being marked as "stolen". This normally happens when CJ enters a house, grabs an item and places it in the Boxville, goes to rob another house, then returns to the earlier house he had robbed. Therefore, every time the player enters the house's interior, the item will be there and can be stolen an unlimited amount of times, eliminating the need to rob another house, thus saving time.
- Similar to the above bug, on the PC version there is a rare chance that when the player enters a house, gang members will spawn in place of the usual civilians, killing these gang members and exiting and re-entering the house may leave only one gang member left, they will constantly respawn every time you kill them and re-enter the house, and all items in the house will be marked "unstolen," allowing the player to rob the house an unlimited amount of times. This can lead to extraordinary amounts of money, getting well above 10,000 in a single run.¹
- Also, on the PC version there is a rare bug that when CJ enters a house to rob, the mission will have already ended before the player can do anything, regardless of the time.
- On the Mobile version, because the game is assigned to pickup nearby items automatically it may cause the player to get uncontrolled when the player is near an item but is blocked by an obstacle. As the game will attempt to take the item but is blocking access. If you quit the burglar mission, you will still be stuck, and if you exit the game and then tap resume, the game may crash, meaning you must reload a save file.
- The only way to fix it is wait until the time limit ends, the player will then spawn outside.
- On the Mobile version, if CJ kills a occupant in a room that has an item in it with a non-silenced weapon then exits and re-enters the house before the 10 second countdown ends, one item in that house can be stolen unlimited times leading to massive rewards and also saving time.


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By Gene Phelps/NEMS Daily Journal
JACKSON – It didn't take long for Bay High to flex its roundball muscle in Monday's MHSAA Class 4A state tournament semifinals game against North Pontotoc.
The No. 1-ranked Lady Tigers – powered by Christa Reed's 28 points – jumped out to a 16-0 lead and never looked back as they defeated the Lady Vikings 74-31 at the Mississippi Coliseum.
"They're the real deal," North Pontotoc coach Shane Montgomery said. "They may be the best team I've coached against in 30 years."
The loss ended North Pontotoc's first trip to the Big House in 22 years. The Lady Vikings (25-8) were the No. 2 seed from the North.
Bay (35-0) advanced to Friday's 7 p.m. championship game against defending state champion Pontotoc.
Bay High's Reed, a 5-foot-11 guard, had coaches from Mississippi State, Southern Miss, Kansas, Kansas State, McNeese State, Southern Illinois and Tulane watching her.
She connected on 12-of-19 from the field, including 3-of-6 3 pointers.
"I knew if (Reed) played like she did, it was going to be tough," Montgomery said.
Brittany Seale ended North Pontotoc's scoring drought when she connected on a 3-pointer with 1 minute, 52 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
The Lady Vikings trailed 33-12 at halftime and 56-26 after three quarters.
North Pontotoc's 6-3 post player Chelsea Mabry scored 11 points and had 10 rebounds, but it wasn't easy in the paint.
"It's just something you have to deal with," she said.
'A bad night'
The Lady Vikings' leading scorer, guard Andrea Lewis, had a rare off night. She scored eight points on 3-of-18 from the field.
"I tried to put it in the back of my mind," she said of her 0-for-7 first half. "Everybody has a bad night."
Bottom line, Bay High had too much firepower on the court. Three other players scored in double figures – Breanna Smith 18, Terrica Williams 10 and Jamaya Galloway 10.
"They don't have any weak links," Montgomery said. "They have big bodies and they're very athletic."


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Residential Recovery
Clean And Sober Recovery is a private residential alcohol and drug treatment center located in Orangevale, California, a suburb of Sacramento.
We provide treatment for adults 18 and over, males and females. Counseling for parents, spouses, siblings, and other family members involved in the lives of our residents is also included and encouraged. We have been extremely successful in helping alcoholics and drug addicts suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction that include Methamphetamine, Speed, Crank, Cocaine, Narcotic Opiates such as Heroin and Methadone, Narcotic Painkillers such as Oxycontin and Vicodin, Sedative Benzodiazepines, that include Valium, Xanax, Klonopin, and "Club Drugs" such as LSD, Ecstasy, and GHB.
Our treatment philosophy is based on the fact that addiction is a progressive chronic medical disease that affects the
Clean And Sober Recovery has always been committed to the belief that recovery happens in a dignified and respectful setting where a person feels safe and can share in fellowship of others and doesn't feel institutionalized.
We want patients and families to feel that our facility is a place where they can turn down the noise of the outside world for a while and focus on their own issues and needs. We have tried to create an environment of healing that reflect our belief in treating people with dignity and respect.


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- "National Park Hohe Tauern", in Osttirol Austria at 2273m height (Dorfertal), 360° by SAMUEL DAVID SINCLAIR
360° Panorama from "National Park Hohe Tauern", in Osttirol, Austria at 2273m height. The photographs were made on Wednesday, September 22, 2011 2:48 PM. The "National Park Hohe Tauern" is the largest nature reserve of the Alps. A wild, primeval landscape and a landscape cultivated by mountain farmers. These...
The Lammeralm ski arena is one of the most attractive, well-groomed ski resorts in the Waldheimat Mürztal region. Here, a family-friendly ski and snowboarding pass over 8.0 km of snowy ski-runs catering to all abilities awaits you, including 1 double chairlift, 3 drag lifts, 1 beginner's lift with children's facil...
The Lobau is a Vienna floodplain on the northern side of the Danube and partly in Großenzersdorf, Lower Austria. It has been part of the Danube-Auen National Park since 1996 and has been a protected area since 1978. It is used as a recreational area and is known as a site of nudism. There is also an oil harbour, and t...
- 130122 Santa Ynez view from Bradbury Dam vista road to Lake Cachuma Santa Barbara County by tiga tatton
August 22, 2011, Isla Vista, UCSB west campus bluff trail field


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Collecting, buying, selling, identifying, and caring for paintings, drawings,and watercolors (19th and early 20th century American and European). No prints, contemporary art, or works executed after 1940.
35 years as a fine art dealer, including 3 years as a gallery director. Also was art expert for Leslie Hindman's Auctioneers, and for Dunning's Auction.
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Friday, Feb. 1, UMKC officially launched Digital Sandbox KC, a proof-of-concept and mentoring center for high-tech start-ups.
Maria Meyers, the Director of the Innovation Center at UMKC described the sandbox to a packed house at Union Station's Extreme Screen Theatre, "The digital sandbox will be a place where some of our communities best minds in science technology and business will come to try new ideas… maybe mashing two separate ideas together to make something better. Where ideas will be pitched, analyzed and tested."
Meyers was joined by Governor Jay Nixon, Kansas City Civic leaders and top executives from KC corporate icons Hallmark, Sprint, UMB Bank, Cerner, VML, RareWire and more to help the launch the new Digital Sandbox KC.
"I am proud that our state has moved on the Kauffman Entrepreneurial Index from 49th in 2008 to 6th this last year," said Nixon. "The Digital Sandbox is a standing example of what can happen when forward looking organizations public and private come together with big ideas to move our state forward."
Emerging, existing, and start-up companies can submit technologies around four key focus areas, data center and cloud operations, big data and data analytics, mobile application and data security. Applications will be accepted until midnight March 1.
Entrepreneur Kirk Hasenzahl comments on Digital Sandbox KC:
If you missed the live stream of the presentation, you can watch it here:


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Hand-Stitching Hope in the Slums of Calcutta
Posted by Jocelyn Boreta in Fair Trade News & Views, Global Exchange Fair Trade Campaign, Global Exchange Store Updates on 14th March, 2013 | 3 Comments
Working at the Fair Trade Store in Berkeley, I get to see beautiful crafts arriving a few times a week. My favorite part of my job is learning about the wonderful projects and producer groups we work with. Asha Imports is no exception…..
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wow very nice
Printable View
wow very nice
That is very beautiful.
Very very pretty!
Was that a pattern or your own design?
I love the way the traditional SAS blocks frame the Japanese center, and I really like the stars that you incorporated into the SAS design, AND how they flow into the border.
There's something going on all over the quilt.
Oh, and the color palette, taken from the center, is DIVINE.
First I think I would SITD along some of the pieced blocks in undulating lines going in the same direction the cranes are flying in the center panel. It would kind of look like wind currents blowing across the top. After that....I don't know but your top is awesome.
Love how you married storm at sea with that gorgeous panel!!!!
Gorgeous quilt. No clue as to quilting.
Thanks for the inspiration! I have that panel and keep loving it and putting it away. Maybe when I have some time I will be pulling it out and doing something with it!
Thank you all for the kind comments!


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Latte Communications Behind-the-Head Earbud Stereo Headphones w/3.5mm Jack (Black)
Replace your MP3 player headphones with these simple, black Latte Communications Earbud Stereo Headphones. They feature a behind-the-head earbud style design and connect to audio devices through a 3.5 mm jack. That means they'll work with anything from iPod/MP3 players, PDAs, CD players to notebooks and more. A set of foam earpads come included for optional use. Order these Latte...
Lenntek Pro Series with Balanced Armature Professional In-ear Monitor (IEM)
"My Altec Lansing 716s are getting old and my Sennheiser HD 600s will need new cords shortly, so when I saw the Lenntek Pros at Costco.com for $50, I couldn't pass them up. When I first opened the box, and cut open the sealed all around plastic, I noticed that the included tips are all very small. But if you push them deep, deep, deep into your your ear canal you can get a seal...." --chasfs


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I've been reading at theforce.net that some Wal-Marts are breaking the street date again with the Attack of the Clones novel. Anyone finding it?
I've been reading at theforce.net that some Wal-Marts are breaking the street date again with the Attack of the Clones novel. Anyone finding it?
I was in Bretano's and they had the Pre-order standee up with the little tickets you bring up to the cashier to reserve your copy. I asked and they said it came with the actual order of books, so I asked if I could just look at one. She obliged and got one out of the back. I peeked at the ending but won't give it away to you guys. So if Brentano's has theirs, I bet Wal Mart has got them too and like ignorant silly people, I'm sure some of them just put stock out without looking at the release date. bless them.
Yeah, I just read the article again and it said that they found the book in NC. That's where I live! I will find it.
Luke:"Master Yoda you can't die!"
Yoda:"Watch Me!"
Was there something wrong with the thread you started about the exact same topic?
I have closed the duplicate thread.
I really hope that the AOTC novelizations do stay unsold until the appropriate date. Talk about spoilers! Figures don't serve as real spoilers (unless you count Padme' and Queen Amidala loking so similar) so they're early release is less spoiling. What I did for TPM was (I think, now I can't remember) buy the book when it came out, but waited until after May 19 to read it. Then things made more sense, and I realized how the "additional" scenes could fit in, or if they would've been great to include (i.e. Anakin vs. Rodian, Anakin and the Tusken Raider, extended Maul vs. Qui-Gon fight on Tatooine).
I predict that the upcoming Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi film will include the word "and." Multiple times.
I started reading the TPM novelization a few hours before going to the movie, so I could get a little background on Anakin. (I'd heard the first chapter or two didn't appear in the movie.) I might do the same for AOTC, or see the movie, read the book, and then see the movie again.
That's my jacket!


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50% less fat • 23% fewer calories than the original recipe. Here's a sweet bread that won't bog you down.
*To toast pecans, heat oven to 350°F. Spread pecans in ungreased shallow pan. Bake uncovered 6 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until light brown.
We've replaced ingredients with great-tasting alternatives to create better-for-you recipes that are just as yummy as the originals.
Cranberries can get away from you and roll right off the cutting board if you try to chop too many at once. Chop just a small handful at a time for more control.
This recipe makes two loaves—one for now and one to wrap tightly and store in the freezer for later.
© 2017 ®/TM General Mills All Rights Reserved


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Leann Adams
Evan Griffis
Program Coordinator
Student Activities supports the mission of the college, Student Affairs, and the Reid Campus Center by providing a variety of co-curricular programs and services that encourage student involvement in the campus community and enhance the educational aspects of Whitman. The cultural, social, recreational, and educational programs supported and developed by the Student Activities Office are designed to create a positive learning experience that provides opportunities for students to engage in activities that enrich the value of their education. Staff also assist students in developing leadership and life skills that empower them to advocate for their needs and interests. The Student Activities Director and Assistant Director work with students to form new organizations and keep current organizations vital, and serve as the advisers to the Associated Students of Whitman College (ASWC), Whitman Events Board (WEB), and other clubs on campus.
Use the quick links located on the left side of this page to access the information on our site. If you have any questions about the Department of Student Activities, please contact Leann Adams at firstname.lastname@example.com or (509) 527-5367.
Student Activities is a part of the Reid Campus Center and a department within the Division of Student Affairs.
Like us on facebook!


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Chevrolet Bel Air for Sale
Selected Filters:Type of Ad: Vehicles for Sale Make: Chevrolet Model: Bel Air Remove All
1954 Chevrolet Bel Air Coupe
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4dr, good body, newer paint, orig int, 6cyl, auto, rally wheels, runs/drives good... More
Advertiser since 1993


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Family: Falconidae, Falcons view all from this family
Description ADULT PALE MORPH Has mainly white head and underparts; upperparts including upper tail are white with variable amounts of dark barring, and black-tipped primaries. ADULT GRAY MORPH Has gray head and upperparts; underparts are pale with dark barring. ADULT DARK MORPH Has dark brown head and upperparts, with paler but heavily streaked underparts. JUVENILE Similar to adult counterparts.
Dimensions Length: 22" (56 cm); Wngspn: 4' (1.2 m)
Habitat Widespread, but scarce Arctic breeder. Most birds move south in winter but extent of movement is unpredictable and many remain in snowbound areas.
Observation Tips Seen mainly by chance unless you visit the Arctic tundra in summer.
Range Mid-Atlantic, Rocky Mountains, Western Canada, Northwest, New England, Plains, Great Lakes, Alaska, Eastern Canada
Voice Mostly silent.
Discussion Huge and impressive falcon. Buteo-sized, but note its typical falcon shape with long, pointed wings and long tail. White morph (the real prize for birders) is unmistakable. Dark and gray morphs could perhaps be confused with Peregrine, but note Gyrfalcon's much larger size, more bulky body, and broader, less pointed wings. Hunts up to goose-sized prey, and nests, roosts, and often perches on rocky outcrops. Legs and cere are yellow in all birds. Sexes are similar, although female is appreciably larger than male.


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Oh no, the ol restrict the rights of law abiding citizens, while expanding the rights of foreign terrorist crowd don't seem to like me. how am I ever gonna sleep tonight? Night night ladies
Oh no, the ol restrict the rights of law abiding citizens, while expanding the rights of foreign terrorist crowd don't seem to like me. how am I ever gonna sleep tonight? Night night ladies
If my memory serves me right,,,,, I think the right to bear arms,,, was to enable common citizens to protect them selves from a tyrrenious( I made that word up) government,,,which if you were to follow that through logically you would come to the conclusion that we should be as well armed as our government.
By your analysis, we can then expect this group that most consider to be somewhat erudite, will also ignore the developement of radio and TV, and revert back to print media only when considering anything to do with the first amendment. Heaven forbid bringing in the internet discovery.
While the founding fathers didn't have Nastradamus advising them, so they had total view into the 21st century, they did understand how to write a constitution proclaiming where the rights belonged in this new democracy.
Despite your attempts to divert the primary point of the England story, the concern I have is that the sheeple of this nation will follow along with the gun control crowd, and by the time they have realized their 2nd amendment rights HAVE been infringed upon, it will be too late. Far too many people in this nation are willing to have their freedoms legislated away, and like elections, they don't have to know a damned thing to drag everyone along with them into the gutter of socialism.
So you can play up how mentally insecure the dude in England was, but it doesn't dismiss the part about a couple of thugs wielding a crowbar broke into a home they had ZERO rights to be in. Trust me, should that happen in my home, neither of those two would have gotten away to become a witness against me.
You and others of the Gored Ox Syndrome, can believe you can continue to vote in socialists that want to take your guns away, but because you own guns, and of course you're one of the good guys, they won't come to your door. It's like the myth you believe that they won't raise taxes to a point it will even start getting into your pocket. Dream on. I envy your ability to buy into nirvana as you see it.
When the one you love becomes a memory, that memory becomes a treasure.
EdA, Next time I run into a guy with a Chemical or Nuclear weapon on the streets, I'll let you know. Don't pretend like you understand those things either.
The POINT of the Second is to grant the rights of citizens to protect and rebel against the government should the Government become to powerful and no longer represents the people (like England). Put yourself into the shoes of our Founding Fathers and try to understand WHY they did it, and you'll begin to understand HOW to apply it to your life.
It's illegal to kill another person. Sometimes there are mitigating circumstances; we are allowed to choose our own life over another. Those of us who have a Carry Permit, are law abiding citizens. 99.9969% of gun owners are responsible gun owners. So we should not allow people to bring their weapons out in public because an IRRESPONSIBLE, and NON-LAW ABIDING civilian chooses to ignore gun acquisition and safety laws?
So let me draw out a paralell. It's not perfect but the applicable concept is there:
Becuase SOME other guys are NOT responsible, and hit and abuse and rape women, we should make laws so not only can I not bring my girlfriend out into the public, but I have to keep her locked up and safe at home, or I'm not allowed to have one, even though I am a responsible Citizen?
How about an easier one: Baseball bats. I own a few, and I would probably only use it for it's intended purpose, to play baseball... but there are those who would carry it around and beat peopel up with it, and maybe even kill them...
So the solution to this is to make laws so I can't own a baseball bat because some civilian a$$hole abuses his baseball bat??
If I'm carrying a pistol, and over a 30 year period, I never have had to pull it out, am I a detriment to society? Who is more a detriment to Society, the guy who breaks the law, kills and rapes and murders, steals and does damage to others' property... or the guy who goes down to a gun shop, takes a gun safety class, takes a Carry Permit course, buys a gun, has to get a background check to get the gun, takes it home, and goes hunting with it, or if it's the right kind of gun, carries it around with him...???
See what I'm saying?
Legacy 6
Legacy's Lady Jade "Jade" (d. 23JUNE08)
Legacy's Tallgrass of Natoma "Natti"
I enjoy posting thought provoking questions which will stimulate some interesting discussion about various topics without ever revealing my own stance. It interests me that some who visit here become so emotional about certain topics that they are unable to address the issue but rather launch into a diatribe which is not really on topic nor does it contribute to the discussion.
No one has suggested that it is not everyone's right to own weapons for personal protection and sporting use, I own both. While I do not possess a conceal to carry permit, in my state of residence, it is legal to carry a handgun from your premises to your vehicle and keep it there if it is out of sight without having a conceal to carry permit. When the time comes that I feel that my personal safety is at risk I will be in line for a conceal to carry permit.
The discussion is not about rape, baseball, or responsible gun ownership but about what type of weapons private citizens can and should be allowed to own.
Thank you for your contribution to the discussion.
It amuses me that the folks who get their panties knotted about the absolute nature of the 2nd Ammnendment (the "if we can't own nukes we shouldn't have automatic weapons either" crowd) are often the same folks who seem more-than-willing to let arsehats like Iran, North Korea and Libya aquire nukes lest we offend anyone or act like an "international bully" to prevent it. I'd much rather have Bill Gates or Warren Buffet or Jimmy Buffet have some nukes parked in their backyard than India, Pakistan and North Korea.
The United States Imports 70% of Our Oil.
What's the Plan?
How you doing?
I'll ask you the same question I've asked before to others:
How do you legally stop a nation-state from aquiring nuclear weapons?
Too late about India, Pakistan and North Korea but I'd be interested in hearing your plans for Iran and Venezuela.
Just Askin' Regards,
Joe S.
"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anais Nin


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Live Twitterview with Humanitarian Chief Valerie Amos
How will the UN and its partners help tens of millions of people who urgently need humanitarian aid in 2013? What is it like to be the top UN official responsible for emergency relief, Valerie Amos? How is the international aid system changing to respond better to challenges like the effects of climate change?
Find out the answer to these questions and more in a live interview on Twitter between Thomson Reuters Foundation's website AlertNet and humanitarian chief Valerie Amos.
This is your chance to ask questions about humanitarian crises around the world and how Valerie Amos sees her role as Emergency Relief Coordinator.
When? Tuesday 18 December at 11:00 – 11:30am EST / 4:00 -4:30pm GMT (See your local time and date here)
Where? On Twitter @ValerieAmos @AlertNet & @UNOCHA
How? Join the conversation by posting YOUR questions using hashtag #AskValerie
Not on Twitter? You can still post your questions on Facebook. We will share them with Valerie Amos and post some answers after the interview @ http://www.facebook.com/UNOCHA
Valerie Amos visited displaced people in Myanmar earlier this month [watch video]
See a photo gallery of Ms. Amos meeting Syrian refugees in Jordan here.