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- Last call... (8/2/17)
- Time to put on our 'A' game (7/26/17)
- Annual Idaho State Police report offers some mixed news for county (7/19/17)
- Community Canvas effort made significant difference (7/12/17)
- Law enforcement must train to confront very evil people (7/5/17)
- Independence Day coming so don't get complacent (6/28/17)
- Angry rhetoric must stop (6/21/17)
Thoughts on conventions
Last week, the Democrats made history by nominating the first African-American to be a major party's candidate for president.
There were some African-American delegates on the convention floor old enough to remember back 50 years ago when they weren't even allowed to vote. Whether Obama wins or not, this country has come a long way in the last half century.
Obama stands at the top of a ladder whose rungs were built by a great many people, black and white, great and small.
The list includes Fredrick Douglas, Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Attorney General Bobby Kennedy, President Lyndon Johnson, the largely white college students who helped register African-Americans to vote in the south (some paying for it with their lives), and all the voters who cast aside race as an issue and elected black mayors such as Mountain Home's own Joe B. McNeal, black legislators and black congressmen. This country' leaders and everyday citizens worked to bring us to this point, to build a rung in that ladder.
The American ideal of "equality for all" is finally being realized.
It was a day that, despite the context, went beyond partisan politics, that should have made every American proud, regardless of political affiliation.
Obama may or may not win the election. There's still ten weeks to go. But the simple fact of his nomination sent a message around the world that we can practice what we preach.
I don't care what anybody else says. It's good to be an American these days.
* * *
And, in terms of "equality for all," we might have a woman holding the second highest office in the land.
When I was growing up, there were "men's jobs" and "women's jobs." But the social activism of the '60s saw the daughters of Rosie the Riveter begin demanding gender equality. In my early career as a journalist, I covered a lot of stories about the first woman police officer, the first woman fireman, the first woman city councilman, the list goes on.
One generation later my girls grew up believing that any job was open to them, that they had the right to seek whatever careers they wanted. One is a working mother, one is a full-time homemaker/mother and one is a career woman. They pretty much cover all the bases. The point is, all the options are on the table for women today, and Palin's selection merely reinforces that.
* * *
Last week, the Democrats had the national spotlight, and did well with it. This week, it's the Republicans turn, and I suspect they'll do equally as well.
But in the category of "if life hands you lemons, make lemonade," Hurricane Gustav may turn out to be a blessing for the RNC's national convention. It's a bad storm, although not catastrophic as it turned out, but it gave McCain and the RNC the opportunity to adjust their schedule to give the appearance of being more concerned about the country than mere politics (and there is probably a lot of sincerity in that -- although Obama's comments have shown an equally sincere concern).
More importantly, it probably will keep Bush and Cheney away from the convention. That's good for McCain. The last thing he really needed was having to have his picture taken holding hands with George Bush. He's under enough criticism for adopting/advocating Bush's policies. Unfortunately, whenever he tries to stand on the same ground as Bush he keeps discovering it's quicksand. Keeping Bush away will help keep the spotlight on McCain alone, so Gustav has to be considered a blessing to him.
* * *
Obama gave a great acceptance speech. Not quite as soaring as some he's given, but a lot more nuts and bolts about what he plans to do. I suspect McCain also will give the speech of his life at the end of this week. At least he better. It very well could make or break him.
* * *
Both candidates are going to make a lot of promises over the next few weeks. I think both will be sincere in their efforts to achieve those promises. Voters should keep in mind the hard reality is that neither candidate will be able to pay for or fulfill all of their campaign promises, no matter how hard they try. I'd say if either one gets 50 percent of what they want to do accomplish, they'll have done well. And since both are sitting U.S. senators, the loser of this election still has the ability to try to put his programs in effect.
* * *
I was pleased to see that Obama had declared Palin's family issues off limits. He's right, we don't elect families, and they should have their privacy. Of course, that won't stop the press, the pundits and the bloggers (you can just imagine the jokes that are going to be made about potential White House shotgun weddings).
The microscope that candidates and their families are put through by the press these days is what kept Colin Powell from running for president eight years ago. And I truly believe he'd have gotten elected if he'd run. But showing what a smart, compassionate man he was, he didn't want to put his family through that wringer.
When it comes to family issues, the candidates run the gamut. We have a divorced man, a woman whose (currently) unwed teenage daughter is pregnant, a man who was raised by a single mother, and a man who raised his children in their early years as a single parent. It's a pretty good cross section of the real America.
* * *
In terms of family, however, no matter who we elect as president this fall, the country is going to wind up with a great -- and gracious -- first lady. The wives of both of the candidates are very classy ladies, with style, grace and charisma.
Michelle Obama got her spotlight last week, and Cindy McCain will get hers this week.
I was impressed by something Mrs. Obama said in one of the interviews I watched last week. She noted that for politicians and pundits, September is usually considered the start of the political season, the final, crucial furlong in the race to the election this November.
But, she said, for most Americans, including herself, it was about getting the kids settled back into school -- registration, buying supplies and clothes, all the minutia that people who have kids in school have to go through.
The comment sort of provided a reality check to all the politics of last week and this week. For all that the candidates may be focusing on the "big picture" issues, in the end, what people really care about is what effects them on a day-to-day basis. A lot of time, the politicians and the pundits tend to forget that. Her comment seemed to remind us all about what politics is supposed to be about. You and me getting through today and tomorrow.
* * *
I thought it was a little tasteless of the GOP to run highly negative attack ads against Obama in the middle of network coverage of the Democratic convention. Somehow, I tend to believe that if McCain wasn't being so heavily influenced by the Karl Rove Clique handlers he's surrounded himself with that wouldn't have happened. Of course, the ad did say he'd approved the message.
Each party should have the right to the spotlight during their convention, without interference from the other party. I hope the Democrats don't pull the same stunt. If I think it's wrong for one, it should be wrong for the other. However, this being politics....
* * *
Every party will be able to point to certain truths that they think are compelling. It's up to the voters to decide which of the truths carry more weight (after they've filtered out the lies, half-truths and innuendos).
Sen. Harry Reed of Nevada, the senate majority leader, gave a speech that was probably the strongest attack on GOP policies of any of the speakers, and contained one interesting truth.
Reed's focus was on U.S. energy policy (or rather the lack of one). He contended that ever since President Carter declared a need for energy independence (and was the first and until recently the last president to do so), the country has failed to address the need for a coherent energy policy. The Republican solution, he said, was just to "drill more."
And he pointed out that in the last 28 years, except for the Clinton administration, every administration has had a former oil company executive as either president or vice president -- in the fact, the current administration has both. Good point. It does sort of explain why this country is still subsidizing oil companies with taxpayer dollars while they report obscenely high record profits.
* * *
I wish more people had watched what went on at the convention last week, or what will go on this week, but unfortunately, far too many people -- who plan to vote this fall -- spent time watching something else. Some even objected that their favorite reality/game shows had been pre-empted. They're not interest in actually listening and learning in order to make an informed vote for what is turning out to be a crucial election in American history.
When "American Idol" and "Deal or No Deal" are more important to a person, maybe they shouldn't even be allowed to vote. But they will -- unfortunately.
By the way, PBS had the best coverage of all. They weren't trying to show how smart they were and analyze every little thing. They carried the speeches in their entirety, and let the viewers decide for themselves. How refreshing.
* * *
Finally, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has accused the United States of orchestrating the conflict in Georgia to benefit GOP candidate John McCain. The politest thing I can say about that is "hogwash." Putin claims the U.S. urged Georgia to "attack" its own province of S. Ossettia, which had become sort of "neutral" territory with both Georgian and Russian "peacekeepers" in the area, thus "forcing" them to "counterattack," which would then make McCain, who is strongly anti-Russian and pro-Georgian, look good.
That's about as convoluted an argument for naked aggression as I've ever seen. And in fact, whether McCain benefitted at all from the crisis in Georgia is highly doubtful. To think that Bush encouraged an attack to help McCain is ridiculous.
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The innovative uGrip Bordo 5700 folding lock from ABUS is secure, slim and handy! This folding lock uses 5mm-thick steel bars to secure your bike to any convenient post or bike rack, and features special rivets to ward off twisting attacks. The soft silicone coating won't scratch your frame and comes in an array of fun colors. An ABUS Premium lock cylinder resists tampering and picking so you can park your bike with confidence.
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Former Dallas Cowboys assistant Rob Ryan has interviewed with the New Orleans Saints for their vacant defensive coordinator job.
The team said Ryan met with coach Sean Payton on Friday.
Payton interviewed University of Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham on Thursday. But Grantham announced on Friday he had withdrawn from consideration for the job.
Payton fired defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and announced he wanted to switch to a 3-4 defense two days after returning from a yearlong suspension. The Saints allowed more total yards in a single season than any team in NFL history.
Ryan, the brother of Jets coach Rex Ryan, was let go by the Cowboys after two season working for coach Jason Garrett in Dallas. The Cowboys ranked 19th in the NFL total defense last season.


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My friend Waylon Fortenberry of Chesterfield County called me, all hot and bothered, about the big outlaw gang biker shootout a couple weeks ago in Waco, Texas.
I was browsing through a community newspaper recently -- not this one -- when I came across photos from the senior prom at a particular high school.
(Glenn Tucker is on the road. We are reprinting this column, which appeared in 1973, his second year in Camden.)
I read recently purses for men -- "manbags," or "murses," as they've been humorously termed in the past -- are becoming hot sellers.
Baseball and cursing have been a pair since the first days of the game.
After I wrote a column last week detailing my secret dream of becoming a symphony conductor, my friend Waylon Fortenberry of Chesterfield County called me.
If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?
Like most people, I'm interested in the public school system of this county and state. Often my interest goes beyond that, to other areas of the country, especially urban school systems, which have often struggled.
"Hey," said the guy next to me at the blackjack table, "you know what they call people who hang around casinos?"
Flowers are blooming, the sky's blue and it's motorcycle-riding season.
Here's a good thing about the internet: it gives everyone a chance to be heard.
Lying is in the news these days.
I'm reading that two boxers – Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao – have agreed to whomp on each other for $250 million.
• Mary Katherine entered the convent, and the Mother Superior told her, "Sister, this is a silent order. You are welcome to stay here as long as you like, but you may not speak until I direct you to do so."
The City University of New York is banning the use of the salutations "Mr." and "Mrs." and "Ms." as part of the school's "ongoing effort to ensure a respectful, welcoming and gender-inclusive learning environment."
Page 1 of 12
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Order one of everything
Deli cookies to inspire a sweet tooth
Ian Anderson 1:30 p.m., Nov. 20
There is the curbside view of the Mexican border: severed heads on nightclub floors, migrant corpses in the mountains, fingers lopped off, armies in pursuit of drug lords, fleeing fugitives, gangs of money-washers, set to the plaintive ballads of narcocorridistas.
And then there is another world, unseen by most. In this opposite realm, the right real-estate deal is enough to endow a family dynasty for decades. The players are ensconced in air-conditioned suites far removed from the turmoil in the streets, filled with the prerogatives of privilege and gentle promises of progress.
This world was created by the desire by millions to cross the border, in one direction or another — to get a job, score a line of coke, sell a stash of guns, open a factory, flee a crime, smuggle illegal labor, build a power plant, launder drug money.
Finding a way to profit from this traffic is the business of the border barons. They do not judge its morality or concern themselves with its values. Oblivious to the mayhem outside the door, business proceeds smoothly, on both sides of the frontier, cloaked in a velvet curtain of discretion and diplomacy.
The controlling families, both Americans and Mexicans, are rich. They were born in American hospitals, went to Ivy League schools, wear tailored European suits, are protected from kidnappers by bodyguards, and shuttle through border crossings with no delay.
They have homes in Coronado, La Jolla, Mazatlán, and Luzerne. They know the cops and politicians worth knowing and can spot the next big money-making opportunity because they have been doing it, as have their fathers and grandfathers before them, for as long as they can remember.
Whether their native language is English or Spanish, they use a coded vocabulary, so as not to offend public sensibilities by saying the obvious: the border is a broken but lucrative place for business, and no authority in Mexico or the United States of America will do anything to fix it.
"Treating the border as a shared economic space rather than a clear boundary might permit flexibility in how national regulations are applied to adjacent communities on different sides of the frontier," says a February 2009 "concept paper" by the Pacific Council on International Policy and the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations, two nonprofit think tanks closely linked to the border moguls.
Translation: we want more border crossings. Pedestrian bridges, freeway crossings, freight crossings, truck depots. Billions of dollars are made every time a new border crossing is opened and the flow of trade and humanity gushes across the frontier, bathing the owners of adjacent real estate in commerce and cash.
This is a story about a new border crossing, not yet open and still pending United States approval, along the frontier between Mexicali and Calexico, in the desert about 100 miles east of San Diego. It is also about a longtime denizen of the border and its politics, who married into a wealthy San Diego family with deep ties to the border region. He has become a major border player, with a personal financial stake in its development.
On September 22, President Barack Obama nominated Alan Bersin to be commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, known as CBP, one of the most sensitive positions in the government of the United States. As noted on its website, the agency "is one of the Department of Homeland Security's largest and most complex components, with a priority mission of keeping terrorists and their weapons out of the U.S.
"It also has a responsibility for securing and facilitating trade and travel while enforcing hundreds of U.S. regulations, including immigration and drug laws."
Bersin has been a United States Attorney, superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District, and California secretary of education. He is a personal friend of Bill and Hillary Clinton and Arnold and Maria Schwarzenegger and is revered by many other friends of trade along the border.
"He is somebody that knows the border, knows the process," J.B. Manson, chairman of the Greater Nogales and Santa Cruz County Port Authority, said after Bersin's appointment was announced in September. "I believe if he is confirmed it would mean a smooth relationship between trade and CBP."
"He is a man that is very passionate and understands the balance between trade and security," former Nogales mayor Marco Antonio Lopez Jr., now chief of staff for CBP, told Nogales International.
Alan Bersin has taken an interesting road to the border. But the saga begins long before he was born, with the great grandfather of his wife, Lisa Foster.
Isaac Ratner, a cap maker from New York, came to San Diego for his health in 1921, accompanied by his wife and six children, and established United Cap Works. San Diego was close to the border and filled with sunshine, cheap labor, and Navy contracts.
Ratner began making uniforms and, in the 1930s, civilian menswear. Sons Abe and Nate joined him in the business. After World War II, their downtown factory began turning out a stylish variety of suits, sports coats, and slacks. Business in the postwar era was good, but it would become much better under the direction of Abe's ambitious young son-in-law.
Abe's daughter Pauline met Stanley Foster on a blind date while she was a student at Reed College in Portland, Oregon. The son of a Ukrainian scrap dealer, he ran a downtown furniture store. They married in 1954 and moved to San Diego, where Stan worked his way up the ladder at Ratner Clothing, first in the shipping department, then in sales.
In 1970, at the age of 42, Stan Foster succeeded 64-year-old Abe Ratner as president of the business and quickly moved to put his stamp on the firm. In 1972, he took the company public. A year earlier he had purchased the Hang Ten trademark for $2 million, the beginning of a multimillion-dollar licensing bonanza for the firm.
The Ratner company was a creature of the border. It built a 310,000-square-foot factory in Chula Vista, an easy commute from Tijuana for many of its workers. It also owned the Arizona Slack Co., which operated a plant just across the state border in Yuma, employing hundreds of Hispanic workers, and owned a warehouse in El Paso, Texas, opposite the Mexican city of Ciudad Juárez.
instead of getting fired this looser gets promoted, makes one wonder what dirt he has on everyone
While it's apparent that some in-depth investigating went on for this story, I find it interesting that some basic facts are indeed wrong. It concludes with saying that Senate Commerce Committee is doing the requisite background checks. Senate Commerce doesn't have jurisdiction over the nominee for the Commissioner of Customs though and would not be performing background checks, Senate Finance does.
That there is a herd of fat cats that are going to make huge amounts of money from the development on the boarder....when has this not been true of develpment....the ones who have the interest (financial investment)are going to position themselves to be the shot callers. Perhaps they will be willing and able to see that they will make more money more quickly if they bring their considerable influence to bare and bring the narcotic/gangbanging to a rapid stop.....
If anyone accepts that even a small portion of the conflicts of interest outlined are true, Bersin is disqualified for this appointment. There is no simple way for him to eliminate those conflicts. (Remember Cheney who sold all his Halliburton stock, yet was endlessly accused of favoring the former employer? Is this any different, other than being worse?) It is time for Bersin to withdraw his name from consideration, and for the Obama administration to insure that Bersin has no further influence on its policies. What do you want to bet that those things will happen?
instead of getting fired this looser gets promoted, makes one wonder what dirt he has on everyone
Bersin is the proto typical political hack loser, who has been "gifted", aka "appointed", to more high level gov jobs than anyone I have ever seen-anyone.
He would never, ever, in a million years, make it- on his own- in the real world.
It is time for Bersin to withdraw his name from consideration, and for the Obama administration to insure that Bersin has no further influence on its policies. What do you want to bet that those things will happen?
The chances are slim and zero-and slim is out of town.
Malin Burnham was right after all.
He scoffed that only 1% of us peasants could ever understand what goes on in these kinds of complex real estate development projects.
Well, let's hear if it's Senate Finance or Senate Commerce that gives a green light to the President's nomination of Alan Bersin to become the head of U.S. Customs, even as Bersin stands to profit hugely from a new Border crossing at the Tijuana airport. And yes, "factchecker," it really does seem that a lot of investigative work went into this amazing piece of reportage about a guy who's been protected and literally under the radar ever since he got to town. A tour de force, Matt Potter. Thank you.
Actually, I misspoke: Bersin stands to profit hugely from another Border real estate project described in the piece, not the one at the TJ airport. And whichever Senate Committee does the rubber-stamping, let's see if this appointment goes forward in light of these incredible conflicts of interest. I'm hoping that "slim" is not "out of town."
Neither country needs another border crossing. If the existing border crossings were properly run, properly maintained, and properly upgraded as necessary by the government of the United States of America, there would be no waiting to cross.
The border is so entirely mismanaged, it blows my mind every time I wait in the pedestrian line for an hour and a half to finally get to one of three inspectors on duty while three dozen others stand around and do nothing. It's pathetic. For every good government employee there, you'll find ten that don't care. Another border crossing where the same crap happens will not solve anything.
And Matt Potter, you get an A+ for research, and a C- for how you filtered it into to the story. I know it isn't easy to write something with this amount of research and keep the word count within acceptable limits, but I found myself having to go back and figure out your timelines way too often. I can't give you advice on what to do different because I'm struggling with one myself, but smoother would have been that much better and it would have framed your fantastic research much more effectively.
I think Matt was trying to be scrupulously careful about stating the exact things revealed in his research. That makes a lengthy piece such as this one rather hard to read and follow. The other drawback is the dryness that results. Perhaps he needed to recap the points he was making in a concluding paragraph. The story started off quite engagingly, but didn't stay in that mode. Nonetheless, he has pulled the whole sordid story of Bersin and his "checkered" career together in a few pages, and all any member of the Senate would need to do is read it before asking questions.
Yes, after having worked in the gov run education system, and dealt with the local, state and federal gov at all levels for most of my adult life I can say I have had the exact same experiences.
The majority of gov employees are not very bright, or maybe just not well managed is a better way to put it. The few that are are the exception, not the rule.
Thanks Matt for a story brimming with unsupported allegations. Let's see,Bersin makes legal political contributions. Strike 1. He has legal business interests that he has unfailingly disclosed in accordance with federal law. Strike 2. He is a friend of Bill and Hillary Clinton. Strike 3. He is a friend of our Governor and his wife. Tossed out of the game for conduct unbecoming.
The truth is you cite no legal or regulatory authority to support your insinuations. You do not cite any experts or reliable, credible sources that support your conclusions. Just more indiscriminate red meat for readers of the Onion-Tribute.
Matt, you work for a pulp publication that draws its income from boob implantation and penile augmentation ads.This slice of yellow press is distributed free throughout the County for the intelligentsia to enjoy. Don't take yourself or your pulp press seriously. Few people do.
Calreb1, hiding behind a pseudonym, first claims that Matt makes unsubstantiated allegations and lists how Bersin has complied with the disclosure requirements.
Then he makes himself (it could only be a male) look really stupid by conflating the Reader with the UT.
He then goes on to attack the advertisements in the publication.
Uh huh.
Guess that makes everything a-okay now, huh? I'm so happy to see there's no possible problem and that we can all go back to ignoring what our so-called leaders do to augment their private interests while serving in a public office.
Yep. Calrep1, you sure did tell off Matt Potter. I'm sure he's shivering in a dark corner someplace, tears rolling down his cheeks, gulping down cheap wine and smoking heroic amounts of crack.
Or maybe we could make another stab at it...San Diego is a cess pool of corruption, and Matt Potter is one of the few who both has the skills and cares enough to try to expose some of the hidden machinations.
(BTW: Since I read the Reader online, I don't have the pleasure of seeing those boob implantation ads nearly enough...is there some way the Reader can display those advertisements more prominently on its website?)
Thanks Matt for a story brimming with unsupported allegations. Let's see,Bersin makes legal political contributions. Strike 1. He has legal business interests that he has unfailingly disclosed in accordance with federal law. Strike 2. He is a friend of Bill and Hillary Clinton. Strike 3. He is a friend of our Governor and his wife. Tossed out of the game for conduct unbecoming.
The truth is you cite no legal or regulatory authority to support your insinuations. You do not cite any experts or reliable, credible sources that support your conclusions. .
Hey Alan...Oppsss..... I mean "calreb1", how about this cite;
Is that enough of a "cite" for you Alan???????? You loser hack.
Surf Puppy: Who in the world is Alan? As for competing, I came from a professional, enlisted military family. Worked my way through college on menial jobs and scholarships. I competed with hundreds of applicant to obtain employment with the Navy for 31 years, competing for promotions to the management level. That's what the right wing used to call "following the American dream" of being upward.
Fred_Williams:Hiding behind a pseudonym? Bloggers almost uniformly use "handles". So do conservative posters visduh, refried gringo, and Murphyjunk-but that's okay because they are arch conservative attack dogs.
Credible, reputable journalists don't rely on boob ads, penis ads and medical marijuana ads to generate their incomes. Readers respect credible newspapers and news magazines enough to buy them, not pick them up at some drop-off around town. The reviews are great but the rest-garbage.
Gee, calreb1, I've been called arch conservative, and that's OK by me. But an "attack dog", never before. After all these months/years of trying, I finally graduated to that level. Made my day, calreb1!
Good comment. My sincere apology to you.
Surf Puppy: Who in the world is Alan?
You're Alan calreb1-Alan Bersin.
Please post under yoru real name if you're going to lie about/puff yourself!
"…Credible, reputable journalists don't rely on boob ads, penis ads and medical marijuana ads to generate their incomes. Readers respect credible newspapers and news magazines enough to buy them, not pick them up at some drop-off around town…."
What an ignorant remark. You obviously have no education in, or concept of, marketing.
Plastic surgery and cosmetic enhancement ads are more appropriate in periodicals and weekly publications. Paying a daily, like the SDUT (especially with their astronomical inch-column rates) would be foolish.
You will find just as much cosmetic surgery and vanity ads in San Diego Magazine.
I could go about trashing the San Diego U-T by claiming they pander and promote charlatans and get rich quick schemes like the full page ads for Robert Allen, all the fake "estate sale" ads, or promote violence with the full page Del Mar Fairgrounds Gun Show ads, or vice with all the gambling ads from the plethora of gambling casinos.
Nothing is worse than ignorant people trying to sound wise.
Calreb1, are you seriously suggesting that there's no sniff of corruption or insider dealing in this story? If so, come out and say it.
Otherwise, it seems you just don't like the writer and the publication, and otherwise have nothing to offer but rather amusing observations on the advertisers.
Calreb1/Alan is never going to recover from that written beat down!
<< You're Alan calreb1-Alan Bersin.
Please post under yoru real name if you're going to lie about/puff yourself! >>
Puppy, since you know everything, why don't you finally tell me what I do for a living, you self-inflated windbag.
(#16) "Readers respect credible newspapers and news magazines enough to buy them, not pick them up at some drop-off around town." No newspaper supports itself with subscription sales, Calreb1; real life doesn't work that way. Advertising is the newspaper's life blood.
Just had another thought about calreb1. He admits to being a career Navy employee, which I assume means he was a civil service employee. After over 30 years of a cushy federal job, we cannot but expect that he has a much different outlook on such things as political appointees, corruption, grabbing what you can when you can, and has a "look the other way" view of the foibles and failings of federal agencies.
As to his blending the U-T and the Reader into bedfellows or at least fellow travelers, I'm really almost speechless. Anyone who has followed those two publications would know they have remarkably little in common.
A final point: calreb1 claims that Matt has no basis for his claims. Count on it, he does! Several of the things he covers are buttressed by quotes. Property ownership records are public, as are the identities of corporations and statutory partnerships. Those can be researched readily, and on-line. If he has libeled Bersin, you can be sure that Bersin will demand a retraction/file a lawsuit. Want to make a bet on that ever happening?
Beat down, Surf Puppy? Give you my name? What, so you can harass my family and I? Haven't you observed that bloggers rarely provide their actual names? Why do you think they retain their names to themselves? Right, they are all craven cowards. I notice you also use a handle, or did your Hippie parents hang that name on you during the Age of Aquarius? Right, working 30 years for the US Navy is a shameful way to earn a living, just like working for the US Attorney or the Border Patrol Homeland Defense, ATF, US Marshalls, FBI, Departments of Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, etc., etc., is disgaceful. You're clever, all right. Just like my Jack Russell who's full of tricks. As for your employment, let me guess: self employed expert.
With the exception of our armed fores, everything else you mentioned, needs to be disbanded.
Hey Fred Williams: I think you can see from reading comments why I, like most bloggers, use a handle. Anyway, I appreciated your comments.
No doubt in all those border businesses and corporations there is corruption, particularly South of the Border. I agree with you. That doen't in itself prove anything about Mr. Bersin's ethics and conduct.
To my best recollection, I don't have any past knowledge concerning Matt Potter. I don't remember ever reading any other story of his. I read the reviews of all types in the Reader which are interesting and useful. I have read other articles but find them typically long, dull and poorly edited.
What I look for is the reputation of the publication and the track record of the writer. I look to citations and sources so that I might verify claims asserted in the article. Sorry, but those factors are all conspicuously absent in the article, including the publication's reputation (lightweight) and and the writer's reputation, unknown to me other that I see his writing appearing in the lower end of journalism.
Thanks Fred.
calreb1: All of Potter's allegations are well-supported. Bersin's dealings in government have always straddled his business interests. The very places he proposes new border crossings are in locations that he or his cronies would profit from their holdings. The fact that you refuse to believe that is suspicious to many of the others who have responded to your comments.
Working for the government is not shameful in and of itself, but your biased claim that Bersin has not involved himself in repeated conflicts of interest might have people conclude that - assuming you are not directly involved - perhaps working for the government has jaded you in some way. It would be similar to an ex-cop denying the fact that police brutality sometimes occurs.
I stand by the opinion that neither the U.S. nor Mexico needs more border crossings. The U.S. (and Mexico to some extent) simply needs to run the crossings properly and to upgrade and expand them appropriately. This does not happen, in part, because corrupt politicians keep pressing for new facilities that would only serve to create financial gain for themselves or for their friends.
My full name, in case you wish to foolishly harass my family and me (note, it isn't my family and I, it's my family and me), is David Alton Dodd.
Pistol Pete: Are you serious ?
Refried Gringo, Friend: I have no idea whatsoever whether Bersin has involved himself in the actions alleged or refrained from such conduct. I am not alleging that Bersin is chaste, guilty or innnocent of the alleged conduct. I am critical of Mr. Potter for making such sweeping charges, disparaging a very large number of private and public figures, without documenting the bases of his claims. I don't accept broad, controversial claims simply because the writer says it's so. I believe that it's not unfair to demand that a writer making such allegations has a burden of providing readers enough proof, not opinion, and documentation so that readers can verify the claims. That isn't much to demand of a journalist.
calreb1 just keeps coming up with astounding comments. He says he has no recollection of Matt Potter, nor remembers reading any story of his. Matt has been doing investigative reporting in The Reader for years, and has written some of the most important stories that have appeared. One can only conclude that calreb1 has not been seeing The Reader much or, more likely, at all.
Yeah, I use a handle, just as he does. But I write letters to the editor of more traditional publications and I sign my name. Never have I asked for anonymity in such a situation. In the immoral words (oops, immorTal) of Ken Noonan, the now retired superintendent of the Oceanside schools, "There are some seriously wacked-out people out there." One never knows when a blog or story comment will set one of them off. That kind of trouble I don't need. That is what a handle avoids.
Hey dummy-I read real journalism and there's plenty out there, excluding The Reader. I don't know Potter from Adam.
I'm dead serious, calreb. Most large government agencies are ill-equiped to deal with the real world. We have border patrol stationed up to 500 miles from the border. Why? The border is just that-the border. Not 500 miles from it. Are we in Nazi Germany? Why should ANYONE have to prove who they are inside the United States? A sovereign country, I might add. And this has NOTHING to do with the immigration debate whatsoever. If I'm an hour away from the border, still in the U.S., why should I have to prove I'm an American citizen. All Homeland Security is doing is pissing people like me off who question when the NWO actually will come? It's almost as if they are trying to soften Americans to their future borders. And don't get me started on those alphabet soup moron motherf***ers either. A dead FBI agent is my wet dream!!!
Gee, Pistol Pete, this joker has got you back to your unprintable name-calling. I'd admired the way your cleaned up your language! calreb1 says he doesn't know Matt Potter from Adam, but he can belittle Matt as though he does.
Sorry Visduh. Me and the govmint don't jibe too well. There's crooked politicians and crime in the streets... ;-D
calreb1: Perhaps if you went back and read the article and pointed out precisely that which you question concerning Potter's research, it would be easier to convince your detractors that you might have a point. Journalists do not list their sources unless there is a possible question as to whether or not statements are facts. In other words, where statements are matters of public record, the journalist needs not indicate where the statement was discovered.
For example, everything Potter wrote about Elorduy is fact. I can find references to it in both English and Spanish, and I live here in Baja and remember much of his lobbying for more crossings. In other cases where the research was more obscure and possibly somewhat controversial, Potter cites his source. Even though it is still a matter of public record, Potter saves us from wondering where it came from by quoting it.
I once wrote for a newspaper, and so did at least one other person in here in the comments section that can name himself if he chooses. My point is, journalistically, the content in this article seems appropriate to me. So far as the Reader goes, it's a quirky mix of journalism and non-journalism. Potter has been with the Reader for quite some time, and I've read both styles from him. The main reason you won't read this stuff in the U-T is simply because the U-T is politically aligned. The Reader is not.
Pistolpete: Have a great weekend. Enjoy football.
Thanks calreb. You have a good one as well. You have to understand that most Reader readers such as myself are pretty harmless. Would I ever kill a cop or someone I don't like? Not unless I was defending myself. Would I like to see more cops/government agents murdered? You betcha. Why throw my life down the s***ter when there's always someone willing to do it for you? We argue ALOT on these boards but to me, it's like a good crossword puzzle. The open exchange of ideas, however offensive they may be, is the last refuge of freedom...
Viduh: I also send letters to Editors, with my name and other info requested by the publisher. I read The Reader but the various reviews, not any investigative writing or some of the other off the cuff writing one finds in the paper. I occasionally read the UT and LA Times, mostly for sports. I do most of my political reading in news magazines and on the net.I watch broadcast news but MSNBC and FOX are not my style. Have an enjoyable weekend.
Thanks Pistol.
Refried: I appreciate your comments. I realize journalists generally don't document, which in all honesty is why I fundamentally distrust journalists of all types. A reader should not be expected to independently validate a sweeping story replete with manifold charges like the Bersin article. Historians cite and document but most journalists don't. That's why I consider the reputation of the publication and writer. Perhaps in retro my primary criticism is for taking on too much in one published article. Maybe he plans follow ups. As I told Visduh, I read the LA Times and UT, mostly for sports. Have a great weekend and I enjoyed exchanging with you. Best, John.
Puppy, since you know everything, why don't you finally tell me what I do for a living, you self-inflated windbag.
Burger King counter person! You untrained circus chimp!
I notice you also use a handle, or did your Hippie parents hang that name on you during the Age of Aquarius?
You made me cry........
You and russl need to hook up, and maybe between the two of you there might be a few onces of brain cells.
Or that calreb1 is Alan and has the intelligence of a rock.
Surf Puppy-You want my name? It's RumplestiltskinPiedPiperLittleThreeBearsYellowbrickRoadWicked WitchoftheWestDon'tMessWithTejas IgnatiusXavierKennedy NixonBushTheElderReaganLBJBushTheFup, III.
Be careful. If you say that name backwards, Giant Winged Gorillas will swoop down, snatch you up and deliver you to Lucifer at the Gates of Hades, whereupon you will be fed to the Hounds of Hell and you bones reduced to dust on burning rocks and brimstone.Your sould will then be cursed to serve as the right wing of Lucifer for eternity. Take care and have a good weekend.
Hahahahaha...yes Petey, that was a good one (from ALAN!)....
Relax Alan, it's just the internet.
Sorry SP, I'm not playin' favorites. Bush the Fup was pretty funny though.
(#41) SurfPussy, you FAIL. You blew it. You pretend to know facts about complete strangers, and when they call you on it, you don't have to goods to back it up. I gave you a chance (many times), but you just made yourself look like a dumbs***. (And people hire you as a lawyer?) Pick a new screen name and start over.
By the way, I'd be a little bit impressed with you if you could scrape up "a few onces [sic] of brain cells" and learn to spell and punctuate worth a damn. You know, like a trained chimp.
Thanks, Pistop.
What's your specialty Surf Puppy? If you indeed are a lawyer, you undoubtedly believe in the presumption of innocence. Thus, you understand my objections to a one sided, undocumented investigative report, one that acts as prosecutor, judge and jury. I'm certainly relaxed, trust you are too. By the way, look closely and you'll find my name-and it's not Alan, surprise.I'm genuine in wishing you a good weekend.
(#41) SurfPussy, you FAIL. You blew it. You pretend to know facts about complete strangers, and when they call you on it, you don't have to goods to back it up. I gave you a chance (many times), but you just made yourself look like a dumbs***. (And people hire you as a lawyer?) Pick a new screen name and start over.
LOL...russle the Burger King man has a whopper meltdown!
By the way, look closely and you'll find my name-and it's not Alan,
What ever you say Alan!
Guess what, SurfPussy? You're wrong. You don't know s***, and you proved it again. Just admit it and people might begin to respect you.
Learn to write or find a secretary who can do it for you.
Leave it to Fumber to come up with a good epithet. Really, who else?
Guess what, SurfPussy? You're wrong. You don't know s***, and you proved it again. Just admit it and people might begin to respect you.
Learn to write or find a secretary who can do it for you.
Hey russl, errr.....I mean "Burger Boy"-I'll take mine with EXTRA pickles....now hope to it Juinior!
"By the way, look closely and you'll find my name-and it's not Alan,
By calreb1"
You: Be Carl ?
Cal Erb ?
B.C. Earl?
C.L. Bear ?
L. Brace ?
Le Crab ?
Surfpuppy619 is capable of excellent grammar and flawless spelling. Yet he often errs with both while doing these postings. Hey, maybe he's in a hurry, or maybe he's enjoyed his cocktail hour too much. Both factors can degrade ones performance. I'd suggest an up-to-date internet link that has some sort of spell checker, at the very least.
Oh, I don't give a rat's a** who calreb1 is. He's already drawn too much attention to himself.
Duhbya, his name is John. And John is entitled to his opinion. As are we all.
re: #58: Visduh confessed:
"Hey, maybe he's in a hurry, or maybe he's enjoyed his cocktail hour too much. Both factors can degrade ones performance."
Poor Visduh. You know, there are drugs to help ;)
Just say no (to drugs.) It is best not to get into political discussions while one is either emotional, or having indulged. So, SD, there are drugs to help what?
I'd suggest an up-to-date internet link that has some sort of spell checker, at the very least.
Yeah Firefox has the spell check option, unfortunately I use IE, and as far as I know it has no spell check.
As for calreb1 being Alan Bersin, I always make those types comments when someone comes on and backstops a loser (which Alan is)- most of the time being sacastic, but sometimes very serious because it is obviouse from the posts the person is the one who is the subject of the blog.
As for russl and his moron comments, I don't really care what he thinks of my comments-he is an idiot.
"Hey russl, errr.....I mean 'Burger Boy'-I'll take mine with EXTRA pickles....now hope to it Juinior!"
Can't help you there, SpermPuppy. I work in the typesetting industry, so maybe I can give you some spelling lessons once I "hope to it."
Oh, uh, you said I'm a confirmed "trough feeder"; by that I guess you mean a public employee, right? Well, you're a dumbs, SurfPussy. You don't know s, you make wild, false accusations at others (as a good lawyer should), and when someone calls you on it, insteading of supporting your claims, you respond with more bulls*** accusations. And misspell it all. I'd call you "Burger Boy," but the folks at the burger joint are probably better educated. (Why can't I spar with a man of learning and erudition, like Fumber?)
SurfP, I've met Bersin a few times. I can guarantee you that Calreb1 is not him.
Russl, where is our buddy fumber when we need him? I feel so skinny when he's not reminding me that I'm HUMONGOUS.
Back to the subject at hand:
Matt Potter is described by his colleagues as THE "document man". He has a reputation for diving into stacks and piles of papers, finding the pearls and bringing them up to the surface.
He's been doing it for what? Twenty years? More?
I think if he says he's got the documentation for his facts, he's worthy of trust.
Of course how he arranges and presents those facts to the readers is perhaps different from how you would do so.
If so, then it's your responsibility to present these facts differently. I think there's no doubt that Bersin owns properties affected by his decisions, and he's disclosed them. He also is part of the gang that runs this town -- mostly in its own interests. That's clear.
But it could be presented more innocently. He's just a poor boy working his way up in the world, taking the opportunities along the way.
Unfortunately, from long experience in San Diego, we know that the self-interested insiders are never satisfied, always wanting more of the public's money while manipulating the media to make themselves look good.
Since I already agree with Matt, I don't object to his presentation of the facts. If you don't agree with our conclusions (Calreb1, I'm talking to you!) then present your version.
Then we'd have something to discuss. But impuning Matt Potter's work as a journalist won't really fly. His reputation is not in doubt.
Bersin's reputation, however, is very much in doubt. I'm glad Matt has brought some of these details to light.
Fred "Humongous Sack of Lard" Williams
The notion that readers must conduct their own investigations and disprove the findings of any writer is utterly ridiculous.The writer, not readers, bears the burden of establishing the credibility of his writing.
The writer in this instance apparently has spent a career writing for a pulp magazine, at least if comments above are accurate. That provides room to question his article barring independent substantiation of his claim and reputation by proven, credible journalists. The writer may be the intellectual heroe of some of you, but that doesn't bar others from being skeptical.
I'll apologize humbly to all of you if the article wins Potter a Pulitzer Prize. In the meantime, I'll wait to learn if the mainstream press picks up his story and, if they do, see what they have to say on the subject. In the meantime, I don't accept Potter's word alone as dispositve on the subject. Have fun all. regardless of how you believe.
I'm not saying Matt Potter never ever makes a mistake. But you've admitted you've never read anything else by him.
So before you dismiss him as a hack, have a quick look at his work:
Fred, in Fumber's absence, let me assure you that you are one humongous barf sack, smegma container, and stinking pile of fecal flakes. I'm sure Fumber himself will be back soon from the library after absorbing the knowledge there, and he'll administer wheatgrass enemas to both of us.
Russl, I can feel the love...or is that wheatgrass trickling down my leg?
I wish Fumber would get together with Matt Potter. Imagine the articles they'd write together:
"Documents found in the basement of city hall show that in December of 2005 a HUMONGOUS deushe-bag chewing piece of raw fecal matter paid a private consultant $206,000 from the general fund to compile a worthless piece of dog dookie smothered in wet panty waste."
Fred-I certainly don't concur with Comment 67.
I respect that you're giving out the straight stuff. I can see that Potter has written a lot of articles about local issues. He's a veteran of local wars, I agree. Thanks for showing me that.
I would respectfully distinguish here that the subject article has implications that are both national and international in scope. The subject is does not involve a down home SD problem only.
The stakes involve not only Alan Bersin, but also the direction of the fight against narco wars, policy on illegal immigration (which is vastly more than an SD issue only), the internal political and security struggles within Mexico, and critical developing relations between the US and Mexico.
Potter has bitten off a huge chunk and made some rather pointed observations, findings and conclusions. In short, this time he plays where the big boys of journalism play. Nothing wrong with that, but readers are justified if they elect to await further developments before buying Potter's story on its own. Which is my choice.
Not only is Bersin's public standing put in question, but many other public and private figures as well. That to me is high stakes play, worthy of skeptical analysis pending the reaction, if any, by the larger national press to the assertions of a small, pulp publisher in SD.
You and other commenters have given me significnt points to consider. I appreciate your effort.
I know how tempting it is for myself and other readers to play attack. I respectfully suggest that, when the issue is openly high stakes, more fruitful consideration is needed beyond the fun of quipping and attacking. This comment isn't for you, Fred. John
Re #59: "Duhbya, his name is John. And John is entitled to his opinion. As are we all.
By refriedgringo 5:25 p.m., Nov 21, 2009"
Thanks, I missed that. And I concur.
I'd call you "Burger Boy," but the folks at the burger joint are probably better educated. (Why can't I spar with a man of learning and erudition, like Fumber?)
Hey "GED Boy". aka "Burger Boy" russl, it is hard for me to have a war of wits sparring match with someone like you who is unarmed!
Oh, uh, you said I'm a confirmed "trough feeder"; by that I guess you mean a public employee, right?
Thanks for reminding me Burger Boy, you're a "trough feeder" too!
Of course there is not too much difference between the burger counter boy and the gov trough feeder, now is there?
(#72) Nor the semiliterate shyster.
Nor the semiliterate shyster.
Nor the GED educated firewhiner.
"GED educated" would by hyphenated, Mr. Harvard-educated lawyer. It's a compound modifier that precedes the noun that it modifies, but I wouldn't expect a semiliterate "lawyer" to know the finer points or even basic points of written English. Generally speaking, this is the domain of the educated.
"GED educated" would by hyphenated, Mr. Harvard-educated lawyer. It's a compound modifier that precedes the noun that it modifies, but I wouldn't expect a semiliterate "lawyer" to know the finer points or even basic points of written English. Generally speaking, this is the domain of the educated.
Says who Mr Burger Boy-your "spell checker".
LOL...another nugget of gold from the trough feeder.
To all: You might look at an article titled "A US DRUG FOE WHO WAS SEEN AS INCORRUPTIBLE" at the bottom of the first page of today's "Los Angeles Times", a story about a retired Arizona US Customs Official (who apparently worked outside Bersin's jurisdiction) recently indicted as a product of reports from some of his former informants. Who knows the truth of that contropversy, but the story indicates what a yawning black hole the Mexican Narco Wars are for US law enforcement offcials. The US Attorney for that jurisdiction certainly has a thankless task ahead, prosecuting a formerly high-reputation law officer because informants, who may be criminals, provided reports against him.
"Says who Mr Burger Boy-your 'spell checker'."
That's four punctuation mistakes in one sentence -- another nugget of gold from the semi-educated. You're on a roll.
That's four punctuation mistakes in one sentence -- another nugget of gold from the semi-educated. You're on a roll.
Is that ALL you have Burger boy- five punctuation mistakes in one sentence.
More nuggets of gold from the GED educated firewhiner apologist!
It's "GED-educated." Give it up. You're too stupid to learn, apparently. Oh, and just call me "Bruger Boy."
It's "GED-educated." Give it up. You're too stupid to learn, apparently. Oh, and just call me "Bruger Boy."
Ohhhh.....Burger Boy called me "stupid" now.
I'm crying again!
Hey stoopid, is that ALL you got?????? LOL!
Re: #77
Yes, war tends to corrupt, and the drug war corrupts absolutely.
It's not Mexico's fault. It our fault.
We elected religious-right fanatics into our government. Instead of using common sense and science to promote new intelligent policies to address drug abuse, they declared "WAR".
The result has been nothing but a disaster. A disaster for the 800,000+ arrested every year for simple possession of a plant. A disaster for the government and people of Mexico. A disaster for our budget as we spend upwards of $40 Billion each year on this war on ourselves.
Worst of all has been the steady erosion of our constitutional rights under this "WAR". The fourth amendment is basically gone. So long as the cops use the drug war excuse, they can do whatever they like with impunity. Same for prosecutors who have absolute immunity...even when they commit serious crimes in an effort to jail the innocent.
The use of confidential informants, something Radley Balko has documented extensively, has corrupted our justice system. So has the militarization of our police. They've adopted an "us versus them" mentality where they see the citizens as the enemy.
When I see someone like Alan Bersin stepping into this environment, I have little faith that he's not going to be part of the problem. Solutions would hurt his career prospects. Drug warriors only have incentives for further ramping up this idiot "WAR", and if they ever try to inject common sense they'll be gone.
So expect more of the same stupidity, waste, greed, and corruption with Bersin on the job. He does as he's told by his owners, who delight in profiting on the miseries of others.
calreb1-I don't have time to read that article right now but I'll never forget the words that Sonny Crocket once said on an episode of Miami Vice:"It's hard to tell the players without a scorecard."
Fred is so correct it's not even a laughing matter. Our government is too eager to go to WAR. War on Drugs. War on Poverty. War on Terrorism. Secretly, there are also wars on freedom. If you had a cushy government job, wouldn't you corrupt yourself to keep it? I know I would. I'm a human and that's what humans do.
...and we can all trust Fumber's opinion, because when it comes to stupid he's an expert.
Guess that explains why you're sending me threatening emails, doesn't it Johnny.
by calreb: "Matt, you work for a pulp publication that draws its income from boob implantation and penile augmentation ads.This slice of yellow press is distributed free throughout the County for the intelligentsia to enjoy. Don't take yourself or your pulp press seriously. Few people do." ================================= why do you keep coming back, then??
why do you keep coming back, then??
I am going with "penile augmentation ads"!
Now me, I keep coming back for the "boob implantation ...augmentation ads"!
Some great writers wrote for publications that were not considered as upscale. Bukowski wrote for the underground Los Angeles paper "Open City" (not to be confused with the newer and not-so-underground publication with the same name out of New York). Ben Franklin and Samuel Clemens wrote what was considered to be pornography in their day (you won't find this on wiki, don't bother, but it's true). Presuming that I am lucky enough to be considered as a successful novelist someday, nothing would make me happier than to read a reference of any kind that I was once published in the San Diego Reader.
Penile augmentation and boob implantation ads and all.
lol surfpup you're probably right. and refried...you WILL be a successful novelist and i will have ALL your books. autographed, of course ;)
Magics, I'll even advertise on this site when I get a release date, and I'll offer anyone a signed copy. If I'm lucky enough to sell twenty thousand books and signing each one helps the cause, then I'll sign twenty thousand books.
you will :)
re: #86 and 87: Trust me guys, it is better to keep it on the threads. Don't IM each other, and don't give out email, either. You're both intelligent enough to--and often do-- conduct rational debate that just happens to also be informative and intellectually profitable to others here. Don't descend to gutter level. ;)
re: #90: Right on. Look at Baudelaire's "Spleen," or Whitman's or Cocteau's many small press endeavors. The list goes on.
re: #92: I'd like to reserve an advance copy of your latest.
So let me get this straight. After all of our banter back and forth, you suddenly get upset when I accuse you of parroting the same thing over and over. So you email me threatening the same fate as Keith Jones and say, "You're next". Who the heck is Keith Jones? And why would I suffer his fate?
And SD, Johnny doesn't have my personal email. He IM'd me via the site.
This colloquy could be Exhibit A on the perils of internet blogging. It briefly makes me long for the heavy puritanical right-wing editorial hand at the old Union-Tribune Letters page. (Just kidding.) But really, one could wish for more literate, subject-oriented defenders of Matt Potter's work and the San Diego Reader.
Who CARES who "calreb1" is? His posts are designed to discredit Matt Potter as an investigative reporter and the Reader as an independent alternative newspaper. This, in the wake of the Reader's publishing Potter's well-researched and deeply troubling story about Alan Bersin's financial interests here at the Mexican border, just as Bersin is nominated for vetting by Congress as a suitable head of U.S. Customs. Potter lays out Bersin's political trajectory -- personal and familial financial contributions that directly led to political access and appointments, and Bersin's continuing personal financial interests in Border-area development projects with partners like local businessman Malin Burnham. Reporters from the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and our own Union-Tribune have all swallowed Bersin's press packet Kool-Aid. No one but Matt Potter at the San Diego Reader has EVER has shown us the extent of Bersin's private "enterprise" or the extent of his present conflicts of interest as he seeks yet another public-payroll job.
Monaghan, I've tried to be a literate and subject-oriented defender of Matt Potter's work. I've been involved in San Diego politics over two decades now, and I find Matt's investigations very revealing.
As you say, it's vital that someone in D.C. injest something other than the press-packet Kool-Aid about golden boy Bersin.
But not one of our cowardly San Diego congressional delegates would dare lift a finger against Bersin. His friends and backers are stronger than any mere congressman. They know what would happen in retaliation.
Matt Potter isn't afraid to state the plain facts as he finds them. I'm glad the Reader continues to publish is work, and only hope he finds an even larger audience online. Maybe someone in D.C. is reading this article too...


text:
By RAELYNN RICARTE
News staff writer
June 28, 2006
A Hood River man was sentenced on Monday to 75 months in prison for sexually abusing and sodomizing a 9-year-old girl.
Jon Eric Miller, 58, of Belmont Avenue admitted to Judge Donald Hull that he had committed the crimes from September of 1993 to June of 1994. He also acknowledged inappropriately touching the breasts of another girl under the age of 14, although no charges were brought against him for that incident.
"I just want the court to know that I've done a horrible thing. I am so remorseful that it can't ever be expressed adequately. It's a tragedy," said Miller.
Even though he had been charged with molesting only one victim, Judge Donald Hull directed the defendant to pay each of the two females $5,000 to cover counseling costs.
After he is released from prison, Miller will spend 180 months on parole and be required to register as a sex offender for life.
Deputy District Attorney Carrie Rasmussen read a letter from the primary victim outlining the damage brought by Miller's abuse. The woman said that she had struggled emotionally throughout her teenage and young adult years.
"I have spent thousands of dollars trying to heal and move on in my life," she wrote.
However, Miller's victim also believed the actions taken against her were more a "crime of convenience" than predatory. She felt that Miller posed no danger to the community and should be put into a treatment program instead of prison.
However, state sentencing guidelines required that Miller spend time behind bars. That mandate led Jack Morris, defense attorney, to register a complaint about Oregon's penal code.
"He's here because he's taken responsibility for the matter and I think it take a lots of guts to do that," he said. "We have a system that's broken and this case is a perfect example of that. There are no checks and balances anymore."
However, in a follow-up interview, Rasmussen disagreed with Morris' comments. She said Miller had committed the crimes prior to the passage of Measure 11 in 1996. Therefore, instead of having more time in prison, he had received the lesser penalty based on the more lenient law in place at the time of his actions.
Under the Measure 11 rating system, Rasmussen said the sodomy charge against Miller was ranked at level 10, just one point below murder.
"I've never heard anywhere in the history of Oregon where somebody could sodomize a little girl and only get probation. This is a serious crime and has always carried a prison sentence," she said.
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text:
Hiker, interrupted: AT trip delayed a year
Just five months ago, Margaret Jackson thought her plan to hike the Appalachian Trail was a sure bet so sure that she quit her job and spent her savings on trail mix and camping supplies. Then, her $150,000 loan fell through. Undeterred, Jackson vowed to press on and planned to start her hike in June. Now, Jackson says the hike will have to wait until next year.
As was detailed in a May 29 Hook cover story "Unhappy Camper," Jackson blames the delay on her would-be benefactor Will Morrell, a local man with a taste for the finer things in life. Camped out at 917 Rugby Road in the gracious house once owned by William Faulkner, Morrell was digging himself deeper and deeper into trouble when he and Margaret crossed paths.
(Evicted in April from the house by Gibson Management Group, Morrell also had multiple civil judgments against him, and several other claims pending.)
Jackson, whose smoker-to-fitness-poster girl story is commonly used in testimonial ads for ACAC health club, says she had the full support of the club when she decided to salvage her trip with a fundraiser to benefit Habitat for Humanity.
But she says she couldn't raise the personal funds to cover her expenses, and she was uncomfortable taking donations for her personal use.
Though Jackson won her judgment against Morrell, it was for a meager $750 the amount she had actually handed him to negotiate a contract for a book about her hike. Never having seen a penny of that, and with time ticking on, Jackson decided to postpone her trip until next year.
"It was getting too late in the year to complete the whole thing," she explains. Putting it off until next year allows her to stick to the itinerary she had planned, including a mid-March departure date. Her trail mix will keep, she says, and in the meantime, she says, she's staying busy.
"I've already hiked the entire Shenandoah National Park," Jackson says. Now she's turned tour guide. She'll stay in shape by leading inexperienced hikers on overnight treks on the sections of the AT that traverse the Park.
She's also turned her sights skyward, working at a Market Street star map business called Indigo Nights. A successful graphic designer who most recently worked at Photoworks, Jackson says she helps the company complete exact representations of the night sky for a particular time and place; birthdays, she says, are especially popular. On weekends, Jackson can be found serving wine at Barboursville Vineyards.
Meanwhile, Will Morrell has also found gainful employment, selling cars at Pegasus. Although he told The Hook last month that he has every intention of paying Jackson her $750, she says she still hasn't heard from him.
Morrell did not return The Hook's calls.
Jackson, however, maintains that the money from Morrell is not the important thing.
"All he'd have to do," she claims, "is apologize."


text:
Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Opens in Wytheville, Va.
WYTHEVILLE, Va., March 10 // PRNewswire // -- A new 61-room Country Inn & Suites By Carlson has opened its doors for business at 697 Peppers Ferry Road in Wytheville, Va.
"We're very excited to bring the Country Inns & Suites By Carlson concept to this region," said Steve Mogck, executive vice president and brand leader, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson. "All employees will participate in the Country Inns & Suites 'Be Our Guest' service training program, to ensure consistent delivery of quality customer service at our hotels."
"This new Country Inn & Suites By Carlson is a wonderful addition to our community. We are confident that this recognized brand and lodging concept will help us grow and prosper in the future," said Nick Patel, general manager of the Country Inn & Suites By Carlson in Wytheville. The owner of the hotel is Raga Corporation.
The hotel features an indoor pool, whirlpool, on-site fitness center and also includes a complimentary deluxe continental breakfast. The hotel offers a variety of guest rooms including standard rooms, one bedroom suites, studio suites and Jacuzzi rooms. All rooms feature complimentary high-speed Internet access, 32-inch flat-screen televisions, coffeemaker, hairdryer and iron with ironing board. This Country Inn & Suites property is located adjacent to the new Wytheville Convention/Meeting Center and minutes from downtown Wytheville and the Wythe Shopping Center. The hotel is close to numerous dining options and provides easy access to I-77 and I-81.
Country Inns & Suites offers locations that feature traditional architecture and sophisticated residential interior design with hardwood flooring, lobby fireplace and front porch. Each hotel welcomes guests with traditional furnishings that blend rich woods and a contemporary color palate throughout the hotel.
The rooms offer many amenities often found at higher-priced hotels such as complimentary hot breakfast, in-room coffee maker, in-room iron and ironing board, and weekday morning newspaper. Country Inns & Suites provides a Read It & Return Lending Library at its hotels in the U.S. and Canada which lends free books to guests based on the assurance they will return the book on their next visit. When guests return the books to any Country Inns & Suites hotel, a charitable donation is made by Country Inns & Suites to support literacy.
Country Inns & Suites is known for its consistently high quality accommodations and personal, warm hospitality. For reservations and information, visit http://www.countryinns.com or call toll-free 1-800-456-4000.
Country Inns & Suites By Carlson(SM) is part of Minneapolis, Minn.-based Carlson Hotels Worldwide, whose operations also include Regent Hotels & Resorts; Radisson Hotels & Resorts(R); Park Plaza(R) Hotels and Resorts and Park Inn(R).
SOURCE Country Inns & Suites By Carlson


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What is an arrhythmia?
An arrhythmia is a change in the rhythm of your heartbeat. When the heart beats too fast, it\'s called tachycardia. When it beats too slow, it\'s called bradycardia. An arrhythmia can also mean that your heart beats irregularly (skips a beat or has an extra beat).
What are the symptoms of arrhythmia?
Call your doctor if you have any of these symptoms, especially if you have heart disease or have had a heart attack.
At some time or another, most people have felt their heart race or skip a beat. These occasional changes can be brought on by strong emotions or exercise. They usually are not a cause for alarm. Arrhythmias that occur more often or cause other symptoms may be more serious and need to be discussed with your doctor.
Is an arrhythmia serious?
In most people, arrhythmias are minor and are not dangerous. A small number of people, however, have arrhythmias that are dangerous and require treatment. Arrhythmias are also more serious if you have other heart problems. In general, arrhythmias that start in the lower chambers of the heart (called the ventricles) are more serious than those that start in the upper chambers (called the atria). Your doctor will talk with you about the type of arrhythmia you have and whether you need treatment.
What are some of the types of arrhythmias?
Causes & Risk Factors
What causes arrhythmia?
The heart has 4 compartments, or chambers. The walls of the heart squeeze together (contract) to push blood through the chambers. The contractions are controlled by an electrical signal that begins in the heart\'s natural "pacemaker" (called the sinoatrial node). Nerve impulses and hormones in the blood influence the rate of the contractions. A problem in any of these can cause an arrhythmia.
Minor arrhythmias may be caused by excessive alcohol use, smoking, caffeine, stress or exercise. The most common cause of arrhythmias is heart disease, particularly coronary artery disease, abnormal heart valve function and heart failure. However, arrhythmias can occur for no known reason.
Diagnosis & Tests
How do I know if I have an arrhythmia?
Your doctor will ask if you have any of the symptoms of arrhythmia. Your doctor may also do some tests. One of these tests is an electrocardiogram, also called ECG or EKG. During this test, your doctor will have you lie down so your heart can be monitored.
Your doctor may also ask you to walk on a treadmill while he or she monitors your heart, or may want to monitor your heart while you do your daily activities. One way to do this is to wear a machine, called a Holter monitor, that continuously records your heart\'s rhythms for 24 hours. If your doctor wants to monitor your heart for more than 24 hours, he or she might recommend an event-recorder, a machine that records samples of your heart\'s rhythms and can be worn for a couple of days or longer. Other tests, called electrophysiologic studies, may also give your doctor information about your heart.
What\'s the treatment for arrhythmia?
Treatment depends on the type of arrhythmia you have. Some mild arrhythmias require no treatment. Other arrhythmias can be treated with medicines. If another health problem is causing the arrhythmia, treatment is aimed at taking care of that problem. In more serious cases, other treatments are available, such as the following:
Other Organizations
Questions to Ask Your Doctor


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CARSON, Calif. —The LA Galaxy took advantage of a pair of defensive miscues in the first half to beat the Los Angeles Blues 3-0 on Tuesday morning at The Home Depot Center. Robbie Keane and Jose Villarreal each scored for the second straight game and the Galaxy benefitted from an own goal as well to claim their second straight victory of the preseason. LA once again kept a clean sheet in the game with Carlo Cudicini and Brian Perk each playing 45 minutes in the win. They have now played 180 minutes in the preseason without conceding a goal.
The Galaxy scored a pair of first half goals, each of which was the result of a defensive error by the Blues inside their own penalty area. LA were in front after just four minutes when a Rafael Garcia cross that was intended for Gyasi Zardes, struck the foot of a defender and was re-directed into the Blues' net for an own goal.
READ: Match Notes from LA Galaxy Insider
It was 2-0 just over 10 minutes later when a mishit clearance provided Robbie Keane with an opportunity that he calmly converted. Keane collected the loose ball inside the area and rounded the goalkeeper before dribbling past a pair of defenders and finishing with his left foot for his second goal in as many games.
Bruce Arena made 10 changes at halftime for the second straight game with only A.J. DeLaGarza remaining on the field for more than 45 minutes. He was eventually replaced on the hour mark by rookie defender Kofi Opare who played the final 30 minutes in his first appearance of the preseason.
READ: Confident DeLaGarza admits "a lot of improvement from last year" in early stages of preseason
Jose Villarreal put the finishing touches on the victory in the 76th minute when he scored his second goal of the preseason. Villarreal teamed up with rookie Andy Riemer on a perfectly executed give-and-go to give the Galaxy a 3-0 victory. The goal came despite the Galaxy playing the final 20 minutes with just 10 men after Leonardo came off with a cramp.
LA Galaxy 3, Los Angeles Blues 0
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
The Home Depot Center – Carson, Calif.
Scoring Summary:
LA – Own Goal 4'
LA – Robbie Keane 2 15'
LA – Jose Villarreal 2 76'
Misconduct Summary:
LA – Colin Clark (Yellow Card) 41'
LA – Jose Villarreal (Yellow Card) 82'
LA Galaxy: Carlo Cudicini (Brian Perk 46'); Sean Franklin (Oscar Sorto 46'), AJ. DeLaGarza (Kofi Opare 60'), Tommy Meyer (Leonardo 46'), Todd Dunivant (Bryan Gaul 46'); Mike Magee (Paul Arriola 46'), Rafael Garcia (Hector Jimenez 46'), Marcelo Sarvas (Andy Riemer 46'), Colin Clark (Greg Cochrane 46'); Gyasi Zardes (Jose Villarreal 46'), Robbie Keane (Jack McBean 46').


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"Every priest would like to be
remembered as a priest and all that it conveys, rather than as a
public figure with all that it conveys," Cardinal O'Connor
once reflected when asked how he would like to be remembered. He
then added, "I regularly go down to the crypt under St.
Patrick's Cathedral and I look at the tombs of my
predecessors. Right in the center is the next marble block with
no inscription. That's reserved for me. And all that's
important when I move into the crypt is that I have served New
York as a very good priest." And a very good priest he was.
The Cardinal will be remembered as a
strong and faithful shepherd. At a time when Catholics in
America were increasingly inclined to take a "cafeteria
stand on matters of faith and morals", Cardinal O'Connor
continued to proclaim Church teaching on birth control, abortion
and homosexuality.
The one teaching of the Church that
defined his ministry was the sanctity of life…at any age and
at any stage. He is best known for his stand against abortion.
To him, it was simple: Abortion is murder. It is a sin. But he
did more than just talk about it. He was committed to the right
to life and showed his concern by wearing on the lapel of his
black clerical suit a tiny red rose with its stem spelling out
"l-i-f-e". He participated
at the annual Right to Life March held in Washington, DC, and
formed a religious community, the Sisters of Life who are
dedicated to protecting the sacredness of all human life
beginning with the infant in the womb to those vulnerable to the
threat of euthanasia. In addition, he repeated an offer many
times to any woman in need: "go to him for help rather than
abort her child". The Archdiocese of New York and Catholic
charities responded by providing hundreds of women with medical
assistance, housing, adoption and legal services, as well as,
the Cardinal himself counseling women in difficult situations.
Cardinal O'Connor, the fourth of five
children, was born in a row house in a blue-collar Philadelphia
neighborhood on January 15, 1920. His father, Thomas O'Connor,
was his hero and his mother, Mary Gomble O'Connor, experienced
both a sudden blindness and recovery that impacted Cardinal O'Connor
with a sensitivity to disabled people for the rest of his life.
He attended public schools until he was a
junior in high school. Under the Christian Brothers of West
Catholic High, he was inspired to take up a religious life. He
entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia at age 16
and was ordained nine years later on December 15, 1945, a month
before his 26th birthday. Cardinal O'Connor and his 21
classmates promised to return for a reunion every year on that
date, and the Cardinal kept that promise except for his years in
Korea and Vietnam, and last year because he was ill.
After ordination, he worked as a diocesan
priest for seven years. His days and nights were full with
teaching at a Catholic high school, night school for adults,
hosting a weekly, Catholic, radio news program, and volunteering
in two psychiatric hospital wards.
1953, Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York, who was also
responsible for providing the Church's chaplains to the U.S.
Armed Forces, pleaded for more chaplains. Cardinal O'Connor
responded and entered the Navy. When he retired 27 years later,
he had risen to Rear Admiral and Chief of Chaplains of the US
Navy. Later as an Archbishop and member of the Episcopal
Commission that spent two years drafting the American bishops'
1983 pastoral letter on war and peace, he influenced the bishops
in America to tone down criticism of U.S. nuclear policies.
After leaving the Navy in 1979, he was
made an Auxiliary Bishop and assigned to the Military Vicarate
under Cardinal Terence Cooke of New York. In May 1983 he was
appointed Bishop of Scranton, Pennsylvania. He held that post
less than a year before being chosen to succeed Cardinal Cooke -
who died of cancer - as the Archbishop of New York. He was
elevated to Cardinal in May 1985.
On his 75th birthday, as required by
Church law, he submitted his resignation, but Pope John Paul II
asked him to stay on and he did for another five years. On
January 16, 2000, the Sunday Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral
celebrated the Cardinal's birthday, one day after he turned
80. As he entered the Cathedral, Cardinal O'Connor received a
standing ovation from the 3,000 people gathered. During his
remarks, the Cardinal said his Sundays in the Cathedral had been
among his happiest times.
During his years in the Archdiocese of New
York, Cardinal O'Connor was active in many areas – from
ministering to both the rich and down trodden, to preaching it
was important to live your faith in both politics and even on
the baseball field. He would donate his Social Security benefits
to a black scholarship fund and give blood to the Red Cross and
ask others to "give" too. In the quiet of the night,
he was known to visit AIDS patients at an archdiocesan hospital
and could be found listening to them, cleaning their sores and
changing their bedpans.
Perhaps one person who touched his life
most deeply was Mother Teresa. He once stated, "Mother
Teresa offered me one of the most precious gifts that I have
received by telling me, 'Only if we share the light of
Almighty God do our lives become truly meaningful.' " It
is interesting to note that the last public appearance of
Cardinal O'Connor was at St. Patrick's Cathedral on March 5,
2000, when he spoke about Mother Teresa.
The Funeral Mass for John Cardinal
O'Connor was held on Monday, May 8, 2000, and he was buried in
the crypt beneath the main altar of the Cathedral at St.
Patrick's in New York.
Episcopal Insignia of John Cardinal O'Connor
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Linked by Kroc on Thu 24th Aug 2006 20:26 UTC
GEOS managed to offer nearly all the functionality of the original Mac in a 1 MHz computer with 64 Kilobytes of RAM. It wasn't an OS written to run on a generic x86 chip on a moving hardware platform. It was written using immense knowledge of the hardware and the tricks one could use to maximise speed. Note: After a small break, here is another one of the articles for the Alternative OS contest.
Thread beginning with comment 155620
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
by l3v1 on Thu 24th Aug 2006 21:05 UTC
RE: excellent...
by Anonymous Coward on Thu 24th Aug 2006 21:07 in reply to "excellent..."
RE: excellent...
by Kroc on Fri 25th Aug 2006 07:18 in reply to "excellent..."
So were BeOS and OS/2, but they're pretty alternative now. I think it's slightly narrow minded to point at an OS and say, I don't think you're alternative enough. I think that's up to the users of the OS to decide.
Heck, to run GEOS natively, you have to use a Commodore 64 from the eighties, or a 286/386 PC.
Edited 2006-08-25 07:24


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MUS331 Music to 1750
This course will examine the evolution of Western music from ca. 200 B.C.E. to the year 1750 C.E. Developments in musical style will be studied in their political, historical, social and cultural contexts.
- 3
- Liberal Arts
- Must be enrolled in the following level: Undergraduate
- May not be enrolled in the following class: Freshman


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New Car Review
2014 Cadillac CTS: New Car Review
The 2014 Cadillac CTS sedan receives a complete makeover this year, moving it solidly into the same league as the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A6. Longer, lower and lighter than the outgoing sedan, the CTS ups the ante by adding a trio of new engines, a new 8-speed automatic transmission and a new model: the CTS Vsport. Not a replacement for the legendary CTS-V, the Vsport brings new levels of power and performance to the CTS lineup while still delivering a comfortable ride, reasonable fuel economy and a $60,000 price tag.
With the CTS, Cadillac has combined the bold and dynamic character unique to American cars with the power and performance that makes pricey European models so desirable. From an interior point of view, the CTS is stunning, more opulent and more colorful than an E-Class or 5 Series and easily on par with the Audi A6. Interior environment colors include a lovely light brown dubbed Kona, as well as Twilight Blue leather or black leather with Morello Red accents.
We should note that only the CTS sedan is new for 2014. The CTS coupe and wagon carry over as-is for another year.
What's New for 2014?
The CTS sedan is completely new for 2014, with more interior space, power under the hood and luxury goodies, including an available reconfigurable instrument cluster.
What We Like
Bold styling; strong engine lineup; stunning interior detail; more rear-seat legroom; precise handling and braking
What We Don't
Run-flat tires deliver a rather harsh ride; CUE screen and HVAC touch controls can be frustrating to operate when driving; front seats are a bit snug; new 8-speed automatic not available on AWD models
How Much?
Fuel Economy
Cadillac offers the 2014 CTS in three trim levels, each with its own engine. The 2.0 model is powered by a turbocharged 2-liter 4-cylinder engine good for 272 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fuel economy for this engine is rated at 20 miles per gallon city/30 mpg highway with rear-wheel drive and 19 mpg city/28 mpg hwy with all-wheel drive (AWD).
The mid-level 3.6 is powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine that develops 321 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque. Rear-drive models are rated at 19 mpg city/29 mpg hwy, while AWD cars earn a slightly lower 18 mpg city/26 mpg hwy.
The performance-oriented Vsport is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter V6 engine that pumps out an amazing 420 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. This model is only offered in rear-wheel drive, and earns an EPA-estimated 17 mpg city/25 mpg hwy.
Standard Features & Options
The CTS 2.0 is offered in base, Luxury, Premium and Performance trims, as is the 3.6, minus the base model. The Vsport is offered only in the Vsport and Premium trim.
The base CTS 2.0 ($46,025) includes Cadillac's CUE connectivity and control system with an 8-inch touchscreen, 11-speaker Bose premium audio, dual-zone automatic climate control, selectable drive mode control, remote engine starts, Bluetooth, keyless access with push-button starts, 6-speed automatic transmission, leatherette seating fabric, 8-way power front seats with 4-way power lumbar support, steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles, a tilt/telescopic steering wheel, Active Aero grille slats, rear park assist, 17-in painted aluminum wheels, OnStar with voice-guidance navigation (requires subscription) and automatic headlights.
The CTS 2.0 Luxury ($51,925) adds leather seating, heated front seats, 60/40 split folding rear seat, rearview camera, HID headlights, a heated and power tilt/telescopic steering wheel, the Driver Awareness Package and memory for the driver's seat, outside mirrors and steering wheel.
The CTS 2.0 Performance ($58,325) adds 3-zone climate control, Magnetic Ride Control, 13-speaker Bose audio upgrade, heated and cooling front seats, a head-up display, voice-activated navigation, an Ultraview power glass sunroof, a power rear sunshade, manual rear window sunshades, automatic parking assist and 18-in alloy wheels.
The CTS 2.0 Premium ($62,725) includes most of the Performance equipment, plus collision warning with adaptive cruise control, full leather trim, automatic seat-belt tightening, the Driver Assist Package, a reconfigurable gauge cluster and 20-way performance power front seats, including manual cushion-length adjustment and power side bolster.
The CTS 3.6 Luxury ($54,625) includes all the same equipment as the 2.0 Luxury trim, plus the V6 engine and 8-speed automatic transmission.
The CTS 3.6 Performance ($61,025) includes the same equipment as the 2.0 Performance trim, plus the V6 engine and 8-speed automatic.
The CTS 3.6 Premium ($65,425) is the same as the 2.0 Premium trim but adds a V6 engine and 8-speed automatic.
The CTS Vsport ($59,995) adds a twin turbocharged engine, 8-speed automatic transmission, sport suspension, sport steering settings, the Leather Seating Package, 1-in wider wheels, Brembo brakes, a driver-selectable Track mode and an electronic limited-slip rear differential.
The CTS Vsport Premium ($69,995) has all the Vsport upgrades, plus much of the same luxury equipment as the 3.6 Premium.
Optional equipment varies by trim. Some packages are included as standard on upper level trims. Options include navigation, HID adaptive headlamps, lane-departure warning, side blind zone alert, rear cross-traffic alert, heated rear seats, a head-up display, 19-in wheels and 20-way power front sport seats.
All-wheel drive is available on all trims but the Vsport, and is only available with the 6-speed automatic transmission.
The CTS comes standard with a full complement of safety equipment, including electronic traction and stability control, plus front, front side and side-curtain airbags. Optional safety equipment includes blind spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, forward collision alert and rear cross-traffic alert.
As of the publication of this review, neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration nor the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety has crash-tested the 2014 Cadillac CTS.
Behind the Wheel
We spent time behind the wheel of each trim. The 2.0 has sufficient power and the softest ride of the three, but its 6-speed automatic seemed to hunt for the right gear when climbing hills and hold off shifting when descending. Even playing with the adjustable Drive Mode Control didn't help much. While the 2-liter offers the best fuel economy of the bunch, we think the 3.6 is the right engine and transmission choice for the CTS. Handling is spot on, as is feedback from the steering, but our test car's optional 19-in wheels and run-flat tires delivered a pretty jarring ride, prompting us to suggest sticking with the stock 18-in wheels.
The performance champion of the lot is the new Vsport. Its turbocharged V6 is as powerful and responsive as some of the best V8s on the market, yet its fuel economy isn't far from the standard 3.6-liter engine. Oddly, despite the stiffer suspension settings and aggressive wheel and tire package, the Vsport's ride doesn't feel as stiff and unforgiving as in the BMW M5 or Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG. We could drive this car all day and never get bored. The Vsport's selectable drive mode adds an additional Track mode that sharpens throttle response and holds back shift points for quicker acceleration out of the turns. Also aiding cornering and traction is an electronic limited-slip rear differential.
Inside, the CTS delivers a big dose of Cadillac luxury with a stunning interior design complemented by available semi-aniline leather, a beautifully sculpted dash and contrasting suede and wood inserts. Unfortunately, even clever features such as the power-operated cup holder cover and electric glove box can't make up for the still-difficult-to-operate CUE interface and odd haptic feedback touch controls.
Other Cars to Consider
BMW 5 Series -- The 5 Series is still the performance leader here, though not by much. The CTS costs less when comparably equipped and gets better fuel economy.
Audi A6 -- The A6 won't perform like the CTS, but its ride is smoother and its interior more spacious and appealing. There is also a high-mileage diesel model.
Lexus GS -- The GS doesn't offer the same razor-sharp handling or power as the CTS, and its interior is somewhat generic. But the GS offers a hybrid model, and its resale values are still near the top of the charts.
AutoTrader's Advice
While we appreciate the 2.0 turbo's punch, this engine/transmission combo just doesn't feel at home in the CTS. We think the 3.6 V6 with the 8-speed transmission delivers the best combination of performance, comfort and economy. The Premium trim is the best equipped and probably what most Cadillac buyers will want. Performance enthusiasts who can't afford the CTS-V should definitely go for the Vsport Premium.


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Only Colors Designs by EDDA Froehlich / EDDArt | Color your Life with this simply radial gradients in red, orange, pink, blue, and green. | You miss other colors of this design? Feel free to contact me: email@example.com I will do it for you! HAVE FUN & BE HAPPYOur button magnets offers you much fun in the office and home. Suitable as fridge magnets or on writing boards, these lightweight Mylar protected button magnets are a great little decorative accessory. Magnet measures 2.25" in diameter.
If you order more than 50 pcs items (can be combined), please click here to contact us for whole price quotation, please include the SKU# and the quantity you want for each of them. For order less than 50 pcs, please order directly from our website.


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APLA – Advanced PLA Filament
Click here to download the Material Data Sheet for APLA.
General Information
ALGIX 3D Advanced PLA™ filament is the perfect material for your FFF 3D printing needs, because it is easy to use and outperforms conventional PLA and ABS in many areas. Advanced PLA™ filament is made from an improved PLA polymer specifically designed for 3D printing. It is made from a nontoxic resin made of lactic acid derived from plant sugars and has a slightly sweet smell when processed. Compared to conventional PLA and ABS, Advanced PLA™ has improved heat deflection, stiffness, strength, adhesion properties and 3D print quality. When using ALGIX 3D Advanced PLA™, you can expect: low odor, higher print detail/resolution, excellent first layer adhesion, improved adhesion between layers, reduced warping, curling and failed prints.
Professional Production
Within minutes of production, every spool of ALGIX 3D filament is vacuum-sealed with a moisture desiccant enclosed. ALGIX 3D operates within a joint-venture with ALGIX, a distinguished leader in compounding and additives for the bioplastics industry. Our polymer science expertise and strategic partnerships are driving material innovations and quality. All ALGIX 3D filaments are produced in the Solaplast bioplastic production facility located in Meridian, Mississippi. We source all of the finest raw materials, including resins, pigments and additives in the making of ourALGIX 3D Advanced PLA™ filament, so that we can ensure the most consistent and highest quality product for every order. You can expect our polymer scientists to continually develop innovative new materials focused on performance, sustainability and quality.
Quality Control
Our filament extrusion system uses dual axis micrometer measurement systems to check the diameter and roundness during production. This helps us guarantee that each spool of ALGIX 3D filament is produced with a precision tolerance. We can guarantee ±3% on our ALGIX 3D Advanced PLA™ filament, which means you can rest assured that your printer is extruding the exact amount of material without causing jams, clogs and headaches. The ALGIX 3D printing test lab features several popular 3D printers, and we're continuously testing our filament on these 3D printers to monitor quality using advanced statistical practices.
3D Printing Tips
- To achieve the best performance, store Advanced PLA™ filament in a cool, dry place as it can absorb moisture from the air, and long-term exposure to high humidity conditions can compromise almost any filament quality and performance.
- Print in an area with good airflow and minimal temperature fluctuations.
- Be sure your build plate is level, clean and oil-free before printing. Advanced PLA™ filament adheres well to glass or plastic and does not require a heated build plate like ABS filament.
- If your machine does have a heated build plate, we do advise using it for larger prints set at a temperature of 50°C, and if your machine has a fan, we recommend using it for most prints.
- It is recommended to use high water content hairspray (as opposed to high ethyl alcohol content) lightly sprayed on the surface and allowed to dry before starting prints to ensure the first layer of the print sticks to the plate.
- This filament will run best at an extrusion temperature of 195-210°C (2.85mm filament usually prints at the higher end of this range).
- If prints appear stringy lower temp in 5°C increments until your prints appear satisfactory.
- For more stability and a higher quality print, consider experimenting with infills of 10-35% as well as print speeds of 50-100 mm/s. Reduce layer height to 0.10mm.
- For prints with curvatures, it is recommended to turn on rafts and supports in your settings.
- Clean nozzle after every use.
- Clean the base plate after each day of printing.


text:
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Talk about the novels, new and used books that Wild has written!
Author Wild's Book Reviews
Jen is in love with Charlie, they're best mates and they are very close. Charlie commits suicide by hanging himself. Jen is very depressed and emotional, but she has a close family to help her get through it all. She meets a guy named Ben, and they become great friends. He dies in a pub brawl and Jen starts to think that she is a Jinx. Every guy that she gets close to dies and she is upset by this. Jen finally gets her life back on track and she starts d...