text:
Question: How the hell do you smuggle a cell phone into prison?
Answer: You don't. You bribe/threaten a guard.
By the way what does "poverty industrial complex" mean?
It is simple to set up a cell inside a prison that cellphones will connect to, which will then ID all calls, the details of the phone, and with a little RDF even its approximate location.
So it would be quite simple to clear dis-allowed cellphones from inside a prison, of course they dont - this should give you some idea of the scale of the problems in the prison system.
Why not make it the law that all non-registered cellphones using the prinsons cell site coverage are automatically logged (phone details AND voice recorded..) - surely that would make the value of the phones almost nothing.
Of course again, there goes a big source of lets call it 'power' from the bad prison associates, so it will not happen.
Its not just the men locking doors and doing searches who can be corrupt, in fact I would suggest its not even mainly them..
Your idea is excellent, which is why prison officials have probably not thought of it.
The techno-igorant reflex is to "turn things off" rather than "think of creative ways to change the situation".
Why not make it the law that all non-registered cellphones using the prinsons cell site coverage are automatically logged (phone details AND voice recorded..) - surely that would make the value of the phones almost nothing.
Wrong. Most prisoners couldn't care less if their calls are being monitored. The reason cell phones are valuable to prisoners and the reason the prison administration doesn't want them used is that use of the standard prison phone is a HUGE source of revenue for the prisons, as all calls are collect, calling card numbers (often all 800 numbers) are typically blocked, and the prison's carrier often charges more than 10 times standard rates. There are companies that cater especially to hospitals and prison
Cellular phones don't last forever. Most prisons don't allow prisoners to have electrical appliances in their cells. Remove all electrical outlets inside the cells and let the cell phones die after a few hours of use.
It won't stop new ones from coming in, but it would damn sure have to increase the flow enough to cause a few more ripples.
I think he was agreeing. And if you don't think prison labor is a huge industry, well, it is.
So why does so much taxpayer money go towards a poverty industrial complex which isn't even doing its job?
I think that's being just a little disingenuous. You could just as easily say "Crimes go unsolved and criminal unpunished. Why does so much taxpayer money go towards police departments which aren't doing their jobs?" or similarly, "People break laws all the time with no consequences. Why does so much taxpayer money go towards enforcing and creating laws which aren't doing their jobs?".
Just because som
Just because something doesn't work all the time for all the people doesn't mean it isn't worth the investment or that it should be dismissed outright. The fact is that while the law enforcement/prison system may not be perfect, it is preventing some people from committing additional unlawful acts. When you're talking about crimes such as theft, rape, murder, etc., that is a significant and worthy cause.
The prison system is a complete failure. The guards make insane amounts of money as do the companies that get contracted to perform services such as food and laundry. This leads to corruption on many levels all the way up to the lawmakers who pass ridiculous laws in order to keep the prisons full. The prison guards have a very powerful lobby in CA that was instrumental in stopping Proposition 5 which would have reduced prison populations dramatically and saved billions in tax dollars.
There is nothing worthy about this system. The majority of prisoners are non-violent offenders, mostly drug offenses that should be treated as a medical issue rather than a criminal one. A simple Google search will give you all the information you need to know about Prison Inc.
I wonder:
Median annual earnings of correctional officers and jailers were $35,760 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $28,320 and $46,500. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $23,600, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $58,580. Median annual earnings in the public sector were $47,750 in the Federal Government, $36,140 in State government, and $34,820 in local government. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the starting salary for Federal correctional officers was $28,862 a year in 2007. Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008-2009: Correctional Officers [bls.gov]
"They're hiring 18-year-olds two months out of high school. "We've got officers who are 70 years old, senior citizens. That's a security risk." Physical fitness standards have been lowered, with overweight, out-of-shape correctional officers in the system. Many Texans support keeping prisons as inhospitable as possible because they're supposed to be about punishment, but those same poor conditions (think double shifts with no air conditioning in the Texas summer heat) combine with low pay to make it nearly impossible to staff current prisons in their existing, mostly rural locations. Texas prison guard salary ranks 47th among states [blogspot.com] [Apr 7, 2008]
Trinity Services Group is the second food services company to tell the Department of Corrections it can't afford to keep feeding prisoners. The company said it's losing $100,000 a month on its contract to feed inmates in the north-central part of the state and at three prisons in South Florida. The company, which was paid $21-million last fiscal year, said it's losing money because food and fuel costs are rising at the rate of 9 percent, far in excess of the 2 percent inflation cushion allowed in its state contract. Trinity is paid 88 cents for every meal served. Oldsmar company opts out of prison food service [tampabay.com] [Sept 19, 2008]
Corporations are simple amoral engines of greed, their priority is to charge as much as possible while spending the least amount possible, hence locking up convicted inmates in the cheapest way possible that they are legally able to get away with. So low cost guards basically low IQ thugs in uniform who often derive perverted sexual fulfilment from abusing people, rather then properly trained correctional (note the term) services officers, which of course would 'cost' a corporation two to three times as much, where as of course repeat offenders only cost the public ten to one hundred times that in damages, pain and suffering, so corporate profits first the publics interest last and keep those returning profits from repeat offenders coming in.
The reality is that a prison should in fact be the most law abiding place in society, otherwise the supervision and rehabilitation is demonstrated to be a total failure. Rather than blocking transmissions that should be tracking them to find the contraband then pursuing the trail of evidence to apprehend all those involved and of course turn the smuggling prison guard into an inmate and demonstrate the effectiveness of law enforcing institution and it's staff. Jamming the signals, the cheap solution which is basically giving up on enforcing law within in prison.
The accessibility of drugs and other contraband in jail kind of shines a spotlight on the stupidity of the war on drugs. I mean if the government can't even come close to keeping drugs out of a place where people have no freedom at all, why do they think they can do it in a supposedly free country?
stupidity of the war on drugs
stupid (stpd, sty-) adj. stupider, stupidest 1. Slow to learn or understand; obtuse. 2. Tending to make poor decisions or careless mistakes. 3. Marked by a lack of intelligence or care; foolish or careless: a stupid mistake. 4. Dazed, stunned, or stupefied. 5. Pointless; worthless: a stupid job. n. A stupid or foolish person.
The war on drugs is far from being pointless, worthless, or created with a lack of intelligence. It's only that you are under the delusion (which is simply a result of rampant propaganda) that the purpose of the war is to benefit our society.
The prison industry is worth billions to private parties, the control that government gets to exert in the name of the war is impossibly enticing, and the ability to confiscate property involved with drugs is profitable to the right people.
The war on drugs is stupid. Thanks for assuming I'm an idiot, but I am aware that a lot of people from law enforcement to drug cartels profit immensely from the status quo. I don't care. Having a corrupt system doesn't mean the resulting bad policies are any less stupid.
While there is more corruption in prison than anyone would like to admit, all the compact technology in a cell phone is tremendous, and it keeps getting smaller and easier to smuggle.
Also, most prisons are criminally understaffed. It is far easier to bribe a guard when there are less eyes on the prisoners and less colleagues who are keeping an eye on other staff as well (although I note the administrative ranks seem to be swelling).
Jammers make the most amount of sense on a per cost basis, but the underlying problems in prisons remains.*
*Works in a prison.
Wouldn't it make a *lot* more sense to just make a deal with the cell phone companies to fail to route non-emergency calls?
Distilling your idea: Setup cell phone towers in prisons. The phones will connect to these towers since they are the strongest. Make these towers "dead" cells".
I guess as long as you set them up inside the prison blocks of solid concrete walls and steel it could work. *shrug*
Distilling your idea: Setup cell phone towers in prisons. The phones will connect to these towers since they are the strongest. Make these towers "dead" cells".
Better yet, eavesdrop on these!
Catch criminals on either end of the line talking crime most of the time...
Jamming, OTOH, in any location just keeps victims or witnesses of crime from reporting it or calling for help.
Distilling your idea: Setup cell phone towers in prisons. The phones will connect to these towers since they are the strongest. Make these towers "dead" cells".
Maybe thats how jammers work.
Wouldn't it make a *lot* more sense to just make a deal with the cell phone companies to fail to route non-emergency calls?
And block all phone use by guards, prison management, and visitors?
Real clever. Remember, the article is talking about spot blocks that would be done on a temporary basis, not a permanent ban on communications.
And block all phone use by guards, prison management, and visitors?
All CELLphone use. The guards, management and visitors would still have access to the land lines.
All CELLphone use. The guards, management and visitors would still have access to the land lines.
What good does that do? It wastes state money having to have more land lines to accommodate more people. It blocks things that are commonplace now like texting, that once people grow used to using is a real drawback to be without because people will expect it to work for you. It also doesn't help people that are nearby, but not in, the prison - like people driving by.
Again, it's simply a bad idea to lock down
First, cell phone tower antennas can be made highly directional, providing coverage over a small arc. It would be a Small Matter Of Engineering to design a series of antennas that would effectively cover a prison and not the surrounding area or even the parking lot.
Extending the idea of directionality further, cell towers today can already provide the location of the phones being used to within a few hundred yards. It should technically be possible to obtain the cooperation of the local cell providers
Right, because in your magical world jails have multiple fall over systems for comms that can't be knocked out by fire or other inmates. Unfortunately in the real world jails just aren't built that way. Hell, our local low risk jail doesn't have a sprinkler system and was damn lucky not to burn down.
http://tylerpaper.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090127/NEWS08/901270322 [tylerpaper.com]
The problem with ideas like this jamming is they not only block criminals, who by definition are going to find a way to break the law as
Here in Mexico City criminals work inside prison. They get smuggled cellphones and do their threaten calls/intelligence operations. Safetey measures such as jamming cellphone signals inside prison have been proposed - unfortunately their implementation is at the local (corrupt) government's will.
911 is not the only emergency number that goes through. And it certainly isn't the only one that *could* go through. The cell companies, I'm sure, would be all too happy to accommodate the prisons' needs.
Certainly the prison control center and all of the local police would be on the allow list. Lawyers and other visitors could probably have their phones put on a temporary "don't block" list, as well.
The article's suggestion of jamming the cell phones' RF emissions would be far more limiting to guards and
Assuming that all Cell phone companies would agree to limiting calls like that, how do you suggest they distinguish between calls made at the prisons or whatever place verses calls made 200 feet from it or from people who otherwise have legitimate reasons to make a call?
I can see where spot jamming might be wanted. Something like a bomb scare where you wouldn't want the possibility of remote triggering to happen. Or maybe in a prison riot situation where contact to the outside could escalate the situation a
How can a local entity possibly have the technical expertise and know how to operate any kind of jamming equipment safely? There's a reason they are illegal for the public and even rarely used in the fed government: They are freaking dangerous and jarring to law-abiding citizens.
Am I wrong?
What danger is there? Doesn't the jammer just mess with the frequencies used by cell phones?
Jamming cell phones at certain facilities should be allowed, such as in prisons, but using cell jamming technology on the block is chalked full of potential pit falls.
I've dont some consulting with law enforcement and the application of technology in tactical situations, and the bottom line greatest problem with jamming cell phones is that it is a dead ringer that something is about to happen. In a tactical situation, anything that gives the target a reason to raise suspicion, dramatically enhances their re
Rarely used?
You really need to catch up on how many localities jam GPS coverage, often for a few city blocks..
Hint: Not all poor GPS reception in cities is because of building geometry/coverage...
Its considered a 'security risk' on the theory that packed bombs could be GPS detonated in the right location (and not allowing for the fact that all they have to do it get some moron to push a button at the right time instead.)
Outstanding point, Good Citizen darkitecture.
It reminds me of those white-collar workers within the Twin Towers on 9/11/01, who dailed 911, only to be told by some witless 911 operator or other to remain in their building which had just been struck by an airliner.
Reminded me of that airhead I once knew who had been hired to be a 911 in NYC, even though her husband was a fugitive from the law and had an outstanding warrent on him.
Unbeleivable, but to be believed during these present times of ultimate lawless
...from inside a prison, on a cell phone they're not supposed to have? Hmm...
Ok, I'm actually destroying previous mods to post this, but I think your comment warrants it.
Jamming (any type, really), is a very inexact practice. It is almost impossible to effectively jam a single area without affecting the surrounding area. Contrary to popular belief, prisons are not all situated in the middle of a desert (though they probably should be). Many of them are quite close to towns, parks, camp sites,etc. I have personally been on group camping trips (200+ people) within 3 blocks of a prison. If someone had a emergency while driving past the prison on their way to the camp, they would not be able to call 911.
I just want to make sure that you understand that jamming a prison, and only that prison is actually a lot harder than you may think.
I think it would be better to circle a prison with micro-cells and intercept all cell phone transmissions, and only allow through nominated numbers. This could also have the effect of being able to triangulate the position of illegitimate phones when they are used.
If you can triangulate, you can simply ignore anything outside the prison, and only check the authorization status for the phones inside it.
Isn't triangulation a very simple and quick thing? 3 towers ping the phone, report data to a central server. The ping time corresponds to the distance from the tower (assuming no data loss). Distance should be trivial to calculate. Draw a circle around each tower (with location precisely known) with a radius corresponding to the distance the phone's at, and the phone will be in the place where all 3 intersect.
I'd be surprised if the whole thing took more than a second.
Even in the case it for some reason tak
You can probably still tell that it's somewhere on the inside and not the outside though. And narrow it down enough to only have to check a small area.
...and anything on the other side of the prison!
Unless you plan on mounting said antenna 500 feet above the prison...
Agreed completely. It would be easy to implement what you say. Standard micro-cells won't do triangulation, they have to have special ones, but this would be possible, and if the use them in enough places, affordable.
Of course, this wouldn't be legal for them to do without FCC permission either. But at least it would work better.
I once stayed in a hotel where WiFi access was free in the lobby but nowhere else. My balcony had a view of the lobby, and I could pick up the lobby Wi-Fi bases from the balcony, bu
The funny thing about this is that however many geeks there are that think it'd be fun to set up a jammer there's as many geeks out there who'd like nothing more than to track them down. I can see amateur radio operators having a field day (pun intended) hunting them down and helping the FCC hand out fines. No doubt crushing fines both because of the implications for emergency handling and because it's a strike against the telecoms. Tracking down cell phone jammers could become a major sport for radio operators if they become more common.
I missed a commercial!
Wouldn't something like conductive paint or mesh/window films be more effective? Prevent RF from entering or leaving, and the problem is solved passively.
Prisons are big, and I would guess that the materials and paint that would work would be pretty expensive.
There is also undoubtedly a lot of restrictions on what you can construct one out of to prevent prisoners from breaking pieces off and stabbing each other with them. Installation at least would be a major hassle, there's probably some type of security clearance construction workers working on active prisons have to have, and this would be a major job. And probably there would be at least one tinfoil h
Ok, a few things to say here, so bear with me...
Prisons are big, and I would guess that the materials and paint that would work would be pretty expensive.
First of all, the summary doesn't say "prisons", they probably want to use this for SWAT situations.
I don't know, is it possible that if someone were to break a window that the cage would suddenly be useless?
My father does destructive building materials testing for a living. If there is one thing I can tell you, it's that most prisons (not all mind you), have some pretty freaking impressive windows. I've seen windows they had to hit 1000 times with 200 pound steel battering ram, and it didn't even SCRATCH it until hit number 20. Basically, if you are in prisons and want to break out, go for the wall, not the window...
This jammer could be turned on and off, giving you more flexibility, wheras a permanent cage couldn't. There are situations where you might want to allow the use of cell phones.
Again with the SWAT thing, if they want to disable phones inside a meth lab, I don't think the guys inside with AK's are going to simply sit still while you paint the house!
And, most importantly, guards do use radios and possibly other types of wireless communications. Is it possible to build a faraday cage that would ONLY block cell phone transmissions and not play havoc with the other communications?
All in all, I think this jammer would be safer, cheaper, and more effective than what you're suggesting. Just my non-expert opinion.
Sorry for the rant, half of these were specifically aimed at the GP, but I didn't want to make 2 posts. Consider half of them in favor of what you said
So, why not give them the right to get the cellular companies to disable cell towers?
Cell towers are also quite highly directional (they carry sets of antennas) so it can even be moderately selective.
If, of course we are talking a major terrorist level of activity.
My suspicion is however that it is more wanted for day-to-day police work - not quite the same thing though, is it..
I wonder how many people were saved because someone warned them of the danger by calling/texting them.
The main problem I could see with cell jamming during a terrorist or similar criminal situation is that there is a small possibility that maybe, one of the victims could be trying to secretly call 911 (or whatever the local equivalent is) to try to give police information about the situation inside the building (or vehicle, etc).
I don't think that's a small possibility, I think it is a certainty.
Every significant terrorist attack in recent memory has seen the affected people using their cell phones to get aid and give status, whether it was people hiding in hotel rooms in Mumbai, people stuck in the WTC on 9/11 or people in subway cars in bombings in the UK and Madrid.
Turning off cell phone coverage in a emergency is just plain stupid. The bad guys will expect it and have alternate means of communication like FRS radios, so only the good guys will suffer for it.
They don't need the ability to jam cell phone signals to stop them from being used in prisons.
Prisons are controlled facilities that can be designed from the ground up to provide ways of stopping unauthorized signals.
For example, by lining cells with tin, special paint, and other materials that block certain radio frequencies.
This could be done to the entire building, and would be much more effective and safer than periodic localized jamming during an emergency.
They could even be designed so that the measures are just strong enough to prevent cell phones from working, but still allow personnel to carry radios and other equipment with higher power transmitters, that would not be significantly impacted.
Another possibility is to place monitoring apparatus in each cell, and if a prisoner uses a cell phone or other radiocommunication device, a detector will trigger an alarm identifying the specific area from which a cell phone has been used.
The method of detection still allows any cell phone that happens to be in a prison facility in event of a life-threatening emergency, as a means to summon aid.
Have prisons work a deal with the cellular network folks to set up some low power micro cells covering the prison facilities. All calls will be routed through the prison cell site. Legitimate users (staff) can have their phones 'whitelisted' to bypass the filtering and surveillance applications running on the base station.
Think of the intelligence the anti-gang units can accumulate by listening in on calls. Or even checking to see who is calling whom. Legitimate prisoner calls (from prison phones) are subject to monitoring, so this wouldn't be a big legal hurdle.
Actually, I'd do it the other way.
If you survey the numbers that are used in the prison that aren't staff, you can shut them down. Let everything else pass, what way when you're driving by your call still goes through.
All calls will be routed through the prison cell site.
Prisoners have NOTHING BUT TIME. Through the slightest bit of intelligence, and sheer force of trial and error, SOMEBODY will figure out that holding a piece of aluminum foil over half the phone, while facing just the right distance, will work. And once one person figures it out, the rest will, quickly.
How often are you going to make changes, and how quickly will the prisoners adapt to them?
I somewhat agree jamming is a possible solution. But the prison in particular really don't need to do it. Instead, they should install micro-, nano-, or pico- cells right inside the walls of the prison. The cells need to use every available mobile (CDMA, TDMA, GSM, etc.) technology, and provide absolute five bar coverage at every point inside the fence.
A typical cell will connect to the strongest signal it can get. They only look for a backup cell when the primary signal starts to
Whether things are handled by jamming or by a micro-cell solution or some other way, there's one big problem. A lot of prisons are very close to major interstates or population centers. The main max in Texas is right next to I-35 a few hours south of Dallas, a road that carries so much traffic, you will rarely get up to the speedlimit. Colorado has a facility that, if memory serves is right off I-70.
Any solution that is sufficient to cut off all the prisoner cell phones is going to interfere with the use of cellphones nearby... like those people on that freeway next door.
The freeway next to I-35 in Texas has posted signs (no joke) warning people to not pick up hitch hikers. They existed long before four prisoners escaped a few years back. Two or three of those prisoners made it out of state. One made it about a thousand miles.
If they put in jammers, my suspicion is that the next prison break is going to involve prisoners walking up on to the freeway and using a rock to take out a windshield and a driver. I'm sure they'll say a few thanks for the cellphone jammers as they drive away and the other drivers realize they can't call 911...
FWIW, if you want to get between DFW and the other major metros in Texas, like Austin, you've got roughly two choices: I-35 and a 350-400 plod along two lane Farm to Market roads frequented by farm tractors. Talk about a looong day.
Machines that have broken down will work perfectly when the repairman arrives.


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Power Play Efficiency
Here is our power play chart using the adjusted percentages, which calculates actual Power Play Efficiency. Please click here for an explanation of this method.
The differences in the adjusted percentage and the standard percentage are usually slight- but as it currently stands, some interpretations can be made:
- Vancouver continues their dominance with the extra attacker as the only team to need less than seven minutes of power play time to score routinely.
- Nashville has crawled their way to have the second best PP unit in the league, yet no player on the team is on pace to reach 30 goals. Incredible.
- Similarly, it seems Phoenix's power play was better when they were in the same boat in terms of more even team scoring. Coincidentally, now that Vrbata is lighting it up and already has 23 goals, their power play is worst in the league in terms of efficiency. They need just about twice as much time on the power play than Vancouver does to convert.
- Philadelphia gets by far the most time on the power play, and thankfully for them, are rather efficient on it.
- The Rangers have only scored four power play goals since December 12 and have dropped in the rankings considerably because of it.

subset: commoncrawl


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PHILADELPHIA — All week long, tiny Union College had bristled at just such an implication.
They didn't want to be the underdog, the Cinderella, the Rocky to Boston College's Apollo Creed.
But if they had to be so classified, they at least hoped to have some say in their Frozen Four fate — if, that is, you judge by their movie choice on the ride down from Schenectady.
"I thought Rocky I was obviously a dynamite movie," Union head coach Rick Bennett was saying at Wednesday's media day. "But I think you know in the end what happened. I don't think he won, so that's why we threw in Rocky II because he won.
"There is just a phenomenal movie with a lot of heart, and I think this team embodies that. It has a lot of heart."
Thursday night, the Dutchmen reconciled both halves of the complex identity they toted to Wells Fargo Center. They played like the more veteran team, the more composed team and ultimately the better team in a 5-4 win over Boston College in the national semifinals to earn their first national title game appearance.
You could forgive the Dutchmen for not wanting to be tarred with the underdog brush. All the facts from antiquity — the two Frozen Four appearances to BC's 24, a goose egg in the national title column where BC sports a crooked No. 5 — leaned one way. Heck, Union College, with an enrollment of about 2,200 students and Division III athletics everywhere but the rink, has fewer Division I hockey seasons (23) than BC has national semifinals.
Even in the present, Union had but one player drafted by the NHL — the Flyers' Shayne Gotsisbehere — of the 39 at the Frozen Four, 14 of them wearing BC colors.
But the truth that Bennett and his players tried to convey all week was that the here and now was all that was relevant. That Union would be wearing their home Garnet sweaters as the tournament's top seed, that they were the only team to win regular-season and league tournament championships en route to the Frozen Four, made the small-school darling tag tough to wear.
"When I came here as a freshman, we had goals set for us, but our ultimate goal wasn't to win a national championship that year, and that bothered some of the guys," defenseman Mat Bodie said. "The next year, the goal was to win the national championship, and we took a step towards that, there's no question, and I think it's just been growing every year."
If the message didn't come through clearly enough on the media dais Wednesday, it did on the Wells Fargo ice Thursday. Despite BC opening the scoring 2:08 in and heading to the second intermission tied at 2, Union was the team that had the better of play for most of that time. They were willing to do the dirty work and fire shot after shot at an unsteady looking Thatcher Demko between the BC posts.
"I thought really they had the edge in the first period," BC coach Jerry York admitted. "We were leading 1 0. I thought they had the edge. … They were just a little bit better than we were tonight."
They were better, on balance, when they needed to be. They had the poise to weather the early BC storm and outshoot the Eagles 11-9 in the first period. They got the jump on them in the second period, tilting the ice at times and getting goals from Bodie and Daniel Ciampini in the first 10:45 to go ahead. They benefited from the stronger performance in goal, with junior Colin Stevens turning aside 34 shots more confidently than his opposite number, the freshman Demko (36 saves).
And at crunch time — a mere 18 seconds after the second goal of Ciampini's hat trick put Union up for good — they passed the ultimate gut check: killing off Max Hatch's five-minute major for checking from behind to preserve a one-goal lead.
"Bodes got us together on the bench, and he said, 'five-minute PK. I'm pretty sure if we kill that, we'll kill their momentum,'" Gostisbehere said of his captain. "And Bodes' leadership shined out there for us, and we killed it off."
What could've been midnight for Cinderella ended as their finest hour … at least until what they hope is Saturday's coronation.
To contact Matthew De George, email email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @sportsdoctormd.


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Steamy Kitchen's Big Holiday Giveaway
This year, I want to make each holiday gift really count, as I'm being frugal AND thoughtful. I've got to be careful and really teach the bebes about the value of money and the art of selecting the perfect gift for each person.
I'm not doing a great job, as yesterday I gave Andrew $33 to shop for me, Scott, Nathan, Mimi and Papa. His elementary school had a fundraiser where they had an entire set-up of useless gifts that you'd never buy yourself but feel like a cheap-ass if you don't buy something because the school that is responsible for teaching my child things that I can't (like math, following directions and assembling !$(*&!% toys) is underfunded. Though honestly, I'd rather write a check for $300 and give that to the school than to spend $300 on useless crap (ugly wrapping paper? too-sweet chocolates? magazine subscriptions that I don't need?) and only have 10% of that end up going to the school. But I digress.
So Andrew comes home with 6 little gift bags in his backpack and runs to me clutching his $2.80 in change in his other hand. He proudly says to me, "Mama, I picked out perfect presents for everyone!" And then he started stuffing our stockings with the presents.
Hmmm…I couldn't resist the curiousity and copped a feel (no peeking of course, that's against the rules…but FONDLING? totally appropriate). The object in my stocking felt suspiciously like a new set of round, bouncy boobs.
Now THAT'S the type of fundraiser I'd totally lay down for.
But then on second thought, $6 might only buy a coupla rubber super bounce balls.
A Few of My Favorite Things
I've tested, tasted and played with lots of toys this year, and here are my absolute favorites that would make fantabulous holiday gifts. I'm giving away a bunch of gifts to you – just for commenting – so make sure you enter the random drawing to win:
Contest is over! Here are the winners…
- An 8x4x2″ Himalayan Pink Salt Block from The Meadow
- A New West Knifeworks Super Bread Knife
- A box of 4 Kobe Beef Burgers from Palm Beach Prime (U.S. winner only)
- The Ultimate Sampler from Sterling Silver Premium Meats (U.S. winner only)
- A dreamy Sacred Glo Body Candle from Sacred Glo
- A bottle of Mission Extra Virgin Olive Oil + Mango Champagne Vinegar from Global Gardens
- A single photo canvas from Canvas R Us
(I'm sure I'll be adding more gifts to giveaway in the next few days too)
Himalayan Pink Salt Blocks and Plates
As you know, I'm totally obsessed with all things salt – from making your own Asian finishing salts to salting your steaks and it's even an accessory to cheating on my husband.
The Meadow has gorgeous Himalayan Pink Salt Plates and Blocks from Pakistan that are so unique. You can use the glowing pink plate to grill, saute, chill, bake, serve and cure. Instead of salt on food – this is food on salt, and the Himalayan Pink Salt Plate imparts its delicate saltiness onto and into the food. When you're done, just rinse, dry and store for next time.
Flatiron steaks on a large salt block
I've chilled the salt block for a couple of hours in the refrigerator and then used it as a serving platter for carpaccio, cheeses and fresh fruits. Any food that has a bit of moisture will pick up some of the salty goodness!
I've also placed the block on the outdoor grill and sauteed wild mushrooms on it – the salt block seasoned my mushrooms perfectly. The plate heats up to 500F and sears the food beautifully. I've yet to try steaks, but will be playing with that this weekend.
The prices are very reasonable – I'm eyeing this Sushi Slab for $19.95 and this Salt Grater plus Himalayan Pink Salt Rock for $16.95
Plus, owner Mark Bitterman is awesome – he's the first person I've ever met more passionate about salts than I am! Just a great small business based in Portland, Oregon that I hope you'll support.
The Meadow is giving away a Himalayan Pink Salt Block (8x4x2 inch)
The Snazziest Bread Knife in the World
Okay, time to get off the salt thing and move onto knives. I've raved about New West Knifeworks before and just can't say enough great things about them. They've just announced their newest product, the Super Bread Knife – though personally I would have named it Kiss-Yer-Mama-Bread Knife because it's so pretty you just wanna….eat bread.
If you're giving a knife away as a present, my Mama told me to tell you that in many cultures, giving away a knife is bad luck. BUT hang on there – it's not a "gift" if you make the recipient give you a penny back in return. So, just make sure that the recipient pays you a penny, quarter, whatever so that you're not cursed with whatever knife god you'll piss off, okay?
From New West Knifeworks, my choice for a gift would be either the above Kiss-Yer-Mama Bread Knife ($129 on sale now!) or the Phoenix Petty knife ($99). The Phoenix is the perfect size for most small kitchen tasks, from vegetables to fruit to cutting open packages (omg, just kidding! I worship my knife!)
I'm giving away a Super Bread Knife!
Kobe Beef Burgers
Palm Beach Prime sent me a box of Kobe Beef Burgers ($27.95) to try and OH MY !(#%*&!(*%!% BURGERLICIOUS BUNS! They win. There is no other reason to buy any other burger than these. You will not have lived a fulfilling life unless you have sunk your drooling teeth into these Kobe Beef Burgers. Yes, my teeth do drool. They also are craving a Kobe Beef Burger right now too.
Palm Beach Prime is giving away a pack of 4 Kobe Beef Burgers (U.S. only)
Sterling Silver Premium Meats
OOOHLAALAA! Sterling sent me their Ultimate Sampler which included Two 6 oz. Filet Mignons, Two 12 oz. New York Steaks, Two 12 oz. Ribeyes, Two 6 oz. Boneless Center Cut Pork Chops, and one 16 oz. Pork Tenderloin Roast. ($119.00) We've tried the Filets and the Ribeyes so far and loved them. The beef comes from the top 12% of all beef and is aged. Their pork is all natural.
Sterling Silver has generously given us an Ultimate Sampler package to give away! (yay beef!)
Sacred Glo Lotion Candles
I met lovely Ederle on Twitter a few weeks ago and was totally smitten with the idea of a candle made of lotion. As the candle burns, the soy bean oil, shea butter, and the fragrant essential oils melt together, and create a warm, inviting pool of body lotion or massage oil that is only 2° above body temperature.
Ederle is a full-time corporate mama – and her dream is to make her Sacred Glo Lotion Candles a thriving business.
I know you'll just love these lotion candles! In my sexy-hot days B.C. (Before Children) I used to love pouring hot candle wax on my lover. Made a mess, though and then would have to spend the next day scraping the hardened wax off the floors. I know, you used to do that too, right?
Um. no?
Sacred Glo is giving away a Lotion Candle of your choice.
Global Gardens Award Winning Olive Oil and Mango Champagne Vinegar
These two together make the best salad dressing. The Mango Champagne Vinegar ($16) comes in a curvy carafe and paired with their award winning Mission Extra Virgin Olive Oil – the combo makes any salad sexy. The olive oil is bright, buttery with a sagey finish.
Global Gardens also has other interesting fruit champagne vinegars – like Blood Orange, Pomegranate and Green Apple.
Global Gardens is giving away their Mission Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Mango Champagne Vinegar combo.
Photo Canvas from Canvas R Us
I've saved my personal favorite for last – I took some pics of the rugrats in the backyard a few weeks ago and sent them into Canvas R Us. A week later, I got 4 individual wooden framed canvas prints back, and they are now hanging in my family room. It instantly brightened and warmed up the entire home – the smiles and love in these boys faces are priceless.
It's super simple – all you have to do is upload your photo to their Canvas R Us' website and choose the size that you want. You can get one single canvas or a collage, like me.
And look at the quality that comes back!
This is my fav pic:
Don't they look like they NEVER fight over toys or tease each other?
Canvas R Us is giving away a single photo canvas of your choice!
How to enter the Steamy Kitchen's Big Holiday Giveaway
Contest is over! The winners are announced here…


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The once-vibrant BMX race track at Hendersonville's Jackson Park had been forgotten for years. Now, thanks to a largely volunteer effort, the overgrown field is about to become a bike park.
HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. – The once-vibrant BMX race track at Hendersonville's Jackson Park had been forgotten for years. Now, thanks to a largely volunteer effort, the overgrown field is about to become a bike park.
Plans for the bike park have been in the works for the past three years. The park, which organizers hope will be ready to go by early summer, will be unique to the area. The closest comparable public bike park is in Traveler's Rest, S.C.
The plan has taken shape in recent weeks as an all-volunteer team has used heavy machinery and manpower to turn the 2�-acre field into the beginnings of a park that will be used by cyclists of all ages and levels.
What once was a grassy, lumpy field now has pump tracks and dirt jumps that will keep even advanced bikers interested. The course was designed by project manager Rodney Robinson and Rob Rockwood, designer of Highland Mountain Bike Park in New Hampshire.
"We didn't want a good rider to come in here and be bored with it five minutes later and leave," said Robinson, bike park chairman with the Pisgah area chapter of the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association.
The first phase of the park is almost complete. There's a kids' pump track, a walking path and dirt jumps. Phase two of the project will include a skills loop around the park, which will have five obstacles catering to riders from beginner to advanced.
The park is at a critical stage, and volunteers are needed, Robinson said. The more volunteers the group gets to help, the faster the park will be completed and open to the community.
Currently, the unfinished park is closed, and no one is allowed in because of heavy machinery. Volunteers have been meeting every Thursday and some Saturdays to work on the project.
The project has surged forward with the help of Sycamore Cycles, which has reached out to the community to support local projects.
Safety will be stressed at the park, and helmets are required for everyone. It will be a safe environment where kids and adults can come and get comfortable on their bikes, Robinson said.
There will also be a phase three, which will branch out beyond the fencing and into the park as a whole. Robinson hopes the trails winding through the park will be transformed into multi-use trails that will make it a little more challenging to ride a bike through the park.
SORBA and Sycamore Cycles have donated money to the project, and Henderson County Parks and Recreation has paid for some diesel fuel and the permits, Robinson said. But the project has almost entirely been taken on with donations of equipment and volunteer hours.
In the end, Henderson County residents will have something unique to Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina.
"It's going to be huge," Robinson said. "It's been an unbelievable community project."
For more information or to donate time or money to the project, visit www.pisgahareasorba.org/2013/04/hendersonville-bike-park-donate-today/.


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Yesterday, I wrote about Yamuna Devi's classic book, Yamuna's Table. As many of my readers will know, Ms. Devi is also the author of Lord Krishna's Cuisine: The Art of Indian Vegetarian Cooking. This inspiring book has been a staple since I became a vegetarian and quickly changed the way I approached vegetarian food and healthy eating. As I have said in the past, that book is like a bible to me and offers traditional Indian creations and, just like Yamuna's Table, the recipes are mostly straightforward and easily made by cooks in both the Western and Eastern world.
As I mentioned in my last post, Yamuna's Table is a unique collection of over 200 traditional and fusion-style recipes that reflect the growing availability of ingredients for cooks to incorporate into their dishes, all guided by Ayurvedic principles of combining foods and flavors to promote good health and well-being. A characteristic feature of these recipes is the fascinating and unique blend of East-and-West flavors and pairings suggested that are for the most part refreshingly easy to prepare.
Helpful and informative introductions are included with each section and recipe, and a valuable appendix includes menu suggestions. All of the essentials, such as appetizers, salads, soups, grains, legumes, savory pastries and crepes, vegetable dishes and a multitude of desserts and other little gems you will find within the covers. No pictures but these brilliant ideas will inspire you to transform these elegant dishes into something even better than a gorgeous photo - after all, paper doesn't taste very good. You will admire the presentation on your plate and then you get to linger over your meal. Certainly preparing and serving healthy and nourishing meals does not mean you must sacrifice taste. Even those with the most refined palates won't believe how such simple creations can transform your dinner table into something special indeed.
A prime example is this pear soup that I served for dinner. When I first looked at the recipe, I didn't really know what to expect. However I was intrigued by such an interesting combination of fruit, buttermilk and Indian spices served with a dollop of homemade raspberry sorbet. Curious, I decided to give it a try. Another reason I chose this recipe is because it is supposed to be served cold. With blazing temperatures here in southwestern Ontario — especially the day I served it — I just couldn't resist giving it a try.
What a pleasant surprise! I have never tasted anything like it. So light, with a subdued sweetness and tang from the sorbet and a gentle spiciness that does not overpower the pear or buttermilk. I served this soup to my best friend Basil and my husband. They both loved it on such a hot day and Basil remarked that is was absolutely refreshing and good enough to serve in an expensive cafe or little bistro. What an honor to receive such compliments and rave reviews for my food.
This is my contribution to this month's No Croutons Required, hosted by me this time around. The theme for July is vegetarian soups or salads that are especially suited to the hot summer months. You have until the 20th of this month to submit your recipe to the challenge. Looking forward to your inspired entries.
I highly recommend buttermilk for this recipe but if preferred, use plain whole fat yogurt whisked together with a bit of water. Of course, you can also use store-bought sorbet to finish the soup, though again, I recommend using the homemade version because it is easy to prepare and you can add your own flavors.
|Pear Soup with Raspberry Sorbet
|Recipe by Lisa Turner
Adapted from Yamuna's Table
Published on July 9, 2012
A light, gently sweet and spiced chilled pear and buttermilk soup served with raspberry sorbet
More soups and salads that are especially suited to hot summer temperatures:
Fresh Fruit and Berry Soup
Indian-Style Gazpacho
Summer Chickpea Salad
Summer Corn and Ranch Salad
On the top of the reading stack: browsing the shelves
Audio Accompaniment: Bunny and Ricki


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I would like to know at what percentage I would use to reduce a plan of a model airplane of 30" to obtain a model airplane to 20"...for I am very poor of the use of percentages. Example: wing span 30" reduced to 20" ..the plan would have to be reducet to ? percentage.
Thank You...Craig h


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Planned Parenthood wins restraining order on Women's Health Program
Updated 8:56 pm, Friday, October 26, 2012
AUSTIN - Planned Parenthood won a temporary restraining order on Friday, preventing the state of Texas from excluding the group from participating in the Women's Health Program.
Austin state District Judge Amy Clark Meachum set a Nov. 8 trial date on Planned Parenthood's claim that Texas' effort to bar the group from the Women's Health Program is invalid under Texas law.
Rochelle Tafolla, a Planned Parenthood vice president in Houston, called the lawsuit important "because nearly 50,000 women rely on Planned Parenthood for this basic health care through the Women's Health Program, and the lawsuit today is to preserve their access to health care. We are pointing out that there is language on the state books that says the state cannot do this when it jeopardizes federal matching funds."
The organization that provides birth control and women's health care lost a legal fight Thursday when a federal appellate court denied Planned Parenthood's request for a rehearing. State leaders want to keep Planned Parenthood from getting any taxpayer dollars because of the group's involvement in abortions.
Planned Parenthood lawyers are optimistic of winning in state court after losing their constitutional argument in the federal courts.
Latest Houston & Texas News
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"We think we have a really good claim," Washington, D.C.-based lawyer Helene Krasnoff said. "We think the Legislature was incredibly clear that the Women's Health Program was to be a Medicaid program that was 90 percent funded by the federal government, and there are multiple provisions of Texas law that say that when there's some non-conformity with federal law, such that federal funds are no longer available, they would be inoperative."
State pushing own plan
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission plans to launch a state-funded Texas Women's Health Program.
"We remain committed to enforcing state law and making sure women have access to family planning services," said Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Kyle Janek. "We'll proceed with our plans to launch a state program on Nov. 1 that achieves both those goals."
Planned Parenthood's latest suit claims the state's "Affiliate Ban Rule" makes the provision "inoperative" if it causes Texas to lose federal matching funds for the Women's Health Program. The federal government, which has covered 90 percent of the cost of the Women's Health Program, declared that a rule excluding a comprehensive women's health care provider like Planned Parenthood impermissibly restricts the rights of patients and would not be allowed in the Medicaid program.
The rule will cost Texas taxpayers nearly $200 million over five years. Planned Parenthood officials say health care access for women in the program who rely on Planned Parenthood for breast and cervical cancer screenings, birth control, and testing for sexually transmitted infections would be jeopardized if Planned Parenthood is banned from the Texas Women's Health Program.
New hearing denied
Gov. Rick Perry contends Planned Parenthood is more interested in getting taxpayer money.
"If there was ever any doubt that Planned Parenthood is more concerned about its own interests than those of Texas women, there is no longer. Having lost on its constitutional claims, Planned Parenthood has now turned to Travis County judges in a desperate effort to find some way to keep making money off Texas taxpayers," Perry said of the group's state lawsuit. "In Texas, we've chosen to protect innocent life. We will keep fighting for life, and we will ultimately prevail."
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in August that Texas could stop funding Planned Parenthood's health centers, which has served about 50,000 low-income women - or, about 40 percent of Women's Health Program clients. The court on Thursday denied Planned Parenthood's request for a new hearing before the entire panel.
New rules due Nov. 1
The state's Women's Health Program now excludes clinics that are affiliates of abortion providers, even if those health centers are not directly involved with abortion services.
Planned Parenthood affiliates sued and the federal government began phasing out its funding for the program on grounds that the exclusions violate federal law. Texas is fighting the federal decision. The state is assuming all program costs. The new rules that exclude Planned Parenthood clinics take effect Nov. 1.


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CA -- Last night around 6 pm, I went to Macy's to return a dress and purchase a pair of Guess pumps I had been eyeing for a week. I went to the shoe department, found the pair I was looking to buy and then waited for a sales associate to assist me. Other than myself & 2 other customers, the shoe department was empty. I saw a female employee helping a mother & daughter seated near the registers so I went and stood near the register hoping that she or someone else would be able to assist me.
After discussing with them for about 3 minutes what type of shoe they were looking for (to match a specific dress), the associate turned and walked around the corner to stock room. She breezed past me and I didn't even have a chance to say "Excuse me." After a few minutes, she walked out with a few boxes, again walking right past me and continued helping the mother & daughter. Now, I realize she was helping them first but this is the first time I have ever encountered a situation in a show department when the associate was unable to assist more than one customer at a time! All I needed was for someone to bring out my size if they had it in stock!
Well for a second time, the associate breezes past me, standing there with a shoe in my hand, and goes in to the back. After about 5 minutes, another associate shows up out of nowhere. She walked behind me and started organizing a table of shoes about 20-30 feet from me. I made eye contact with her, started to walk towards her saying "Excuse me" and she turned and walked over to another table and started organizing shoes again! At this point, I had been waiting over 10 minutes for someone to assist me! I put the shoe back and walked out!
There is no excuse for the way I was ignored! If a sales associate is going to the back to retrieve shoes for one customer, they can surely retrieve a pair for one or two more customers at the same time! Needless to say, when I left, I was very angry. I feel strongly that these two associates need better customer service training! At the very least, one of them could have said "I'll be right with you" and I would have been happy to wait.
The good news is that this afternoon, I went to Macy's in the next city over (a store which my local Macy's could really learn a lot from), walked in to the shoe department, quickly located the pump I had tried to purchase last night at the other store, turned, walked 3 feet and there before me was a lovely young sales associate who immediately asked if she could help me and quickly brought out my size! I was in and out of the shoe department, shoes in hand, in less than 5 minutes!
FASHION VILLAGE, NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA -- I was in Macy's shopping (Dec. 26, 2009) when this woman came up to a gentlemen working and said to him that his merchandising of that particular product look wonderful. She took 2 steps away and turned to him and said "What the crap (the other word) is this. You can't do anything I tell you, this looks like crap (the other word)." I was totally appalled at this woman. I went to a sales clerk and asked who this woman was. I was informed by the sales clerk that her name was **, the Merchandising Manager for this department.
I was so upset with the action that I saw and the way that she treated this young man. My friends, I, put everything down that we were going to purchase and left the store. I will never shop at Macy's again. This woman needs to have some type of training. I'm sure she demands respect. But she didn't show the customers respect or the gentlemen that was working. She totally humiliated him in front of sales staff and customers at the store. This woman is an embarrassment to your company.
I went shopping a few different times at the Macy's at Stanford Mall, in Palo Alto, CA and was thoroughly impressed with the sales help, each and every time there. Each time, I was greeted with a smile and eye contact (that seems so rare these days), and they allowed me to browse and shop in peace. They were happy and available to answer any questions I had, and quick to offer to start a dressing room for me when they saw my hands were getting full of clothes, but other than that, left me to shop in peace.
When it was time for me to pay for my clothes, the sales clerk was very friendly and complimented my choices, and really went above and beyond in making the whole shopping experience a happy and pleasant one. I am so used to walking in a department store and getting either completely ignored, or having sales people follow me around like I am planning on shoplifting or something. This Macy's encounter was refreshing and I will definitely go out of my way to shop there in the future.
BURLINGTON, WASHINGTON -- I was shopping at Macy's yesterday and had my arms full of robes by the time I got to the register. ** was great, he patiently waited while I found all the coupons I hoped to use and when we discovered that one had a deadline of 1 pm and it was far beyond that time, he just told me he was sure it was 1 pm somewhere. I love the customer service Macy's provides, even in the craziness of the season, ** had a great sense of humor, gave me great Macy's customer service. Thank you again.
WEST GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA -- I received wonderful service from an employee named **. I had all but given up trying to find a particular item of clothing. She spotted me and came over to assist. She was wonderful and ever so helpful. I ended buying four of what I was looking for as they were all just perfect for my needs. She was so diligent in searching for what I wanted. Thank you!
EUGENE, OREGON -- On October 13th, the women in our family went on a major shopping spree at Macy's. ** in the Casual Sportswear/Jeans department was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. She helped all four of us to find jeans that actually fit - no small task. So, we are writing this note to acknowledge her outstanding customer service.
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA -- I was buying three pair of pajamas this afternoon, and **, the salesperson, made a fine impression on me. She was warm and helpful. I'm grateful for that, as buying size XL pajamas as a woman in her sixties is not that much fun. ** make the purchase pleasant!
KELSO & VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON -- Every since Macy's took over Meier & Frank in the Pacific Northwest, service has become strange. Not only did many long-time employees (those familiar faces one was used to seeing) leave, but whenever I make a purchase, the employee that rings me up writes their name on the receipt and tells you how you can contact Macy's online to compliment their service. I'm sure employees get a bonus or something for this, but I am not going out of my way to compliment an employee unless I feel that he/she really was helpful and did assist me, not just rang up the purchase that I selected on my own.
Is this how Macy's always worked? I also find it strange that everyone in the store is clothed in black and white attires. It is like an ongoing funeral service.


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An ongoing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency study on natural gas drilling and its potential for groundwater contamination has gotten tentative praise so far from both industry and environmental groups.
Glenn Paulson, the EPA's science adviser, describes the project as "one of the most aggressive public outreach programs in EPA history."
The final report won't come out until late 2014. But a 275-page progress report was released in December and, for all its details, shows that the EPA doesn't plan to address one contentious issue ŌĆö how often drinking water contamination might occur.
Congress ordered the EPA to study the potential effects of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, which entails blasting a mixture of water, sand and hazardous chemicals at underground shale to release the gas or oil captured in the rock.
As a gas rush surged in parts of the Marcellus Shale region that underlies Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and West Virginia concerns arose for the watershed that provides drinking water for 17 million people from Philadelphia to New York City.
TVNL Comment:┬Ā Heck, who really cares how often drinking water contamination might occur?┬Ā Just asking....


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When I first joined JustUsBoys I was a million miles from putting myself out there like this, but I've grown to enjoy it. My channel explains my tastes etc, but here's an overview of what you'll find.
It's all solo. I'm a skinny white boy, probably still a twink even at my age. Somewhat fem.
I live different clothing and footwear, you'll notice that's where the variety comes in.
Self facials are pretty common. And toys. I like my toys
Watch x-BadRomancer-x's XTube Porn Videos here
A few pics:
My cock:
From behind:
LOL, pretty sure this is mid-climax:
I've been much better received on there than I expected, so I feel ready to bring this into the JustUsBoys arena.


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2003 Volleyball
Kuhlman All-HCAC
Kuhlman awarded post-season honors for her efforts in 2003
By Ben Risinger, SID
November 12, 2003
Sophomore Keri Kuhlman (Shelby/Shelby) has been named second team All-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference for the 2003 season. The middle hitter led the Beavers in six categories for the year. She led the team in kills (301), kills per game (2.53), solo (52), total blocks (139), blocks per game (1.17) and in service aces (40). In the Heartland conference, Kuhlman was fourth in blocks per game and seventh in service aces.
Kuhlman was also named to all-tournament teams four times during the season. As a team Bluffton finished at 17-16, 3-4 HCAC. The 17 wins is Bluffton's highest win total since the 2000 season when the Beavers posted 19 wins.
"I'm very excited that Keri made the all-conference team as a sophomore," head coach Sara Wakefield said. "We have a very competitive conference, so this is a great honor for her and our program as a whole. I know she will continue to be a leader on the team over the next two years."
Full statistics and information on the 2003 season are available online at - www.bluffton.edu/sports/volleyball


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PROVIDENCE — Lawyers for a woman charged in a $10 million kickback scheme targeting the US Navy are raising the possibility that unspecified members of Congress could be called to testify for the defense in next month's federal trial, though members of the staffs of the state's congressional delegation say they have not been contacted about the case.
Mary O'Rourke is one of several people charged in the case. She is set to go to trial June 4, along with her boyfriend, Ralph M. Mariano, a former Navy employee from South Arlington, Va., accused of being the ringleader, and his father, Ralph Mariano Jr. of North Providence.
The younger Mariano and O'Rourke are charged with conspiracy, theft of government property, and wire fraud, among other charges. Mariano Jr., who is in his 80s, is accused of tax evasion.
Prosecutors said one aspect of the wide-ranging scheme was that O'Rourke was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for doing little to no work for Navy contractor Advanced Solutions for Tomorrow, or ASFT, which had offices in Georgia and Rhode Island and has since gone out of business. O'Rourke is a lawyer and served as a senior vice president at ASFT, where she was hired in 1998.
But in a memorandum filed Monday in preparation for the trial, O'Rourke's lawyers said she introduced the contractor to members of Congress and became its face in government circles.
''She was the one who congressional staffers often called with questions about the defense industry,'' O'Rourke's lawyers wrote.
They list unnamed members of Congress from Rhode Island and their staff members as people who could be called as witnesses to attest to her work. The filings also say that O'Rourke was active in local politics from a young age, and that she had previously worked on campaigns for US Senator Jack Reed and US Representative Jim Langevin.
Representatives for both said they and their staffs had not been contacted about the case.
''This is a serious case, but it does not involve the delegation, because the allegations are about private contractors, not Congress,'' Reed spokesman Chip Unruh said in a written statement.
Spokesmen for US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and US Representative David Cicilline also said their offices had not been contacted. Cicilline did not take office until just a few weeks before the first charges were filed in the case.
O'Rourke's lawyer, William Devereaux, did not return messages seeking comment.
Ralph M. Mariano worked for the Naval Undersea Warfare Center. Prosecutors said he had the power to authorize or refuse payments to contractors and used that power to orchestrate a scheme in which he would approve payments to ASFT, which would then funnel back some of the money to him, O'Rourke, his father, and others.
Three men have pleaded guilty in the case, including ASFT's founder, Anjan Dutta-Gupta, former ASFT executive Patrick Nagle, and Russell Spencer, who has said he acted as a middleman by funneling kickbacks to Mariano through a company he owned.


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Sponsored By
Senate Committee Discusses Restoring Voting Rights For FelonsHundreds were expected to pack the hearing room at the State Capitol in St. Paul Thursday as the Minnesota Senate Judiciary Committee discussed whether convicted felons should have their voting rights restored.
Released Felons Seek Voting Rights In MNOne of the most heavily pushed bills lawmakers will take up this session is whether or not to restore voting rights to convicted felons.
Klobuchar, Ellison Demand Action On Voting RightsTwo Minnesota lawmakers called on citizens to demand action on voting rights.
Opinion: Republicans Finally Admitting To Voter Suppression EffortsIt is not news when Republicans try to block access to the ballot box for poor, minority and elderly voters. What is unusual is that Republicans are admitting it.
Opinion: Voter ID: A Good IdeaIt has been argued that "granny" might not be able to vote if they make her have a voter ID. But seriously, why all the concern about taking the extra measure of a voter ID to make sure that every vote cast in a United States election is a legally qualified vote, including "granny's"?
Opinion: A Step Forward And A Step Back For The American DreamYesterday the Obama administration put in place provisions of the DREAM Act that brought many young people out of the shadows to participate in the American Dream. On the same day a judge in Pennsylvania let stand what may be the most egregious attempt at voter suppression in a generation.
Opinion: Treason In PennsylvaniaPennsylvania Republicans have betrayed their country and devised a scheme to potentially disqualify nearly one tenth of the states' electorate.
Opinion: Disenfranchisement Is The Real CrimeFelony disenfranchisement is nothing more than Republican continuation of Jim Crow voter suppression laws.
Opinion: Who Is ALEC?In right wing politics, ALEC serves as the nexus between corporations and aspiring Republicans always eager to find access to additional campaign cash.
Opinion: Republicans Are Creating Poll Taxes 2.0Republicans by creating onerous barriers to voting, including strict ID requirements and shortening of early vote periods have created what amounts to a new version of Jim Crow era poll taxes.
Opinion: Mess In TexasIn Texas Republicans have taken efforts to restrict access to voting a step farther. Texas Republicans are calling for the repeal of the Voting Rights Act.


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The UK is set to benefit from a new generation of wireless services and improved mobile broadband coverage under new government plans to revolutionise the countryís digital infrastructure. The programme of measures for radio spectrum modernisation will allow mobile operators to deliver the latest technologies to consumers and extend the reach of mobile broadband across the country.
The spectrum modernisation programme will be implemented under a Direction to regulator OFCOM. The new Direction requires OFCOM to co-ordinate a combined auction of 2.6 GHz and 800 MHz spectrum as soon as possible in order that operators can deliver widespread high speed mobile broadband. It also tasks OFCOM with carrying out a competitive assessment of future 3G and 4G markets, including the potential for new entrants. Their assessment will inform the design of the auction, aimed at enabling delivery of new competitive mobile broadband services for UK consumer and business benefit.
Announcing the initiative the UK Minister for Communications, Ed Vaizey, commented, "The past 20 years has seen a revolution in mobile technologies and devices that have transformed the way we communicate, learn and do business. We want the UK market to remain at the fore of delivering devices like the iPad and smart phones but they need the networks to continue to improve and increase services."
He continued, "Under our plans, our mobile industry will have access to the 21st Century infrastructure it needs to give UK consumers the latest technologies and even better coverage for broadband on their mobile phones."


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Brazilian legend Ronaldo has caused quite a stir following his appearance in Tuesday night's exhibition match between the Palmeiras class of 1999 and Brazil's World Cup winning squad of 2002, when he appeared to invite Edmundo over to his house to get high.
The match was being played in honour of 39-year-old goalkeeper Marcos - a member of that World Cup winning squad - who recently called time on his 20-year professional career with Palmeiras, after announcing his retirement.
A host of big names turned out to celebrate the occasion, with Belletti, Cafu, Denilson, Edilson, Ricardinho, Luizao, Vampeta and Juninho Paulista all included in the star-studded line-up.
However, it was Ronaldo and Edmundo who attracted the most attention following their alleged on-field discussion which was captured on film.
Portuguese sources are claiming that the Celebrity Fit Club star mouthed the words "apertar umzinho" to Edmundo - a phrase which stoners use to call for a smoke up.
Check out the video above and see if you can decipher the exchange between two of South American football's biggest names, and you can also watch highlights of the fund raiser below, courtesy of 101greatgoals.com . . .
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If you play runescape type up your username and I will add you! Then if you have any secrets or if you are selling or buying anything, type it up and see if you can find anyone then you can meet!
My unser name is: callyiscool
I am buying: an axe better than iron!
Does anyone play runescape?
Started by xxpwetty-pwincess-2k6xx , Apr 30 2007 12:43 AM
Started30 Apr 2007
Last Post30 Apr 2007
Posted 30 April 2007 - 03:30 AM ( #3 )
Runescape is just horrible. It really is pathetic. Play a real game, get World Of Warcraft.
Posted 30 April 2007 - 11:22 AM ( #4 )
im drwhokid1
i started a topic like this:
click here
i started a topic like this:
click here


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University events revealed in Sydney Writers' Festival program
30 March 2012
The University's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences will collaborate with the 2012 Sydney Writers' Festival as part of a dynamic new partnership to create a range of panel-led discussions and workshops with leading authors and researchers.
From discussions on torture and the US Presidential election to poetry readings in the Jenolan caves, the University of Sydney's feature events will tap the extraordinary expertise of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and highlight important social and political issues.
Leading the Faculty's involvement will be the hosting of two events, double-billed in the University of Sydney's Great Hall, which will deal with Indigenous literature and literacy, and the Occupy protests that began on Wall Street last year.
In the Indigenous literature and literacy session, Dr Peter Minter, the coordinator of the Indigenous Australian Studies major, will be chairing a special Faculty of Education and Social Work event, titled "Turning the Tide", where leading Indigenous writers - Lionel Fogarty, Ali Cobby Eckermann and Larissa Behrendt - will discuss the role of Indigenous women in Australian writing, and talk about how literature can play a part in education and literacy for different communities.
The Occupy session will involve a panel discussion on the future of this controversial movement, including how writers can engage with it.
Panelists from the University of Sydney will be democracy expert Professor John Keane, and Professor Simon Tormey (School of Social and Political Sciences). They will be joined in the discussion by Loretta Napoleoni, the prominent Italian journalist and Chad Harbach, an author and Executive Editor of n+1 journal.
Another feature event will be a conversation with former CIA interrogator Glenn Carle about the practice of torture in liberal democratic states. Carle finds the perfect in-conversation partner in Associate Professor Danielle Celermajer, whose work in the Department of Sociology and Social Policy includes a European Union-funded program exploring torture prevention in Sri Lanka and Nepal.
Continuing the international theme, Dr David Smith from the United States Studies Centre and the School of Social and Political Sciences, will take part in a panel discussion on the 2012 US Presidential election. His expertise in the field of religious involvement in government will be offset by former Washington Post and PoliticsDaily.com journalist Annie Groer, as well as Joe McGinniss, New York Times bestselling author of The Rogue, a biography of Sarah Palin that has been credited by some as putting an end to her campaign for Vice President.
Another date that should be marked in diaries is May 13 when the poet and author, Associate Professor David Brooks, will join forces with other Australian poets David Malouf, Mark Tredinnick, Ali Cobby Eckermann and Judith Beveridge to deliver a poetry reading in the Cathedral Cave at the Jenolan Caves.
Associate Professor Brooks will also deliver a discussion on the nature of poetry and puzzles in the Ern Malley Hoax, and how his work critically reappraises the hoax in the light of French satire from the 19th century.
The versatile Brooks will then hold two workshops during the festival, to which participants can bring their own writing. One workshop will focus on prose fiction, and the other on poetry.
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Golden City fisherman missing at Stockton Lake
SEYBERT (AP) - The Missouri State Highway Patrol said a southwest Missouri man has been missing since he went fishing on Stockton Lake during the weekend.
Searchers were still looking Monday for 61-year-old Rodney David of Golden City. The search began Friday evening when his empty boat was found circling in northeast Dade County between Greenfield and Stockton.
KYTV reported the area is known locally as Chicken Rock because of a big bluff where people dive and jump into the water.
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JEFFERSON CITY - Seven people die every day due to house fires. The American Red Cross is teaming up with... More >>
INDEPENDENCE - The 87-year-old Independence man reported missing Friday has been reported safe. The Missouri State Highway Patrol cancelled... More >>
COLUMBIA - Thousands of people withstood the heat Saturday to support the U.S. armed forces and honor veterans at the... More >>
LAKE OZARK - For those heading to the lake Memorial Day weekend, Saturday morning is the first day of a... More >>
(CNN) -- The counting of votes was underway Saturday following Ireland's referendum to lift the... More >>
NEW BLOOMFIELD - New Bloomfield has a new mayor, but it's the way he was selected that has a group... More >>
KANSAS CITY (AP) — The ACLU of Missouri is suing the Independence School District on behalf of a senior banned... More >>
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CALLAWAY COUNTY – Four vehicle crashes have occurred this week along State Road F west of Fulton in Callaway County.... More >>
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JEFFERSON CITY - In another day of political theater, the special House committee investigating Governor Eric Greitens heard new testimony... More >>
COLUMBIA- Organizers are expecting a large turnout for the 30th annual "Salute to Veterans" airshow on Memorial Day weekend. ... More >>
COLUMBIA- When most people lose an animal, one of the first steps is to put a "missing" sign on a... More >>


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Release Notes: This release adds support for test cases and fixes some problems with latex2 output and error logging.
Release Notes: Input files can be stored in multiple different directories. Input files can be stored in sub-directories. Drops the concept of one master requirement. Adds (optional) logging of current actions / events. Adds a cache for reading objects from the version control system (for speedup). A completely rewritten interface to the version control system.
Release Notes: The introduction/tutorial in the Readme files was fixed.
Release Notes: A complete redesign and rewrite of the configuration layer gives more flexibility to the user. Some bugs were fixed and enhancements added.
Release Notes: This release adds support for SCRUM artifacts: Selected for Sprint, Assigned, Finished, Statistics, and Burndown diagrams.
Release Notes: This release adds support for constraints.
Release Notes: This release adds completely rewritten input and output handling for text file based requirements and topics, adds a dependency normalization tool that converts 'Depends on' to 'Solved by' dependency notation, and a new output module for the tulip graph visualization.
Release Notes: Requirements can now also be defined using the 'Solved by' relation instead of the 'Depends on'. This is seen as the more natural way of dependency definition. More test cases were added. There were also some small clean-ups and bugfixes.
Release Notes: This release includes complete revised documentation. There are now two presentations: one gives an overview, and the other a focuses on the features of rmtoo.
Release Notes: Ganttproject output was added, and a template project is provided that makes it possible to initially set up a project with rmtoo support in minutes.


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Tony Pulis has revealed Manchester United target Asmir Begovic will not definitely leave the club at the end of the season - but admitted if Sir Alex Ferguson made an 'enormous' bid for the goalkeeper, he would have to consider it.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the Stoke City boss insisted that the Bosnian international is not certain to leave the Britannia Stadium in the summer - despite speculation that Manchester United are interested.
The Potters also snapped up Birmingham and England keeper Jack Butland in a £4m deal last month, leading to reports that the 19-year-old could replace Begovic as Stoke number one next season, with Begovic set to move on to United.
But Pulis revealed that's not a certainty.
"If Manchester United come in and offer an enormous amount of money or someone else does, we would have to look at it," said Pulis.
"But I haven't brought in Butland because of that.
The Stoke City boss even revealed Butland - who returned to Birmingham on loan for the rest of the season - could spend the next season on loan as well.
"If it comes to next season and we've still got three goalkeepers and feel Jack isn't ready, he'll be loaned out again," Pulis continued.
"There was no thought in my mind of bringing Butland in just in case Asmir went. We felt it was a fantastic opportunity. The price was unbelievable."
Begovic has established himself as one of the Premier League's most consistent young keepers this season, and has been identified as a possible replacement for current United number one David De Gea in several reports.
Ferguson has reportedly lost patience with De Gea, after several high profile mistakes, and the Spaniard could be set for a return to La Liga, with Atletico Madrid the latest club to be linked with the goalkeeper.
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Thursday, May 13 - Ad Hoc Fort Ward Park and Museum Area Stakeholder Advisory Group to Host Community Meeting
In lieu of the City of Alexandria's Ad Hoc Fort Ward Park and Museum Area Stakeholder Advisory Group's regular scheduled meeting on May 13, the group and City staff will host a community meeting at 7 p.m. at the Minnie Howard 9th Grade Center, located at 3801 West Braddock Rd. City staff and the Advisory Group will update the public on their work at Fort Ward and will seek comments from the community. For more information, call Laura Durham at 703.746.5493 or e-mail email@example.com.
Republican Primary Absentee Voting for Eligible City Voters Now Open
Absentee voting opened to eligible voters on May 7. Many Alexandria voters are eligible to vote absentee, and you may cast your absentee vote in person at the Alexandria Voter Registration Office, 132 North Royal Street, or by mail. The deadline for voting absentee in person is Saturday, June 5 at 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.alexandriavoter.org or call 703.746.4050.
Nominations for the 2010 Alexandria Beautification Awards
The City of Alexandria's Beautification Commission is accepting nominations for the 2010 Alexandria Beautification Awards. The awards program recognizes City residents, organizations, and businesses for their efforts in contributing to the beautification of City neighborhoods and public vistas with landscaping and aesthetic design. Nominations must be received by Thursday, May 20. To make a nomination, visit www.alexandriava.gov/31634. For more information, call Jennifer Pugh, Chair, Alexandria Beautification Commission, at 703.919.1480 or e-mail email@example.com.
Nominations for the 2010 CIVIC Award
The Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission is seeking nominations for the 2010 CIVIC Awards. The annual awards program recognizes the unsung volunteer efforts of Alexandrians who are involved in their communities and who have provided a valuable service to Alexandria in meeting recreation, park, or cultural needs. Individuals can nominate an Alexandria resident, group, club, organization, or corporate neighbor. Nominations must be received by Thursday, June 10. For additional information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/recreation.


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NASCAR Media Tour - Day 2
The 31st Annual NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway continued on Tuesday with day two of the four-day event.
Leading off the second day of the tour was Furniture Row Racing, who made the long trip from their headquarters near Denver, Colo. to introduce their new driver for the 2013, Kurt Busch.
2012 was a whirlwind ride for Busch, who was let go over at Penske Racing following the 2011 season. Busch went looking for work and scored a handshake deal with owner James Finch at Phoenix Racing driving the no. 51 Chevrolet.
The relationship between Busch as his team could be described as tumultuous at best; starting with a wreck in the season-opening race, Busch racked up six DNF's and managed only one top-five finish.
Busch also ran into more trouble with NASCAR, earning probation after hitting Ryan Newman's car and doing a burnout in Newman's pitbox at Darlington, then getting slapped with a one-race suspension after threatening a reporter following the Nationwide Series race at Dover.
Finally, in his final race driving for Finch, Busch was parked by NASCAR after driving away from safety workers after crashing at Talladega.
But despite all the controversy and criticisms, Busch is still a championship-caliber driver, and earned himself a ride with Furniture Row Racing, taking over from Regan Smith for the final six races of the year and posting three-straight top-10 finishes to close out the year.
"2012 was a year for me to step back and evaluate what I wanted to do with my racing career," said Busch. "I was playing with drag cars, raced in the Gatornationals, doing some Rolex races – finished on the podium one year - doing Global Rallycross, there was so many things that I was looking to do. That was why I wanted to take a step back and run with a fun organization like Phoenix Racing.
"What it told me was I needed to focus 100% on Sprint Cup cars. I needed to find a group that's committed the same way, one that's in a relaxed environment and that can still go have the fun but be competitive on a serious note every weekend and last year we proved that – three top-tens in a row to finish out the year. We didn't want to see the season end then – but now we have to build on that."
Although Furniture Row is the furthest away from the Charlotte area – headquarters to most of the team in Sprint Cup – the team enjoys a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing, and exists almost as a fourth Childress team.
Furthering that relationship, Mark McArdle, director of competition at Furniture Row Racing, is also the director of racing operations for Childress Racing, spending much of his time at RCR's shop in North Carolina, providing a critical link between the two teams.
"We treat Furniture Row as a fourth team at RCR," said McArdle. "Every teleconference we do, Todd (Berrier, Busch's crew chief), is in it. Kurt, because he's North Carolina based, will be coming to the shop every Wednesday for the prerace competition meetings, or he'll teleconference in when he's not able to be there. It allows us to operate at a more unified level."
"This is breaking news – we don't have any news," said team owner Michael Waltrip. "There's really nothing new or different for 2013, and are we ever happy about that."
2012 marked MWR's most successful season since starting their Sprint Cup operation in 2002, making the Chase for the Sprint field for the first time in the team's history - with both drivers Clint Bowyer and Martin Truex, Jr. qualifying for the championship hunt.
"Coming off of the season that we had in '12 knowing that the same players are back at MWR today working and this driver lineup is ready to go in 2013 I think that says a whole lot about our chances to achieve our goals this season," said Waltrip.
"I think in 2012 we modestly, quietly, didn't really talk about our goals. Everybody hopes to put a couple of cars in the Chase, that's what we hoped to do in 2012, and we were able to accomplish that and Clint finished second in the championship, so obviously we have to reset our goals and our goals for 2013 will be to race for the championship and race to the championship with two of our three cars."
For Clint Bowyer, the 2012 season was a vindication, after many questioned his move from Richard Childress Racing following the 2011 season. With Childress, Bowyer had been a championship contender, finishing in the top ten in points three times, but in moving to Michael Waltrip Racing, Bowyer was out to prove he was still a contender.
Bowyer secured three wins during the season and started in the Chase in fifth and put down consistent finishes, moving into third in the standings with two races to go and within reach of leader Brad Keselowski.
But at the second-to-last-race at Phoenix, an on-track run-in with Jeff Gordon put an end to his championship hopes, although he managed to finish second in points.
"I'm very proud of what we accomplished last year. I've looked forward to this year and what we have in front of us and the opportunities ahead with this new car and continue to build on what we had last year," said Bowyer. "The one race I wish I had back was Talladega. I think that was the one that cost us a shot at a championship. It just got us too far behind and it was frustrating because two laps before that I was leading the darn thing. That was the one race I wish I had back to keep us in the hunt.
"That's the Chase. Look at us, the last race we went from fourth to second and had some good fortune there. Definitely had some bad fortune the race before that, but anything can happen inside the Chase."
Among the new changes taking place are the new Generation Six – or Gen6 – stock car, and new rules that go along with it, as well as rule changes to competition including a new qualifying format and allowing teams on-track testing.
The new Gen6 car features many of the safety innovations of the fifth-generation car – also called the "Car Of Tomorrow" or CoT – while maintaining the lines of the stock cars street model counterpart, which directly addresses fans complaints that the previous generation car looked more like an F1 car that a true stock car.
"What we started a few years ago was an unprecedented amount of collaboration with our entire industry, certainly with the drivers, teams and tracks," said Brian France. "We achieved a lot of things with (the CoT). Costs, safety - a lot of benefits that the industry and that the teams and drivers gained from that car. Obviously we got away from some things that historically had worked well for us: The manufacturer rivalry
"We've stretched that out to work a lot closer with the OEMs, all the car manufacturers and others to do two things: One is to get a car that looks from a technology standpoint and a resemblance standpoint similar to what is on the showroom. We've done that."
The new designs are a shorter, lighter car. The cars also have a shorter spoiler than the previous version, meaning less downforce, which NASCAR hopes will improve competition, not only at restrictor-plate track like Daytona and Talladega but at some of the smaller speedways as well.
"The amount of testing that NASCAR has done with the teams to get prepared with this car and work on very specific areas to promote side-by-side racing at tracks other than the Superspeedway in particular, has been intense," said Helton. "There's never been as much effort put into a car to get it ready to go racing, and the testing that we've seen in Daytona, the testing we've seen in Charlotte shows us, and the voice that you hear that from, is the most important voice for the drivers to say that we think this car is going to offer up the best racing we've seen. It's got us all going in the right direction, so we expect to see that."
With the introduction of the new cars, NASCAR will again allow teams to test at NASCAR tracks. NASCAR banned on-track testing at NASCAR track in 2009 in an attempt to reign in costs for the teams. For 2013, all teams are allowed four test sessions at any track of their choosing.
NASCAR will also implement a new qualifying format for 2013, eliminating the old "top-35" rule, where every team locked into the top-35 in points were guaranteed a spot in the field. This season, NASCAR will revert back to the old system used prior to the 2005 season, where the top-36 spots are determined by speed, with the rest of the field to be filled by provisionals based on owner's points, plus one spot for a past-champions provisional.
France also announced the development of a new track drying system - using more environmentally-friendly compressed air system rather than a jet-fuel-powered jet dryer – that will be capable of drying off a track like Martinsville in just 15 minutes.
"It's going to be a spectacular thing," said France, "and all auto racing will benefit from this as we go down the road."
Day Two concluded with a presentation from Chevrolet on the development of the new Chevrolet SS Sprint Cup car, from conception artwork, to a quarter-scale carbon-fiber model, all the way up to the creation of a full-scale mockup built by Hendrick Motorsports that was used in wind tunnel tests.
Chevrolet also announced that the production version of the Chevrolet SS – a V-8 powered, rear-wheel drive sedan – will be unveiled on Feb. 16 at Daytona Speedway.
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Japanese Tea Ceremony for Adults
Contact: Help Desk @ 986-1047, ext. 3 or firstname.lastname@example.com
Age Group:
Experience the beauty and pleasure of the Japanese way of tea in a traditional manner. Presented by the Mid-Hudson Japanese Community Association.
The program is limited to 25 for tea service but all those on the waiting list are invited to attend as an audience.
*This project is made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a re-grant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by Arts Mid-Hudson. This project is also funded with support from the Albert Wisner Public Library Foundation
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