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My wife and I were recently invited to stay at Sol Beach – A wonderful resort on the main tourist beach of Koh Rong Samloem (i.e. the beautiful Saracen Bay – A peaceful relaxing holiday destination). Sol Beach offers a more luxurious accommodation at a premium price of $150 / night. There are now a couple of resort on Samloem pricing themselves in the premium category (see: The One and Moonlight), so we were intrigued to see how Sol Beach would compare, and how it aims to stand out in the long term.
Sihanoukville to Koh Rong Samloem
By complete coincidence, the Sihanoukville police force rented out all of the ferries for the day, so we had to take the 'slow boat' to Koh Rong Island for a change. Because of its track record, we can't recommend you take this ferry, at least not till some time has passed and its record has improved.
We arrived to Saracen Bay on Koh Rong Samloem around lunch time, after stopping off for a quick drink on Koh Rong (we took a private boat from Koh Rong to Samloem to save time waiting for the connection – This cost us $30 between 3 of us – with more people it's about $5pp).
The sun was out and the sky was clear – This is when the ocean is at its best, changing colours every 5 minutes or so, from clear blue to all sorts of greens and turquoises – Truly fantastic. We had a slight breeze to cool us down in the heat – The rainy season was just coming to an end so there are a couple of months to go before the sun is at its full force.
Getting to Sol Beach Resort
We were greeted on the main pier by the Sol Beach staff – 2 friendly Khmer men who spoke a good level of English. They took our luggage and helped us into a private taxi boat – Sol Beach is a 15-20 minute walk along the beach heading left as you get off the ferry – If you don't have heavy bags, it's definitely worth a walk to see some of the other resorts on the island. With heavy bags however, the option of a taxi boat is excellent, and is now being offered by several of the resorts on Samloem.
The taxi boat took about 5 minutes, and was actually good fun as we had to jump out into the water to get to the resort – A real sense of a desert island paradise is created. First impressions of the resort were great – A large Khmer-shaped restaurant with an expanse of similarly designed villas stretching out across the beach front, the exotic jungle wilderness in the background, a very clean beach with beautiful white sand, conveniently placed comfortable chairs and hammocks… Everything you would expect from a premium-priced resort on Samloem.
Sol Beach Accommodation
Upon arrival, we were asked to relax in the restaurant and were offered some complementary drinks – A nice touch we thought. We were then taken to our tree-high villa, the Sol Beach staff carrying our bags for us. This kind of service is not common on Koh Rong / Samloem, so we were impressed.
The villa itself looked very nice from the outside – You can see that a lot of care was taken in its design and construction. The room was better than we expected – A large comfortable double bed, one-way windows providing views of the ocean, a mosquito net over the bed, curtains to cover the glass doors, air-conditioning and fans, a modern western toilet with a bathtub (bathtubs are generally hard to find in Cambodia), a nice shower and sink, complementary toiletries, towels, and free water bottles. All in all, a very nice, western-standard, modern accommodation.
The only downside was that the room didn't have a TV, like some of the other premium resorts do. Now, for me, this isn't a major problem, but my wife likes to lie back and watch movies later at nights, so if I hadn't brought my laptop we would have struggled on that front. There were also problems with Wi-Fi, as this is something relatively new to the island. All resorts were experiencing the same issues however, so it wasn't just Sol Beach. Some people might also like the added luxury of a swimming pool found at The One resort next door. Personally, the beautiful warm ocean waters are all I need, but I do see the appeal of going for a dip in the pool later at nights.
The Beach Area
By the time we unpacked and relaxed, it was almost the afternoon, so we headed out for a walk along the beach front. Sol Beach is roughly near the centre of the island, so the main view is the wonderful expanse of ocean waters (some of the resorts near the edges of Saracen Bay are surrounded by jungle which adds an interesting aesthetic).
As mentioned earlier, the beach is very well kept and clean around this area of Saracen Bay – Sol Beach and several other resorts clean the beach daily. We were pleasantly surprised by the lack of people around – Although Sol Beach and the nearby resorts were full, there were only a couple of people swimming in the ocean and relaxing on the beach front – When some of the other resorts are full, the sense of privacy can disperse.
Sol Beach Restaurant
After slowly walking and taking in the peaceful tranquil atmosphere (all that can be heard are the ocean waves, crickets, and the occasional bird), we decided to head back to the resort and try out the bar and restaurant.
Overall, the atmosphere at the bar area is very enjoyable, with very nice comfortable furniture that's ideal for lounging and taking in the ocean views. The bar staff are friendly and full of chatter. I must say that my Rioja was one of the best wines I have had in Cambodia. Cambodia, in general, is not big on its wine, so good ones are hard to come by. What's more, it's hard to find a red wine that's served at the right temperature and isn't too cold, and the Rioja at Sol Beach was perfect.
The food was also of a good standard. The fish Amok, in particular, was a very accomplished dish, and the chef is clearly very skilled at the Khmer cuisine. The western-side of the menu still requires work, but Sol Beach were creating a new menu at the time, so we'll have to come back once this is complete.
Something that was a bit of a nuisance were the beetles that were attracted to the lights. This happens at some of the other resorts too (particularly the ones with larger restaurants), but Sol Beach are looking for a solution I've been told.
Movie Night at Sol Beach Resort
As we were about to set off back to our room, we bumped into Steve, the owner – A friendly American man who always seems to be happy and smiling. He invited us to stay for the regular film night hosted at Sol Beach. Ironically, that night's movie was 'Castaway' – Very fitting given Koh Rong Samloem 's more 'desert island' feel.
After the movie, we went back to the villa and got a very good night's sleep – There was no noise whatsoever. Unlike the main tourist beach on Koh Rong (Koh Touch), all activities tend to finish at around 11pm on Saracen Bay, ensuring that no noise keeps you up throughout the night.
The morning after we had the 'all you can eat' complementary buffet breakfast – A very satisfying thing to wake up to. Again, the food and coffee were of a good standard, as you would expect. Personally, I would have liked a selection of teas to choose from, and Sol Beach will be introducing these at a later date.
To conclude, Sol Beach is an excellent place to stay on Koh Rong Samloem if you want to see the magnificent views in a more luxurious accommodation. Because it is new, there are still a few things that need ironing out, but I've been given every confidence that these minor issues will be quickly resolved. All in all, Sol Beach Resort is quickly becoming one of the best places to stay on Samloem. If you're thinking of going to Samloem and would like to Try this resort for yourself, book here at best price:Book Sol Beach at Best Price
Official Website: Sol Beach Koh Rong Samloem
- Q: When is the best time to visit Saracen Bay?
- Q: How do I get to Saracen Bay?
- Q: What activities are there?
- Q: Where can I see the glowing plankton?
- Q: What should I bring with me?
- Q: Is it easy to get a Cambodian Visa?
- Q: Is there an ATM on Saracen Bay?
- Q: Is there a medical facility?
- Q: Is it a family-friendly place?
- Q: When is the rainy season?
Middle of November / December / January / February: Warm and dry. 25°C daytime.
March / April / May: Hot and dry. 35°C daytime.
June / July / August: Hot and wet. 35°C daytime.
September / October / Early November: Warm and wet. 25°C daytime.
Please see our Weather Guide for more information.
It will take about 40 minutes to get to Saracen Bay if it's the first stop. If the boat first stops elsewhere, it may take 1 hour or so.
All 5 services will charge roughly $25 return, though prices can vary depending on time of year, special offers, etc. All services leave from the Ochheuteal (AKA 'Serendipity') pier in Sihanoukville.
The 5 services offer modern speed boats with comfortable chairs, life jackets, and the option to buy food and drink on board. Not all of the ferries have air-conditioning, but once the boats set off there is a strong cool breeze throughout the sitting areas which more than makes up for it.
All ferry services tend to be very busy – we strongly recommend you buy your tickets in advance. You can buy your tickets online now here: Book Ferry Tickets Online Now
The Koh Rong islands are known for their stunning underwater panorama. Whether it's snorkeling or scuba diving that you're after, there are plenty of superb locations on Koh Rong Samloem.
Kayaking & Paddle Boarding
Enjoy the crystal clear ocean waters by Kayaking or paddle boarding your way around – An ideal activity for couples and families alike.
Jungle Trekking
Explore the exotic jungle habitat by foot. If you're staying on Saracen Bay, we would definitely recommend for you to see Lazy Beach – A 40 minute walk through the jungle trail.
Bioluminescent Plankton
Sparkling like a starry sky all around you, the bioluminescent plankton are a wonderful sight to behold at night times. Please speak to your hotel about booking a plankton tour.
If you're staying on Saracen Bay, the easiest way for you to see the plankton is by booking a boat tour.
For more information, please read: Glowing Plankton on Koh Rong
You can however get cash out at any of the three Eftpos terminals on Koh Touch (the main tourist area on Koh Rong Island). There is an Eftpos terminal at Green Ocean Guesthouse, White Rose Guesthouse, and Koh Lanta.
For example, those that visit during the rainy season get to enjoy half-priced accommodation and beautiful rainy scenes, and because it never gets too cold in Cambodia, swimming in the ocean is still a very pleasurable experience (the water rarely drops beneath 25°C). Take a look at this article for more information: 5 Reasons to Visit Saracen Bay in Rainy Season


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With mobile phones, it's understandable we walk directly into inanimate objects.
But now Apple has declared the problem solved, having secured the patent for Transparent Texting, a function that enables a device's camera to "continuously capture and present video images as a background within a text messaging session currently being displayed by the device".
With this technology, Apple claims to lower the risks associated with walking and texting, although there is little clarity on the matter of when we are likely to see this function in any iOS devices.
A text too far
Putting aside the fact that similar technology is inherent in a number of apps already on the market, a pertinent question comes to mind: have we really come this far that we are so connected that we need an app to help us not "stumble over an object", as the patent says?
When American engineer Frederick Winslow Taylor declared in 1911 that "in the past the man has been first; In the future the system must be first", I doubt he considered how connected we might become to our modern devices.
Karl Marx bemoaned the ramifications of the capitalist production of technology, but never highlighted the issue of texting and walking.
Romanian literary critic Matei Calinescu wrote in Five Faces of Modernity that techno-political modernity is more or less in keeping with the history of friction between the modern and the traditional.
the doctrine of progress, the confidence in the beneficial possibilities of science and technology […] have been associated in various degrees with the battle for the modern.
Good technology?
On one side of this battle, to put it bluntly, we have those who proclaim technology to be the saviour of us all, while on the other, we see those who are acutely aware of the detrimental effects of an over-investment in new gadgets.
While the battle has been extremely heated at certain points throughout history, we can generally associate each sides' modern incarnations with those who blindly line up around the block for the chance at purchasing the new iPhone, and those old silent friends who have never had a Facebook account.
I have identified with both camps at varying points. In 2011, I gave up new media and communication technologies for 80 days, as part of a PhD project.
It was during that project that I examined the work of journalist Carl Honoré, a go-to for proponents of "Slowness", a notion that champions quality over quantity, and is calm, careful, receptive, still, intuitive, unhurried, patient and reflective.
Honoré has written and presented widely, encouraging his audience to relax and "reach out to people".
Arianna Huffington famously espouses Honoré's work and has just released a book of her own, where she highlights the need to embrace wisdom and well being over wealth and power.
She points to HopeLab president Pat Christen, who realised that, due to her dependence on technology, "I had stopped looking in my children's eyes".
Switching off from technology
When I gave up modern technology, I found that my world grew smaller. I missed out on events because I didn't see the Facebook invite. Friends were less likely to get in touch, because it was no longer as easy as sending an email, text or instant message.
But it was also quite pleasant at times. The occasions when I did hang out with my friends seemed more special because I would give them my full attention, which made me feel more connected to them (despite it often taking longer to track them down!).
Now that I'm back online, I try to think more carefully about how I use technology. Yes, there are days when I cannot avoid being constantly connected, but I also try to switch off some weekends and not open work email accounts after 5pm.
I am not saying that we should all throw our phones in the garbage. Rather, I believe that we should consider carefully the implications of technologies such as the transparent texting just patented by Apple.
How much additional time are we going to spend on our mobile devices as a result? How will we feel when our connectivity increases even further? How aware are we really going to be of what is going on around us? What are we neglecting when we focus much more on our messages?
And most importantly: what's wrong with stopping for a moment and paying attention to the content of a text message? Are we really so busy that we can't pull over to the left of a thoroughfare, enjoy the way the sun shines down on our modestly-sized screen, take a breath and then reply: K. THNX. WELL, CYA ;(
These are the questions we must consider when – or if – we begin using such technologies. The battle for the modern continues and we are the soldiers in a battlefield littered with "No Standing" signs.

subset: commoncrawl


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Some consider it tabloid, others coin it creativity. But maybe there's some truth to Supershadow, the curator of his cumulation of Star Wars notations, claiming to be coming from the earshot of George Lucas.
Boba Fett made it in his December 13 report about Episode 3 at supershadow.com:
Master Shadow, responding to a comment made on Saturday, Dec. 11th, in regards to the possibility of adding a scene with Boba Fett killing Mace Windu and getting his revenge, wouldn't that mean that someone other than Sidious knows his true identity? (SuperShadow: Yeah, I guess so.)
Previously on SS.com: "As they fight, just before Anakin strikes down Windu, a young Boba Fett disintegrates Windu (getting his revenge) which upsets Anakin. This would explain the "No disintegrations" lecture from Vader in The Empire Strikes Back."
I don't seem to grasp some people's NEED to see Boba Fett or a young Han Solo or a young Lando, etc. Revenge of the Sith takes place, guesstimating about 3 – 4 years after Episode 2. (SuperShadow: That's about right.) With that in mind, Boba Fett who was like 10 in Episode 2 would only be 13 – 14 in Revenge of the Sith. Most likely living somewhere being educated and training.
Hey Supes, why do the storm troopers (aka clone troopers) in the classic trilogy not have Jango Fett's voice? (SuperShadow: Lucas has stated that not all of the storm troopers in the classic trilogy are clones of Jango Fett. By the time of the classic trilogy, the Empire has begun to use new DNA sources for the storm-trooper clones.)
Did the Jango clones become genetically unstable and become independent agents, so Palpatine chose another warrior to clone for the classic Empire troopers? (SuperShadow: No, the Clone Wars clone troopers remained stable. However, they grew old and had to be replaced with newer versions.)
More discussion about Episode 3 at our Sarlacc Bar Message Boards.


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SUGAR LAND, Texas (KTRK/CNN) - Residents in a Texas neighborhood are doing everything they can to help an alligator.
Orchard Lakes Estates neighbors spotted the animal with a knife lodged in its head, and now they want to assist it before it's too late.
"We love our wildlife here," said Erin Weaver, who's lived in the neighborhood for the past six years.
She said she didn't have any concern for the reptile residents until Thursday morning.
"I saw him swimming and then I saw him turn like swimming toward me, and I saw something sticking out of his head," Weaver said. "It looked like a steak knife that was sticking out of his head."
Her photos and others have made the rounds on neighborhood social media groups, drawing concern for how this happened.
"I feel that somebody did this on purpose," Weaver said. "Never have I seen them aggressive or even defensive. I mean, if you walk by and startle them, they just go under water."
The community is trying to figure out what to do next.
"I want to get help for this alligator," Weaver said. "I don't want to see an alligator swimming around with a knife in his head and suffering. And to get a knife in there, I mean someone had to really throw it hard or stabbed this poor thing hard."
Weaver said Texas Parks and Wildlife was contacted and neighbors are expecting a game warden to check out the animal next Monday.
The Brazos Bend State Park superintendent said alligators are very resilient and infection resistant.
Superintendent Chris Bishop is optimistic that the animal is not in pain and could live like this for some time.
Copyright 2019 KTRK via CNN. All rights reserved.


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This page is for Empire Avenue players that are looking for experiences of other players.If you are not an Empire Avenue player, go try it out. EA is an awesome social media site with lots of opportunity to market yourself or your business. Click here to sign up and get 2,000 eaves (that's the EA currency).
If you are an Empire Avenue player please go down to the comments and leave a comment about your latest or overall experience about Empire Avenue. I make plenty of experiences myself and I have written a few blog posts about it. Click here for my posts about Empire Avenue.
- If you want your Twitter handle to be displayed on the home page of this blog let me know by leaving a comment below. Thank you for your participation.
Important for beginners on EA: What to know about Empire Avenue.


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The link to the full lesson can be found here.
As I read through this lesson I found a strong emphasis on the need for personal revelation and friendship. We all go through trials in our lives and we are all searching for answers in our lives,"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." (John 16:13). The Holy Ghost can help us make tough decisions and find answers to the difficult questions in our lives. Lorenzo Snow relates, "There is a way by which persons can keep their consciences clear before God and man, and that is to preserve within them the Spirit of God, which is the spirit of revelation to every man and woman. It will reveal to them, even in the simplest of matters, what they shall do, by making suggestions to them" (italics added). I am struck by the word suggestions in this last sentence. Read the rest of this entry »


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Winter storm with snow and ice heading to Charlottesville
The National Weather Service issued an urgent weather message this morning warning of an impending winter storm. A low-pressure system over the Ohio Valley is already pounding North Florida and Georgia with rain–- and the system is heading this way. For Charlottesville, Albemarle and much of Central Virginia, the Weather Service warns of a wintery mix that could start today around 1pm and deliver up to two inches of snow, some sleet, and as much as a quarter-inch layer of ice from freezing rain. The Service also warns of potentially strong winds and temperatures from the upper 20s to lower 30s for the storm, which might not end until Friday afternoon.
Update: Schools in Augusta, Nelson, and Rockbridge Counties will close early today, according to the Staunton newspaper.
–updated at 11:18am
14 comments
Must. Buy. Bread. And. Milk!!!
Yes, we dodged the bullet. Just got rain. But isnt it nice to have been prepared for the worst, which I suspect so many were not last month?
Brilliant Mike, brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lyons and Tigers and Bears OH MY !!!!
I think this is one of the National Weather Service "cry wolf" storms we are so accustomed to in this area.
wunderground.com disagrees with them. Their forecast is...
A chance of rain this morning...then rain and freezing rain this afternoon. Ice accumulation around a trace. Highs in the mid 30s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 90 percent.
Thursday night
Rain in the evening. Snow...sleet and freezing rain. Little or no snow and sleet accumulation. Ice accumulation of up to one quarter of an inch. Lows around 30. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.
Snow...rain and freezing rain likely in the morning...then a chance of rain and snow in the afternoon. Snow accumulation up to 1 inch possible. Ice accumulation around a trace. Highs in the mid 30s. North winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.
Who Cares????
who wants to take bets on weather they overkill us with snow service so they don't get blamed again?
after all they can blame the budget overuns on the taxpayer for complaining.
that will teach us.
(unless of course we had the brass ones to fire them for getting it wrong TWICE)
IGA still has everything you need
We do get weather on the border between freezing and not freezing. Often rain barely misses us. Always a guess here.
PS: LOL Mike "But aren't the Weather Underground old school leftists?"
Too late Andrew! The stores are already sold out!
Lowes is out of salt and snow shovels again too. :)
This whole thing is funny. The weather service doesn't know what we will get. If they say 2" of various types of precipitation we may get 4" or we may get none. Just be like a good boy scout and be prepared for whatever may come.
But aren't the Weather Underground old school leftists? Shouldn't we be afraid they are just pushing their own agenda with their forecasts?
Wow. What a big, bad, scary winter storm we got.
And the VDOT plow parked in the median of 64 yesterday was a nice comforting touch, too...


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BUSHNELL, Fla. – A 7-year-old Sumter County boy was airlifted with a broken foot after he was bit a few times by his neighbor's dog on Thursday.
Deputies said the boy was riding his bicycle in the road at his home on County Road 317A in Bushnell when his neighbor's dog, a 3-year-old male American staffordshire Terrier mix, came through the fence and grabbed the boy by his ankle.
The boy's stepfather said he ran out into the roadway and kicked the dog, making the dog let go of the boy, who suffered 2 to 3 bites and a broken ankle. The boy was airlifted to Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital Orlando.
The dog's owner told deputies he immediately wanted to surrender the dog, Bull, to Animal Control. The owner said Bull had never bit anyone before and was very good with kids in the past, but was very protective of the yard and their children.
Bull was taken to Animal Services without incident. County Administrator Bradley Arnold said Bull will be euthanized once it's cleared for not having rabies.
Investigators say there is no indication that the boy provoked the attack or that it wasn't an accident.


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Wednesday, November 10, 2010
The cutenessnessness!
Posted by Helen at 4:05 pm
2 comments:
- EEbEE said...
"You made my heart too happy so I vomited blood"
Do girls REALLY find this sort of thing C' c' ccu' ...c-u-t-e?
(lekker song btw)
- 4:52 pm
- Olga said...
Hey! I hope you are in better mood these days! Very cute little video! Greets from India ;)
- 12:55 pm
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Paul Williams, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Finance
Nygreen 112
Office Hours: Tuesday, 9:00 - 3:00
- Profile
Prior to joining CLU, Paul Williams spent more than 20 years with Atlantic Richfield in numerous management positions related to Marketing, Finance and Strategic Planning. He offers classes in both the undergraduate and graduate programs, including Corporate Finance, Financial Analysis, Investments, International Finance and Financial Strategy. Dr. Williams became a Chartered Financial Analyst in 1996 and a Registered Investment Adviser in 1998.
- Education
B.S., Old Dominion University; MBA, Washington University; Ph.D., Claremont Graduate University


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Mi SciELO
Servicios Personalizados
- Citado por SciELO
- Accesos
Interface - Comunicação, Saúde, Educação
versión impresa ISSN 1414-3283
SILVA, Eduardo Pinto e; FABBRO, Márcia Regina Cangiani y HELOANI, Roberto. The work of nurses and municipal guards: identity, gender and power. Interface (Botucatu) [online]. 2010, vol.5Selected edition, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1414-3283.
This paper aimed to analyze points in common in the work of women in two professional categories: nurses and municipal guards. This analysis was done by rereading the authors' previous studies. The methodology was based on comparing the characteristics of the day-to-day routines, such as anxiety, tension, risk to life and fear. Concepts like identity, power, gender and defensive ideology were dealt with. It was seen that work forms a constitutive element of identity, influenced by gender and power relations. These are historically constituted and have relational characteristics. It was argued that professional activities involving situations of anxiety, tension and risk promote the construction of defensive ideologies of denial of fear. This stimulates lifesaving ideals, heroic attitudes and ambivalent feelings. It was concluded that work situations in both of these professions, along with the management and organizational characteristics of the work give rise to psychological distress, stress and identity conflicts.
Palabras clave : Working women; Identity; Gender; Nurses; Municipal guards.


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Great article.
"After The Software Wars", is a new book in which former Microsoft employee Keith Curtis explores the worlds of proprietary and free software. Quoting from the article:
While I came to not be all that thrilled with Fedora itself, I was floored merely by the installation process. It contained a graphical installer that ran all the way to completion, it resized my NTFS partition — which I considered a minor miracle, setup dual boot, and actually did boot, and let me surf the Web. I didn't have a clue what to do next, but the mere fact that this all worked told me more about the potential of Linux than anything I had read so far. You cannot, by accident, build an airplane that actually flies.
=> How a Microsoft veteran learned to love Linux, and why it matters


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Fresh off a Thanksgiving hiatus, "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart dove right into a discussion about the week-long violence that embroiled the Gaza Strip, mocking the media's attempt at classifying "winners" and "losers" in what he believes is an unwinnable conflict.
Before Stewart launched into his monologue, the production team mixed up the visuals of the Gaza Strip, and instead showed images of "Gaga's Lips" and "Gosling Stripped." Stewart settled on the image of the bare-chested Ryan Gosling, with the raucous approval of the audience.
"I think I found a way to solve this conflict," Stewart teased. "Someone needs to surrender some Holy Land."
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
Stewart proceeded to recap the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and attempted to explain what instigated the skirmish. Only, the explanation was more long-winded than expected.
"This is such a depressing, cyclical status quo where the untenable underlying conditions are never addressed," Stewart bemoaned. "There are no winners here."
But multiple news pundits didn't share the same opinion. News analysts labeled a range of countries and people, from Egypt to Israel and Hillary Clinton to Benjamin Netanyahu, as the clear "winners" in the conflict.
"You really miss the election, don't you?" Stewart said, mocking the media.
Stewart's observation prompted him to question whether there were any "losers" in a conflict that killed over 150 people.
And it seemed that news pundits managed to agree on one thing: the losers, Mahmoud Abbas and Iran.
"So the only two losers in the war between Israel and Gaza are the people who don't live in either of those places," Stewart surmised.
For more of Stewart's take on the Israel-Palestinian conflict, check out the clip below, courtesy of Comedy Central:


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Bear Grylls Compact Multi-tool
The only compact multi-tool with two full size blades on it. The Compact Multi-tool is small enough for a keychain or pocket, yet packs a big punch when you need it most.
- Open Length: 10.9 cm
- Closed Length: 6.4 cm
- Weight: 85 g
- 10 Components
- Needle Nose Pliers
- Wire Cutters
- Fine Edge Knife
- Serrated Knife
- Phillips Screwdriver
- Small Flat Driver
- Medium Flat Driver
- Lanyard Ring
- Bottle Opener
- Tweezers
- Compact and Lightweight - Fits on keychain or in pocket
- External components and nail nicks for easy access
- Priorities of Survival - Pocket guide contains Bear's survival essentials
Brought this with some birthday cash a few years back. Jobs have included building flat packed furniture, stripping wire, opening boxes, opening more things. Its a great little tool to call on when you've got a small job. Will probably last a few more years.
Use to have one very good
This I always carry with me and is my primary multi-tool it can eaisly cut through small branches and strip bark or sharpen a branch and turn it into a sphere the wire cutters and pliers work great and I've had it for 2-3 years and its still in excellent condition I can't wait to go camping with this
All in it's a useful tool to carry. The blades are sharp and seem to hold their edge. Unfortunately the pliers/wire cutters are useless, the retaining clips inside the tool break under moderate strain. I'm on the fourth tool in a year because of this weakness. The store owner will be fed up with me soon as I keep exchanging the broken tool for a new one.I try not to use the pliers but as soon as I do I'm back to the store for a replacement.
I wouldn't carry this as a primary muti tool but good to keep in your hunting/camping incase you break or lose your bigger one. The fine edge knife is can cut most things and the serreated knife can cut through a 3 inch branch in about a minute or so. All the screw drivers fit all the basic screws you would come across. The bottle opener opens bottles pretty easy. The tweezers are the only thing i wouldn't give 5 stars because they don't open up very wide and its hard to get a grip on them. The pliers work good and are easy to grip.The wire cutters can cut wire easliy but not very thick wire. Overall its a great multi-tool to have and very sturdy, strong and concealable. Great job Gerber and Bear Grylls!
this is an excellent tool cause on one of the eps of bear grylls he uses the pliers and they don't break the first time its perfect for a scout camp or just survival plus this is the one bear grylls uses most often
I'm a city-dweller who uses this tool to anchor my keys. It's a decent keychain and the components have come into use almost daily -- cutting open stubborn boxes, popping after work bews, yanking slivers, adjusting glasses and even, in one instance, to smash open a stubborn pop-tab can.
While this may not be the ultimate survival tool, it does the trick as a useful item to have on hand at any time. Let's face it, though, how many of us actually need a survival tool (pending some sort of apocolypse)?
Also, no mention of this as a fist filler? It perfectly fills my palm enough to not have it broken over someone's skull if the need so arises for me to throw down.
I got this from a well-meaning friend for my birthday. I must say that I'm surprised at the poor quality of this thing. I expect quality gear from Gerber; this disappoints.
Initially it feels solid and well made, but the centerpiece of the tool, the pliers, seem flimsy and the jaws do not line up well. I used them for a simple wire-bending job this afternoon. The poor alignment of the jaws made this simple task almost impossible. Actually cutting the wire _was_ impossible as the jaws slipped apart. Also, with the pliers deployed, the tool was surprisingly difficult to simply pick up! The angle of the handles made the tool slide out of my grip.
Also, I wonder about the tool choices in a survival tool. Straight and serrated blades, yes, of course. But three screwdrivers? Pliers? Tweezers? Bottle opener (yes, on the flat-blade screwdriver)?
Still, it would be better than nothing, I guess, if I needed a tool to actually survive.
This tool will find a place in a corner of a toolbox, but it sure won't replace my Leatherman.
most of my milit tools have probloms like dull blades bent pliers and dont close but this is ok
I just got it, Now I'm a -EX- Scout, Leder, & EX Millatary.
I spent over 12 years.
Now i woodent wont to Survive my life off of it
for ever on it., But I wood make it (4) at leest,
2 .5- weeks with it. - you need to yous your HED! its a-
COMPACT- MULTI--tool, not a ( GUN! ) it dus
the Job , to help you stay a live ....
This tool broke the first time I used it.
The compact multitool really is compact; small and light enough to carry in your pocket. although I wish it came with a pouch. One thing, though, the blade doesn't hold an edge as well as I expected. But its great nonetheless.
A great tool, except for the pliers that broke with what i thought was not too much force (one hand). Otherwise very useful.
I have had this tool for about a week and a half and it broke during an ordinary task leaving it near worthless. All of the tools on the device are great except the pliers. I used them today to squeeze a split-shot weight on my fishing line and the plier
Es la compañera ideal para el día a día, realmente nunca salgo sin ella
its very good its just that theres too many screw drivers that they could replace with other tools
This tool appears to have all the makings of a good compact multi-tool. Unfortunately, you need another tool to open any of the blades. It's simply too difficult to open them with a fingernail. I'm 6'+ and I need a screwdriver or coin to get to blades ope
I just bought this item (Compact Multi-Tool). Looks great. very happy - - EXCEPT, I certainly cannot find the bottle opener. Even on the pictures on your web site I do not see it. Can you please let me know where it is. email@example.com Thanks


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It should only take a few minutes to answer five quick questions. Just click the Launch survey button at the end of your visit to begin.
GreenHeart™ - Life is full of greener choices
Life is full of greener choices
We want to ensure that every product that we deliver to our customers includes GreenHeart™ credentials and step-by-step we are working towards this goal.
We know you have a choice. You can choose phones for fun. Phones for photos. For music. For socialising. For business. You can also choose your phone because they are made in a way that reduces their impact on the environment.
GreenHeart™ is the result of years of research to bring you phones, tablets and accessories that offer you a greener choice. Green innovations that reduce the impact of our products without compromise. That means no compromise on features, fun or quality.
Find out more about GreenHeart™, about our philosophy and the products we've built to make a difference to our world.
Green is good.


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The foreclosure crisis is an opportunity to reorient housing strategies, according to a report by researchers, elected officials, and housing practitioners, who examined home mortgage foreclosures in six metropolitan regions for the National League of Cities. The report is a project of the MacArthur-supported Network on Building Resilient Regions, which is developing applied knowledge about how regions can be resilient in the face of significant challenges, such as foreclosures, rapid immigration, and economic restructuring.
Read the report.


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Who is a member?
The marshmallowy good enjoyables associated with Noisebridge.
This is not a membership list. Anyone may add themselves to it. Its names are maintained solely by those who have added them to it.
Add yourself in alphabetical order by first name.
Gescykae Welz 'formerly Jesse'
R. Miloh Alexander Reverend Mik McAllister


text: Kinky girls are what you really care about and that's fine because on MandyIsKinky.com we have all the best you can imagine! Join mistress Mandy Bright and her infernal desires in what we consider to be hardcore, extremely hot porn! Threesomes, interracial, fisting and licking, dildo fucking, you are one click away from all this great content! Why wait, our trial is only $2.95!


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A mother has been given a police caution for child neglect after leaving her six-month-old baby girl locked inside a hot car.
Police officers were forced to smash a window of the vehicle to rescue the infant after concerned shoppers and security staff raised the alarm at Parc Morfa shopping centre in Swansea.
With temperatures topping 25C, police used their batons to break the glass and get the child out Wales Online reports.
When the mother returned to the vehicle, she found police officers waiting for her. The 39-year-old woman from Port Talbot was cautioned in relation to the incident.
A South Wales Police spokesman said: "Police were called to Parc Morfa retail park in Swansea shortly before 1.30pm on Thursday, July 17, after receiving a report of a baby being locked inside a car.
"Officers have interviewed a 39-year-old woman from the Port Talbot area who has received a caution for neglect of a child."
A caution is a formal warning given to a person who has admitted an offence and it can be taken into consideration by the courts if the person is convicted of a further offence.
This is the latest in a series of incidents where children or animals had to rescued by the authorities from hot vehicles.
Last week police smashed a car window to help a dog that had been left inside a car at Finsbury Park, London, in 32C heat.


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Home > Computer Hardwares > USB Flash Drives > 16 GB USB 2.0 Glitter Rhinestone Panda Flash Drive Flash Disk Pen Drive
Product Details
Glitter Rhinestone Panda Flash Drive Flash Disk which has high portability and user-friendliness is a very personalizedand stylish flash drive. This glitter rhinestone panda housing flash drive supports standard USB 2.0 transmission rate. It is greatly to store your data and files with this personalized flash drive.
- Glitter rhinestone panda USB 2.0 flash drive
- Cute and sweet panda design housing
- Front dotted with bright glittering rhinestones
- Very personalized and stylish flash drive
- High portability and user-friendliness
- Metal housing for avoiding pressure, bump and more
- Support standard USB 2.0 transmission rate
- Flash Drive Type: Universal USB flash drive
- Memory Capacity: 16 GB
- Interface: USB 2.0
- Size (L x W x H): Approx. 1.6 x 1 x 0.6 inch / 4 x 2.5 x 1.5cm
- Housing Material: Metal
- Main Color: Silver and black
Package Includes:
- 1 x Glitter Rhinestone Panda USB Flash Drive


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Information For
As a patient of Jefferson's Department of Surgery, you know the powerful impact of the care we provide every day. We have some of the most skilled nurses, physicians and researchers in the tri-state area and you've seen firsthand how their important work not only improves, but saves lives. Our department relies upon the support of patients, families and friends to pursue our robust clinical, educational and research agenda.
A gift to our department helps us explore promising new therapies and innovative surgical procedures, educate the health care professionals of tomorrow, recruit and retain the country's top clinicians, educators and researches, provide the most advanced and compassionate care in the Delaware Valley and to translate novel discoveries from the bench to the bedside. Thank you for helping us to make a difference in the lives of our patients.
For more information about charitable giving, please contact Kelly Austin (215) 955-6383
|Memorial Funds
|Francis E. Rosato Surgical Education and Research Fund
|John H. Moore, Jr., MD Surgical Residency Fund
|Research and Education Funds
|Bariatric Surgery
|Cardiac Surgery
|Colorectal Surgery
|Department of Surgery
|Esophageal and GI Cancer
|Liver Transplant Surgery
|Pancreatic Cancer Surgical Research Fund
|Susan Sillars Fund for Research in the Jonathan Brody Lab
|Transplantation Research Fund
|Vascular Surgery Research Fund


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This poster highlights the importance of community colleges to educating the computing workforce. It connects various pathways into community colleges, outlines some of key components of the community college experience, and details some of the high paying technical careers these students will be working toward. The poster was developed in collaboration with the Academic Alliance's Community College Subcommittee.
Learn about some of the hidden barriers that often prevent technical organizations from hiring and retaining top talent. This video will take you through a series of engaging, interactive experiments that introduce the concept of unconscious bias and explain why this information is vital for technical companies to understand. The video will also point to free NCWIT resources you can use to address these hidden barriers in order to better attract and retain a diverse workforce that will drive future innovation.
Effective feedback gives students information they actually use to increase their learning and improve their performance. It should employ a "growth mindset" that focuses on developing intelligence through effort, practice, and "wise feedback" that spurs additional effort.
View online.
Effective feedback gives employees information they can realistically use to increase their learning and improve their performance. It abandons a "fixed mindset" that sees skills as "innate abilities" and instead employs a "growth mindset" that sees skills as developed through continued effort and practice.
Use these tips to identify likely male advocates. Also use this resource to spark discussion or role-play how you might put these tips into action in your own organization. These ideas and quotes are taken from research NCWIT conducted with males in technical workplaces.
Once you have identified potential advocates, use these tips to increase their advocacy. These ideas and quotes are drawn from research NCWIT conducted with male advocates in technical workplaces. Tips range from ways of raising awareness to technologies for encouraging activism.
These tips will help you to engage students in your computing courses and retain them in the major. These ideas and examples are drawn from theory and research conducted by social scientists who study issues related to diversity and retention in computing. Methods range from encouraging words to inclusive classroom environments.
View Online
Use the e-Textiles-in-a-Box tutorial and get ready to teach young people about electronics and computing. Based on the Computational Textiles Curriculum and Sew Electric from MIT, e-Textiles-in-a-Box provides instructions for sewing soft circuits and programming an Arduino microprocessor on the way to creating a bookmark book light and an interactive felt monster that lights up and sings. NCWIT is pleased to offer e-Textiles-in-a-Box in cooperation with the MIT High-Low Tech Group, and with funding from the National Science Foundation.
The recent upsurge in enrollments in computing means that student attrition has a substantial opportunity cost. Admitting a student who leaves both reduces graduation yield and prevents another equally qualified student from enrolling. Professors cannot change the background of students, but they can control many aspects of student experience in the computing major. This paper presents the results of a study to understand strongest predictors of retention in undergraduate computing based on a large-scale survey administered in 14 U.S.
Regional Celebrations-in-a-Box contains resources for organizing small conferences designed to increase the participation, retention, and advancement of technical women. This program-in-a-box is a compilation of materials and practices from Regional Celebrations around the country that bring women together in supportive communities for professional growth. The box includes advice about planning and materials for program elements such as intentional role modeling, group and individual mentoring, networking, and ways to share accurate career information.
This Top 10 resource offers recommendations for attracting and hiring highly qualified diverse technical employees into start-up companies. The recommendations include attention to casting a wide inclusive net, stereotyped language and decor, as well as some more cutting-edge approaches.
Are you interested in getting more girls involved in your computing competition? This Top 10 resource offers simple suggestions to make your competition appeal to a wider range of participants. Taking these steps will benefit all students and help make your event a success.
Article in CACM describing the obstacles girls face in entering computing and how the Aspirations program seeks to overcome those. Great overview of issues, the Aspirations program and ways individuals can get involved with the program.


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I've been praying a lot lately. I even did it with Patti LaBelle. We stood in a circle in her trailer—me, the great Lady Marmalade herself and her bandmates—while her drummer led us in a pre-performance affirmation. Ms. LaBelle, I should explain, was the star attraction at the opening bash for the new Barneys store in Dallas.
The prayer worked. Wearing a gold mini-dress and matching sling-back Christian Louboutin shoes, Patti then tore into the party tent, which we had constructed in the parking lot, and blew the lid off the Northpark mall with a spirited rendition of "New Attitude." As mind-blowing as her performance was—at one point, she kicked her legs in the air and sent those spike heels flying across the stage—the most joyful God-given moment came when Patti summoned me back to her trailer for an après-show chat.
Though her Marmaladyship was attired in a black, floor-length velvet Donna Karan kimono lined in ivory silk charmeuse, she was far from ready to hit the hay. It was 11:30 p.m.—past my bedtime, but not hers.
"Darlin', I'm ready to shop. Can you open the store for me?" she purred, referring to the brand-new 88,000-square-foot Barneys fashion palace scheduled to open to the public the next morning. "I'm a very busy girl, and I don't have the time to go shoplifting."
While the security staff banged on the lights and turned off the alarm system, Ms. LaBelle and I drove, in her stretch limo, the 14 yards from her trailer to the store entrance.
The next hour was like a dream. My colleagues and I sat mesmerized in the shoe salon and watched Ms. LaBelle—one of the great shoe connoisseurs of our age—try on, and critique, the styles of the season. Height was her primary concern: Though she loved the lace Alaia ballet flat, anything less than a four-inch heel was dismissed as "a baby's shoe" or "a starter kit."
As I watched Ms. LaBelle clunking across the carpet in this season's massively orthopedic Balenciaga platforms, I realized that I was in the company of one of the most glamorous people in the world. She literally shimmers from top to toe—especially her legs, which have fewer veins than mine and were liberally anointed with a RéVive crème lustre ($375 at finer beauty counters), an unguent which gives the skin a metallic sheen.
Back in New York—and suffering from post-Patti depression—I resumed another prayer vigil. My entreaties concerned the speedy completion of the endless apartment renovation I have undertaken with my husband, Jonathan Adler. We are currently sequestered in our bedroom, while the rest of the rubble-strewn abode is inhabited by an army of workmen. We have dubbed our refuge "the Anne Frank suite." Poor, beautiful, doomed Anne Frank has become one of those historical figures whose name we disrespectfully toss around like a Louboutin sling-back to signify something quite mundane. Living in cramped quarters? "Very Anne Frank, dahling!" Ditto Helen Keller. How many times a week do I use her name to verbally bludgeon those who have done something dopey where perceptual skills are called into question? If God grants me my wish and the reno wraps up soon, I vow to mend my ways and cease this dreadful practice.
More prayers: Last Tuesday night, during the Elton John AIDS Foundation dinner at the Waldorf, I found myself praying that Elvis Costello would stop singing. Though clearly a really nice bloke and undeniably talented, Mr. Costello and his oeuvre—all those hetero songs with girls' names like Allison, Veronica, whatever!—have zero appeal for we members of the GLBT (gravy, lettuce, bacon and tomato) community.
Given the predominance of Judy Garland fans in the audience, Mr. Costello was an odd choice. (I guess Melissa Manchester was busy that night.) Ditto Neil Young, who followed Mr. Costello and sang and sang and sang. But guess what? Neil Young is so bizarre and talented and such a wacky poet that he was able to reel in the gays. The entire audience became transfixed by the painful melancholy of that whining voice. Nobody talked. You could have heard a David Yurman earring drop. By the time he did "Harvest Moon," I was praying he'd never stop.
Regarding queens: When über-publicist Kathy Berlin called me to host a screening of The Queen at the Tribeca Screening Room last Monday, I assumed she was doing so in deference to my frequent and legendary impersonations of Her Majesty. Having cross-dressed as Queen Elizabeth II on no less than four occasions—and once being paid $50 to do so, I might add—I consider myself infinitely more qualified to play the role than La Mirren. On one of my Queen outings, many moons ago, I got horribly drunk and vomited into my white vinyl purse. Such hands-on experience, one would have thought, should at least have entitled me to an audition. But no.
Despite our intense rivalry, I pray that Dame Helen wins the Oscar—anything that draws attention to Her Majesty can only result in more look-alike bookings for me.
PS: Sir Elton "Candle in the Wind" John has added a real flamer to his Slatkin candle collection. Log onto bathandbodyworks.com and buy zillions of the new vanilla-and-coriander-flavored, flatulence-masking $16.50 Slatkin/Elton John "Fireside" candle; 10 percent of proceeds benefit the singer's AIDS foundation. Burn, baby, burn!


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2012 eNews
(SPRUCE MEADOWS, Calgary, AB): History was made on December 5, 2012 when six Spruce Meadows horses became the first ever Canadian horses to be sold and exported to China. The six Spruce Meadows bred Hannoverian horses were chosen by a delegation of Chinese horsemen after a meticulous inspection and trial earlier this year. The horses have since been going through rigorous pre export protocols and lifted off, destined for an importation facility near Shanghai where they arrived happy and healthy.
"The horse sports are enjoying remarkable growth in China and Spruce Meadows is proud to be providing a new generation of Chinese Show Jumpers with a new generation of quality horses, " said Spruce Meadows president Linda Southern- Heathcott. "Spruce Meadows has been active for some time assisting the Chinese in developing their capabilities in the equestrian sports. Prior to the 2008 Olympic Games we assisted with the training and certification of many Chinese officials that worked during the Games. We are honoured that now we are able to provide some of the horse power that may carry Chinese athletes to future games and championships."


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Stoicmom said me to send you my post; I posted in forum yet, in faction discussion.
First of all, sorry for my english : )
Yesterday, in the game, there were reflexions with The Lone Rider about the tournament, and stoicmom asked to talk about it in the forum.
I have seen that often one only player (the strongest) plays a lot of games, while others play a few.
I think this comes from the fact that many average players are afraid to meet the strongest (4, 5 and over again) and always lose...
This fact greatly limits their will to accept or propose games.
I suggest it could be limited, for example 2 (round trip), the maximum number of games between two players in the same tournament.
In this way each player, having met 2 times the strongest (and lost : ) ), can also meet others and hope to do better.
I hope everyone will play more and with more opponents.
Heya, add me on steam when you get a chance, if you don't mind. The link is on my profile. Some questions about QA and such.
<insert horatio meme here> YEAAAAAAAAAAA I like
OK Raven...I've completed the "Carrots 2.0" crest design:
AND edited the beak as promised. I looked more literally at raven's beaks, hopefully it's more to your liking!
What do you think?
Hey Raven - Upon release of my "Class Battle" thread I accidentally called a Warleader a Warmaster in the poll. It doesn't appear that I have the ability to edit it. Can moderators delete the poll and recreate it? If not perhaps we can delete the entire thread and I will post a new one that is correct.
Thread can be found here: https://stoicstudio.com/forum/showthr...r-vs-Warleader
Let me know - Brendan
Hi Raven2134
No , im sorry i just tryed to be a backer but ATM i cannot affort 50 € for a game . I thought it will be a free to entry without being backer , my bad .
I will wait til 25º to entry in the game what i am excited about playing it ^^
Haha so, funny story, I just noticed this message thinger from you or I would have replied earlier, but actually I misread your poll and thought it was about the Warleader (who I still use in almost every build, even/especially postnerf) and not the Warmaster! I figured it out about 5 seconds later but couldn't figure out how to change my vote! So unfortunately if you're looking for the elusive Warmaster-supporter, I am not him. I like the idea of the unit but currently he seems to be used only for his 17 strength and not for his (potentially neato) ability, I'm interested to see where he ends up though!
Raven, I made a miscalculation on the numbers before (I had put into the calculation that a 1vs1 scenario would indicate a 100% chance of winning on average. Obviously, that should have been 50%.) My new estimates (in which 1vs1 is at 50%) are a 25% chance of a comeback with pillage, and 210% without. If pillage ends at 1vs2, it would be 40%. If it ends at 1vs3, 67%.
I love it man, great, EPIC, carrot job
Just posted this to the "Need Help w/ Crests?" forum. Hope you like!
Junior Member


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Publicity bunt: Collins first arrestee in House race
A politician on his soapbox in the town square– it's a Norman Rockwell image that evokes an era when Americans did their nuts-and-bolts business on Main Street.
What happens to political free speech when the town square is private property?
Rich Collins found out May 7. The retired UVA prof and 57th District General Assembly candidate was politickin' in the Shopper's World parking lot on U.S. 29 north. When he was asked to leave because the shopping center is private property, Collins refused. The 70-year-old was arrested, charged with trespassing– and now could be party to a potentially precedent-setting Virginia case.
Some states, like California and New Jersey, protect political speech in privately owned public places. "This is an area the Supreme Court left entirely to states," says Bob O'Neil, director of the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression.
He thinks Virginia's law leans more toward private property protection, but there's so little case law, it could be time to revisit the issue. "This may be a tabula rasa," says O'Neil, who believes there should be a difference between the privacy rights inside a store and outside.
"Not all private property is private for all purposes," says O'Neil, noting that shopping centers are for most purposes open to the public. "Nor is all public property open for public expression– try a hospital waiting room."
Collins had been campaigning door-to-door and wanted to reach more people, such as the Whole Foods demographic. "I wanted people likely to vote for me, more conscious of health and environmental issues," he says.
The environmental negotiator soon found himself in a position he couldn't negotiate his way out of. Chuck Lebo, president of the company that manages Shopper's World and five other shopping centers, told him he had to leave– and then called the police.
Lebo Commercial Property forbids solicitations. "We absolutely allow none, including the Boy Scouts," says LeBo. "My number one issue is safety," and the liability potential.
Three police cars showed up for the hour-long stand-off, according to Collins.
"I had no idea this was illegal," says Collins. "I felt singled out and bullied under a set of rules that could hardly be defended."
"Mr. Collins repeatedly stated he wanted to be arrested," says LeBo, "because his campaign didn't have much funding and this was a good way to get free publicity."
Collins says, however, that as a negotiating tool, he told Lebo that his arrest would garner lots of publicity, and he asked Lebo if he wanted that sort of negative publicity.
Was the arrest a publicity stunt? "Absolutely not," declares Collins. "If I was trying to do it for publicity, would I be so dumb to have no one with a camera there?"
"We asked him at least a dozen times to leave, and he cursed at least once," says Lebo.
"I probably used one word– I don't remember the word," admits Collins. "I was a little combative."
The greater issue to Collins: "Declining public spaces as privatization takes place is an issue that's troubled me... As a planner, these are places where people meet. How do we plan for that?"
In Charlottesville, Shopper's World isn't the only shopping center that bans political speech. Fashion Square Mall does, too, as does Barracks Road Shopping Center, which booted the annual Buy Nothing Day demonstration from its property in 2000.
Collins contacted the American Civil Liberties Union to help fight his trespassing charges, which have been postponed until a July 5 hearing.
"We're obviously interested in the case," says Kent Willis, head of ACLU of Virginia. A research committee will make an initial decision, and the case would have to be approved by the ACLU board when it meets May 21.
In Robins v. Pruneyard, the Supreme Court decided that political speech protected by the first amendment applies only to public property, explains Willis– but states are free to write their own laws to extend that protection to shopping malls, which California had done.
"We'd ask the Virginia Supreme Court to interpret free speech rights on private property," says Willis. "If town centers have disappeared and are replaced with shopping centers and malls, we're looking to extend those rights to shopping centers and malls."
That would be an "enlightened" reading of the state constitution, according to constitutional expert A.E. "Dick" Howard. As much as he sympathizes with Collins, Howard thinks it's unlikely Collins will prevail in the Commonwealth. "Given the conservative bent of the Virginia Supreme Court, I'd be surprised if they read the constitution as broadly as California and New Jersey."
"When I get to Richmond," says the ever-feisty Collins, "you can be sure I'm going to look at these laws."
His opponents in the June 14 Democratic primary haven't rushed to defend a politician's right to campaign in mall parking lots.
Kim Tingley calls the issue "clear as mud," and as a small business owner, sympathizes with a shop owner who might be subjected to an anti-abortion protester with hideous graphics in front of his store. He sees the challenge– if the General Assembly were to craft legislation– to balance both First Amendment and private property rights.
David Toscano, widely considered the front-runner for the Democratic party nomination– did not return phone calls requesting comment by press time.
Collins is sure his arrest is going to affect his campaign, but not how. "I'm not sure it's a plus or a minus," he says. Several supporters have applauded him for bringing the issue of free speech in privately owned public places to the forefront.
Lebo stands squarely on the side of private property rights. "We want our customers to feel comfortable shopping and not be harassed by anyone," he says.
Rich Collins fears his arrest for trespassing will distract from more important campaign issues, such as his no-growth tax and revision of the Dillon Rule to expand the powers of local government.


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Boost your knowledge fast!
Tuesday February 4th 2020
Room T4, Education Centre Annexe
Information Skills Training can be particularly useful if you are conducting a Clinical Audit, undertaking a research project, reviewing departmental procedures based upon evidence-based practice, conducting a systematic review or preparing to write a dissertation.
This session looks at:-
Tuesday, February 4th 2020
at 12:00pm
Ends: Tuesday, February 4th 2020 at 12:45pm
Timezone: Europe/London
Bookings close: February 4th 2020
This event is organized by PRUH Library.
Telephone 01689 864306
Contact the event organizer
Lost or not received your tickets?
© 2020 LIVE IT Group Ltd, Registered in England, number 08432364 at 3 Enterprise Centre, TN11 8BG
LIVE IT is a technology partner providing ticket fulfilment services and is not an agent for this event or affiliated with its organizers in any way.


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Asteroids: Structure and composition of asteroids
From piles of 'rubble' to complex mixtures of metals, and carbon and silicon compounds, asteroids are not just dull grey lumps of cratered rock...
We find that asteroids are fascinating objects, varying in composition and shape. Nearly all asteroids are irregular in shape and heavily pockmarked by impact craters. Only a handful of the largest members possess enough gravity to pull them into spherical shapes.
Beyond their shape, there are a number of ways to classify asteroids. The first is by composition. The typical composition of an asteroid depends on its distance from the Sun. At the outer edges of the asteroid belt, that is between three and three and a half times further from the Sun than the Earth, over eighty percent of the asteroids are known as C-type.
The C stands for carbon and the surfaces of these asteroids are almost coal-black. These asteroids contain large quantities of carbon molecules as well as the more usual rocks and metals. They are very similar in composition to the carbonaceous chondrite meteorites that sometimes fall on Earth. It is thought that these meteorites are chippings, smashed off during collisions between asteroids.
Closer to the Sun, at just over twice the Earth's orbital distance, the proportion of C-type asteroids is only about 40 percent. Here, the majority of asteroids are grey, without the carbon material and principally made of silicate compound rock.
These too resemble a type of meteorite found on Earth, the chondrites. Although these two types of asteroid form the majority of examples, there are some that appear to be composed of little but metal and, again, there are metal meteorites found on Earth.
Aside from composition, there are other important differences in the internal structure of the asteroids. Most are solid, indicating that they must have been molten at some point in their existence. Others are 'rubble piles'. This means that they are loose collections of 'pieces', held together by the force of their gravity. These asteroids were formed in collisions.
An increasing number of asteroids are being found to be 'doubles'. This means that they are two similarly sized asteroids that have drifted together gently and now orbit around each other, sometimes even touching, as they share a path around the Sun.


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Electronic income tax refund early payment system
Electronic data processing system for preparation of electronically filed tax returns and authorization and payment of refunds based on the data supplied in those returns. Electronic data processing programs are provided for creating an electronic tax return that is filed with a tax collecting authority. At the same time as the electronic tax return is created a loan application is processed to create an electronic deposit/loan account for the tax filer at an authorized credit institution. As early as the day after completion of the tax return and loan application, the tax filer receives initial refund payment from the loan account. The authorized credit institution electronically files the electronic tax return with the tax collecting authority which processes the return and transfers by electronic fund transfer the refund amount to the deposit/loan account at the authorized credit institution. Any refund in excess of the initial refund payment is then forwarded to the tax filer. Provision is also made for checking the credit worthiness of the tax filer.
This invention relates to a data processing system for use on programmable data processing machines. More particularly, the invention comprises a data processing program for the preparation of tax returns, for electronic filing thereof with a taxing authority and data processing programs for creating a deposit/loan account at an authorized financial institution for providing immediate payment of tax refunds based on such prepared and filed returns. The deposit/loan account is created with the capability of receiving electronic fund transfer deposits directly from the taxing authority.
In recent years, taxing authorities have increasingly automated the tax collecting and tax return filing process. In particular, the United States Internal Revenue Service has instituted a system for the electronic filing of tax return data. In conjunction with that system, the IRS has arranged to pay refunds by electronic funds transfer using the Treasury ACH origination system. While this has greatly improved the tax filing and refund process it still requires a period of three to six weeks from the filing of an individual's tax return to the time of receipt of a refund check.
In contrast, the system of the invention shortens the time from filing to receipt of a refund to as little as one day. Additional advantages and features of the instant invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a specific illustrative embodiment thereof presented hereinbelow in conjunction with the accompanying drawing and appendices.BRIEF SUMMARY INVENTION
The present invention is a unique combination of data processing programs resulting in a data processing system that provides a tax refund payment within 24-48 hours from the time of filing a tax return. In the present embodiment an Electronic Filing Program prepares a 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ federal tax return acceptable for electronic transmission to the United States Internal Revenue Service, on the basis of tax filer provided data. At the same time, the tax filer applies for a refund loan and, on the basis of filer provided credit data, a deposit/loan account is opened at a authorized financial institution. In a preferred use of the system of the invention, the entire transaction takes place at the offices of an authorized tax return preparer. Such a use of the system provides the tax filer with the benefit of having a tax return prepared and filed on one day and picking up a check at the same office for any refund due, less tax preparation fees and filing fees, on the next day; all without any out of pocket payment by the tax filer.
The specific embodiment of the data processing system of the invention is disclosed in the form of program flow charts enabling a skilled programmer to write programs in any of a variety of computer programming languages (e.g., COBOL) which can be executed on any of a number of data processing machines. It is also anticipated that programs equivalent to the disclosed programs can be written by those skilled in the art to achieve the unique benefits of the data processing system of the invention.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1--is a schematic flow diagram of data processing functions of the invention.
Appendix I--is a program flow diagram for the Electronic Filing Program of the disclosed embodiment of the invention and can be found in the patented file only.
Appendix II--is a program flow diagram of the deposit/loan program of the disclosed embodiment of the invention and can be found in the patented file only.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown in schematic flow diagram form an overall depiction of the data processing functions for implementing the invention. Input means 10 is used for inputting tax preparer information, taxpayer identification, taxpayer tax return information and refund anticipation loan information. In a preferred embodiment input means 10 comprises an intelligent terminal such as a personal computer having programmable data processing arithmetic and logic functions, a keyboard, a visual monitor, data storage and data transmission capabilities. Data input using such an input means is hereinafter described in more detail.
Once data input is complete, a program process is executed by a data processing means to create electronic tax return files 20 which are in a form accepted by the taxing authority processing the taxpayer tax return. In the present embodiment, a program flow chart of an Electronic Filing Program for preparing 1040, 1040A and 1040EZ tax returns in electronic format acceptable to the United States Internal Revenue Service comprises Appendix I hereto. It is also necessary to validate tax return data and loan application data as is shown in block 30. Validation of tax return data including mathematical checking is performed by the Electronic Filing Program of Appendix I. In addition, individual identification data is compared to a file containing credit information to identify individuals with unacceptable credit histories.
When validation is complete, a deposit/loan account 40 is created at a authorized financial institution, e.g., bank, credit union, Saving and Loan Association, etc., that issues advance payments of taxpayer refunds. To accomplish this in the present embodiment the authorized financial institution programs a data processor means in accordance with the program flow chart of Appendix II which is more fully described hereinafter.
After creation of the deposit/loan account file 40, the tax return data is electronically filed with the taxing authority as indicated in block 50. In the present embodiment, the taxing authority is the IRS and the tax preparer and return data is supplied via electronic transmission to designated IRS computers. This data also includes identification of the deposit/loan account which is designated to receive electronic fund transfer refunds directly from the IRS through the Treasury Department's ACH system.
As soon as the validated tax return data and loan application data have been processed and a refund amount is determined, the refund loan payment procedure 60 is initiated. The payor authorized financial institution may have set a maximum amount (Rmax), for example $2,500, which it will immediately pay out as a refund loan. Therefore, a determination is made as to whether or not the claimed refund exceeds this amount. If that is the case, excess refund processing is entered and an excess refund payment 80 is generated when the electronic funds payment is received. Simultaneously, the maximum authorized amount of refund anticipation loan is processed by determining whether or not payment is to be made through an authorized preparer 90 or directly by the authorized financial institution 100. In the case of an authorized preparer a credit institution check is issued by the preparer for delivery the next day. In the case of direct payment by the authorized financial institution, a check is mailed to the tax filer the next day. The foregoing constitutes an overall description of the data processing system of the invention.
Returning now to the Electronic Filing Program 20 of the present embodiment which is set forth in the program flow charts of Appendix I. The electronic Filing Program (EFP) is designed to be used by tax preparers having an intelligent terminal input means 10. The program enables preparers 20 to electronically enter tax returns and transmit them to a remote processing center. The remote processing center gathers tax returns from many tax preparers and collectively transmits them to the IRS. The System Specifications of the EFP are divided into four main sections these sections describe the tax preparers duties and systems operations as they pertain to 1. SYSTEM INITIALIZATION, 2. DATA ENTRY, 3. TRANSMIT, and 4. FOLLOW-UP.
The system initialization process is designed to make it as easy as possible for the tax preparer. It sets up all the files required by the EFP software, and guides him through the terminal screen provided for the entry of the tax preparer information (Appendix I). The system is designed for the entry of the tax preparer information separately so that it needs only by entered once, but provides the tax preparer the opportunity to change this information if needed. In the present embodiment, such tax preparer data is in the form required by the IRS for preparers eligible to file tax return data electronically.
The tax preparer gathers all the necessary information from a client to file a tax return. The EFP can handle the three basic tax returns, 1040, 1040A, and 1040EZ and certain supported schedules and forms. The tax preparer then goes to his intelligent terminal and enables the EFP program.
After the preparer has completed the 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ form by following the input procedures, the EFP software performs two major functions. First, it determines the presence of errors in the entry of most of the major fields. Second, it determines from the information entered on the 1040 if any of the supported forms or schedules are required. If any of the supported forms or schedules are required it automatically brings to the screen the required data entry format for completion by the preparer.
After the preparer has entered all of the information for the 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ, and all related forms and schedules, the software automatically displays a summary screen.
The preparer then enters his code on the summary screen and the system automatically displays all of the information from the preparer file. The information on the preparer file is entered only once and can be updated as needed by using option seven from the main menu. It is attached to each tax return through the summary screen. The summary screen also provides for the input of authorized financial institution route information and displays a list of the required documents.
When the summary screen is completed the system displays the screen for the entry of W-2 information.
When all of the required W-2's have been completed the software automatically returns to the main screen. At this time the preparer can either enter another 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ, or select which returns are to be transmitted to the remote processing center.
After all required tax returns have been entered the preparer can transmit the returns to the remote processing center. This is accomplished by selecting the `NEW TRANSMISSION FILE` entry from the main screen. When this item is selected the transmit screen is displayed, the preparer indicates the returns to be transmitted by changing the status code on the transmit screen to `T`. The system then adds these tax returns to the transmit file, dials the remote processor center number, and transmits the data over either dedicated or ordinary telecommunication lines.
The week after a tax return has been accepted by the IRS, the preparer must ship a form 8453 and supporting documents such as W2's to the IRS. IRS rejected returns are corrected by the central processing center unless the tax meaning of the return would be altered, in which case the preparer is informed and asked to re-process the return.
In the present embodiment the validation 30, account file creation 40 electronic filing 50, and refund payment processing 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 are all performed at the remote processing center. These functions are performed by data processing programs created in accordance with appendix II hereto. In overview this embodiment of the system of the invention permits a taxpayer to obtain a refund loan within one or two days of filing his tax return through an authorized preparer directly or by mail from the participating authorized financial institution. This is in contrast to the typical 6 to 8 weeks required to receive a refund directly from the IRS.
Rapid refund payment is accomplished by the authorized financial institution issuing to the tax filer a demand loan for an amount up to either a cap set by the lender (Rmax) or the amount of the tax filer's calculated IRS refund. This loan is in the form of a check issued by the authorized financial institution and has the loan terms on the check document. A deposit account is opened for the customer at the authorized credit institution to which the tax filer's IRS tax refund is sent via the IRS electronic funds transfer ACH system. This IRS refund payment, when received is automatically applied as payment of the tax filer's loan, paying it off, assuming that none of the refund was withheld by the IRS. In the event that a cap has been set by the lender, any refund in excess of the amount of the loan is subsequently issued in an additional check for that excess amount and mailed to the tax filer.
To accomplish this in the Refund Anticipated Loan (RAL) system of the embodiment of Appendix II, an issue file will be transmitted from the remote processing center. Multiple files are allowed on a daily basis. This file will be posted to a masterfile on the bank or lending institution data processing means, in this instance an NCR 8250. Validation will be performed on the file received from the remote processing center. Fields validated include the Social Security Number field for numerics and non duplicate Social Security Number, the amount file for numerics, and the Name and Address field for Alpha/Numerics. The individual items and amounts are summed up and compared against the trailer record for control. The loan application data is also compared to a master credit data file to validate the credit worthiness of the applicant tax filer. A failure of this test will result in an error return to the originating tax preparer the next day. The RAL refund checks are generated from the file transmission and update. The checks are mailed within 24 hours from receipt of file from the authorized financial institution or in the case of authorized preparers will be issued the next day by the preparer. Four reports are generated by this program. They are the Input Validation, Update Report, RAL Checks, and Check Register.
Each day three reconciliations are performed against the RAL Masterfile. One is for the clearing of the cashed RAL checks. The information from all captured bank checks is searched and RAL refund check information extracted. This is posted against the RAL Masterfile. The checks are matched by serial number to the RAL Masterfiles Serial Number to insure that the amount cleared equals the amount issued. All exceptions are noted as an exception for manual exception item handling. All validated checks are posted against the RAL Masterfile, and the date cleared is stored.
A second reconciliation is performed daily. This is a reconciliation against all incoming IRS ACH items. The IRS ACH Incoming file is searched for RAL IRS Tax Refunds. This is keyed off of the account number field in the IRS ACH record. A unique constant eight digit number followed by the tax filer's Social Security number is used in the Account Number field for the IRS ACH Refund. Based upon this unique number, the IRS ACH items are searched and information pulled for validation and update to the RAL Masterfiles. Four reports are generated. They are the IRS ACH RAL Validation Report, the Update Report, Excess Refund Checks, and Excess Refund Check Register. These Excess Refund Check Issues are posted to another reconciliation masterfile.
A third reconciliation is made for the Excess Refund Checks. This is a basic reconciliation system. Each day all data from the captured checks is searched and Excess Refund check information is extracted to post against the Excess Refund reconciliation Masterfile. Again two reports are generated, one is a Validation Report and the second an Update Report.
On a periodic basis, a program is run to strip off from the RAL Masterfile and Excess RAL Refund Masterfile, all completely cleared items to a history file.
Having described the unique properties of the system of the invention and without limitation illustrated the invention in a specific embodiment;
1. An electronic data processing system for preparing income tax returns and authorizing refund loans comprising:
- (a) at least one programmable electronic data processing means for executing programmed arithmetic and logical processes and storing data;
- (b) at least one input means for inputting tax preparer data, tax return data and loan application data to said at least one data processing means;
- (c) program means executable by said at least one data processing means for processing said tax preparer data and said tax return data and creating electronic tax return data files;
- (d) program means executable by said at least one data processing means for processing loan application data and creating deposit/loan account files at an authorized financial institution;
- (e) program means executable by said at least one data processing means for processing said tax return data files and said deposit/loan account files and for transmitting electronic tax return data to at least one electronic data processing means contolled by at least one tax collecting authority and for authorizing receipt by said credit institution of electronic funds transfer data from at least one electronic data processing means controlled by at least one tax collecting authority; and
- (f) program means executable by said at least one data processing means for processing said tax return data files and said deposit/loan account files and authorizing payment by said financial institution of a tax refund loan amount from said deposit/loan account whereby said payment may be made prior to tax return processing and refund payment by said tax collecting authority.
2. The electronic data processing system of claim 1 wherein said input means includes keyboard input means, visual monitor means, data storage means, data transmission means and programmable data processing means for executing said program means for processing said tax preparer data and said tax return data and transmitting said electronic tax return data files and said loan application data to a remote processing center.
3. The electronic data processing system of claim 2 wherein said remote processing center includes at least one programmable data processing means for executing said program means for processing loan application data and creating deposit/loan account files, for transmitting electronic tax return data to and for authorizing receipt of by said authorized financial institution electronic funds transfer data from, at least one electronic data processing means controlled by at least one tax collecting authority and for executing said program means for processing said tax return data files and said deposit/loan account files and program means for transmitting said files to said authorized financial institution for authorizing payment of a tax refund loan amount from said deposit/loan account whereby said payment may be made prior to tax return processing and refund payment by said tax collecting authority.
4. The electronic data processing system of claim 1 further including means for verifying credit on the basis of said loan application data and said tax return data.
5. The electronic data processing system of claim 1 further including program means for deducting processing fees from said refund loan amount and program means for transmitting at least a part of said fees by electronic funds transfer.
6. The electronic data processing system of claim 1 wherein said refund loan is in the form of a check, issued by the authorized financial institution, which bears the terms of the loan that are accepted upon endorsement.
7. A method of operating at least one programmable electronic data processing machine comprising the programmed steps of:
- (a) receiving inputted tax preparer data, tax return data and loan application data;
- (b) creating electronic tax return data files from said tax return data;
- (c) creating deposit/loan account files related to said tax return data and said loan application data at an authorized financial institution;
- (d) transmitting said electronic tax return data files to at least one tax collecting authority;
- (e) processing said tax return data files and said deposit/loan account files and authorizing payment by said authorized financial institution from said deposit/loan account files of a tax refund loan amount based on said tax return data prior to completion of tax return processing and refund payment by said tax collecting authority; and
- (f) authorizing receipt by said authorized financial institution of tax refund electronic fund transfers, based on said tax return data, from said tax collecting authority.
8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of deducting processing fees from said loan amount and transmitting at least a part of said fees by electronic funds transfer.
Type: Grant
Filed: Jan 21, 1988
Date of Patent: Dec 26, 1989
Assignee: Beneficial Management Corporation of America (Peapack, NJ)
Inventor: Ross N. Longfield (Far Hills, NJ)
Primary Examiner: Jerry Smith
Assistant Examiner: Gail O. Hayes
Attorneys: Walter G. Marple, Jr., Nicholas L. Coch, John E. Kidd
Application Number: 7/146,324
International Classification: G06F 1521;


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A show about a serial killing crime-fighting Dad is always going to be a bit odd, but "Dexter" season 5 is going a step further.
Last we left Dexter at the stunning end of season 4, his wife had been killed by a rival serial killer. So who ends up taking care of the three motherless children?
According to EW.com, it's Dexter's onscreen sister, Deb. The part is made odder by the fact that in real life that's Jennifer Carpenter who is actually married to Michael C. Hall.
So this means Hall can now introduce Carpenter as "my wife and onscreen sister who is caring for my children."
He can even add onscreen roommate.
All five members of this family are moving back into Dexter's old and small apartment. Meanwhile Deb will have to deal with her police work and not exactly being "the most maternal person," said showrunner Chip Johannessen. "Nobody quite knows what they are doing."
"It's partially funny and partially not."
We'll see in September.


text:
NEW YORK -- Town Sports International, which had planned to start trading on May 25 has delayed its initial public offering. As of press time, the company had not returned calls to detail when trading would begin or why the delay occurred.
TSI plans to sell 10 million shares of the company at $14 per share, according to an announcement detailing further plans for the company's initial public offering. The company will sell 7.65 million of the 10 million shares. The remaining shares will come from current stockholders. TSI estimates $97.2 million of the net proceeds to the company from this offering, together with cash on hand of approximately $53.8 million, will be used "to consummate the tender offer for up to $85 million aggregate principal amount of TSI's senior notes, redeem up to 35 percent of senior discount notes and pay related fees, premiums and expenses."
The company's stock will be listed on Nasdaq as CLUB.
The company plans to expand in its existing Northeast markets—Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, according to comments from Robert Giardina, CEO, during a roadshow on May 15. The company plans to remain aggressive in corporate and family memberships, he said. He said the company's goal was to open 10 clubs per year with the possibility of operating 350 clubs in the Northeast within a few years. The company currently owns 145 clubs under the names Boston Sports Clubs, New York Sports Clubs, Philadelphia Sports Clubs and Washington Sports Clubs.