text:
Slinger crews restoring power after village-wide outage
Blown transformer knocks out power to village of 5,000
Slinger Utilities reported Tuesday that a blown transformer knocked out electricity to nearly the entire village.
The outage was reported around 11:15 a.m. and affected nearly the entire village of 5,000.
Power crews said a switch had failed, and the cold temperatures led to delays in repairing the equipment as well as energizing the lines.
"We made a fire because we didn't know how warm it would stay," Jenna Lisowski said.
The Lisowskis, like everyone in the community, of 5,000 had to immediately think about contingencies, since no power meant no heat.
"Luckily, it didn't last for too long, so we didn't panic too much, but I'm sure if we did we probably would've left and gone somewhere where there was heat," Lisowski said.
Slinger's village engineer said they knew right away when it went out.
"Our first hint that something was going on was our power went out here at Village Hall," Jim Haggerty said.
It's not clear yet if the frigid temps led to the transformer failure, but ice around the boxes did slow the restoration of power.
"It was long enough this time of year with these weather conditions definitely. Could've been worse," Haggerty said.
The Village of Slinger owns and operates its own electrical utility. Slinger Electric is a member of WPPI Energy, a regional power company that serves nearly 50 municipalities.
Some Facebook users on the WISN 12 News Facebook page reported power began coming back around 12:40 p.m.
Utility crews told WISN 12 News reporter Nick Bohr that much of the village had power restored by 12:50 p.m.


text:
Birmingham, UK – 7th May 2014 – Mobile game publisher, Fairplay Media, is pleased to announce MacGyver: Deadly Descent is due for release on 21st May 2014.
MacGyver is back! In a new, thrilling challenge game, MacGyver is tapped as the last hope when a computer virus rips through the top secret D.A.W.N Laboratories, trapping its scientists underground. Arriving on the scene, Mac realizes it's a race against time before the laboratory runs out of air and so must make a potentially deadly descent into the complex. Mac works his way through the labyrinth of complex puzzles but, little does he know, that an even deadlier enemy awaits him in the darkness.
Developed with input from the creator of MacGyver, Lee David Zlotoff, Deadly Descent sees Mac return to his roots as a young problem solver in a modern environment "We wanted to create something that acknowledges the past and 'stirs' those memories and at the same time bring Mac and the experience into the present."
Fairplay Media Production Director, Mark Mainey, enthuses "It's exciting working with Lee [Zlotoff] and such a well known character in MacGyver. The possibilities are endless! Deadly Descent really sets the scene with Mac being called in by Jack as the last hope in a crisis and putting the player in a position to save the day." Mainey continues "We wanted to open up the appeal of Deadly Descent but make sure that its 100% authentic MacGyver. It's a tough game too; you're going to have to really think about some of the puzzles!"
MacGyver: Deadly Descent will be released on all iOS and Android formats (including Amazon Kindle) around the globe on 21st of May as a premium title with a portion of proceeds going to support The MacGyver Foundation.
About Fairplay Media
Fairplay Media is a global publisher of mobile games and apps. Formed in 2007 by Geoff Brown and Simon Phillips, Fairplay's roots can be traced back to the very beginnings of video game history when Mr Brown founded U.S. Gold in 1984. Bringing 30 years of game publishing, development, licensing, marketing and distribution experience together, Fairplay Media develops and publishes original IP as well as acquiring 3rd party licenses and products.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
60% off Custom Gifts | Use code JULGIFT20
Green Snow Round Porcelain Ornament
Christmas decorations with a difference? Create a personalized Christmas decoration by adding your name or family name to one of our gorgeous round ornaments. Makes a great gift for friends, family, teachers, Kris Kringle or Secret Santa.
Availability: In stock
Details - Green Snow Round Porcelain Ornament
Create a unique ornament for all the family! Choose from a range of designs then simply add your name and year. These beautiful round ornaments are made of porcelain and come with gold string ready to hang on the tree, but are equally gorgeous anywhere around the home.
Your design will be printed on both sides of the ornament. Makes a great gift for friends, family, teachers, Kris Kringle or Secret Santa!
Size - 7x7cm or 2 3/4"
Whoops, it looks like your browser isn't supported...
This product can only be viewed on newer browsers.
- Please make sure you are using the latest version of Chrome, Safari or Firefox.
- We recommend Chrome for the best experience. Download Chrome.


text:
Published on May 6th, 2013 | by Daniel Perlman0
Elementary school teacher arrested on suspicion of child molestation
An Alameda man who teaches third grade at a Union City elementary school was arrested Wednesday after at least nine female students reported that he had interacted inappropriately with them, police said.
Michael Howey, 47, was arrested on 17 counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 and 23 counts of annoying and molesting a child, Cmdr. Ben Horner said. Police began investigating Howey, who teaches at Alvarado Elementary School, on April 12 after an adult witness submitted a report alleging Howey was acting inappropriately with one of his female students.
School officials put Howey on paid administrative leave immediately after the allegations were reported, police said.
During the investigation, police interviewed a number of students and their families and learned that the reported case was not an isolated incident and that eight other students had experienced similar treatment, Horner said. Howey was arrested without incident at his home in Alameda, then taken to Santa Rita Jail.
He remained in custody Thursday on $1.5 million bail. Police said Howey had no criminal history before his Wednesday arrest.
Howey has worked for the district for a total of 14 years, having taken a couple of years off since his 1997 hire date, New Haven Unified School District Chief Personnel Officer Derek McNamara said. Howey has taught at Alvarado Elementary, Cabello Elementary and Cesar Chavez Middle School from
kindergarten level to middle school.
According to McNamara, Howey had no disciplinary incidents on his record before the allegations stemming from the March investigation.
McNamara said the district is cooperating with the police investigation in any way it can.
"We just do everything we can to support the police," McNamara said. "We run a concurrent investigation, but we need to get all the information."
The district is providing psychologists, social workers and counselors for students and staff of Alvarado Elementary, McNamara said. The police investigation is ongoing.
If you have been arrested for a Sex Crime the Law Offices of Daniel R. Perlman can help. Please contact a Los Angeles Sex Crimes Attorney today to have your case reviewed.
Source: insidebayarea.com "Elementary school teacher arrested on suspicion of child molestation," May 6, 2013.


text:
'Supernatural' Sneak Peek: The Winchesters Have a "Dog Dean Afternoon" In First Photos and Clip
Much as we love Felicia Day, there's no denying that 'Supernatural' veered the Impala off the road into one of its sillier hours in this past week's "Slumber Party." That said, the long-running CW drama looks to get even more ridiculous with next week's "Dog Dean Afternoon," judging by the first photos and clip from the canine-centric episode.
It looks like Sam and Dean will literally have their hands full with a new canine companion, judging by the first photos from "Dog Dean Afternoon," a well-established pet peeve for the elder Winchester brother. Meanwhile in the first clip from the hour, Dean faces down another one of his worst nightmares: a vegan bakery (and bad green-screening).
Says The CW of next week's "Dog Dean Afternoon":
DOGGIE DEANLITTLE - While investigating two bizarre murders, Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) realize there is an eyewitness to both gruesome deaths - a German Sheppard. Anxious to find out if they are dealing with a witch, a skinwalker or other supernatural monster, the guys look up a spell that could let Dean "communicate" with the dog. Unfortunately, the spell comes with side effects that no one saw coming.
Yikes. In any case, you can check out the photos and clip from 'Supernatural''s latest above and below, and tell us in the comments if you think the series has truly gone to the dogs!


text:
Just like that, Brandon Sanderson has turned into George R. R. Martin. A more appropriate title would've been 'The Hell of Continuaton'. There's no excuse to write such a dull, plodding sequel to a fairly exciting fantasy adventure. What happened? Imagine if a Grindcore band released a twinkly Post-Rock album but kept the noise and the screaming. Actually, that sounds too ambitious. If a Grindcore band did that, it'll be a push towards new territories. Sanderson had no money for an editor.
Static paragraphs are a disease, especially in adventure stories. These are paragraphs in which literally nothing happens. All we get is the rambling of the narrator or of the character. Since the narrator is often 3rd-person omniscient, we don't really care about its thoughts. This narrator doesn't even exist. If it's the rambling of the characters, a question arises. Why not just write in first person?
It's a symptom I see in many rookie writers who lack confidence. They don't see the reader's point of view or understand what is necessary to them. They don't understand art is an experience, not a collection of facts. Paragraphs teasing what will happen, what could have happened, what the characters are like litter the pages. As notes, they might be useful. By writing down who your characters are, you have a solid idea of what you should be writing. By writing down what might happen, you have a solid idea of what routes you can take. As a technique to avoid 'just write the next scene' writing, it's brilliant.
These are just notes for a novel, not a novel itself. Bands don't put all their jam sessions and demos smack in the middle of a song. Imagine if, in the middle of "One Step Closer", Linkin Park put a random jam session that later gave birth to the chorus of "Numb". Sure, it's interesting but what is it doing in the middle of a punchy Nu Metal song? Any time an author puts rhetorical questions in a 3rd person narrative, he's being a horrible author.
Narrative questions are always answered, so asking us 'will he be able to save her' is pointless. We'll see in a few pages. As for philosophical questions, they must not appear since fiction is expression of philosophy, not an essay about it. I did put some rhetorical questions in this review. The purpose was to make you imagine, to focus your attention by varying sentence structure and expressing disdain at such techniques. In narrative prose, they make zero sense.
What's odd is that it's the only bad technique Sanderson falls into. In all other aspects, he remains fine. His story is still shallow, but he avoids the long-winding descriptions of Martin or his misogyny, or his multiple plot threads that go nowhere. Sanderson describes rooms using, at best, 3 sentences. It's never profound, but he emphasizes the right details. The plot is also tightly focused, with a small arc inside the gigantic save-the-world one. The book was padded to 700 solely because of these static paragraphs. If Sanderson got rid of them, we would've been had 300-400 pages of a shallow but exciting story. Did Sanderson pad it so it would look cool on the Fantasy shelf?
As for the story itself, it's just as shallow as the previous one. All hints of something deeper, more original are gone. As a role-player, I noticed there's a scale between games heavy on playing a pesonality and games playing on skill. The latter are elaborate puzzle games with a bit of pretending, whereas the former are an improvised theater. The former are more fun, since they're more emotionally engrossing and memorable. Whenever I jump into a game I always aim for that direction and find myself not doing anything. My character has a lot of skills which I'm supposed to use but forget about. I don't care how good the paper says I am with a sword. I want to understand my character, get into his mindset and interact with other characters.
Sanderson comes from the opposite tradition. His magic system exists solely for RPG's, with instruction manuals and technical information but little meaning. This is a world where people can influence emotions, store attributes yet the psychology of this never appears. I don't buy the excuse that they all had to go into hiding. That's just Sanderson avoiding confronting the meaning behind his magic. As a role-playing system, it seems exciting. Reading about it is dull.
All these details about what they push, how they push, how they recover strength is so dull. When someone tells you their character in their RPG has 80 STR, do you care? Does it make you want to play the game? The problem with writing about fictional fighting is that it's so arbitrary. Sanderson dispenses a lot of physical facts about non-physical objects. Non-physical objects don't have physical traits. All fiction is symbolic since in the end it's just some ink on the page. The action scenes consist of unimportant physical information with nothing symbolic. Conflicts are elaborate chess games, with enemies having a weak point you need to use V.A.T.S. to target. One scene even features a dungeon crawl. To his credit, the final confrontation had some emotional depth.
His characters remain his strong point. Even if by this point they won't ever have a complex psychology, they have personalities and distinct dialogues. His dialogues are the most excited parts and not just because dialogues are exciting by nature. He gives his characters obvious quirks that affect all of their speech patterns. Even when Ham isn't musing philosophically, he has a more thoughtful tone. Breeze's conceit is always apparent, sometime more and sometimes less. That's why even if Sanderson's story is, at its heart, shallow his characters are alive enough to make it exciting.
His story mode also eschew the typical long journey story mode for a more static one. Most of it is spent waiting for the big climax, but by sealing our characters in a small area he gives them a lot of room to interact. His story is less driven by action and more by character interaction. If there was any opportunity to launch his story into something truly special, it was here. Sadly, it padded by a lot of static paragraphs. The ending is also disconnected from the main story. Whereas the novel's center is the siege, the ending brings back the Hero of Ages myth. Sanderson isn't very good at splitting his books and dividing them into individual stories. That's sad since they are here. He only needed to finish the book when the siege was over.
Sanderson doesn't deliver on the promise of Mistborn. Then again, I heard this was typical, run-of-the-mill fantasy. Sanderson's storytelling is more energetic, more character driven and his writing isn't so stiff. It helped make the first book an exciting adventure, but this one is a good writer in search of an editor to help his writing give shape. I'll still tackle the final book but I'm worried.
1.5 failed ascensions out of 5


text:
|Seaweed Cocktail Cookies
|Nori chips out of the oven
|Chop the toasted nori
|Finely chopped toasted nori
|Mix the chopped nori with the fleur de sel
|Dough ingredients ready to mix
|Thinly sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
|Sprinkled with salt and ready to bake
|Out of the oven and onto a cooking rack
|Enjoy with white, red or sparkling wine, sake, or beer
Seaweed Cocktail Cookies
Adapted from Dorie Greenspan and David Lebovitz
(Makes about 48 cookies)
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon fleur de sel, plus additional for sprinkling the cookies
3 tablespoons finely chopped toasted nori (about 2 sheets)
9 tablespoons (110g) powdered sugar
1 large egg yolk
1½ tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (155g) flour
1. Toast the sheets of nori (see note and link below) and finely chop enough to yield 3 tablespoons.
2. In a small bowl, mix the chopped nori with 1 teaspoon fleur de sel.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, or by hand, mix together butter, flour, fleur de sel and nori until smooth and creamy.
4. Mix in the powdered sugar, and then the egg yolk.
5. Add the olive oil, sesame oil, and flour, and mix until smooth.
6. Divide the dough in half and roll each half into a log, about 6 inches long.
7. Wrap each log in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least one hour.
8. When ready to bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper. Working with one log at a time, slice the cookies 1/4-inch thick.
9. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet, leaving some space between them.
10. Sprinkle a couple of grains of fleur de sel over the top of each cookie and bake for 12-14 minutes, until lightly brown around the edges.
11. If you want perfectly round cookies, all the same size, use a small, round cookie cutter to cut immediately when they come out of the oven (you can then nibble on the scraps for a snack).
Storage: The cookies are best the day they're made, but can be stored overnight in an airtight container. The dough can be chilled for up to 5 days, or frozen for 2 months.
**Note: For toasting the nori, I followed Mark Bittman's method below, including lightly salting the inside half, and therefore reduced the amount of fleur de sel called for in the cookie dough from 2 teaspoons to 1 teaspoon)
The Crisp Side of Nori, by Mark Bittman
*Full Disclosure: I am a member of Amazon Affiliates and receive an extremely small commission if you link to Amazon from There's a Newf in My Soup and purchase products from Amazon.


text:
[UPDATE April 20, 11:45 a.m.] Tommy Edison hasn't seen one frame of "Scream 4," yet that didn't stop the rookie film critic from giving it "two out of four eyes open."
Edison -- who's been blind since birth -- just posted a video review of the newly released horror film.
On blindfilmcritic.com, Edison delivers his review while seated in front of a bookcase, his jovial manner tempered by his greying hair and blue button-down dress shirt.
U.S. & World
"I have no idea what happened the last 20 minutes of this movie," Edison said in the review. "There was a couple of times where the audience clapped and I thought it was over and more things kept happening. I'm completely lost."
While your average film critic can praise or pan visual elements of a movie such as cinematography, lighting, costumes, special effects, Edison is judging the film solely based on audio.
"I don't get distracted by all the effects," he told NBC LA on Wednesday. "I don't know what cinematography is, so who am I to talk? I can pay attention to the story more, and not get distracted."
The video includes a section where the screen goes black and viewers are treated to a completely auditory experience, the blind film critic way. "Not so much fun, right?" Edison asked. "You're a little confused, aren't you?"
"I think it's a different perspective, a unique one," he said. "It's my experience that I want to share with you. It's a perspective you're not going to get anywhere else. I think that's the hook."
For Edison, lack of sight hasn't held him back. Since 1994, he's worked at Connecticut radio station WEZN-FM as a traffic reporter. He's also shopping a documentary entitled "Blind Since Birth."
"People ask me how the hell I do the traffic? 'You don't even drive for God's sake,'" Edison said. "There's nothing to see in my job. It's all about listening."
Reviewing movies has been a lifelong dream.
"It's a funny thing. We have a couple other projects we're working on, and I just said, 'I'd love to review films. It's something I've always wanted to do,'" he said.
Recently Edison worked with Ben Churchill, a friend, who produced and directed the inaugural video review. After catching the Thursday midnight showing of "Scream 4," the pair worked through the night to create the review.
"I didn't sleep Thursday night. It was rock 'n' roll," Edison said.
The "Scream 4" review is just the beginning. Although Edison wouldn't reveal the subject of his second review, he said it will be released on Friday.
"We just want to continue doing reviews on a weekly basis, possibly more," said Churchill.
Edison will have plenty of films to choose from. In addition to new releases, he asked his viewers for suggestions.
Within a few hours, users requested "Fight Club," "All About Steve," "Pulp Fiction," "Star Wars," "Donnie Darko," "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," "Inception," "Night of the Living Dead," "Die Hard," and dozens more.
As for "Scream," Edison's final word: "Sighted people, I think you'll really enjoy this movie. Blind people, stay home."
[ORIGINAL STORY, Posted April 19, 4:19 p.m.]


text:
OK Go is still cranking out music videos like they're going out of style. Which, thanks to OK Go, they most certainly are not. In a time without a central hub for video-watching (a "music television," if you will), the band's innovative clips still manage to crack the mainstream consciousness on a regular basis. Which got us thinking: Since OK Go is so dang good at making videos, which videos make the band feel all warm and fuzzy? Prior to the band's appearance at Rock The Garden on Saturday, The A.V. Club asked bassist Tim Nordwind to choose some all-time favorites.
Firekites, "Autumn Story" (Chalk animation directed by Lucinda Schreiber and Yanni Kronenberg)
The A.V. Club: This is a surprising way to start the list, just because it seems a little emo for you guys.
Tim Nordwind: [Laughs] Well, it's a great example of a video that is just about the video. I just love it on pure aesthetics; it's beautiful, and it was one of those projects that was made for the art of making something cool. Ever since the '80s especially, labels and people have been making videos as advertisements. For OK Go, [the video] is part of the art that we make. That incredibly detailed process reminded me a lot of how we make our videos. Apparently it took them six months to make.
AVC: Kind of like your Rube Goldberg video for "This Too Shall Pass."
TN: Yeah. For that, there were two straight months of fiddling with a whiteboard drawing of different machines we could make. We had a group of 12 engineers and scientists, people shouting out ideas, writing things down, trying things out. It took 89 takes, and we only got to the end of the video three times. The challenge in ours was not just the Rube Goldberg, but also to sync it with the video, and on top of that, it had to look like something your mother could make if your mother had a lot of time and was crazy enough. So there's a lot of attention to detail while having the big picture.
Vitalic, "Birds" (directed by Pleix and Vitalic)
AVC: You like dogs, don't you?
TN: We're definitely all dog lovers. I'm not sure I've ever been so smiley while watching a video. It's funny to me that it's called "Birds" and it's a bunch of dogs—the inside joke there is funny enough. And the camerawork is stunning. It's absolutely gorgeous to watch this dog fly up in slow motion—you get such a detailed look at what these dogs are going through: part wonderment, part fear, and a little bit of excitement, all at once. You're right there, every step of the way. I think it's a good example of how a simple, good idea is often more fun to watch than quick cuts and girls in bikinis. It's pure joy. And it's fucking dogs.
The Jacksons, "Blame It On The Boogie"
AVC: This one is reminiscent of an OK Go video.
TN: Yeah, the "Blame It On The Boogie" video is very similar to [our video] "WTF." I had forgotten about that song, but of course I like it, and when someone showed us the similarities between it and "WTF," it became that much more special to me. It's such a great song, and a simple concept that he pulls off really well. It's always fun to watch him perform, and when there's not a lot going on otherwise, it makes it that much more cool.
Fortknight Productions, "How To Make A Beat"
AVC: Another simple concept that goes a long way.
TN: The first time I saw this was at a short-film festival that our video "A Million Ways" was in. I was tickled by it. So many people have done puppets, but to see this thugged-out B-boy puppet who has a basic beat, there's something incredibly charming about that. It wouldn't have been charming if it were a real person in there, but since it's a like a sock-puppety thug… And I like a music video that's fun for adults and kids. This video has that universal, fun appeal, and it's actually showing you how to do something. That is how you make a very simple beat. It's educational entertainment.
AVC: Edutainment. And speaking of puppets…
The Muppets, "Stand By Me"
TN: The Muppets are making a comeback these days, and that video is part of the new Muppet campaign, I think. It's so macabre and scary: This super-freaky Muppet eating a bunch of rabbit Muppets. … There's that funny play between the violence and the sweetness of the song, which the Muppets do really well.
AVC: You're a fan.
TN: I'm a huge Muppet fan. We covered a Muppet song, actually, for a Muppet album coming out next year. They really haven't lost their touch at all. They have a wicked sense of humor, but it's always buffered by the fact that there are cute puppets delivering the wicked humor. I thought this video was sort of the epitome of that Muppet formula.
Major Lazer, "Pon De Floor" (directed by Eric Wareheim)
AVC: What is it about Eric Wareheim that makes him such a popular video director these days?
TN: He's definitely pinned down a very specific aesthetic: like Candyland, only with these hyper-sexualized dancers pulling off these crazy moves. For our video "WTF," we played with green screen for the first time, with all these super colorful sets and clothes. After the shoot, a friend sent a link to the Major Lazer video, like, "I thought you'd want to see this." I was floored. Just the chaos and colorful energy, going fucking balls-out. Like, "We're gonna do a green screen, and everything's gonna look super-crazy off the charts, and you're all gonna dance like you're fucking. That's all you can ask in a video.
AVC: It would be interesting to see how Wareheim directs. Like, "Now you play her ass cheeks like turntables."
TN: Oh, I think that he's really serious when he directs. In order for it to work, he has to take it very seriously. The stuff he's making isn't a joke.
Eduard Khil, "Trololo"
TN: He takes himself really seriously. I think that's what I'm drawn to. There's no irony. From an outsider's perspective, the look and feel is chintzy, and the song is just this weird, folkie, Russian pop song from the '70s or something. And it's a full-on performance—there aren't any cuts or anything. I have props for him. It is kind of the same thing I like about our videos. We set up treadmills, and we take that seriously. When we're in it, we think about it as the raddest thing you can do on treadmills. It's about just going for it.
Björk, "It's Oh So Quiet" (directed by Spike Jonze)
AVC: So OK Go likes that Björk video where they dance around like they're in a musical. Makes sense.
TN: I'm a fan of musical theater, which makes a lot of people hate me, but this video is a fantastic homage to musical theater and Busby Berkley films—that style of filmmaking. And as far as Björk is concerned, I had never really seen her let her hair down like that. Everything else I had seen of hers is a lot more serious and avant, and this is the perfect song to be playful with. It feels good to see her respect that and come up with something special.
AVC: Do you feel like that's what making a music video should be about? Bringing out the "special" in good tracks?
TN: Actually, no. For us, we come up with the concept first and then figure out what would be the best soundtrack. When videos are at their best, you're adding a whole new dimension to the song, where the video and the song give life to each other in a way that you wouldn't otherwise have. That's what good video making is about: upping the experience, visually and sonically. Rock-n-roll has always had a visual element: Elvis Presley with his hips, Jimi Hendrix lighting his guitar on fire. That doesn't mean Hendrix wasn't the best guitar player in the world, because he was, but that visual element gives a new notion of what you're interested in expressing. That's what it's about for us.


text:
Egypt: With mix of sympathy and military terseness, el-Sissi pushes Egyptians to line up behind him
CAIRO – In his campaign for president, Egypt's former army chief is casting himself as a strong-handed disciplinarian able to solve the nation's mounting problems and turmoil with good planning and efficiency, swinging between big-hearted shows of sympathy for Egyptians' woes and a military man's impatience with dissent and chaos.
Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's appearances so far have been tightly controlled, including meetings with selected groups and a prerecorded two-part interview with pro-military TV channels aired Monday and Tuesday. That is likely to be his method throughout his campaign for the May 26-27 vote, with few if any street appearances, a style that has raised criticism from supporters and opponents alike.
El-Sissi is seen as the certain winner of the upcoming vote, bolstered by a media-fed wave of nationalist fervour touting him as the country's saviour after he ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, the country's first democratically elected president, last summer following massive protests against his rule.
Now the 59-year-old field marshal, who retired from the military in March, appears to be trying to use that fervour to push a message that the public must get in line behind him.
"We must move in leaps," he said in the second half of his first campaign TV interview, aired Tuesday night. "Egypt must break the cycle of poverty."
In the Tuesday broadcast, he spoke broadly of his plans for dealing with the mounting economic problems, from rising unemployment and massive government debt to an energy crisis that has led to daily blackouts. Throughout, he repeated, "I will do it, and I am able to do it," and "I know what I am saying," gesturing forcefully at his interviewers. "I come from an institution where success is always must," he said, referring to the military.
He said the state would take a greater role in managing the economy by leading major projects, such as distributing land for farmers and building infrastructure — and he suggested that the state companies and the military, which has extensive economic interests, will play a role in development.
He gave few specifics but said his solutions would "not be traditional" and would have swift impact. For example, he talked of tackling energy shortages by having the state import high-efficiency light bulbs and ensuring that every house in the nation uses them to reduce consumption. Yet he avoided addressing how he would deal with reforming the energy and food subsidies on which much of the population relies but which are a massive drain on the state budget.
The private sector, he said, must work faster to complete projects and accept lower profits to lower prices for consumers.
"The market is open to you," he said, addressing investors, but said they must help in "getting the needy through this period. Will you help me or not?"
The public, he underlined, should understand his intentions and co-operate. "We have a country that is being wrecked … How can you talk to me about protests?" he said. "I respect the will of the people. But be careful that when you express your will, you don't wreck your nation."
The flip side of el-Sissi's image as a tough-minded problem-solver has been his emotional shows of sympathy with the public. He speaks often of his "trust in God" and a need to return to moral values — while emphasizing tolerance and moderation. He also often makes specific appeals to women, saying they must take part in developing society.
"All Egypt's girls will be my daughters, God willing," he said in the interview, with a bashful smile.
In an appearance with a group of women, segments of which were broadcast earlier Tuesday, el-Sissi wooed the crowd by conjuring images of a woman taking care of her family —"the Egyptian woman who fears for her home, who turns off the heater and cooker and electricity. She is protecting her home and children."
"I am asking you to protect not just your small home, but also your big home, Egypt," he told the women, speaking in soft tones and giving adoring looks.
"We are with you in good and in bad!" one woman in the audience chanted.
On foreign policy, el-Sissi underlined in the TV interview that Egypt will abide by its 1979 peace treaty with Israel, saying "I respect all international accords, including the treaty with Israel." He urged Israel to make progress in stalled peace negotiations with the Palestinians, saying, "There is an opportunity to give the Palestinians hope, and that hope will open a lot of doors in the region."
Asked if he would visit Israel or receive an Israeli prime minister, he said, "They have to help us with something of value for the Palestinians. Let us see a Palestinian nation with Jerusalem as the capital. That would make us all happy."
Throughout his appearances, he has emphasized a need for stability. The turmoil on multiple fronts has worsened an economy already suffering from instability since the 2011 ouster of autocrat Hosni Mubarak.
Since Morsi's ouster, security forces have waged an unrelenting crackdown on his Muslim Brotherhood and its Islamist allies, killing hundreds and arresting thousands, as Morsi's supporters struggle to continue protests against what they call a coup against democracy. At the same time, Islamic militants have waged a campaign of attacks on police and the military. Secular pro-democracy activists fear that increased prominence of the security agencies — and the rise of another military man to the presidency — will mean a return to Mubarak-style autocracy.
In the first part of the TV interview, aired Monday night on the private TV stations ONTV and CBC, he said unequivocally that the Muslim Brotherhood will never return as an organization, accusing it of using militant groups as cover to destabilize the country. The government has already declared the Brotherhood a terrorist organization, though the group denies any link to militant groups.
"The coup leader's talk revealed a personality that is no less superficial than Mubarak … the weakness of their vision and their reliance on scaring the people not increasing their awareness," Mohammed Mahsoub, a member of a Brotherhood-led coalition and a member of the Islamist al-Wasat Party, wrote on Facebook.
Dia Rashwan, head of the journalists union and a host of a program on CBC that analyzed his appearances at length after the interview, said el-Sissi was aiming to present a confident, calm demeanour in his campaign.
"If he was loud, aggressive, he would lose his charisma in these tense circumstances, people wouldn't have loved him," Rashwan said. "Egypt needs calm."
But el-Sissi's carefully managed appearances brought criticism even from supporters.
"What we have seen from his closed meetings doesn't provide enough knowledge of the way the man who will (likely) rule Egypt," wrote Hamdy Rizk, a columnist in the Al-Masry al-Youm newspaper. He urged el-Sissi to hold a debate with the only other candidate in the race, leftist Hamdeen Sabahi, who has support among many of Egypt's youth behind anti-Mubarak uprising.
For Gamal Eid, a rights activist who had planned to boycott the election because he thought they were already settled in favour of el-Sissi, said he changed his mind after watching the campaign appearances — and will vote for Sabahi. He said he was angered by el-Sissi's comments in the interview denying that the powerful military ever had a political role and seeming to belittle the role of civil society, which was instrumental in the 2011 uprising.
"He sees it the same way as Mubarak," Eid said.


text:
Course Reserves General Information
for Seattle and Tacoma campus instructors
Placing material on Reserve
Instructors may place course-related materials on reserve for students including any combination of the following material types:
- UW Library Books
- Reserve staff will request circulating books from UW Library branches, which can take several weeks. If a title or edition is not owned by the libraries, staff may order one copy. Depending on availability, book orders may take 6-8 weeks. Please allow sufficient time.
Books from other libraries, including those borrowed through Summit and Interlibrary Loan, may not be placed on reserve.
- Personal Copies
- Instructors' personal copies of books and/or other materials may be placed on reserve at the owner's risk. Personal copies will be returned at the end of the quarter.
- Media Materials
Videotapes, DVDs, slides, and audio recordings can be placed on reserve. Learn more
Campus Reserve Units
- UW Seattle
206-543-2991 or 206-685-6975 - main reserves at Odegaard Library
(contacts for other units)
- UW Bothell/Cascadia
- UW Tacoma
Start early! Reserve lists are processed in the order received. Although reserve units do not have a firm deadline for receiving requests, instructors are encouraged to submit lists as early in advance of the quarter as possible. Requests may require a 2 week turnaround time at the beginning of the quarter.


text:
Other Country Sites
FREE BRA :: With Adapt Air Breast Forms
Cookie Policy
We use cookies to provide you with the best possible experience. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our use of cookies.
Find out more about managing your cookie settings.
About Us
Sign up to our newsletter and get 10% off your next order. You'll also receive advanced notice of our sales, and special offers that are tailored just for you.
Please enter your details.


text:
How To Monitor Student Progress
Register through school loop to receive daily emails.
Check: Attendance, Assignments and Grades through your School Loop Parent Account.
Have your child show you their assignments and compare their work to the rubrics found within the School Loop progress report (located in the "academics" section of the School Loop portal).
Review his/her plan for using tutorial class productively.
Contact teachers through LoopMail and/or phone: Teacher Directory.
Contact counselor through LoopMail and/or phone.


text:
Makatizen Card Launched – Makati to become Country's First Connected City
The Makati City government launched yesterday the Makatizen Card which will allow the city's 500,000 residents to access city government services and transact with the LGU – receive cash allowances, stipends, and other benefits – while allowing the cardholders to pay fees and taxes, remittances, and other financial transactions. The Makatizen Card also functions as an ATM card and is considered as a valid government ID card. The Card is in collaborations with Globe Telecom, GCash (G-Xchange Inc. or GXI), and iBayad Online Ventures.
Around 1,000 functioning sample Makatizen Cards were given out and tested yesterday morning. Beside the city residents, Makati City government employees can use their Makatizen Card to receive salaries and allowances.
The Makatizen Card comes with a Near-Field Communication (NFC) feature that allows city offices equipped with iBayad machine readers to verify the identity of residents and Makati City employees in a single tap. It stores the information which easily identifies the card holder availing of various city government services without the need to present additional documents.
GXI (GCash) will serve as the financial service provider for the Makatizen Card while iBayad will deploy the mPOS terminals and build the merchant network where the cards will be accepted.
Makati Mayor Abigail Binay: "The Makatizen Card goes beyond providing Makati citizens with instant access to essential services of the city government, which in itself is a major leap forward for the city. The wide range of digital and mobile services offers the people of Makati more convenient and cost-effective ways of meeting their day-to-day needs and obligations."
Ernest Cu, Globe President and CEO: "For the Philippines to truly become a digital nation, we need to fully take advantage of new digital opportunities and innovations to enable growth in every corner of our country. We laud the vision of the Makati City government whose support of this initiative is critical to build the city-wide digital ecosystem, a step towards the realization of our dream for the Philippines to become an admired nation."
Albert Tinio, President of GXI (GCash): "Each Makatizen Card carries the features of the GCash mobile wallet but is also customized to be used in the city-wide local merchant network. All services that they will get in Makati City, whether it is payment of taxes, cash allowances for health and other benefits, etc. will be directly credited to this GCash wallet that is linked to the card. They don't have to carry anything except this ID and their mobile phone."
iBayad Founder and CEO Paolo G. Saycon: "For us, the Makatizen Card Project is as much a social endeavour, as it is a business venture. This undertaking is aligned with iBayad's purpose of developing socially relevant and meaningful financial innovations that will transform the way people pay. Our objective is to accelerate the adoption and transformation of every consumer's traditional spending behaviour from cash-centric to electronic payments."
More on Globe Telecom
Globe has been ramping up network investments in a bid to amplify benefits of its new spectrum assets and enhance mobile services particularly for data. The company has announced a capital spend of $750 million for the year in an effort to continuously improve mobile and data services. Globe is also aggressively building on its fiber broadband services, aiming to create an internet super highway nationwide. The company aims to deploy fiber optics in 20,000 barangays by 2020 which will provide ultra-fast internet access to around 2 million homes nationwide.
Globe Business, the enterprise information and communications technology (ICT) arm of Globe, is leading the way in encouraging local government units like Makati City to adopt the integration of ICT and governance as a means of improving the delivery of government services and exchange of information. The said initiative supports Globe's drive to transform the Philippines into a digital nation by instilling the importance of eGovernance to offices ranging from the local government units up to the national government.
One of the capabilities derived from an improved mobile and broadband infrastructure is the creation of a city-wide cashless ecosystem wherein e-payment methods such as e-money and debit/credit cards are utilized instead of physical cash. This will benefit not only the residents but also schools, hospitals, government offices, transportation facilities, and other micro, small, and medium-size enterprises.
The Makatizen Card is a product of the Makati City government, Globe Telecom, GCash (GXI) and iBayad, as part of the thrust of Makati City to be the first connected city.
Source: Press release from Globe Telecom Corporate Communications
Photos from source.
Title photo caption: (L-R): Makati City Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo; SVP for Enterprise Peter Maquera; Chief Commercial Officer Albert de Larrazabal; Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu; Makati City Mayor Abby Binay; GXI President Abet Tinio; Makati City Administrator Claro Certeza; iBayad CEO Paulo Saycon.


text:
Katherine Savitt is the Chief Executive Officer and a director of Lockerz, LLC, a website offering social network, entertainment and commerce for 13-30 year olds. Formed in 2009 with 50 members, the invitation-only site has rapidly grown to 14 million members in 195 countries. Before founding Lockerz, Savitt was Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. from March 2006 to January 2009, where she led both the global marketing efforts of the company's four brands as well as the digital and ecommerce businesses for the Corporation. Prior to joining American Eagle Outfitters, Kathy served as Vice President of Strategic Communications, Content and Entertainment Initiatives of Amazon.com from 2002 to February 2006, and also served on Jeff Bezos' S-team (senior management committee). From 1993 to 2002, Kathy served as President and co-Founder of MWW/Savitt, an integrated marketing communications and public relations firm. Kathy has extensive senior leadership experience with retail, e-commerce, content and social media businesses and, in addition to being a Lockerz director, currently is a member of the Board of Directors of Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. and Build-A-Bear Workshop.
Comments on this page are now closed.
Dear Katherine, I appreciated very much your speech. And I wuuld be grateful if you could share or send me your presentation (email@example.com). Thank you in advance Pepe
Reach business leaders and technology influencers at the Web 2.0 Summit. Call Rob Koziura at (415) 947-6111 or email email@example.com
View a complete list of Web 2.0 Summit contacts.


text:
Greenville University offers an emergency notification system to students and employees. With this system, a "GU Alert" is sent to your cell phone as a text-message and/or as an e-mail to your e-mail address.
Your information will only be used for contacting you in the event of an emergency and will not be shared. You will also have the option to have GU Alert automatically notify you in the event of a Tornado Warning.
For additional information, see the FAQ's below.
GU Alerts are messages about an emergency. The message may alert you to an emergency situation, ask you to take action, or both. The messages are short (only 160 characters long). For more detailed information, you may need to go to another source of college emergency information.
You must have a phone that is capable of receiving either text messages or e-mail or have a computer that can receive e-mail to receive the notifications.
While GU uses a number of distribution methods to notify you of an emergency, using the Emergency Notification System could save you critical time depending on upon your location.
No. Registering for the Emergency Notification System will not alter the emergency contact information listed in your student or employee records.
This is a free service provided by Greenville College . However, your cell phone provider may charge you for receiving text messages (SMS). Check your service agreement for details. Service costs from your cellular provider are your responsibility.
Attempting to call everyone could take hours. This is an important factor especially during a time sensitive emergency. GU Alerts will be short and are meant to make registrants aware that there is an emergency and direct them to other college resources for additional information.
GU Alerts are used during emergencies that threaten life safety on a campus and/or severely impacts normal campus/college operations.
GU is planning on sending a test message once per semester to verify your subscription to this service and to ensure the system is working properly. Announcements will be posted when this test is to take place.
All systems, including email and text message systems are subject to failure due to emergencies or disasters. The emergency notification system itself is not reliant on power at GU and therefore should continue to operate in a power failure on campus, although some systems, such as your computer could be affected by a local power outage. While our emergency notification system is a valuable addition, we cannot guarantee that it will work in all emergencies. This is why we have and are building additional redundant systems of emergency communication.
At any time, you can simply return to the Emergency Notification sign-up page and click the unsubscribe button. Enter the contact information you used to register and then select the unsubscribe box at the bottom of the page.
If your contact information has changed, follow the instructions above to unsubscribe the information that has changed. You must register again with your new contact information.
Please email any additional questions or report problems to the Campus Safety Office at [email protected] or call 618.664.7118.
Please note that no communication distribution method, including text messaging, is infallible. For that reason, GU uses redundant systems of emergency communication, including telephone, Internet, e-mail, radio, and person-to person, to distribute news and instructions during an emergency.


text:
Skip to content
Living a Radiant Life after Breast Cancer
Toggle Sidebar
Tag: Whole breast radiation
April 9, 2016
May 23, 2016
Intra-Operative Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer
Continue reading
February 15, 2016
May 23, 2016
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
Continue reading
January 3, 2016
May 23, 2016
How I Kept a-Breast
Continue reading
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here:
Cookie Policy


text:
- Income Investing
For Junk Bonds, Rate Risk Threatens, Emerging Markets Beckon
- Order Reprints
- Print Article
The junk-bond market has slowed a bit in the past few weeks, although it's still returned 2.5% already this year. The so-called "high yield" market's average yield is now down to a pretty meager 5.37%, and such low starting yields expose junk bonds to heightened levels of risk if interest rates rise, which isn't typically a great concern for junk-bond investors. Wesley Sparks and Martha Metcalf, head of U.S. fixed income and senior high-yield portfolio manager, respectively, at Schroders, argue that investors might be better off doing some comparison shopping elsewhere, like in emerging-market high-yield bonds:
In the current market environment of compressed credit spreads, high yield investors need to be increasingly diligent to find value and ensure they are amply compensated for risks incurred. One particularly good opportunity may lie in emerging markets, which have materially underperformed their developed market peers over the past 12 months. High yield bonds in emerging markets now provide a pick-up in yield of nearly 250 bps over comparably rated high yield credit in the US.... Given the volatility in emerging markets, investors may want to be cautious on implementing large scale asset allocation changes all at once, but current valuations justify beginning to capitalize on some of these investment opportunities.
Sparks and Metcalf also warn about rate risk in domestic high yield:
We continue to be more concerned about interest rate risk than credit risk as being the primary threat to high yield returns in 2014, and we carry a slight short duration posture in the portfolio as we expect that the next major move in US Treasury yields will be to higher levels, not lower. Should volatility increase in coming weeks or months, we believe that investors will once again view wider spreads and higher yields as a buying opportunity in the high yield asset class.
And they caution investors to monitor the growing impact of M&A and leveraged buyouts on junk-bond investors, which can be either good or bad:
As the credit cycle continues to age in 2014, investors should monitor the market for the pace of merger & acquisition activity, LBO activity, equity IPOs and other corporate actions that can profoundly impact high yield bond valuations. M&A activity has been increasing, and bond investors in high yield credit are benefitting as many investment grade companies acquire smaller, lower-rated companies that have valuable assets and better growth prospects. We expect the dispersion of returns across issuers to increase this year as idiosyncratic risk becomes a greater driver of returns.


text:
Extra Information
- Safe & Secure Payment
- Free Parking
- Parking Facilities
- Golf Course Nearby
- Family Rooms
- City Centre
- Wifi
- Luxury
- Vegetarian
- Romantic Breaks
- Walking Holidays
General Policy
Belle Dene Guest HouseBooking Terms, Conditions & Cancellation Policy
Upon acceptance of a booking Belle Dene Guest House requires a credit or debit card number whereupon a non-refundable deposit equal to the first night will be taken.
If a guest cancels the booking 2 days or less prior to arrival or in the case of a no-show then the full cost of the booking will be charged to the credit card used to book the reservation. We would recommend taking out cancellation insurance to cover any eventuality.
If a Guest shows unsuitability to stay at Belle Dene because of unreasonable behaviour or nuisance to other guests he/she and accompanying party will be asked to leave and any replacement due to damage or extra cleaning required due to excessive soiling will be charge to the credit card used to book the reservation.
No Smoking Policy
It is now the law that smoking is not allowed inside the Guest House and Belle Dene operates a strict non-smoking policy. By booking with us you accept that if you break this policy or are suspected of having broken it your booking will be cancelled. No refund will be given and you will be asked to leave. You may also incur extra cleaning charges.
Non-availability of Accommodation
We would only cancel your holiday if your accommodation was unavailable for reasons beyond our control. We would refund all monies paid by you for the booking. Our liability would not extend beyond this refund.
We do not accept any liability for any damage, loss or injury to any member of your party or any vehicles or possessions, unless proven to be caused by a negligent act by ourselves or our employees or contractors whilst acting in the course of employment.
The number of people occupying a room must not exceed the allocation allowed at the time of the booking. Only registered guests may enter the property and will be allocated keys.
Unless by prior arrangement arrival is between 2.00 p.m. – 6.00 p.m.
Check out time on the day of departure is 10.00 a.m.
Sorry we do not allow stag or hen groups or pets.
We may change our Terms and Conditions without notice. If you require a copy of these Terms & Conditions in larger print please ask.


text:
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a book that allows the reader to gain an understanding of what it is like to immigrate from one culture to another that is dramatically different. As the father-in-law of an Indian-born naturalized citizen, I feel this book has given me a much better grasp of the large community people that have become related, through marriage, to my daughter.
In all honesty, I should give this book five stars. Lahiri is a masterful writer with a unique voice that pours her character's conflicted emotions directly into the reader's consciousness and makes it easy to view their life as each of those characters see it. Though a work of fiction, this story feels real and challenges the reader to examine his or her own life through just such a clear and honest lens. I did not give it a five because I found the book depressing. I'm too much of a romantic to accept that love is so easily gained and lost; that a real connection between two people can be cut completely and irretrievably. The main character finds and loses love many times and I could feel myself losing empathy for him–I didn't want to be in position to feel the pain that is obviously coming. In many ways, it appears that this is what Gogol himself does.
In terms of the clarity of the writing, I count this among the novels that set the standard to which I aspire.


text:
After the Volpe undresses, a new collection of bejeweled underthings await your voyeur. Casa del Shai introduces two new additions to the glamourous Boudoir line.
The Selena Lingerie Set is calling for glamourous festivities behind the velvet rope. The french vintage lace sets the tone of the evening as it illuminates the jewel tones of each piece. Complementing your decollete, Selena is made of rich satins and little girl bows. A dream of purple, blue, fuschia and seafoam will make you feel sexy underneath it all.
The Phoebe Lingerie Set is playful underwear worth your holiday dreams. Set in this season's hottest plaid, accentuated in ruffles and lace, she is most herself in the bedroom listening to her tunes in bed. Each piece is color coordinated with matching panties, a pair of stockings and garters making sure you play Santa Baby tonite.
Both Lingerie Sets availabe at the Casa del Shai Boudoir section in the sim. Enjoy!


text:
- Home
- Treats
- Antlers, Bones & Rawhide
- Himalayan Dog Chews - Large Pack (3.5 oz.)
Himalayan Dog Chews - Large Pack (3.5 oz.)
Product Description
This durable dog treat is a great way to spoil your pup! These can last for hours. Your dog will have snacking entertainment for hours on end, nothing is more exciting than that. And, at 100% digestible, you won't be finding small pieces hidden around the house.This is the perfect dog treat.
What is a Himalayan Dog Chew?
In the Himalayas, the chew comes from an ancient recipe that is used by the locals to create a long-lasting snack that they can slowly work in their mouths while they are working in the fields. It is now a great tasting, long lasting dog chew.
Guaranteed Analysis
Protein 52.6%. Carbohydrates 30.3%. Fat 0.9%. Ash Food 6.0%. Moisture 10.2%.
Yak and cow milk. Salt and lime juice.
What makes Himalayan Dog Chews so special?
Dogs must work the end of the treat for hours, softening it with their mouth before small parts of it can be slowly scraped off. It is 100% natural with no preservatives. It is an authentic type of cheese eaten by the people of the Himalayas. When you give this chew to your dog, you know that you are providing them with hours of high quality eating entertainment. Unlike rawhides, these chews are 100% digestible.
Isn't milk supposed to be bad for dogs? Milk in its raw form is what is difficult for dogs to digest. Once it is made into cheese, the cooking process actually alters the protein making it more easily digested. In addition, this product is extremely hard and long lasting, and so the amount of dairy that the dog consumes at one time is limited. Generally speaking, about 10% of the dogs that try these experiences an initial loose stool or gas that is quickly resolved. There has never been a problem with repeated or lasting GI issues.
Isn't salt/sodium supposed to be bad for dogs? The amount of salt included in the creation of these chews is negligible. It is included by the people as a flavor enhancer, not for the flavor itself.
Is the cheese fattening for dogs? The fat content is less than 1% of the whole product. But like any treat/chew, make sure you dog is not just eating these and is eating their dog food as well.
Are these fair trade? Yes, currently, the himalayan dog chew's Beyond Fair Trade policy is contributing to the economic development of the world's second poorest nation in Nepal. They are purchased directly from the farmers and help them make that extra money in one year, that they would not be able to make in five years.
Where are the chew manufactured? The hard cheeses are collected from rural community co-ops in the Himalayans (currently Eastern Nepal and West Bengla in India), which are then made using traditional methods for human (and dog) consumption.
What size should I give my dog? No size is too big and you can always give larger chews to smaller dogs without any problem. Generally speaking the small size is intended for dogs under 20lbs, medium for dogs 20-55lbs, and large for dogs bigger than 55lbs. If you have a voracious chewer, your dog should be given the largest size available and observed during the initial 15 minutes after the dog is introduced to the product. If it appears as though the dog is going to inhale the entire product before those 15 minutes are up, you should take the toy away and reintroduce it at a later time.
Product Reviews
Find Similar Products by Category
Customers also viewed


text:
|Looks like a job for Light Bulb Repair-Man
Are display devices becoming like light bulbs?
Today, I ran across an article by Jay Goldberg in VentureBeat about his latest trip to Shenzshen, China.
Android tablets are selling in Shenzhen at $45 each, brand new.
"Hardware is dead".
This was a 7-inch tablet, Wi-Fi only with all the attributes of a good tablet. Capacitive touchscreen. Snappy processor. Front facing camera. 4GB of internal memory and an expandable memory slot.
The title is misleading. The hardware isn't dead. In the industry, it's called "commoditization", where yesterday's unique must-have hardware becomes mass produced, and competition renders it the price of an ear of corn. Apples may truly become apples. Even as Apple and Samsung fight over the patent on the tablet and touch phone, the fact that the critical component - the small touch screen - was not owned / invented by either, has taken over reality.I later found out that these devices are now all over the supply chain in Shenzhen. At volume, say 20,000 units, you can get them for $35 apiece. My device ran full Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and had access to the full Google API, including Gmail, Maps, YouTube and Google Play (not quite sure how that works either).Once my heart started beating again, the first thing I thought was, "I thought the screen alone would cost more than $45." My next thought was, "This is really bad news for anyone who makes computing hardware."
This is not a small deflation.
Yes, it is still aggravating that OEMs seem to manufacture devices NOT to be upgradeable or repairable. But if they are producing them at 10 percent the cost of a year ago, that may undermine the tinkerer blessing.
Eventually, we want technology to become cheap, like the light bulb. If Chinese labor brings it there faster, the commodity becomes more affordable. Hopefully, the production is environmentally sustainable. I'm happier owning a 45 dollar product which my pals in Africa can afford to chat back with me on, than I am with a $850 device which I play solitaire on.
But this might not be something IFIXIT.org Fixers can survive. Perhaps this is not something fair trade reuse can survive. We can re-harvest components. But I have chilly feeling that the opportunities for reuse and refurb might go the way of the light bulb.
The first light bulbs lasted forever and might even be repaired, as the Chinese used to repair even imploded cathode ray tubes. They used to actually recut, re-phosphor, and re-mold the tubes, the reuse of the glass was actually worth that. That was given up on as the price of used ones fell, and soon they gave up on polishing them a few years later.
Now the CRT tube is like a light bulb. If the vacuum is gone, if the tube is blown, it's waste. No one on earth is recutting the tubes anymore. But at least it took a decade.
Demand for the LCDs we used to sell from the dismantled computer monitors collapsed last spring; prices for used working and repairable LCD screens are falling fast.
My friends in Africa and South America already have the choice of buying used TVs from China. At $45 per tablet, they will soon be selling new computer devices like plastic shoes.
If the devices become small, light, and reuseable enough, the need to mine raw materials for them may actually dampen as well. If the software doesn't bloat them into obsolescence, we may all find ourselves with all that we need, the consumption fever may abate.


text:
The Real Sun, Unmasked
By Catherine Clabby
The Solar Dynamics Observatory produces stunning images while investigating the origins of space storms.
The Solar Dynamics Observatory produces stunning images while investigating the origins of space storms.
From 150 million kilometers away, the Sun seems like a model of consistency. Day after day the colossal nuclear reactor bathes Earth in steady streams of electromagnetic energy. That radiation keeps the planet's climate in balance and anchors our food webs. But take a closer look and it becomes clear that our star has a hidden side that is more complicated, impulsive, and sometimes downright dangerous.
Like all stars, the Sun is highly dynamic. Sometimes it produces powerful magnetic eruptions, including solar flares and coronal mass ejections. These occur on a wide range of scales. In 1859, the most powerful recorded solar storm to hit Earth sent electrical surges sparking down telegraph networks and lit up brilliant aurora displays as far south as Cuba. Today, a geomagnetic disturbance on that scale could cause extensive damage to satellites, GPS systems, power grids, and radio communications. Although estimates are uncertain, the cost could exceed $1 trillion according to a National Research Council report.
A network of observing stations, in space and on the ground, now watches the Sun across a wide range of electromagnetic wavelengths to monitor its effect on space weather and to provide advance warning when major storms are headed our way. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is the newest member of this network. It circles 36,000 kilometers above the ground, in a geosynchronous orbit that keeps it roughly above northern Mexico. From that vantage point, SDO's instruments are producing some of the most stunning images ever made of the Sun and capturing events in real time.
"In the past images were taken every 3 or 15 minutes or half an hour. Now we're taking one every 12 seconds. If you see something happen, you can now go back in the database and see what happened beforehand. That allows you to study the little things that likely influence the big things," says Dean Pesnell, project scientist for SDO, which launched in 2010. The observatory also records the Sun in 13 different wavelengths. Each wavelength reveals different details in the Sun's surface, the photosphere, the overlying chromosphere, and into the corona, the Sun's atmosphere.
Magnetism is key to understanding solar activity, because the Sun is composed not of atoms but of plasma, a brew of positively charged ions and negatively charged electrons. The motion of that electrically conductive plasma—stirred by convection, rotation, and the force of escaping solar winds—creates twisted and variable magnetic fields. When these fields interact, they can unleash the energy that powers flares and mass ejections. "The Sun's magnetic field makes all this happen. We want to know where it comes from. We want to know how it gets to the surface. We want to know how it gets destroyed," says Pesnell. The Sun goes through an 11-year cycle of activity, currently near its peak, but eruptions can happen any time. (See "Reconnecting Magnetic Fields," September–October 2009.)
One instrument aboard SDO measures the strength and direction of the Sun's magnetic fields by observing and interpreting how light travels through those fields. Another way to study fields is to study "Sun-grazing" comets that interact with magnetic fields while passing through the Sun's corona. "Magnetic fields in the higher part of the solar atmosphere are very difficult to measure," says C. Alex Young, associate director for science for NASA's heliophysics science division. "By observing this with SDO, we have a new, indirect way to determine the magnetic fields, one of the keys to understanding the causes of space weather." SDO is also monitoring coronal holes, temporary openings in the corona where the solar wind escapes at very high speeds, around 750 kilometers per second. A British team has just reported that fast solar winds seem to increase the number of lightning storms here on Earth. (See "The Origin of the Solar Wind," November–December 2002.)
Although the current solar cycle is quieter than the few that came before, the Sun is hardly calm. In January, a huge solar flare delayed the launch of a private rocket transporting cargo to the International Space Station. Orbital Sciences, the maker of the spacecraft, did not want to risk radiation from the flare damaging the rocket's gyroscopes or avionics. Data from SDO helped the company make that call.
Even better views of how the Sun releases energy are on the way. The Magnetospheric Multiscale mission, to be launched by NASA in 2015, will study how the Earth's magnetic field lines break apart and reconnect, improving our understanding of space weather and solar magnetism in general. A far more daring mission is Solar Probe Plus, which NASA intends to launch by 2018. It will swing within 7 million kilometers of the Sun's surface, far closer than any other spacecraft has managed.
Solar Probe Plus will sample the Sun's atmosphere to better understand how solar particles are energized. It will be our world's first space mission to a star.
Click "American Scientist" to access home page


text:
Page 1
|Save page Remove page
|1 of 376
small (250x250 max)
medium (500x500 max)
Large (1000x1000 max)
Extra Large
large ( > 500x500)
Full Resolution
All (PDF)
This page
MULTIRACIAL POLITICS OR THE POLITICS OF BEING MULTIRACIAL?: RACIAL THEORY, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND SOCIO-POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN A CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY by Jungmiwha Suk Bullock A Dissertation Presented to the FACULTY OF THE USC GRADUATE SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (AMERICAN STUDIES AND ETHNICITY) August 2010 Copyright 2010 Jungmiwha Suk Bullock
Object Description
|Multiracial politics or the politics of being multiracial ?: Racial theory, civic engagement, and socio-political participation in a contemporary society
|Bullock, Jungmiwha Suk
|Author email
|email@example.com; email@example.com
|Doctor of Philosophy
|Document type
|Degree program
|American Studies & Ethnicity
|College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
|Date defended/completed
|Date submitted
|Restricted until
|Date published
|Advisor (committee chair)
|Saito, Leland
|Advisor (committee member)
Wong, Janelle S.
Messner, Michael A.
|This dissertation examines the impacts of historical and contemporary racial theories, socio-political movements, and grassroots mobilization efforts of community-based organizations in transforming the politics to define multiracial identity and the "two or more races" population in the United States. Using an interdisciplinary and mixed methods research approach, I investigate the shifting and contested ways the multiracial population is defined in public and private discourses, paying particular attention to the complexities this community raises within and among monoracial identified communities. Examining the multiracial population in the U.S. has a significant and critical place in the larger trajectory of social scientific scholarship on race, gender, class, and other intersecting identities. This body of research counters the argument that multiple identity formation is inconsequential to theory, civic engagement, and socio-political participation in a contemporary society. This study urges scholars to (re)examine how race and ethnicity continues to be framed, analyzed, interrogated, and understood in ways that are restricted by historically racist/racialized moments that still linger today. These moments, I argue, are sharpened and more pronounced when centering the politics of what it means to claim a multiracial identity in America in the twenty-first century.; Three primary research questions examined in this study are: 1) How do we define the multiracial population in the United States and what do these definitions offer about racial and ethnic ideologies and the future for public policy post-Census 2000?; 2) What critical insights can centering the experiences of multiracial Americans and the efforts to define them on the local, state, and/or national levels (publicly and privately), offer for other groups in American society?; and 3) Under what conditions is it possible to politically mobilize around this shifting and contested category and what are the unmet needs of this emerging population?; The theoretical model for this study was Grounded Theory. Principle data collection methods were the "insider-outsider" and case study research approaches using extensive face-to-face audio and/or photographed interviews; participant and field observations of key local, state, and national events, including U.S. Census proceedings and California Senate Judiciary hearings; and content analysis of primary and secondary documents, including media coverage and organizational archives. Data was collected between 2004 and 2009 in Los Angeles, Washington DC, Chicago, New York, and Sacramento. These cities exhibited the most heightened multiracial activity across the country in this timeframe. I also investigated exclusive, never before documented, behind the scenes initiatives to recognize the unmet needs of this emerging population through an in-depth case study of the Association of MultiEthnic Americans (AMEA)—one of the oldest leading national advocacy organizations for multiracial, multiethnic, and transracially adopted individuals, families, organizations, and allies.
|racial theory; multiracial politics; multiracial identity; racial and ethnic identity formation; racial formation theory; race, ethnicity, and culture; interracial; political participation; civic engagement; social movements; race and politics in the 21st century; hegemony; racial and ethnic discourse; mixed race; intersectionality; United States census; Association of MultiEthnic Americans; AMEA; transracial adoption; community based organizing; grassroots mobilization
|Geographic subject
|capitals: District of Columbia
|Geographic subject (city or populated place)
|Los Angeles; Sacramento; Chicago; New York
|Geographic subject (state)
|California; Illinois; New York
|Coverage date
|Part of collection
|University of Southern California dissertations and theses
|Publisher (of the original version)
|University of Southern California
|Place of publication (of the original version)
|Los Angeles, California
|Publisher (of the digital version)
|University of Southern California. Libraries
|Electronically uploaded by the author
|Legacy record ID
|Contributing entity
|University of Southern California
|Bullock, Jungmiwha Suk
|Repository name
|Libraries, University of Southern California
|Repository address
|Los Angeles, California
|Repository email
|Archival file
|Page 1
|Contributing entity
|University of Southern California
|Repository email
|Full text
|MULTIRACIAL POLITICS OR THE POLITICS OF BEING MULTIRACIAL?: RACIAL THEORY, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND SOCIO-POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN A CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY by Jungmiwha Suk Bullock A Dissertation Presented to the FACULTY OF THE USC GRADUATE SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (AMERICAN STUDIES AND ETHNICITY) August 2010 Copyright 2010 Jungmiwha Suk Bullock


text:
|Thread Tools
Update on Streetbeasts lawsuits and George G. Levin
Just wanted to bring everyone up to date on some very interesting developments in the Streetbeasts lawsuit(s), and start a new fundraiser to cover new legal fees. For background, you can check out the original lawsuit post. In a nutshell, 3 frivolous lawsuits have been filed against me by Streetbeasts and its owner, George G. Levin, in an attempt to push for takedown on an article that reveals the connection between Streetbeasts and Classic Motor Carriages, a kit car company that pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges. This is a pathetic attempt to bully us out of our First Amendment rights. We haven't budged an inch, and the article has stayed online, largely thanks to donations to our legal fund from Hotrodders.com members.
I saw a thread in which some people had already noticed that George G. Levin, the owner of Streetbeasts and Classic Motor Carriages, has had his name in the press lately, in association with an alleged $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme in Florida. Scott Rothstein, a Florida lawyer, was arrested last week on various federal fraud and racketeering charges, including violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), often used to prosecute the Mafia and others involved in organized crime. Federal agents have been busy seizing Rothstein's assets: mansions, boats, and a car collection that included Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Rolls-Royces, and a couple of Bugatti Veyrons.
Press reports indicate that Streetbeasts's owner, George G. Levin, through various investment companies, allegedly lured people into putting hundreds of millions of dollars into Rothstein's fraudulent investment deals. According to the Miami Herald, Levin has been named as a defendant in a lawsuit that alleges he was a co-conspirator of Rothstein. The head of the FBI's South Florida Division has stated that "The investigation is far from over", and the FBI is now investigating Rothstein's accomplices. Levin has hired a PR firm, and, through his spokesman, maintains that he himself was a victim of the scheme. Here's a photo of Levin and Rothstein together.
The Florida press has picked up on the lawsuits against me, and published links to the wiki article and this forum. See this article for details: Rothstein Feeder George Levin's Ugly Past. More details are in this article: Unveiling Rothstein's Top Investor, and in the Wikipedia article on Scott Rothstein.
How does this affect the lawsuits filed by Streetbeasts and George G. Levin over the wiki article? I don't know, and we might not know for a long time, as the case progresses. Nevertheless, we still need to raise more money to pay for legal fees. So, I'm asking that everyone please take a moment and think of what this website is worth to you. Or, better yet, think about what it's worth to you to be able to speak freely about any company in this industry. Then, consider donating one-tenth, one-twentieth, or one-hundredth of that amount to the legal fund. If everyone who frequented this website did that, then we would have plenty of money for costs and attorney's fees. See this post for more details on donating via PayPal, mail, or by auctioning off a spare part you don't need.
You'll notice a new tachometer fundraising graphic at the top of forum pages to kick off a new fundraising drive to cover legal fees (thanks Doodler and Only Racing for their donations of artwork). If we can push that tach to 10,000 rpm, and raise $10,000, we should be well-equipped to fight this next round, beat back Streetbeasts and George G. Levin, and keep the article online.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
This is good news for Hotrodders Jon and bad for Mr Levin, a Rico is nothing to sneeze at. Surely the cases you are involved with will be looked at with open eyes now as they will not want anymore bad PR.
Maybe this thread should be kept near the top of the page.
This is very interesting guys. It's worth the time it takes to read it.
That is wild, absolutly wild.
It is wild but good reading.
You would have thought with that kind of money he would have bought a better looking wife.
|The Following User Says Thank You to BarryK For This Useful Post:
killick (03-26-2013)
Cobalt, my bad!
Looked like he had more money then Tiger Woods and I should have never ***-u-me his tastes were as good.
When he goes to jail at least his wife will have enough money to buy the cabana boy of her choice, I might send her a picture of me but with a nose that has been broke over 300 times, jaw twice and ribs held together with Duramix and riding in a wheel chair, she may not want to push me around, LOL, she could do better.
Jon, check is in mail today and thank you.
Last edited by BarryK; 12-11-2009 at 11:59 AM.
Enterprises of George G. Levin
Howdy Jon,
Longtime reader of these related threads, first time donating.
Through outside sources, news etc., it seems that the main issue customers have with enterprises associated with George G. Levin is the perception that, "you don't get what you pay for". Perception is people's "reality".
This includes (but may not be limited to) CMC, Streetbeasts, Banyon Income Fund, Innovative Street Machines etc.
Anecdotal evidence implies that, in fact, this perception IS reality. The propensity for occurance increases...well, increasingly happens ESPECIALLY during a "Bear" market. Look in the comments section of this link:
Here's what 2 Canadian Street Beasts Customers had to say...
Re: StreetBeast
by Bruce Houghton
I have a 67 year old broken heart. December 5,2007, I order the 34 Ford Coup($5,000.00 down) and waited. Many phone calls with many excuses for answers, I finally get the letter. Feburary 24, 2008, Bob Southern, StreetBeasts.
"Due to the current economy, we are down sizing our 50,000 square foot factory. If you don't pay the remaining $10,475.87 within 90 days from the date of this letter..."
WELL, you can guess the rest. Bye bye $5,000.00.
Sad, sad day.
Bruce Houghton
Markham Ontario,
Mar 13th, 2009 @ 11:51amRe: Re: StreetBeast
by neil saulnier
Hi.I also just got the same letter about paying the balance for my car. Deposit paid in July /August 08 recieved letter March 13,2009. Pay balance $12,445.00 within 90 days or loose it. Neil Saulnier Nova Scotia Canada
Well, perhaps there is more than just "anecdotal" evidence
I wish I could find a working link to the South Florida commercial building transaction (again associated with George G. Levin's real estate arm) that was allegedly sold with a substantial lien against it to an unsuspecting buyer....
There seems to be a concerted effort to silence free speech as it pertains to GGL both inside & outside of your wonderful website.
I found another interesting "error" in the content of the wikipedia link you present at the top of this post (Rothstein).
...."Streetbeasts" is misspelled. I'd argue deliberately. Hard to use a search engine to find something that's misspelled....
"Athough a convicted felon, GGL hounded Rado's estate for the payment of $80,000 in attorney's fees.
The state of Florida filed suit against the company alleging deceptive business practices and civil theft. A special assistant attorney general, Herbert Stettin lead the investigation. Stettin is now the trustee overseeing the Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler bankruptcy case.
Levin continues to sell kit cars under a different company name, treetBeasts.[72]"
Misspelled Streetbeasts
Cool, all the links worked wonderfully, it was just "interesting" how Streetbeasts was misspelled "treatbeasts"....and, knowing how these wiki's are edited, "why". lol
Jon noticed the misspelling too.
Of course, conspiracy theorists abound--and after reading the 82 page thread on Streatbeasts, there's plenty of justification for paranoia on people, their posts and their motives! I also noticed there was no wiki on George G. Levin nor on Streetbeasts on wikipedia. That would make the improperly spelled "Streetbeasts" unable to be searched at wikipedia.com.
Glad to see that the "spelling" error was corrected . Fortunately, our wiki article is #1 in Google for searches for "George G. Levin".
We are up from $638 in donations to $1,183. Thanks new donors
New stuff mentioning George G. Levin:
--Levin lawyers up
--Levin memo on hiring lawyer (interesting comments on that one)
According to the South Florida Business Journal, a "creditors committee" was formed, of entities owed money in the alleged Ponzi -- but the committee is missing an important name. From the article:
I'm working on getting some more court documents from lawsuits involving George G. Levin. They should also be "interesting".
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Jeez what a trainwreck.
Thanks all new donors! We've already doubled the amount of funds raised when I started this thread -- we're up to $1,308 .
The South Florida Business Journal is reporting that another lawsuit has been filed against Levin and his investment company: Lawsuit: Levin Guaranteed Rothstein Funds. Also, see this article in the Sun-Sentinel: New Lawsuit Filed Against Banyon Feeder
Accompanying the articles is a very interesting document. It's a Powerpoint presentation -- they're saying it's part of the sales pitch of Levin's Banyon companies, which, according to their article, put $775 million of investor money into Rothstein's alleged Ponzi scheme. The presentation lists various properties and companies as George G. Levin's "holdings", including a couple of hotels, a yacht company, and Street Beasts. The Powerpoint presentation, marked "confidential and proprietary" is available in PDF format here: Powerpoint presentation.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Hope he gets everything he deserves.
I lost a deposit I made to Classic Motor Carriages for a Speedster kit. They took the money and filed bankruptcy a few months later.
Bad people out there...
Last edited by 66 Restomod; 12-15-2009 at 05:06 PM.
|Recent Hotrodders' Lounge posts with photos
|Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|Thread Tools
|Similar Threads
|Thread Starter
|Last Post
|Streetbeasts attacks our free speech with a frivolous lawsuit against me
|Hotrodders' Lounge


text:
Just 30 minutes from downtown Brisbane, the delightful holiday centre of Redcliffe is a perfect combination of sun, sand and sea. It has so much to offer visitors who wish to escape the stress of modern living with 22 kilometres of soft sandy beaches, spectacular views across Moreton Bay from the Hornibrook Highway and mouth watering seafood restaurants.
There are many activities to enjoy from historic walks to Settlement Cove Lagoon, cycling along the 35 kilometres of scenic bikeways and exploring the pristine wetlands. The unique wilderness of Moreton Island is easily accessible from Redcliffe for day visits and camping.
Redcliffe was the site of the first European settlement in Queensland in 1824. Since then, Redcliffe has blossomed into a festive city, ideal for families. The Redcliffe KiteFest and Redcliffe Festival of Sails, are just some of the local celebrations.
Discover Redcliffe's rich and fascinating history at the museum, or be entertained viewing vintage movies, browsing art galleries, or watching whales and dolphins at play.
Note: Information on listed products and services are provided by the operator and were correct at the time of publishing. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Please visit the operator's website for further information. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD).


text:
Low-Hat with Mitchell Mount
Regular price $ 195.00
The item is Fully Inspected, Tested and Cleaned by our Technicians.
Works Properly.
Condition rated between Good to Like New.
Standard accessories are included.
1 Months Warranty against manufacturer defects included; warranty does not cover drops, spills, moisture or impact damage.
Stock image shown.
Contact us for more specific information on this item.


text:
|{nastygal bustier, diy levis studded shorts, michael kors gold watch, f21 spike bracelet, h&m rings, brandy melville ring, steve madden brizza bag, h&m bracelet, gojane booties}
Happy memorial day weekend everyone!
i just got done making these shorts, and i absolutely love them!
i took a pair of boys levis and cut them to make them into shorts, studded them, and distressed them.
1 week of vacay in LA left and then back to omaha :/


text:
Omaha, Neb., June 26, 2013 – Union Pacific Railroad has been named a 2013 Best Diversity Company by the readers of Diversity Careers in Engineering and Information Technology for the fifth consecutive year. The magazine honors companies, government agencies and other organizations for their support of minorities and women, attention to work/life balance and supplier diversity commitment.
"We are honored to be recognized for our continued efforts to support a skilled and diverse workforce," said Roy Schroer, Union Pacific vice president - Human Resources. "Attracting and retaining a diverse team of employees leads to better ideas and solutions, which is crucial to Union Pacific's long-term success."
Union Pacific supports eight employee resource groups that work to recruit, retain and advance talented and diverse employees. For example, the Lead, Educate, Achieve and Develop (LEAD) group unites women across Union Pacific by providing professional development and networking opportunities, and the Asian Employee Resource Organization (AERO) works to build awareness of this diverse culture through engagement in the company and community. Additional employee resource groups include the Black Employee Network (BEN), Bridges (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender group), the Council of Native American Heritage (CONAH), the Latino Employee Network (LEN), UP Ties (an emerging professionals network), and UP VETS (supporting current and active military veteran employees).
Union Pacific offers minority and women-owned businesses an opportunity to compete with other suppliers and contractors in the marketplace. The railroad's supplier diversity program assists in developing and strengthening these business relationships by maintaining active efforts to seek, identify and encourage their participation in UP's procurement processes. Spending with diverse suppliers grew approximately 7 percent each year from 2007 to 2012, including a 16 percent increase over 2011.
About Union Pacific
Union Pacific Railroad is the principal operating company of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP). One of America's most recognized companies, Union Pacific Railroad links 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country by rail, providing a critical link in the global supply chain. From 2007-2012, Union Pacific invested $18 billion in its network and operations to support America's transportation infrastructure, including a record $3.7 billion in 2012. The railroad's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Coal, Industrial Products and Intermodal. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers, operates from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways, connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major Mexico gateways. Union Pacific provides value to its roughly 10,000 customers by delivering products in a safe, reliable, fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible manner.


text:
A US man has been jailed for seven years following his conviction for ID theft and credit card fraud.
Jacob Vincent Green-Bressler of Tucson, Arizona was sentenced by US District Judge David C. Burylast week after pleading guilty in March to aggravated identity theft and conspiracy offences. Green-Bressler operated as an American buyer for stolen credentials obtained through various phishing scams across the world.
Green-Bressler traded in stolen credit and debit card account information of American citizens obtained from individuals located in various foreign countries, including Vietnam, Pakistan, Egypt, The Philippines, Macedonia, Romania, Estonia, Canada, Russia, the UK, Mexico, Australia and France. He bought stolen credentials from underground Internet Relay Chat rooms and forums run by cyber-crooks, as well as through private electronic messaging exchanged with his suppliers. Details sold included PIN numbers associated with compromised cards.
Armed wit these details, he made counterfeit copies of credit and debit cards, which he used to withdraw money from automated cash machine (ATMs) around the Tucson area. For example in March 2005 Green-Bressler and two co-defendants used a counterfeit credit card to withdraw $148,000 from an ATM in the Casino Del Sol in Tucson, Arizona.
Investigators reckons Green-Bressler and his cohorts made 4,500 fake cards during the course of the long-running conspiracy. Suppliers were wired half the proceeds of the scam, which is thought to have raked in around $600,000. In addition to his prison term, Green-Bressler was ordered to make restitution to the victim banks and to spend three years on probation following his release.
A DoJ statement on the case can be found here. ®


text:
Overall: [44-21] Last week: [2-4]
I was absolutely terrible last week, kind of like Cal's offense and special teams.
Washington 17 – California 24: I have yet to predict against my Bears, so I'm not going to start now.
Stanford 48 – Colorado 17: Colorado, the only team worse than Cal right now.
Washington State 21 – Utah 31: Utah will continue their 2nd half run with a good fight against WSU.
Oregon 32 – USC 36: Game of the week. I'm going with the upset here. Matt Barkley to Woods and Lee all day.
Arizona 21 – UCLA 28: UCLA will play stout at home even against a powerful offense led by Matt Scott.
Arizona State 17 – Oregon Sate 28: Cody Vaz is starting, so as long as OSU's defense shows up like usual they'll get the W.


text:
The Cavani Quartet to open 25th season of The Logan Series at Penn State Behrend
The Cavani Quartet to open 25th season of The Logan Series at Penn State Behrend
The 25th season of Music at Noon: The Logan Series at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, opens with The Cavani Quartet, the quartet-in-residence at the Cleveland Institute of Music, on Tuesday, Sept. 16.
For the past 30 years, The Cavani Quartet has offered innovative and compelling programming that combines standard repertoire with contemporary music. The ensemble has commissioned, performed, premiered and recorded the music of more than 30 living composers and was appointed as artists-in-residence at the world-renowned Cleveland Institute of Music in 1988.
The Cavani Quartet's Logan Series performance takes place at noon in the McGarvey Commons of the Reed Union Building. Admission is free, and reserved parking for audience members will be available in the Reed lot.
The quartet is the only ensemble to be selected twice, in both 2005 and 2011, as the recipient of the Guarneri String Quartet Award for Artistic Excellence from Chamber Music America.
Also appearing in Music at Noon: The Logan Series this year will be East of the River on Monday, Oct. 6; Sonic Escape on Wednesday, Nov. 12; Harlem Quartet on Wednesday, Jan. 21; Baltimore Consort on Monday, Feb. 16; and Boston Brass on Tuesday, April 7.
Music at Noon: The Logan Series receives state arts funding support through a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Additional support for this program is provided in part from an Erie Arts & Culture Project Grant, made possible by community contributions to the Combined Arts & Cultural Campaign and the Erie Arts Endowment.
For more information about The Logan Series or The Cavani Quartet's appearance, contact series director Gary Viebranz at 814-898-6289 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.