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Tuesday, three days until the weekend! :D Or, maybe that shoud read: "Three more days for Bambi Obama to insult America before the weekend!" What a loser. Before I get to that, Refugees International has a new report (links in the snapshot) and I want to note the section called "The Way Forward: Addressing Humanitarian Needs in Iraq:"
Since the security situation inside Iraq remains volatile, and the conflict is ongoing, it is essential that all actors involved plan for all possible scenarios. In both the draft USAID Two-Year strategy for the Displaced and Displaced Returns in Iraq, and the Ministry of Migration Strategy on Returns, the assumption is that security will imporve steadily during the next two years, and that displacement will decrease and returns will take place on a larger scale.
These assumptions reflect a politically-driven agenda rather than a real humanitarian assessment of the situation. Both the US and the Iraqi Government are operationg under the assumption that their security goals will be met, and that the displacement crisis will be resolved, or at least decrease in numbers and gravity. This is one possible outcome. There are many others, and they need to be envisaged, planned for and addressed if they occur. In particular, the US and Iraq should plan for responding to more displacement, both inside Iraq and in the region, and for improving the protection of civilians throughout the country.
You should really grasp what's happening. Especially because the US will have to withdraw at some point. And there's really no prep from the White House for that either. But their plans aren't 'optimistic,' they are short-sighted and intentionally so. It's always about the spin, the appearance, never about doing anything, just getting one over on the public.
Ooops! We're back to Bambi Obama. Go read Taylor Marsh about how Bambi loses Florida. And, after you do, ask yourself how someone can be so stupid to support Bambi? I got a stockpile of videos from C.I. today. They were from friends in broadcasting. C.I. viewed most and thought I might find some of it interesting.
I did. For instance, take Michelle Obama's "proud of America" for the first time. Do you know there are two versions of that. There's the one that offended people and there's the one where she recreates and that's the one that most people have seen. In the original, her hair's messy and she's saying "lifetime" and in the second one, she's all groomed out and saying "life." She's dressed better in the second (I think in red), while the in the original one, she's sort of cagey. That's the only word for it. She sort of has her head down and is looking at angle when she tosses off her line and she does it quickly. In the recreation, she's doing it with her head firmly up and speaks slowly. Also, in the original, there's a woman right behind her. But it's interesting because I was watching about forty reports on that (on the video tapes) and over, over and over, they went with the recreation. They went with it and the newscaster might say, "Michelle Obama explains her remarks" or something. But they weren't seeing the clip of when she said them and I wonder how many people caught on to that?
They really love to fake it in Camp Obama. They really love trying to pull a con on the American people. Another thing I loved was how Michelle is either STUPID or a LIAR. I watched a speech she gave that indicates she's LYING or STUPID. She's talking about Hawaii and Alaska and other states. She's going on about how Barack's won them and when was the last time a Democrat did that? There are people who are stupid applauding wildly.
Barack didn't "win" those states. He won the Democratic primary and Stupid or Lying Michelle, a Democrat wins those in every Democratic primary every four years. She was acting like it was the Second Coming that a Democrat had won a state's Democratic Party. And I'm sure some people applauding were so stupid (the crowd wasn't shown in the video) that they were thinking, "Yeah! It's about time that happened!" Sorry stupids, that happens every four years in state's Democratic primaries -- Democrats always win the Democratic primaries in each state. It's not a miracle.
I know Michelle was pimping it hard like that meant something, like it was the first time in decades that it had happened. Maybe she really is that stupid, but don't let her play you stupid. It's the sort of lie that his campaign is built on. You can't look closely at his 'credits' because, when you do, they vanish. Poof.
Here's Howard Wolfson's "HUBdate: Opportunity for All Americans:"
Opportunity for All Americans: Today, Hillary discusses her own approach to the presidency that will expand opportunity for all Americans at the Newspaper Association of America's Annual Conference in Washington, DC.
New Ad in the Keystone State: Hillary supporters speak out against Sen. Obama's small town America comments in a new TV ad that will air in Pennsylvania...From supporters: "I'm not clinging to my faith out of frustration and bitterness...I find that my faith is very uplifting...The good people of Pennsylvania deserve a lot better than what Barack Obama said...Hillary does understand the citizens of Pennsylvania better." Watch Here.
"A Can't-Miss Event for Clinton Supporters" in Bristol, PA: Yesterday in Bristol, PA "[t]he gymnasium was filled with red, white and blue signs that read 'Hillary Rocks,' 'Letter Carriers for Hillary' and 'Hillary for President.'...'The economy is the worse I've ever seen it,' the Bristol resident said. 'Oil prices are bad. She's the one who can do something about that. I've always been a Clinton supporter. They haven't let me down.'" Read more.
PA Endorsement Watch: Hillary received the endorsement of Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski, earning her the endorsement of mayors from Pennsylvania's "three largest cities": "I support her candidacy and ask Democratic voters in Allentown to do the same." Read More.
MT Endorsement Watch: "Yellowstone County Commissioner Bill Kennedy says he is endorsing Hillary Rodham Clinton...[Kennedy said:] 'In Montana, going to church or going hunting is part of our heritage, not something we 'cling to' out of bitterness or frustration...Sen. Obama showed a real disconnect with rural Montana. It might work to look down on us from San Francisco, but it won't sell when he comes back to Montana.'" Read more.
Save The Date: Hillary will appear on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" on Thursday. The program will be broadcasted from Philadelphia and will air at 11:30pm ET. Read More.
In Case You Missed It: West Virginians aren't happy with Sen. Obama's characterizations about the people who live in America's small towns. Read More.
He's offended too many to win. If he got the nomination, November wouldn't find him running in a Democratic primary and the reality is his supporters become less and less every day. Barack Obama at the top of the ticket means four years of John McCain. Here's C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot:"
Tuesday, April 15, 2008. Chaos and violence continue, the House Veterans Affairs Committee discusses legislation, Refugee International releases a study on Iraq, and more.
Starting with war resistance. Richard Marcus (BlogCritics) reviews the new DVD Deserter which offers a a 30 minute look at "a deserting soldier and his young wife as they flee across the country to seek refugee status over the Canadian border. As they move from safe house to safe house, we get to know Ryan and Jen -- two shy, small-town kids from the Central Valley who joined the military because there were no jobs, and find they must make a heroic stand in order to escape an illegal and immoral war. 'Deserter' is a political movie with one of the few happy endings that this war has given us." Ryan and Jen are Ryan and Jen Johnson and they entered Canada in June 2005. Marcus writes, "All the way across America there operates a new Underground Railway, but now instead of helping runaway slaves they are helping young Americans escape from having to serve in what they consider an unjust war. Ryan and Jen are passed from having to serve in what they consider an unjust war. Ryan and Jen are passed from safe house to safe house until just before the border they phone the contact they have for Toronto. They've already been coached on how to get through the border corssing, but that doesn't stop them from being nervous; there is the risk that they could check Ryan for outstanding warrants and find out that he is a deserter."
Meanwhile war resisters in Canada wait to find out whether they will be granted safe harbor. The Canadian Parliament will debate a measure this month on that issue. You can make your voice heard. Three e-mails addresses to focus on are: Prime Minister Stephen Harper (http://firstname.lastname@example.com -- that's pm at gc.ca) who is with the Conservative party and these two Liberals, Stephane Dion (http://firstname.lastname@example.com -- that's Dion.S at parl.gc.ca) who is the leader of the Liberal Party and Maurizio Bevilacqua (http://firstname.lastname@example.com -- that's Bevilacqua.M at parl.gc.ca) who is the Liberal Party's Critic for Citizenship and Immigration. A few more can be found here at War Resisters Support Campaign. For those in the US, Courage to Resist has an online form that's very easy to use.
There is a growing movement of resistance within the US military which includes Matt Mishler, Josh Randall, Robby Keller, Justiniano Rodrigues, Chuck Wiley, James Stepp, Rodney Watson, Michael Espinal, Matthew Lowell, Derek Hess, Diedra Cobb, Brad McCall, Justin Cliburn, Timothy Richard, Robert Weiss, Phil McDowell, Steve Yoczik, Ross Spears, Peter Brown, Bethany "Skylar" James, Zamesha Dominique, Chrisopther Scott Magaoay, Jared Hood, James Burmeister, Eli Israel, Joshua Key, Ehren Watada, Terri Johnson, Clara Gomez, Luke Kamunen, Leif Kamunen, Leo Kamunen, Camilo Mejia, Kimberly Rivera, Dean Walcott, Linjamin Mull, Agustin Aguayo, Justin Colby, Marc Train, Abdullah Webster, Robert Zabala, Darrell Anderson, Kyle Snyder, Corey Glass, Jeremy Hinzman, Kevin Lee, Mark Wilkerson, Patrick Hart, Ricky Clousing, Ivan Brobeck, Aidan Delgado, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, Blake LeMoine, Clifton Hicks, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Logan Laituri, Clifford Cornell, Joshua Despain, Joshua Casteel, Katherine Jashinski, Dale Bartell, Chris Teske, Matt Lowell, Jimmy Massey, Chris Capps, Tim Richard, Hart Viges, Michael Blake, Christopher Mogwai, Christian Kjar, Kyle Huwer, Wilfredo Torres, Michael Sudbury, Ghanim Khalil, Vincent La Volpa, DeShawn Reed and Kevin Benderman. In total, at least fifty US war resisters in Canada have applied for asylum. Information on war resistance within the military can be found at The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline [(877) 447-4487], Iraq Veterans Against the War and the War Resisters Support Campaign. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters. Tom Joad maintains a list of known war resisters. In addition, VETWOW is an organization that assists those suffering from MST (Military Sexual Trauma).
Last month Iraq Veterans Against the War's Winter Soldier took place and KPFA has a live program coming up April 22nd:Live On Air and Online at kpfa.org!
April 22 from 10am-1pm Join us on April 22nd for this very important follow up to Pacifica's groundbreaking Winter Soldier live coverage. We will be following the San Francisco trial involving wounded vets and the Department of Veterans Affairs. In this first class action lawsuit U.S. Veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder sue the VA, alleging a system wide breakdown in the way the Government treats those soldiers.During this special broadcast we will be bringing our listeners live updates from the San Francisco federal courthouse, we'll speak with wounded Veterans attorney Gordon Erspamer, (taking this case pro bono because his father was permanently disabled in World War II and never received proper health care) and speak with Veterans advocates including Veterans for Common Sense, and Vets for America.Read more about the broadcast here.
That announcement will appear in the snapshots until the broadcast. If you missed Winter Soldier you can stream online at Iraq Veterans Against the War, at War Comes Home, at KPFK, at the Pacifica Radio homepage and at KPFA, here for Friday, here for Saturday, here for Sunday. Aimee Allison (co-host of the station's The Morning Show and co-author with David Solnit of Army Of None) and Aaron Glantz were the anchors for Pacifica's live coverage.
Moving to the US Congress. Today the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs held hearings on proposed legislation. Committee chair Michael Michaud noted, "The six bills before us cover a wide range of topics that are germane to veterans' healthcare. Issues addressed in today's bills include Spina Bifida, epilepsy research centers, substance use disorder treament and prevention, expansion of dental care, timely access to care, and a bill of rights."
The first panel offered testimony from members of Congress. Committee chair Michaud offered testmony on substance use noting, "Our legislation will require the VA to provide the full continuum of care for substance use disorder, and it will require this full spectrum of care to be available at every VA medical center. Our legislation will also direct the VA to conduct a pilot program for internet-based substance use disorder treatment for veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. This will enable our newest generation of veterans to overcome the stigma associated with seeking treatment and receive the necessary care in a comfortable and secure setting." US House Rep Christopher Carney focused on the issue of the dental care and, in his opening statement, provided reasons why this area should not be dismissed including: "The cost of this bill is a cost of war; it is an investment in our way of life and our future. As every member of this subcommittee knows, to ensure a ready fighting force tomorrow we need to take care of our veterans today. I would also like to point out that conditions such as missing teeth and cavities can be barriers in seeking employment and I believe every effort must be made to ensure that there is a smooth transition for our military members who are entering the civilian work force. We must also ensure that disabled veterans from wars past are also given every tool to keep a meaningful job and this includes dental care." US House Rep Ginny Brown-Waite was concerned with the issue of wait time and noted "if a veteran can't see a physician in 30 days she or he should be allowed to see a private doctor." She later pointed that "healthcare delayed is healthcare denied." Rep Phil Hare noted that it's not a "how can we afford" issue with veterans healthcare, "If we make a promise to our veterans . . . we have to keep that promise or we have no business making it." US House Rep Shelley Berkley agreed with that, explaining "For me the cost of the war" includes the "cost of taking care of our veterans" and if that's considered incorrect "then you ought not send them over" to begin with.
Berkley also noted the issue of costs in terms of funding, "If we're going to continue to pile more responsibilities on the VA . . . we better provide the VA with the necessary amount of money that they're going to need to carry out our will and so far I haven't seen that happen. . . . We're playing catch up now. . . . Unless we have a national recognition" of this priority "then we better just forget the whole thing. And thank you for listening to my soapbox." Berkley also noted that the US spends $3,919 a second in Iraq "and if we're going to spend that kind of money" there, Congress ought to be able to fund veterans healthcare. She noted doctors in Nevada who contracted to perform veterans healthcare and "they have not been paid in over a year." If this continues, she noted, "You're not going to get any doctors" who'll be willing to go through this process and take on patients. On the issue of substance abuse, she thought (most will agree) that the idea of treating it via the internet was a bit off the mark and was informed that the internet aspect is just a pilot program. Considering the rural areas that will not benefit why the pilot program is even being started might need to be questioned. (That's me, not Berkley). She noted the son of two of her constituents who served in Iraq. After returning home, he developed a sustance abuse program and was addicted to "five medications". Going for treatment at the VA resulted in him being put on a sixth medication "and he o.d.ed in the facility and he died in the VA." She cautioned, "We better make sure the VA has the tools" and that when someone "checks into a VA, there should be an expectation there" that they those conducting the treatment know what they are doing.
US House Rep Bob Filner focused on the need for an Epilepsy Center for Excellence. US House Rep Ed Perlmutter noted that he has a daughter with epilepsy and the need for the VA "to provide the military veterans coming back that will develop seizures and that develop epilepsy . . . with the best service possible." He reminded the committee of the large number of head injuries in combat and that "some of them are goign to have seizures." (Also offering testimony were US House Reps Brad Ellsworth and Ed Perlmutter.) The second panel offered five witnesses. Disabled American Veterans' Joy J. Illem spoke on the Epilepsy Centers of Excellence (HR 2818) and noted, "The bill would establish a peer review panel, consisting of experts on epilepsy and complex multi-trauma associated with combat injuries, including post-traumatic epilepsy, to assess the scientific and clinical merit of proposals submitted by VA facilities for consideration to be designated as Epilepsy Centers of Excellence under this bill. The peer review panel would be required to report its assessment of such proposals to the Under Secretary for Health, presumably to strengthen the Secretary's decision to designate Centers on the basis of merit -- but the bill does not specify this peer review as a precursor to the Secretary's designations. The Subcommittee may wish to make that minor modification to the bill to ensure the best proposals are considered by the Secretary as determined by the peer review panel. " Ilem felt it should be paired with a TBI center. Veterans of Foreign Wars' Christopher Needham stated "we need an emphasis on this." Chair Michaud asked the five witnesses at the second panel to name the two things the legislature should focus on fixing currently. Ilem stated substance abuse was the issue. Needham stated the same and added "hand in hand is funding issues." American Legion's Joseph L. Wilson stated TBI and blind eye issues. While Vietnam Veterans of America's Bernie Edelman noted "a lot of these health issues are interwoven" and also spoke of the "stigma associated with seeking help". Vietnam Veterans of America's Richard F. Weidman spoke of the diseases today (throughout the second panel) and the impacts on the future. He noted the issue of children of veterans developing diseases and the concerns many veterans had over this issue. Agent Orange was a frequent topic (brought up by many) and an important issue to keep in mind is that Agent Orange (it's effects on future generations) could have been dealt with during Vietnam (it never should have been used to begin with). It wasn't. Veterans of Vietnam have had to fight and fight and fight some more year after year. In terms of the current illegal war, funding, research, etc. needs to take place now. After the Iraq War ends it will be very, very difficult to get the interest of the bulk of Congress or the bulk of the American people on this issue. Vietnam veterans can talk at length about their struggles for basic healthcare and how they're still fighting.
Last week, in the midst of The Petraeus and Crocker Variety Hour, the House Veterans Armed Service committee held a hearing on April 9th and Trina wrote about it. Read her post, she did an excellent job covering it. Pressed for time, but veteran Michelle Saunders needs to be noted because she advocated very well in that hearing. She knew her facts, she was confident and presented very well. Boiling her points down to the briefiest, veterans can help veterans. She's pursuing that now and attempting an organization that will provide the training/preparation needed for post-military life. She noted that you get weeks of boot camp when you enlist, but when you discharge, it's bye. From her opening statement:
When I left the conference, I was so eager to get in the trenches and start figuring the best strategic approach on how to stop the bleeding, but little did I know it was like trying to put a band-aid on a sucking chest wound. I soon started to see the blackness of bureaucracy from the inside as opposed to being the victim on the outside. I started to see how a "success" was measured by a number, how a problem would disappear when it was time to report to the higher chain of command, how the "collaborating" agencies would point fingers at each other of all the pitfalls and the hic-ups, but would leverage each other for the "successes". After reading that, one may ask or presume I am bitter. The answer is, I am not bitter, I am disappointed and I am embarrassed. I am disappointed because I stand next to people every day who are in the positions to make effective change, who make six plus figure salaries a year and are able to go home at night and provide for their families just to start over the next day. I am embarrassed because I can't financially afford to bite the hand that feeds me. For me, it's a little different, I go home at night and I am in pain because I know that my brothers and sisters who once stood by my side at arms and always covered me, are gasping for air because they're worried about where the next pocket of money is coming from, their VA appeal claims, their lack of credentials, because of what their families may think of their, once proud American soldier. These are the parts of the transition that holds the needed healing of the broken soul, how do you heal when you can't stop firing squad?We are still repeating history in a sense that during the 1970's and 1980s, our streets were crawling with Vietnam War veterans with the same issues. The only difference today is our veterans are not being ignored by society and the government is being held accountable. For the first time Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are being recognized as issues and they are abnormal conditions caused by combat trauma and combat stress. We live in a society that does not accept murder as something "normal". We live in a society that is spiritual and compassionate by nature regardless of religious beliefs. When these horrific acts are witnessed or are performed by an American soldier in a time of war, it breaks the spirit in a way that can't be defined. However, we are expected to act "normal" when we arrive back to our home soil. In addition our peers are forced to look at us different and weak because of the mentality of our senior military leadership, we are "STRONG" warriors that aren't supposed to feel, yet we must follow the rules of the Geneva Convention because our morals and beliefs as a nation dictate. Yes there are services in place for those who "need it" but there is a silent voice that is extremely loud that puts those who "need it" in a corner. Fortunately, the American population as a whole is finally pushing back because they understand what our eyes see across the water is not "normal" however; there is still an uncomfortable stigma that is associated with this. Society as a whole wants to help, but that help must happen away from their children and their neighborhoods. We are making a difference however, the flood gates have been opened and an enormous amount of water has fractured the backbone of our infrastructure. It is up to those who can speak for the ones who can not. WE MUST INFORM, EDUCATE AND PROMOTE AWARENESS. The blind eye approach is NOT working; it is MUCH bigger than us, so we must take a different approach.
Turning to Iraq. Refugee International released a study, authored by Kristele Younes and Nir Rosen, entitled "Uprooted and Unstable: Meeting Urgent Humanitarian Needs in Iraq" [PDF format warning, click here]. In the opening, the report notes, "Five years after the US-led invasion, Iraq remains a deeply violent and divided society. Faced with one of the largest displacement and humanitarian crises in the world, Iraqi civilians are in urgent need of assistance. Particularly vulnerable are the 2.7 million internally displaced Iraqis who have fled their homes for safe locations inside Iraq. Unable to access their food rations and often unemployed, they live in squalid conditions, have run out of resources and find it extremely difficult to access essential services."
On the issue of returning the report notes the fact that abandoned homes have been taken over and that when there has been a conflict with a family returning, the local militias have sometimes been the ones 'hearing' the dispute. Those who are 're-settled' face the realities of the rations program which does not serve many of the internal refugees (often due to paperwork or lack of it, often due to the the fact that the internal refugees are not in their original home neighborhoods). The report clearly warns: "All relevant actors should discourage returns until the violence subsides and people can receive adequate assistance and protection." That warning echoes the United Nations and Red Crescent's warnings.
On the issue of the militias, the report notes how they are actually weakening the govenrment and how this is with US cooperation (whether US agents/actors are aware of it or not). Control of electric plants is one way in which the militias can determine who gets power and who does not. Control of aid also strengthens the militias while weakening the central government. The report notes Refugees International workers seeing the Baghdad based offices of the Sadr Movement dispensing "clothing, milk, oil, rice, sugar, clothes and fuel for heating and cooking when supplies are available." The NGOs would be one means to counter the weakening of the government but the US and Iraqi governments are little concerned with and little aware of these organizations. A visit by Refugees International to Baghdad's region where Palestinians currently reside led to the discovery that "the community" of 15,000 residents "has not had an international visitor since 2005." The Haifa Club provides assistance to that area. Ethar Associates provides assistance to 5,000 families in Amriya (a section of Baghdad where internally displaced Sunnis have moved) as well as to 4,000 families in Taji and 1,500 in Rashdiye. "When Refugees International mentioned the groups to UN agencies and international NGOS," the study notes, "it became clear that nobody knew of them, despite the important role they play."
In terms of the 'central-government,' Refugees International "observed close cooperation between the Mahdi Army and the Iraqi Police, Iraqi National Police and the Facility Protection Services that often protect ministries and are notorious for their lawlessness. Visiting Iraqi ministries and government offices in January and February of 2008, during the Shiite holy month of Muharam, there were overt symbols of Shiite tradition, such as flags and banners, hanging on buildings and walls, as well as television and radio stations playing Shiite religious prayers and songs. The lack of separation between the state and the Shiite denomination intimidates Sunnis and creates the impression of Shiite ownership of government institutions."
On the subject of militias, the report notes that the "Awakening" Council is abosrbing males who have relocated from other areas of Iraq. Leaving the report, Nouri al-Maliki (puppet of the occupation) has questioned the loyalty of the "Awakening" Councils (Sunni militias). US Senator Barbara Boxer raised that issue last week during the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing when she pointed out that the US is paying the "Awakenings" $182 million a year, $18 million month, and that now the White House, via US Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker, "are asking us for millions more to pay off the militias and, by the way, I have an article here that says Maliki recently told a London paper that he was concerned about half of them". So the questions about their loyalties/ties to the central government in Baghdad is in question. But Refugees International's study raises another issue. Due to the fact that these are displaced Sunni males from other areas, their loyalties/ties are also not to the local government. The organization spoke with members in mutliple areas and "found that displaced men have joined armed groups. In some cases locals complain that the displaced are more aggressive and radical than local men who have joined the same groups." In Dora, they're informed by two members of "Awakening" Councils that they came on board for two reasons "money and the desire to take action against Shiites." So (leaving the report) the US government is arming and training these militias and not only are they not loyal to the central government in Baghdad (few Iraqis see al-Maliki as a legitimate leader) they aren't even loyal to their regions and one of the selling points from the Bully Boy and the US military brass is that these militias are "local" forms, "local" bonds. That argument tries to state that the "Awakening" Council is a strengthening force for the Iraqi government and that, being local, it strengthens the local government and that travels upward. But that's not at all what Refugees International found. The "local" militias aren't exclusively "local" and there are little tes to the local government or to the neighborhood. The report notes: "Like the Mahdi army, these Sunni militias also have political goals and are attempting to unite to become a larger movement that will be able to regain Sunni terriotry and effectively fight the Shiite militias and the Shiite dominated government, which they call and 'Iranian Occupation.' In some ways their attitude is, 'The Americans did not buy us, we bought them'." The central government in Baghdad is an installed government. As US Senator Joe Biden noted last Thursday in the Senate Foreign Relations Comittee hearing, the White House wants to negotiate a treaty (Status of Forces Agreement) with the central government but "there is no Iraqi government that we know of that will be place a year from now -- half the government has walked out." Refugees International's study notes that the Shi'ite versus Shi'ite struggles currently going on take place as Sunnis who feel disenfranchised plan what to do when the US does pull out.
In the meantime, the Iraqi refugees are being denied entry. That may make you think of the US government's refusal to accept Iraqis or of the borders being closed in countries bordering Iraq. However, Refugees International explains that of Iraq's eighteen provinces, eleven have shut their borders to Iraqi refugees from other provinces. As the report notes "eleven Governoates inside Iraq, as well as neighboring countries Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt no longer admit displaced Iraqis. In the event of an increase in violence, vulnerable Iraqi civilians will have nowhere left to go. One imperative for the international community is to consider such a scenario, and start planning for it."
The report demolishes the Myth of the Great Return. Throughout November the lie was repeated in media outlet after outlet (credit to Damien Cave and Cara Buckley of the New York Times who were among the first American reporters to report the reality -- among the first and among the only). "Iraq is safer!" went the lie. "Iraqis are returning by the busloads!" The figures didn't grow naturally. You had CBS News repeat a figure on the weekend that, by Monday afternoon, had more zeroes added to it. It was a publicity campaign by the puppet government and the White House. It was wrong and it was deadly. Before we get to the report on that, we need to all grasp how wrong that myth was. Iraqis seeking shelter outside of Iraq were being lied to, told it was safer and that they should come back. The Iraqi refugee crisis is already a crisis of global proportion but lying to refugees outside the country to trick them into coming back to Iraq is inhumane and criminal. That point needs to be stressed because Refugees International's study includes this: "According to a UN official, the Bush administration is also putting enormous pressure on the UNHCR to conduct a viability survey and declare Iraq safe for returns." Point, The Myth of the Great Return could strike again. Panhandle Media sat it out in November (and December and January). Real media didn't include many stepping up to the plate (even after Buckley and Cave had reported realities). The report notes that "the Ministry of Migration's return strategy document from late 2007 clearly states that returns, should they occur, would demonstrate the success of the current US-Government of Iraq overall security strategy in Iraq. The return strategy also underlines the necessity for the Government of Iraq to engage in an active media campaign to counter warnings that the potential for returns will adversely impact a security situation already extremely fragile." The Myth of the Great Return existed solely as a p.r. move. After Syria was asked to close their border to Iraqi refugees, a few returned, those whose funds had run out. The report documents this.
Violence never left Iraq; however, today was an especially violent day. Deborah Haynes (Times of London) notes "a car bomb exploded outside a courthouse and the offices of the provincial government in Baquba, the capital of Diyala province, north of Baghdad, leaving at least 40 dead and another 80 wounded" and labels it "one of the deadlist moments in months". CBS and AP quote Abu Sarmad who was in the area to have lunch: "I heard a big explosion and hot wind threw me from my chair outside the restaurant." Alissa J. Rubin (New York Times) quotes a Baquba morgue doctor who explains, "Some of the bodies that came to the hospital were, let's say, not bodies, but only a hand or a torso." Kim Gamel (AP) observes, "AP Television News footage showed many of the bodies covered in crisp white sheets and black plastic bags in the main hospital's courtyard while the emergency room inside was overwhelmed with the wounded." Robin Stringer and Camilla Hall (Bloomberg News) note, "The blast destroyed three buses and damaged shops nearby in the attack today, the U.S. military said by e-mail. Iraqi state television reported the explosion without providing futher details." Dean Yates (Reuters) estimates that, throughout Iraq today, over 75 lost the lives and notes, "A second car bomb, believed to be driven by a suicide attacker, exploded outside a popular restaurant in Ramadi, capital of Anbar province west of Baghdad, killing 13 people and wounding 14 others, a hospital source and police said." CNN estimates over 100 were injured in Iraq today. Kim Gamel (AP) quotes eye witness Ahmed al-Dulaimi who was having lunch at the time: "Suddenly a motorcyle parked near the restaurant and a man came running and then a huge explosion took place. Pieces of flesh flew into the air and the roof fell over us."
In other reported violence . . .
Laith Hammoudi (McClatchy Newspapers) reports a Baghdad bombing that claimed 2 lives with two more injured, a Baghdad mortar attack that wounded two, a mortar attack on the Green Zone, a Baghdad car bombing that claimed 1 life and left eight wounded, a Nineveh roadside bombing that wounded four police officers.
Laith Hammoudi (McClatchy Newspapers) reports a Nineveh home invasion that claimed the lives of 3 women and 1 man, an attorney "and her sister" shot dead in Mosul, an assassination attempt on Ali al Fadhli ("representative of the Shiite Cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani") that claimed the life of 1 bodyguard and left another and al-Fadhli wounded, 1 "female student" shot dead in Mosul and an attack in Karbala in which 5 people were shot dead and six were kidnapped.
Laith Hammoudi (McClatchy Newspapers) reports 3 corpses discovered in Baghdad.
Turning to US presidential politics. Ralph Nader is running for president as an independent candidate, Matt Gonzales is his running mater. With little national media attention, the Nader-Gonzalez ticket has been polling at approximately 6% in national polling. Team Nader reports that they're up to 10% in Michigan and notes, "For Clinton, Obama and McCain, ten percent might seem like peanuts. But for Nader/Gonzalez, it shows we're on our way up. It has been our contention all along that the corrupt two-party system cannot stand. Perhaps we are now seeing the first cracks in the facade of the duopoly. We have joined with you in a rebuilding project. Rebuilding a people-powered democracy." Jim Fitzpatrick (WJBC) reports that Nader "delivered the keynote address for Illinois State University's Civic Engagement Celebration" on Monday. The link contains an audio snippet of Nader where he declares, "It's as if these candidates are running for Saturday Night Live instead of the office of the presidency of the United States of American. They can only be rescued by the people, they can only be rescued by themselves."
Meanwhile, Cynthia McKinney is running for the Green Party presidential nomination and currently in the lead. The Green Party reports the delegate count is currently 52 for McKinney, 8 for Kent Mesplay, 8 for Howie Hawkins, 2 for Jesse Johsnon and, with 1 each, Kat Swift and Ralph Nader. Howie Hawkins 8 may or may not go towards Nader -- Hawkins was a stand-in/place-holder for Nader. Nader has since stated he is not pursuing the national Green Party's nomination. The party's most recent primary was March 28th and McKinney won 79% of the vote. Rhode Island, which we'll term a caucus here, went for McKinney as well at the start of this month. Among those who have endorsed McKinney is Mumia Abu Jamal who says she provides "not just the illusion, but the reality of 'change'."
Too many K, so we're boiling down the Democratic side. Senator Barack Obama today offered more excuses and no apology for his insult to Small Town Americans. Along with denying that he has to apologize, his campaign continues to insist he's not an elitist out of touch with the American people. Delilah Boyd (A Scrivner's Lament) reminds all of the 'common touch' of Barack Obama who declared to Iowa voters -- in a 'reach out' -- "Anybody gones into Whole Foods lately and see what they charge for argulag? I mean, they're charging a lot of money for this stuff." Arugula. Iowa has no Whole Foods. Meanwhile Fernando Suarez (CBS News) notes that Senator Hillary Clinton joked that her speech today was "off the record" -- the remarks that got Barack into trouble were given at an event in the Bay Area which the press wasn't invited to. Meanwhile Senator Hillary Clinton found more supporters:
Showing strength and momentum in the Keystone State, the Clinton campaign today announced 100 mayors who are endorsing Hillary Clinton for president. Following Senator Obama's remarks dismissing small town America, mayors joined supporters today in Harrisburg to declare their support for Hillary because of her readiness to lead on day one, her plans to jumpstart the economy, and her Pennsylvania roots and commitment to Pennsylvania values.
"I am proud to have such strong support from 100 of Pennsylvania's finest mayors," Senator Clinton said. "From small towns to big cities, these mayors work hard every day to improve the lives of the people they serve and they know they need a strong partner in Washington to help them bring affordable health care and revitalize their local economies."
The 100 mayors endorsing Hillary today will work in the final week of the campaign to get out Hillary's message of change for Pennsylvania and the country. Hillary understands the economic pressures of families who have lost jobs, face foreclosures, and can't afford health insurance or college tuition. She understands what it's like to roll up your sleeve and work hard. As president, Hillary will fight for the issues that matter to all Americans starting on day one in the White House.
Mayor John Antoline, Monaca, Beaver County
Mayor Michele Avvisato, Old Forge, Lackawanna County
Mayor Norman Ball, Tunkhannock, Wyoming County
Mayor Anthony Battalini, Aliquippa, Beaver County
Mayor Sam Benyi ,Clarksville, Greene County
Mayor Ronald Besong, Bell Acres, Allegheny County
Mayor Louis Biacchi, Berwick, Columbia County
Mayor James V. Bitonti, Belle Vernon, Fayette County
Mayor Richard Bowen, Taylor, Lackawanna County
Mayor Thomas Brown, Bentleyville, Washington County
Mayor John B.Callahan, Bethlehem, Northampton County
Mayor Willard Canfield, Hallsted, Susquehana County
Mayor Gennaro Cantalupo, Northern Cambria, Cambria County
Mayor Robert P. Carpenter, Laporte, Sullivan County
Mayor Peter M.Casini, South Connellsville, Fayette County
Mayor Joseph J.Cisco, Ellport, Lawrence County
Mayor Anthony Colaizzo, Canonsburg, Washington County
Mayor Esther Cotner, Washingtonville, Montour County
Mayor Carl Cott, Forksville, Sullivan County
Mayor Joan B. Derco, Youngwood, Westmoreland County
Mayor Christopher Doherty, Scranton, Lackawanna County
Mayor Bernard Dubaskas, Edwardsville, Luzerne County
Mayor Gary L. Durkin, Flemington, Clinton County
Mayor Greg Erosenko, Monroeville , Allegheny County
Mayor Emerson M. Fazekas, Versailles, Allegheny County
Mayor Philip Ferrizzi, Bally, Berks County
Mayor Ned C. Fink, Fountain Hill, Lehigh County
Mayor Richard T. Fluck, Hellertown, Northampton County
Mayor Jim France, East Lansdowne, Delaware County
Mayor Ralph Garzia, Brookhaven, Delaware County
Mayor Richard Gassman, Matamoras, Pike County
Mayor Gerald W. Gross, West Easton, Northampton County
Mayor Connie M. Guy, Mountville, Lancaster County
Mayor John Haberland, Coraopolis, Allegheny County
Mayor Loyce L. Harpster, Burnham, Mifflin County
Mayor David Haslett, Avalon, Allegheny County
Mayor Joseph Herbert, West Wyoming, Luzerne County
Mayor William Jenkins, Larksville, Luzerne County
Mayor Joseph Kazan, New Stanton, Westmoreland County
Mayor Joseph Keating, Pittston, Luzerne County
Mayor James F. Kinder, Mount Wolf Boro, York County
Mayor Donald L. Kinosz, Lower Burrell, Westmoreland County
Mayor Philip Krivacek, Duquesne, Allegheny County
Mayor Joseph Daniel Kudlac, Ellsworth, Washington County
Mayor Maxine J. Kuntz, East Prospect, York County
Mayor Michael M. Kutsek, Finleyville, Washington County
Mayor Leonard J. Larkin, Falls Creek, Jefferson County
Mayor Tom Leighton, Wilkes Barre, Luzerne County
Mayor Patrick Loughney, Dunmore, Lackawanna County
Mayor Thomas E. Loukota, Masontown, Fayette County
Mayor Robert J. Lucas, Sharon, Mercer County
Mayor Bernard M. Luketich, Cokeburg, Washington County
Mayor Edward Lyons, North Belle Vernon, Westmoreland County
Mayor Timothy Martin, Freeland, Luzerne County
Mayor Armand Martinelli, East Stroundsburg, Monroe County
Mayor George McCloskey, Norwood, Delaware County
Mayor Raymond McDonough, North Braddock, Allegheny County
Mayor Beverly Merkel, Jessup, Lackawanna County
Mayor John Milander, Jr., Coplay, Lehigh County
Mayor Christian P. Morrison, Tamaqua, Schuylkill County
Mayor Michael Nutter, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County
Mayor Susan O'Connell, Crafton, Allegheny County
Mayor Raymond J. Osmolinski, Sr, Gallitzin, Cambria County
Mayor Salvatore J. Panto, Jr., Easton, Northampton County
Mayor Ed Pawlowski, Allentown, Lehigh County
Mayor Louis Payne, East Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
Mayor Joyce Peccon, Carmichaels, Greene County
Mayor Connie Peck, Trappe, Montgomery County
Mayor David Perusso, Wilson, Northampton County
Mayor Delmar Phillips, Frackville, Schuylkill County
Mayor Dennis Pietrandrea, Koppel, Beaver County
Mayor Albert Pipik, Allenport, Washington County
Mayor Dominick Pomposelli, Wilmerding, Allegheny County
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
Mayor Judy Reed, Connellsville, Fayette County
Mayor Stephen R. Reed, Harrisburg, Dauphin County
Mayor John D. W. Reiley, Pottsville, Schuylkill County
Mayor Herb Riede, McSherrystown, Adams County
Mayor Joseph Saxton, Bristol, Bucks County
Mayor John Segilia, Moosic, Lackawanna County
Mayor Timothy Shoemaker, Everson, Fayette County
Mayor Matt Sinberg, Yardley, Bucks County
Mayor Joseph E. Sinnott, Erie, Erie County
Mayor Thomas Smith, Blawnox, Allegheny County
Mayor Rick Smith, New Brighton, Beaver County
Mayor Larry Sprowls, Calysville, Washington County
Mayor Jeff Steffler, Wampum, Lawrence County
Mayor Margaret Stock, Butler, Butler County
Mayor F. John Szatkiewicz, Ohioville, Beaver County
Mayor Nicki Todaro, Newell, Fayette County
Mayor Tom Trigona, Johnstown, Cambria County
Mayor TonyWalck, Nesquehoning, Carbon County
Mayor William L. Welch, State College, Centre County
Mayor Leslie Whitehill, Salladasburg, Lycoming County
Mayor Barbara Wilhelm, Dawson, Fayette County
Mayor James E. Wolfe, Tarentum, Allegheny County
Mayor John Yacura, Elizabeth, Allegheny County
Mayor Dorothy Yazurlo, Laflin, Luzerne County
Mayor Jayne Young, Lansdowne, Delaware County
Mayor Stanley Zamerowski, Pringle, Luzerne County
mikey likes it
the common ills
ryan johnson
iraq veterans against the war
aimeee allisondavid solnit
aaron glantz
refugees internationalkristele younesnir rosen
fernando suarez
the new york timesalissa j. rubin
robin stringer
bloomberg news
mcclatchy newspapers
trinas kitchen


text:
|Southeast Spotlight
Capt. Charlie Plumb concludes Pillars of America Speaker Series
Published: 05/09/2013 09:40:00
The Glacier Valley Rotary Club's "Pillars of America" featured speaker this week was Capt. Charlie Plumb, a former Navy Combat Pilot who spent nearly six years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. In an interview with KINY's Sharon Gaiptman, he told us about one of the positive aspects of his life that arose from his experiences, and how it helped him to become what he is today.
VIDEO: This week's Pillars of America Speaker was Capt. Charlie Plumb, a former Navy Combat Pilot and Vietnam P.O.W. (Image: Rik Pruett)
"It's almost a mission of mine because I recognize the value of adversity; just the word itself, adverse or adversity, brings chills. There's a lot of value to it, there's just a lot of good reason; in fact my latest quote that I've come up with is 'adversity is a horrible thing to waste.'
If I approached each one of your listeners and said 'Okay, what's the most learning experience you've ever had, what makes you, what gives you the personality that you have?' You would go back to a tough coach that you had, maybe a sickness, an illness, or a divorce in your family. These things that we overcome, and gain confidence from the overcoming of it, are the things which really form our character.
So when I found that I have this message I thought 'well, then there is value to the six years of pain that I spent over there, there's a reason that it happened and there is a value to it and thus I must go forth and speak.'
Many of us forget to thank the people that prepare us for challenge, our parents and teachers and community leaders and Rotarians who support us in a lot of ways, and we go through life just making the assumption that they'll always be here for us and yet when you get into trouble, when that adversity strikes, you really look for that kind of support group."
By: Rik Pruett - email@example.com

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Online MMORPG Game
Granado Espada Europe
EuroGamez Co, Ltd.
Armonia Update 22.Jul.2014
Granado Espada Europe
Navyfield Europe
Granado Espada Europe
Navyfield Europe
Granado Espada Europe
Navyfield Europe
Charge EG-Cash
Guide (WIKI)
Madness Book
Статистика Колоний
Статистика Войн Альянсов
Raning of World PVP
Пополнить EG-CASH Валюту
Игровой Магазин
Letizia Feso Shop
Скачать Игру
Информация > Пользовательское Соглашение
EuroGamez - Terms of Use and Conditions
Updated: December, 2013
Read through the following agreement and click "Agree" to proceed or "Disagree" to abort the Account Creation process.
Welcome to EuroGamez!
EuroGamez is the copyrighted work of EuroGamez GmbH. All use of EuroGamez's games including Granado Espada (here after referred to as the "EuroGamez's games") is governed by the terms and conditions contained in this "Terms of Use" document including any future revisions (here after referred to as the "Terms of Use" or "Agreement").
Accesses to EuroGamez's games are available only to download as a software license in the EuroGamez, which is subject to an End User License Agreement in EuroGamez.
Any use of EuroGamez, not in accordance with the Terms of Use is expressly prohibited. You represent that you are a 'person' who is over the age of twelve (12) years old, or over the legal age in the country where you reside, and agree to these Terms of Use for the use of EuroGamez yourself, or by one (1) minor for whom you are a parent or guardian and who you have authorized to use your game account.
YOUR USE OF EuroGamez SHOWS YOUR AGREEMENT TO THESE TERMS OF USE. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THESE TERMS OF USE, YOU SHOULD LOG OFF NOW AND NOT REGISTER FOR AN ACCOUNT OR USE EuroGamez.
1. Establishment of Your EuroGamez Account
You may establish one (1) user account ("Account") with which you play EuroGamez by accessing EuroGamez GmbH's proprietary on-line service ("Service"), pursuant to the terms, conditions and restrictions contained in this Agreement.
In order to establish an Account, you must be a 'Person,' who is over the age of twelve (12) years old or of legal age in the country you currently reside in. Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, partnerships, or any other form of legal entity other than that of a "person" may not establish an account, and by accepting this Agreement, you hereby represent and warrant these eligibility requirements. You may not share your Account with anyone, except that if you are a parent or guardian, you may permit one (1) minor to use the Account instead of you (in which case you may not use that Account at the same time). You are liable for all activities conducted through the Account, including any activities which may be conducted by your minor that you allow to use your Account. This information is used to identify you, as a "unique user" of EuroGamez. As such, it is imperative that you provide EuroGamez GmbH with accurate, up to date information. In the event that EuroGamez GmbH learns that you have provided false or misleading registration information, EuroGamez GmbH reserves the right to immediately terminate your Account.
Your Account may be suspended for non-payment, and you may be responsible for any and all bank or service charges incurred in connection with payment of charges to your Account, and for any costs of collection including reasonable attorney's fees.
During the registration process, you will be required to select a user name and a password that are specific to your Account. Your Password is to be kept confidential at all times and you are solely responsible for the security of your Password and your Account.
You may not disclose your Password to anyone, or allow your Password to be used by anyone beside yourself or your one (1) minor child to play EuroGamez.
Any damage or harm that may result to your Account, or to EuroGamez, due to lost or deleted characters due to your disclosure of your Password, or due to the discovery of your Password by a third party, is your sole responsibility.
Note that your user name shall be subject to the naming guidelines contained in this Terms of Use.
EuroGamez GmbH does not recognize the transfer of Accounts between individuals.
2. Limitations on Your Use of EuroGamez
Your license to use EuroGamez is limited by a number of factors which are listed here, and which are contained within the EuroGamez's End User License Agreement which you were required to accept when you created a EuroGamez account.
Limitations on your right to use EuroGamez may include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following:
EuroGamez GmbH expressly reserves the exclusive right to create derivative works based on EuroGamez. This means that you may not create derivative works based on EuroGamez, without the prior express, written permission of EuroGamez GmbH!
You may not modify EuroGamez's games to change game-play, including, but not limited to, the creation of cheats and/or hacks, nor may you use any third-party software which is running at the same time as EuroGamez's games that accesses files which are part of EuroGamez, for any reason whatsoever.
Additionally, you may not utilize any "packet sniffing" software, regardless of the operating system utilized by such software and regardless of whether or not such tools are running on the same computer as EuroGamez's games software or any computer connected to the EuroGamez's games software or its network, or otherwise monitor EuroGamez's games network connection while you or anyone else is playing EuroGamez's games.
You may not institute an attack upon a EuroGamez server or otherwise deliberately attempt to disrupt EuroGamez servers.
You may not institute any such attack which results in the disruption of any other player's EuroGamez's game software.
ANY ATTEMPT BY YOU OR ANY OTHER PLAYER ON AN ACCOUNT TRACEABLE TO YOU TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE EuroGamez OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF EuroGamez IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND, SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE OR ASSISTANCE FOR SUCH AN ATTACK BE PROVIDED, EuroGamez GMBH RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH USER TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
You may not, whether intentionally or unintentionally, violate any applicable local, state, national or international law or regulation.
You may not modify any files which EuroGamez GmbH does not specifically authorize you to modify.
You may not remove, alter or conceal any proprietary notices or labels on EuroGamez without the prior consent, in writing from EuroGamez GmbH.
You may not exploit EuroGamez for any commercial purpose, including, but not limited to, performing "power leveling" services to other users of EuroGamez for "real" money.
3. EuroGamez - Rules of Conduct
As with all things, EuroGamez is governed by certain rules of conduct that must be adhered to by all users of EuroGamez.
It is your responsibility to know, understand and abide by these rules of conduct. The following rules are not meant to be "exhaustive," and EuroGamez GmbH reserves the right to determine what conduct it considers to be outside the spirit of the game and to take such disciplinary measures as it sees fit.
EuroGamez GmbH reserves the right to add to or amend this list of rules at any time, and you are responsible for checking these Terms of Use for any newly amended or posted rules each time that you log on to EuroGamez website.
4. Rules Related to User Names
Each user will select a user name for his or her character. Additionally, users may form "clans" and such clans will be required to choose a name for the clan. When you choose a user name, create a clan, or otherwise create a label that can be seen by other players of EuroGamez's games, you must abide by the following guidelines as well as the rules of common decency.
If EuroGamez GmbH, in its sole discretion, finds such a label to be offensive, it reserves the right to change the name, remove the label and corresponding chat room, and/or suspend your use of EuroGamez's games. In particular, you may not use:
(i) Names of another person with the intent to impersonate such person;
(ii) Names which incorporate 'swear' words or which are otherwise offensive, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable;
(iii) Names subject to the rights of any other person without authorization;
(iv) Names of popular culture or media personalities;
(v) Names that are trademarks, or registered trademarks of EuroGamez GmbH or other companies;
(vi) Names of religious deities or figures;
(vii) Names of characters from EuroGamez GmbH's EuroGamez products, including character names from EuroGamez's games series;
(viii) Names related to drugs, narcotics, or criminal activity, including references to drug substances;
(ix) Names comprised of partial or complete sentences (e.g., "Kickyouout", "Ihateyou", etc);
(x) Names comprised of pure gibberish (e.g., "Asdfasdf", "Jifms", "Hvlldrm");
(xi) Names that refer to pop culture icons or personas (e.g. "Britneyspears", "iPod", "Batman");
(xii) Names that incorporate titles. The term "Titles" as used herein shall include 'rank' titles (e.g., CorporalTed," or "GeneralVlad") and/or fantasy titles (e.g., "KingMike", "LordSanchez").
Additionally, you may not use a misspelling or an alternative spelling to circumvent the name restrictions listed above, nor can you have a "first" and "last" name that, when combined, violate the above name restrictions.
5. Rules Related to "Chat" and Interaction With Other Users Communicating with other Users and EuroGamez GmbH representatives is an integral part of EuroGamez and is referred to in this document as "Chat."
Your Chats may be subject to review, modification, and deletion without notice by EuroGamez GmbH.
Additionally, you hereby acknowledge that EuroGamez GmbH is under no obligation to monitor Chat and you engage in Chat at your own risk.
When engaging in Chat in EuroGamez, or otherwise utilizing EuroGamez, you may not:
(i) Transmit or post sexually explicit images or other content or language which in the sole discretion of EuroGamez GmbH is deemed to be offensive; nor shall you transmit any unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable content or language, nor may you use a misspelling or an alternative spelling to circumvent the content and language restrictions listed above;
(ii) Carry out any action with a disruptive effect, such as cause the Chat screen to "scroll" faster than other users are able to type to it, including setting up macros with large amounts of text that, when used, can have a disruptive effect on the normal flow of the Chat;
(iii) Disrupt the normal flow of dialogue in the Chat or otherwise act in a manner that negatively affects other users, individuals or entities, including, but not limited to, posting "Spam" messages on EuroGamez ("Spam" messages as used in this document include, but are not limited to, any effort to use a computer or other electronic device to post an unauthorized and/or unsolicited advertisement to EuroGamez & EuroGamez's games);
(iv) "Spam" by posting or sending more than one unsolicited message or piece of mail to a single address or in a chat area;
(v) Communicate or post any user's personal information in or on EuroGamez, or websites or forums related to EuroGamez;
(vi) Using bots or other automated techniques to collect information or communicate or post any user's personal information in or on EuroGamez, or websites or forums related to EuroGamez or EuroGamez GmbH;
(vii) Harass, threaten, stalk, embarrass or cause distress, unwanted attention or discomfort to another user of EuroGamez or other person or entity;
(viii) Cheat during game play, including but not limited to modification of the game program files;
(ix) Participate in any action that, in the opinion of EuroGamez GmbH results in an authorized user of EuroGamez being "scammed" or "defrauded" out of gold, weapons, armor, or any other items that he/she has earned through authorized game play in EuroGamez's games.
6. Rules Related to Game Play
Game play is what EuroGamez is all about. Accordingly, the rules that govern game play in EuroGamez are taken very seriously by EuroGamez GmbH. Nonetheless, certain acts go beyond what is "fair" and are considered serious violations of these Terms of Use. Those acts include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:
(i) You may not use or "exploit" errors in design, features which have not been documented, and/or "program bugs" to gain access that is otherwise not available, or to obtain a competitive advantage over other players;
(ii) All connections to EuroGamez's games, whether created by the EuroGamez GmbH software products or by other tools and utilities, may only be made through methods and means expressly approved by EuroGamez GmbH. Under no circumstances may you connect, or create tools that allow you to connect to EuroGamez's private binary interface or interfaces other than those explicitly provided by EuroGamez GmbH for your use;
(iii) You may not use any tools which hack or alter EuroGamez's game clients or server software;
(iv) You may not use software products which "packet sniff" or provide scripting and/or macroing to obtain information from EuroGamez to gain a competitive advantage over other players;
(v) You may not do anything that EuroGamez GmbH considers contrary to the "essence" of EuroGamez.
7. Account/Password Security
You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your Password, and you will be responsible for all uses of your Password, whether or not authorized by you. Also, note that the security of your account is your responsibility. EuroGamez GmbH is not responsible in the event that your account is "hacked," or if your account or computer is damaged by a virus, or for any other issues with your computer or your account which may occur in conjunction with your use of EuroGamez.
If you think that your account has been compromised, please contact EuroGamez's Technical Support, or by sending email to EuroGamez GmbH's Technical Support, and EuroGamez GmbH will make an effort to assist you in recovering your account safely. This includes helping with resetting passwords, billing issues, and offering basic suggestions for improving your account security. If you report your account stolen, hacked, or in any other way compromised, EuroGamez GmbH will suspend the account while we fully investigate the matter. Following this investigation, EuroGamez GmbH will determine the appropriate course of action.
8. Consequences of violating the Code of Conduct
EuroGamez GmbH, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to take whatever action it deems necessary to preserve the integrity of EuroGamez. Violation of any of the terms and conditions set forth above may result in actions being taken by EuroGamez GmbH, effective immediately or at a time determined by EuroGamez GmbH, which may include, but not be limited to the following:
(i) EuroGamez GmbH may temporarily suspend your access to EuroGamez;
(ii) EuroGamez GmbH may permanently terminate your access EuroGamez, and/or
(iii) in the event that EuroGamez GmbH is contacted by governmental authorities and/or parties seeking information or legal action against you for a violation committed by you or alleged to have been committed by you involving your use of EuroGamez, EuroGamez GmbH will cooperate fully with all governmental authorities and any lawful orders of the court with regard to the release of information that relates to you and your use of EuroGamez, including but not limited to user Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, associated personal information and all other user information on file. Without limiting the actions listed above, EuroGamez GmbH retains the right to decline service to any user who violates EuroGamez's Terms of Use or the End User License Agreement.
9. Experience Reimbursement
First and foremost, nothing in these rules will ever place a "duty" upon EuroGamez GmbH to reimburse you by providing experience credit for any experience lost for any reason. That being said, EuroGamez GmbH may, at its sole option, determine to reimburse experience lost by players in certain extreme and unusual situations.
For instance, EuroGamez GmbH may decide to reimburse experience lost in the event of a catastrophic server failure. But remember that it is completely up to EuroGamez GmbH to determine which situations would justify experience reimbursement. In no event is EuroGamez GmbH obligated to provide any monetary reimbursement or monetary credit.
10. Online Duration
EuroGamez GmbH agrees to provide the servers and software technology necessary to access the Service for the "on-line" component of EuroGamez's games until such time as EuroGamez's games are "Out of Publication." EuroGamez shall be considered "Out of Publication" following the date that EuroGamez's games are no longer manufactured and/or distributed by EuroGamez GmbH, or its affiliates. Thereafter, EuroGamez GmbH may, in its sole discretion, continue to provide the service or EuroGamez GmbH may license to third parties the rights to provide the Service.
However, nothing contained herein shall be construed so as to place an obligation upon EuroGamez GmbH to provide the Service beyond the time that EuroGamez is Out of Publication.
Neither the Service nor EuroGamez GmbH's agreement to provide access to the Service shall be considered a rental or lease of time on or capacity of EuroGamez GmbH's servers or other technology.
11. Our Administration of EuroGamez & Changes to the Terms of these Terms of Use
EuroGamez GmbH reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to change, modify, add, supplement or delete any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement at any time, including, without limitation, access policies, the availability of any EuroGamez's feature, hours of availability, content, data, software or equipment needed to access EuroGamez, the amount of, or basis for determining, any fees or charges for EuroGamez, and institution of new fees or charges for EuroGamez, effective upon prior notice as follows:
EuroGamez GmbH will post notification of any such changes to EuroGamez's games on EuroGamez website and will post any revised Terms of Use in this location, and may provide such other notice as EuroGamez GmbH may elect in its sole discretion, which may include by email, postal mail or pop-up screen.
If any future changes to this Agreement are unacceptable to you or cause you to no longer be in compliance with this Agreement, you may cease to use your EuroGamez account and terminate the account.
The continued use of EuroGamez by you following notice of changes to this Agreement will mean you accept any and all such changes. EuroGamez GmbH may change, modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of EuroGamez at any time. EuroGamez GmbH may also impose limits on certain features or restrict your access to parts or all of EuroGamez without notice or liability.
12. Termination
This Agreement is effective until terminated by either party.
In the event that you terminate this Agreement, you will forfeit your right to any and all payments you may have made for pre-purchased game access to EuroGamez. You agree and acknowledge that you are not entitled to any refund for any amounts which were pre-paid on your Account prior to any termination of this Agreement. EuroGamez GmbH reserves the right to terminate this Agreement without notice, if, in EuroGamez GmbH's sole discretion, you fail to comply with any terms contained in these Terms of Use and/or the EuroGamez's End User License Agreement. Note that it is the policy of EuroGamez GmbH to cooperate fully in criminal investigations, including but not limited to tracing user Internet Protocol IP addresses and associated personal information as well as sharing all other user information on file with the proper authorities upon request.
13. Acknowledgments
You hereby acknowledge that:
(i) You assume the cost of all telephone charges and necessary equipment, servicing, repair or correction for connecting to EuroGamez;
(ii) As part of your registration process and in consideration for the privilege of accessing EuroGamez, EuroGamez GmbH has the right to send your computer one or more "cookies" without any further notice, and EuroGamez GmbH has the right to obtain certain identification information about your computer and its operating system, including the identification numbers of your hard drives, central processing unit, IP addresses and operating systems, for identification purposes without any further notice;
(iii) EuroGamez GmbH has the right to obtain "non-personal" data from your connection to EuroGamez in order to make certain demographic assumptions regarding the users of EuroGamez without any further notice;
(iv) In order to assist EuroGamez GmbH to police users who may use "hacks," or "cheats" to gain an unfair advantage over other players, you acknowledge that EuroGamez GmbH shall have the right to obtain certain information from your computer and its component parts, including your computer's random access memory, video card, central processing unit, etc. This information will only be used for the purpose of identifying "cheaters," and for no other reason.
EuroGamez's games are provided "as is" and EuroGamez GmbH does not warrant that EuroGamez will be uninterrupted or error-free, that defects will be corrected, or that this site and/or service or the server are free of viruses or other harmful components, and EuroGamez GmbH expressly disclaims all express or implied warranties with respect to EuroGamez, including without limitation any warranties of its condition, defects, use, merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose or use, and non-infringement.
The use of any "user interface" other than the user interface that is included in the EuroGamez Software ("Third Party User Interface") is not recommended by EuroGamez GmbH, and you hereby agree and acknowledge that you shall be solely liable for any damage which may occur to your Account, your computer(s), the Service, or any other damage that may result related to your use of a Third Party User Interface.
ALSO, NEITHER EuroGamez GMBH NOR ITS PARENT, SUBSIDIARIES, LICENSORS OR AFFILIATES SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INTERRUPTIONS OF SERVICE INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO ISP DISRUPTIONS, SOFTWARE OR HARDWARE FAILURES OR ANY OTHER EVENT WHICH MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF DATA OR DISRUPTION OF SERVICE. IN NO EVENT WILL THE LICENSOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.
You may not be able to access EuroGamez whenever you want, and there may be extended periods of time where you cannot access EuroGamez;
EuroGamez GmbH shall not be held liable for any delay or failure to perform resulting from causes outside the reasonable control of EuroGamez GmbH, including, but not necessarily limited to any failure to perform hereunder due to unforeseen circumstances or cause beyond EuroGamez GmbH's control, including but not limited to acts of God, war, riot, embargoes; acts of civil or military authorities, fire, floods, accidents, strikes, or shortages of transportation facilities, fuel, energy, labor or materials.
While keeping Game Data safe is a priority of EuroGamez GmbH, note that EuroGamez GmbH shall not be liable for the loss of any Game Data for any reason whatsoever, including but not limited to server failure, telephonic or network interruptions of any kind, defects, viruses or other harmful components, or negligent acts of EuroGamez GmbH and/or its affiliates;
EuroGamez GmbH reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify or delete any information, including but not limited to Game Data and any other information accumulated, stored or uploaded on EuroGamez;
You are entirely liable for all activities conducted through your EuroGamez account, and are responsible for ensuring that any other person who uses your EuroGamez account is aware of the terms of this Agreement and complies with this Agreement. In the event that you become aware of any known or suspected breach of security, including loss, theft, or unauthorized disclosure of your Password, you will notify EuroGamez GmbH by e-mailing help@EuroGamez to report the suspected breach of security related to your EuroGamez account immediately;
EuroGamez GmbH will not be liable for any circumstances arising from the unauthorized use of a User Name, user's password or user's EuroGamez account. Any fraudulent, abusive, or otherwise illegal activity involving your EuroGamez account may be reported to appropriate law-enforcement agencies by EuroGamez GmbH. The terms of this Agreement shall extend to anyone that you allow to use your EuroGamez account, User Name, player's character(s) or player ship(s), and you are personally responsible and liable for the consequences that may result if any such person violates the terms of the Agreement, including but not limited to termination of your account, and loss of your User Name, characters, ships and so on.
14. Equitable Remedies
In the event that you breach this Agreement, you hereby agree that EuroGamez GmbH would be irreparably damaged if this Agreement were not specifically enforced, and therefore you agree that EuroGamez GmbH shall be entitled, without bond, other security, or proof of damages, to appropriate equitable remedies with respect to breaches of this Agreement, in addition to such other remedies as EuroGamez GmbH may otherwise have available to it under applicable laws. In the event that any litigation is brought by either party in connection with this Agreement, the prevailing party in such litigation shall be entitled to recover from the other party all the costs, attorneys' fees and other expenses incurred by such prevailing party in the litigation.
15. Miscellaneous
I also acknowledge and agree that these Terms of Use are the complete and exclusive statement of the agreement between EuroGamez GmbH and me concerning EuroGamez service and that the Agreement supersedes any prior or contemporaneous agreement, either oral or written, and any other communications with regard thereto between EuroGamez GmbH and myself.
ⓒ EuroGamez GmbH in Germany and/or other countries. All rights reserved.
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Пользовательское Соглашение
Политика Конфиденциальности
Copyright © EuroGamez GmbH. All Rights Reserved.
EuroGamez GmbH, Business License Number: Frankfurt 88027
Business Address: Mergenthalerallee 77, D-65760 Eschborn, Germany
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Peer reviewed journal article on The Choice Game™ is published in Californian Journal of Health Promotion.
Every day you get pressure from every corner. The Choice Game shows you that there is still hope.
Amber, 15
I told my mom, I think the Choice Game is going to change my life.
Keshonna, 18
I liked that it gave students the opportunity so they can feel that they are not alone. There are actually people out there that understand them and there are actual people going through these situations.
Eric, 15
The Choice Game™ truly entertains while fulfilling the A through H requirements of the Department of Health and Human Services to help build strong moral decision making skills for young people within an interactive computer environment.
The story lines and the language help young people in each version make decisions and then deal with the consequences of their choices. Celebrity actors like Stephen Baldwin, Joe Mantegna and Malcolm-Jamal Warner all help the young person to realize that today's decisions can have far reaching consequences. Even the most uninterested young people enjoy this creative and engaging new way of learning about what could happen to them and their friends.
Each day our young people seem to be faced with more and more difficult and complex problems and decisions. Why not give them something that is fun and can help them make healthier choices while they are learning how to build brighter futures?
Using 95 percent Caucasian actors, the Midwest version of the The Choice Game educates students as they re-examine risk-taking behaviors in a contemporary way, including the benefits of abstinence/waiting for sex until marriage.
A nine-week curriculum has been developed for the classroom that can also be adjusted for shorter or longer terms. Each segment of the curriculum is modular and can be used in any order.
Topics include the family, resolving conflicts, teen pregnancy, peer pressure, self control, sexually transmitted diseases, drugs and alcohol, communication skills and honesty, fairness and respect for self and others.
The Urban version of The Choice Game is comprised of 55 percent African American actors, 24 percent Hispanic actors and the remaining are Caucasian. Focus group input on scripts for character and situation authenticity ensure the game truly entertains and helps young people with their decision making skills. Emphasizes the importance of waiting for sex until marriage.
Topics include the family, resolving conflicts, teen pregnancy, peer pressure, self control, sexually transmitted diseases, drugs and alcohol, communication skills and honesty, fairness and respect for self and others.
Coming Soon! Surviving the Streets, the latest Choice Game segment about gangs. Currently in production.
Confusion Burning, newest Choice Game segment, nominated for Best Educational Documentary by New York Independent Film & Video Festival.
...view video
...view press release
NJ Acting Governor Codey congratulates Kathy DiFiore during the NJ Council on Drug and Alcohol Abuse.
... view more images
The Choice Game Team presented at the Annual Character Education Partnership Conference in Atlanta, GA
... view more images
Joe Mantegna, Star of
Joan of Arcadia TV Series


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Due to limited availability of fresh flowers and supplies to florists, all orders are being taken on a 'Florist Choice' basis with contact-free delivery as and when available.
100% Secure Online Ordering
Home > Waikato > 7 florists in "Morrinsville" > FLORIST|boutique > Products > Rustic Bunch
260, Thames Street,
3300, New Zealand
out of 5
based on 15 user ratings
(15 reviews) 100.00% positive
They have a good service at very accomodating.
5 / 5
Zyra 2nd Jul
Excellent service. Flowers sent from SA to Henderson NZ..
Adele 2nd Jul
Beautiful arrangement Just exactly what I wanted
Kathleen 2nd Jul
I have been very anxious wondering what had happened with my order, and whether it had even gone through and if ai had to disappoint my sick sister, and lose my money. So many things can go wrong with buying flowers on line.
The webpage for ordering was excellent, so why couldn't there be some kind of confirmation - by email or message or way of tracking the order.
4 / 5
Pamela 2nd Jul
Thank you very much for the perfect flowers delivered today.
Excellent service and would use you again and recommend to others.
Bowles 2nd Jul
Excellent service. Recipient very happy with their flowers. Thank yee.
Jennifer 2nd Jul
Excellent - thanks for doing that.
Mick 1st Jul
Absolutely beautiful arrangement, delivered on time. I picked 'Florist's choice' and asked for bright yellow/orange/red hues and they did a great job! Jeane responded swiftly to my inquiry about the delivery times and sent a picture of the bouquet before it was sent out for delivery (much appreciated!!) . Recipient is very happy and say flowers are very beautiful. I am sad that I cannot show the picture of the bouquet here. I fully recommend this florist and service.
Vestergaard 1st Jul
Delighted! The recipient has rung me already and was truly happy to receive them. Thank you. I am also pleased to be able to see the photo of them. The pink orchids are perfect!
Stove 1st Jul
Easy process. Ordered from Melbourne - delivered to my sister in Feilding the next day - smooth process. I love that I received an actual picture of the flowers that were delivered. Thank you
Pedley 1st Jul
Cannot thank you enough, you pulled out all the stops..flowers arrived on time. To get flowers delivered to N Z with only a few hours notice from here in England was absolutely Fantastic.
Many Many thanks
Margaret 1st Jul
Excellent service. From order to delivery, in 1/2 a day, and beautiful flowers ;)
Tara 1st Jul
Thanks so much for the short notice delivery, so appreciated. Flowers beautiful ??????
Stevenson 1st Jul
the recipient was very pleased with the selection of flowers, and delivery.
Julieann 30th Jun
Excellent website showing exactly what the bouquets look like, easy to use and choose the right flowers for the occasion, and a personalized message.
Daniela 30th Jun
Good colour selection and different flowers.
Wadsworth 30th Jun
I saw a photo of the flowers they looked incredible and made my sister cry. We are both multiple cancer survivors who live at opposite ends of the earth so its very important for us to support each other. My sister absolutely loved the flowers, I will definitely use this florist again. Thank you
Karen 30th Jun
Thankyou so much having never sent them to NZ before .They arrived in time for my daughter's birthday she was over the moon thankyou
Ivor 30th Jun
Definitely recommend; excellent communication and amazing customer service. Thanks for everything!
Smallwood 30th Jun
Flowers are beautiful my sister loved them. Thank You
Joyce 30th Jun
A beautiful bunch of pastel flowers incorporating twigs and interesting foliage and wrapped in natural papers and ribbon for that special person who loves that bit of country.


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Either I really have my shit together, or I have the pleasure of witnessing people who have just ventured into public for the first time…everywhere I go.
I've written a lot here about my displeasures with the United States Postal Service, and this rant will be no different. I'm just going to cut straight to the chase. Today I had to make a stop at the Post Office to mail something to a friend, this is my story.
This trip begins much the same as any other. A 15-deep line full of old people who have nothing else to do at 5:45 PM on a Tuesday, with a slight smattering of deer-in-a-headlight looking people who look like they just realized they were in a post office and forgot why they were there. I stroll in, grab myself a box, fold it, toss the contents inside said box, seal, address, line, boom.
My ears immediately tune-in to the second teller, a tall, reluctantly-aging, bearded hipster who settled into being a postal worker because his mom said working for the government is the easiest way to earn a guaranteed paycheck and not work on having an actual career or skills of his own. He asks the woman at his window if she "would like any stamps this evening", to which she replies "I don't know". She didn't know. She seriously didn't fucking know if she needed stamps. She probably thought she was ordering Taco Bell for all I know. He chides back "well ma'am, if you don't know, then you probably don't need any stamps". This guy was on his game.
While this is going on, I also key-in to the couple at the third window. The gentleman customer looks like an overly-enthusiastic middle school gym teacher accompanied by his leather-skinned wife with a New Jersey accent and Fran Drescher laugh. I'm instantly transported to my own personal version of hell on Earth. I look at my watch, 3 minutes have passed. 1 customer has been served (literally and figuratively).
I watch in agony as each customer is served painfully slower than the last. The gym-teacher and his wife are still at the same window after 10 minutes now. Their postal servant carefully places each of their 3 boxes on the scale, and every time he or the customer has something to say, he quite literally drops everything he is doing to politely and thoughtfully address each inane fucking thing each of them banter back and forth about.
15 minutes pass. I'm finally 4th in line! My stress level begins to rise, I incessantly check my phone as if to briefly transport myself away from the stupidity flooding the room around me. I fart, and it begins to fill the air, like the way the smell of a fart builds under a bed sheet (I'm not that great at metaphors). I calmly stare at inanimate objects around the post office, as if I am formulating a really important plan, while my methane gas dissipates. As soon as I think I had gotten away with it, I suddenly realize I am in line with about a dozen of people who list 'prunes' as their favorite food and my nostril is invaded by a smell that I can only describe as rotting flesh and dog breath combined. I learned my lesson not to get into a farting war with octogenarians who have nothing else to do all day.
25 minutes pass, I am next in line. The gym teacher and his wife are stillllllll at the third window, somehow. It truly is one of life's greatest mysteries as to how it takes some people so long to do the simplest tasks. I have very rarely gone anywhere and not known for what purpose I was there. I very much dislike being in situations where I am unsure, perhaps its the perfectionist in me that doesn't like to feel like I don't know what is going on, a character trait that apparently 5% of humans actually possess. I digress.
I finally receive my turn in line. I place my parcel on the scale, I say the package is all set, i pay my $5.80, receive my change, thank the portly, miserable teller, and I'm on my way. IN LESS THAN 30 FUCKING SECONDS. Seriously, what the fucking fuck. Why is it.. no HOW is it that everything takes so long for other people to do that takes me less than 30 seconds?? I even cracked a little joke while I was having my turn in line, and guess what? I didn't waste anyone's time. And guess who was still at the third window? Captain kickball and his parrothead wife. How? Why? What is actually wrong with you?
I wish life had an EZ-Pass lane where I can just breeze by everyone else who is having a hard time negotiating life's little things; like checking out of a grocery store, using an ATM, ordering a drink, or simply getting a cup of coffee. Life really doesn't need to be so difficult.
To the 5% of you that have your shit together, keep it up, we are out there! We shall inherit the Earth!


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THE TOUGH CUSTOMER- Ten percent solution? Digi-signals stoke fears of imperfect pictures
"Television," says Bob Jenkins, Chief Engineer at Channel 29, the NBC affiliate here in town, "is imperfect."
He wasn't talking about the artistic content of shows, but about the quality of signals used to deliver those shows into our homes.
The government is requiring all television stations to transition from transmitting in analog signals to digital ones no later than February 17, 2009– just eight months from now. The reason is to free up the limited number of analog frequencies currently used by television broadcasting for emergency services, such as police and fire, as well as for wireless broadband services.
If, like most people in the Charlottesville area, television comes into your home via cable or a satellite dish, this change won't affect you much.
Even if you rely on broadcast signals, if you bought your television within the last few years, it likely has a built-in digital receiver already. And the digital signals will be picked up by your antenna, just as the current analog signals are.
If your television set is older, however, it may be capable of receiving only the old-style signals, in which case you will need purchase an analog-to-digital converter in order to receive the new digital ones. You may be eligible to receive up to two coupons from the government worth $40 each toward the purchase of these devices, which cost around $50 and up.
The Federal Communications Commission maintains a web site that will answer most questions you may have about this whole ball of wax at http://www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html.
According to the FCC, digital broadcasting provides many advantages to the viewer, including superior picture and digital sound.
But Larry Brown, who lives off Route 250 west of town, has had a different experience. Back in January, he switched to DirecTV, but was receiving broadcast signals via the antenna on his house for Channels 29 and 41 in our area. Now receiving those stations in digital, he was quite satisfied. The pictures, he wrote the Hook, "had never been better, and we looked forward to Channels 16, 19, and 27 [the area's ABC, CBS and FOX network affiliates, respectively] coming on line full strength so we could receive them as well."
But, Brown continued, "Just a few weeks ago the leaves on our tall trees came out full, and almost overnight the digital signals from Ch. 29 came in broken to the point of being unreadable. Ch. 41 digital still comes in fine."
Brown says his home is "just over 11 miles from all the local antenna."
Jenkins was surprised to hear about Brown's problem, given where he lives. He explains that the quality of the picture is determined by two factors: location and signal strength. "As a rule of thumb," he says, "if you got analog signals, you get digital signals."
Jenkins said that while leaves could affect digital signals, Channel 29's signal strength is much stronger than that of Channel 41, and he could not explain why Channel 29 would be affected at Brown's home while the weaker station would not. He speculated it could be an unusual bounce or reflection of the signals.
Channel 29 monitors its power output all times, Jenkins adds, which it is required to do by law; and the frequency on which it broadcasts, which is monitored by an outside company, deviates little, so he is confident in the integrity of his station's signals.
Roger Burchett, general manager of the Charlottesville Newsplex, which owns the CBS, ABC and Fox affiliates in town, did not return phone calls.
In any event, Brown warns, "The area around Charlottesville is likely to have some big surprises when the switchover is completed next February."
How big of a surprise remains to be seen. Jenkins says he is getting more calls these days about reception issues, but they still do not amount to significant numbers. Still, Brown's experience suggests that number might grow as we get closer to the February deadline and more households make the switch.
And while almost 90 percent of the 85,000 television households in the Charlottesville Designated Market Area get cable or satellite, according to non-profit trade group Television Bureau of Advertising, that means potential difficulties for 8,500 households in the region. While the odds are that the transition will be smooth for most, the fact that the Brown's signal problem stumped Jenkins could also be a signal that there will be more problems than Jenkins, or the FCC, anticipates.
Got a consumer situation? Call the Hook newsroom at 434-295-8700x405 or e-mail the Tough Customer directly.


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The Cervantes Mission allocates 10% of its resources to educational activities
Everyone knows that space fascinates children and young people. Now the European Space Agency (ESA) is devoting a significant part of one its missions to Spanish pupils and students of all levels.
The Cervantes Mission, with ESA's Spanish astronaut Pedro Duque, is the first European mission with a perfectly structured educational programme, involving primary school pupils up to university students. Almost 10% of the resources of the Cervantes Mission are designated to experiments and educational activities in general.
"What I like most about the educational programme is that we are using space to widen the interest of children in subjects which are fundamental for European development," says Duque. "This is closely related to the economy, to daily life."
The programme clearly has the youngest in mind. In a competition called 'Habla ISS' [ISS speaks], Duque sent a letter to all Spanish primary schools –around 14 000– inviting them to send questions about space. The youngest can send their 'best drawing of an astronaut and the International Space Station.' Older pupils can write 'the most compelling story about an astronaut and the International Space Station'. About 5000 Spanish and Portuguese children have participated and the classes chosen will be invited on 26 October 2003 to speak to Duque via radio, who will be in the Station. To complement the competition 'Habla ISS' and, coinciding with the astronaut's stay on the ISS, there have been educational activities in five Spanish science museums.
Four of the 24 experiments being undertaken during the Mission are dedicated to secondary school and university students. In this way, six of the total 75 kilograms weight of the experiments is dedicated to education.
Students thought up some experiments themselves. For example, the Spanish APIS and THEBAS experiments study the movement of different types of solid bodies in space. In contrast, the Swiss experiment CHONDRO investigates the formation of cartilaginous structures in space and WINOGRAD analyses how bacterial colonies form during weightlessness. VIDEO-2 is targeted at a younger audience: boys and girls from 12 to 18 years. The experiment will study phenomena inherent in the absence of gravity and which illustrate Newton's Laws of Motion. VIDEO-2 will record them on video. The videos will be translated and distributed by ESA to European education centres.
The Cervantes Mission has therefore become a pioneering experience. ESA intends to allocate the same importance to educational activities during the next mission of a European astronaut to the ISS in April 2004. In addition to that, the Educational Programme of the ISS, already underway, plans to allocate 1% of the resources of the European laboratory Columbus to education.


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Regular Price: £169.99
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Add some final touches to your garden with our collection of garden accessories. Here, you'll find a wide range of great ornaments for your garden, from décor items such as outdoor lighting, water features and firepits, to more practical accessories, including gas & charcoal barbecues and patio heaters.
If you have an old gazebo that could do with a new canopy, or a garden swing with a seat cushion that's seen better days, you'll also be able to find our selection of replacement canopies, cushions and covers to keep your garden furniture looking new for years to come!


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I'm feeling annoyed today, and because it is Monday that is increasing it ten-fold. Therefore, I must vent:
I have done my banking there since 1996, and have pretty much hated them since the inception of our relationship for one reason or another, though I'm not sure there is a banking establishment out there that I would truly love. It just kind of is what it is, and I stay because it is a pain to move everything. HOWEVER, I recently received a random envelope in the mail from them saying "Hey, here's a new debit card because your info was potentially compromised. Totally our bad, sorry about that." And there were three main things that really irked me about the situation: 1) WTF? Potentially compromised? The nonchalance of the letter was irritating. 2) The card had a new number (obvs) but I had my old one memorized — which proved very convenient when making online purchases at new retailers — no need to dig through my wallet! and 3) Do you know how many things I have automatically debit out of my account? About a million — netflix, the gym, student loan payments…yada, yada, yada…you get it. But let's just say in the last 3 weeks I have gotten a lot of "Something is wrong with your credit card" emails and phone calls (including a "Collections" call from 24 Hour Fitness complete with a rude ass girl on the other line demanding payment) and I would really like to just punch Bank of America in the stomach each time I have to deal with it.
Complaint # 2: Yahoo! You Are Dead to Me
So about a week ago I tried to sign into my Yahoo! account and got an irritating error message. I sent the appropriate complaint and received a canned response of "We're working on it!" And then I waited. And sent another complaint. And got another canned response. And waited. And got an email with a ticket #. And waited. I don't know what the hell they are working on but after more than a week I still can not check my mother-loving email. And for someone who checks their email probably 30 times a day this is…oh, how do you say…UNFUCKINGACCEPTABLE! Everything comes to that email address. EVERYTHING. Obviously I am going to have to move on to another address (especially after googling this problem and reading about people who have been dealing with it for over a year…um, no) but again, now I have to figure out by trial and error exactly what I need to update. Also, it means until Yahoo! fixes the problem everything stored in that account (aka future travel itineraries, groupons, contacts, etc) are gone. GONE. Ugh, the thought of it all kind of makes me ill. I think Yahoo! and Bank of America may be in cahoots.
Complaint #3: I miss the skin on my hands and knees
So Garrett and I joined a CrossFit Gym about a month ago (the nasty call from the 24 Hour Fitness Rep ended up being the perfect time to cancel our old gym membership…HA! Take that, bitchy chick.) and really I have loved every minute since, you know aside from the blisters on my hands and the rug burn (Yes, I injured myself doing modified push ups. Awesome). The first month you spend 3 days per week learning technique and most of the lifts and then do an abbreviated workout. Abbreviated. Yet I have pretty much been sore everyday since we joined. So last Friday we finished our course and now I guess we get to join the rest of the folks and do the real workouts, and honestly I feel a little freaked out about it. Sometimes I find the warm ups a challenge (embarrassing as that is to admit) so the thought of an entire 40-60 minute workout is freaking me out a bit. I just went online and looked at our WOD for tonight and HOLY SHIT. Now I have 10 hours to try and figure out how the hell one modifies a handstand push up. OHMYGOD.
I think I will leave it at my top 3 complaints because, really, that is probably enough. I don't want to get on a roll or I will never shut up and I don't need to start this day with a downward spiral in attitude.
What's bugging you this Monday? You know you want to vent.