text:
The loss of a Fleetwood Travel Trailers of Oregon plant and its 253 jobs is bringing both pain and optimism to Pendleton, Ore., and the Eastern Oregon rodeo.
Sales clerk Mary Bonifer ran her fingers over a tooled leather belt in the Hamley & Co. store downtown while fretting about the idled workers and their families. She's also worried about the impact of so many lost jobs on the rest of her town, population 16,830, according to The Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore.
"If there's 250 employees and they each make $20,000, that's a lot of money that's leaving our economy," said Bonifer, 54.
Still, a "Cowboy up!" attitude seems to pervade Pendleton, the home of the annual Pendleton Round-Up rodeo. A Keystone RV Inc. travel trailer plant continues to go strong and may absorb some Fleetwood employees, as may a Cayuse Technologies computer call center on the nearby Umatilla Indian Reservation, Mayor Phil Houk said.
And there's a chance that another manufacturer will move to the Fleetwood site. Within days of the company's March 9 closure announcement, City Hall got at least 10 calls from distant corporations interested in Fleetwood's two manufacturing buildings and 10 acres, said Tracy Bosen, economic development director for Pendleton.
"There are a lot of businesses that see these particular economic downturns as opportunities to relocate," Bosen said. "Real estate is cheap, people are hungry for jobs and cities and communities are willing to negotiate."
The companies interested in Fleetwood's buildings, which are just less than 100,000 square feet each, include a wind turbine manufacturer, Bosen said, though he declined to name it. Eastern Oregon is fast becoming "wind turbine alley," and the huge machines – many manufactured overseas – are going up by the hundreds around Pendleton, he said. "If there is a silver lining in this, a great facility has come open and it is available," Bosen said.
Houk agreed, saying Pendleton is short on industrial space to attract outside companies. The Fleetwood site, he noted, is on flat ground that adjoins Interstate 84 and Union Pacific Railroad lines.
Fleetwood posted losses of $65.3 million in 2007 and $16.8 million last year. Even so, the closure announcement, in the midst of a national economic meltdown, was a shocker. It also left 162 workers jobless at a Fleetwood RV plant in La Grande, 50 miles to the east.
But Pendleton has assets besides the site: an internationally known rodeo and a get-back-on-your-horse attitude. The 99-year-old Pendleton Round-Up, a weeklong September extravaganza, brings 50,000 people to town and injects $20 million into the local economy.
Houk rides his horse in a dozen parades around the state each year to publicize the Round-Up. His mount tried to buck him off during one parade, but Houk is no stranger to being tossed. "So far, each time I've crashed I've been able to get back on the horse," he said.
The same goes for the town. When the state decided to close a 73-year-old mental hospital in the early 1980s, eliminating a major employer, Pendleton got busy and ultimately persuaded the state to put a prison in the building.
The Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution opened in 1985 and houses 1,600 inmates overseen by 425 employees, said Doug Carter, prison spokesman. "Those were also tough times," Houk said. "Everybody pulled together."
The town even won the prison jobs on its own terms: It insisted on an agreement that prohibits inmates from leaving prison grounds for odd jobs such as mowing lawns or planting trees. Townspeople didn't want prisoners developing affection for their town and deciding to stay after their release, Houk said.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Hegg, REALTORS® is a locally owned business and has been successfully helping people in the Sioux Falls area buy and sell homes since 1945. Commitment to the highest standards and professionalism have made our company a true market leader for more than 70 years. Our success is due to our agents. We back our associates with comprehensive training, cutting edge technology, innovative marketing and supportive management. Hegg, REALTORS® is a trusted brand that has endured the test of time.
Whether you are just around the corner or on the other side of the country, our professional agents have the real estate training and marketing expertise to help you determine exactly what you want out of home ownership, and we help you achieve it!
Hegg is licensed in the states of South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota.
Hegg, REALTORS® mission is to be the most professional and ethical real estate company in the Sioux Empire and to positively impact our clients and our community in exceptional ways.


text:
***not a teacher***
"They worked together to protect them from dangerous animals and other enemies''
In this sentence, it sounds to me, there are two groups of people with the first trying to protect the other. However, by replacing 'them' with 'themselves', you would suggest there's only one group trying to protect themselves and no other. You can get better answers if you're patient enough!
Student or Learner


text: In Frankenstein's Cat: Cuddling Up to Biotech's Brave New Beasts, Emily Anthes takes readers from Petri dish to pet store, exploring how the world's fauna are being reinvented. She searches for the revolutionary breeds of beasts that are slowly taking their places in the world. What do these creatures look like? Who is behind creating them? What do these new scientific superpowers mean for animals? And what do the ways in which we're choosing to shape animal bodies say about humans?


text:
Heartbleed Bug's 'Voluntary' Origins
Internet Security Relies on a Small Team of Coders, Most of Them Volunteers; Flaw Was a Fluke
The encryption flaw that punctured the heart of the Internet this week underscores a weakness in Internet security: A good chunk of it is managed by four European coders and a former military consultant in Maryland.
Most of the 11-member team are volunteers; only one works full time. Their budget is less than $1 million a year. The Heartbleed bug, revealed Monday, was the product of a fluke introduced by a young German researcher....


text:
sponsored links
sponsored links
Windows Media Player 6.4
Find product information and support options for Windows Media Player 6.4.
Server 1 Afreecodec
sponsored links
A freeware player that will load, notate, and play standard MIDI files *.mid
Sweet MIDI Player for Windows 2.5.1
Sweet MIDI Player can audition and modify all types of MIDI files.
Software to help transcribing recorded music. Slow down music. Analyze chords.
ARPTON Synthesizer-Arpeggiator-Player 1.1a
Try to play this amazing musical instrument on your computer for FREE!
Find and convert MIDI files to sheet music. Watch the notes as you listen.
Choose language : Español 日本語 Deutsch Français Partner sites: Softpile Fanhow 1Mobile Market


text:
Rich Wong
Fund: Accel Partners
Posted by sdesh on 2009-10-21
Have had a terrific set of meetings with Rich Wong at Accel. He was engaged, thoughtful, and very straightforward. Moreover, after a substantive meeting, Rich leveraged his rolodex to get us key meetings with industry players that we needed to reach.
What really separates Rich is his ability to not only clearly assess the situation, but more importantly to brainstorm intriguing possibilities together on-the-fly. Many VCs are great at first part (situational assessment), but not so much so on brainstorming together.
Part of the reason is because of Rich's unique background. Of course, he is Accel's mobile guru, and has incredible depth there with his executive experience at Openwave and investments in AdMob and GetJar. But beyond that, he brings substantive marketing depth from his P&G days (having run a product line), as well as running Covad's marketing operations. It enables him to provide depth in numerous areas beyond traditionally known areas. For example, with our company Tapioca Mobile, we were able to meaningfully discuss with Rich how we can enter the "below-the-line" promotional marketing space (which is a total separate space from the well-known "above-the-line" digital advertising).
If you a meeting with Rich, I believe there are two keys for a successful meeting:
1. Be Prepared – In addition to having your standard VC pitch, have 2-3 ideas teed up to brainstorm. Rich is incredibly sharp and will be able to dive right into the discussion.
2. Help Rich Be Prepared – Rich prefers materials sent to him in advance, so he can go thru them beforehand. It will help him assess the situation sooner, so he can better brainstorm together with you.


text:
This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
It was far from a consensus, but the Salt Lake Valley's Greek Orthodox community decided Sunday to restore full pay to its three priests.
Now it remains to be seen whether Metropolitan Isaiah who oversees Salt Lake City's Holy Trinity Cathedral and Holladay's Prophet Elias Church from the faith's regional headquarters in Denver will accept the community's concurrent request: to remove one priest as soon as possible.
Isaiah did not respond Monday to a request for comment. And the president of the Salt Lake Valley's Greek Orthodox Parish Council, Dimitrios Tsagaris, isn't speculating.
"I can't speak for the Metropolitan," he said. "The Metropolitan is the only one who has the authority to grant the request or to decide which priest might be moved."
Restoring priestly pay while cutting the clergy count was central to a motion approved 220-215 by a special parish assembly called to defuse a dispute that had resulted in the Greek Orthodox churches' Sunday services being canceled for three weeks after the council cut the priests' pay by 40 percent in late July.
"We held this [special assembly] to hear what the parishioners wanted and this is what it is," Tsagaris said of the vote, which attracted so many parishioners to Prophet Elias that cars were parked along Highland Drive for several blocks in both directions from the Holladay church. "It was a very orderly assembly. Everyone had the opportunity to speak."
He declined to express disappointment over the assembly's decision to overturn the council's July 29 determination to reduce the pay of the three priests the Rev. Matthew Gilbert at Holy Trinity, the Rev. Michael Kouremetis at Prophet Elias and the roving Rev. Elias Koucos for the rest of the year to balance the Utah church's budget. The council contended the cuts would save $125,000 annually.
Days later, Isaiah responded to the council's action by ordering an end to all Sunday services, baptisms and weddings until the Salt Lake Valley parish restored full wages to the priests.
The acrimony intensified in the week before the special assembly. On one side, a group called "Protect Our Clergy" collected more than 500 signatures in support of the priests. Isaiah also threatened to dissolve the Parish Council.
On the other, a report by the council's audit committee alleged that the priests had dipped into the church's benevolence funds and used them for expenses of family members and a church employee.
The issue of the benevolence funds did not figure into Sunday's debate, said participants in the parish assembly, which was closed to all but faithful Greek Orthodox members.
"The tenor of the meeting showed overwhelmingly that support for bringing the clergy back and keeping our churches open is most important to the vast majority of parishioners," said Phillip Floor, a former Parish Council member who supported Protect Our Clergy.
He attributed the outcome to a "significant turnout by people who typically are quiet. They are regular, faithful Christians who stay away from politics. But this issue crossed the line and those people came out, and voted," said Floor, noting he expects to be back in church Sunday for regular services.
Twitter: @sltribmikeg


text:
This policy governs treatments that support petition driven initiatives within the Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT). This policy only applies to local residential streets and major collectors.
Treatments for initiatives may be implemented, altered, or eliminated as follows:
Public Safety: CDOT may unilaterally implement treatments when CDOT finds that there are public health, safety or welfare reasons that justify doing so.
Neighborhood Programs' Petition: Petition-driven neighborhood street treatments may be instituted by petition if there is a public justification for the treatment. Such justifications include, but are not limited to speeding, cut-through traffic and street lighting.
If CDOT determines that there is a public justification for proposed treatments, CDOT may authorize a petition process to determine whether there is sufficient neighborhood support for the proposal. The petition may be issued to the resident(s) who wishes to circulate the petition. The petition shall:
state the public purpose that justifies the proposed change
clearly describe the nature and location of the proposed treatments
contain the signature of the CDOT employee who authorized the petition
To invoke the proposed change, an adequate petition must be returned to CDOT within 90 days from the date that the petition was issued or by due date provided by CDOT.
To be adequate, a petition must contain the affirmative signatures of all owners of at least 60% of the parcels that CDOT has identified in the impact area, including corner properties that may border another street that intersects with the proposed treated street, and have a different street in their address.
Withdrawal and Addition of Signatures: A signature on a petition may be withdrawn at any time prior to a determination by CDOT that a petition is adequate by submitting a signed notice of withdrawal.
If a petition is deemed inadequate, but falls within the 90 days allowed for the petition or prior to the due date issued by CDOT, then the petition shall be returned to the lead petitioner for gathering additional signatures. If those signatures are not secured within the original 90-day petitioning period or by the due date issued by CDOT, then the petition is considered inadequate.
Treatments implemented through the petitioning process cannot be changed again pursuant to another petition for six (6) months from the date of previous implementation.
All owners of property within an identified impact area affected by an adequate petition shall be notified in writing that an adequate petition has been submitted and that the treatments will be implemented. This notification shall be mailed or delivered at least 15 business days prior to the date of implementation.
Any person who has signed a petition that is determined to be inadequate may appeal within thirty days of the determination by filing a written notice of appeal with CDOT.
Any owner or tenant of property abutting a street that is affected by the proposed treatment, or any other person reasonably affected by the change may appeal by filing a written notice of appeal with CDOT within 30 days from receipt of notification. Implementation will be delayed if an appeal is filed.
Appeals will be heard through a quasi-judicial proceeding before the Department of Transportation Director or Deputy Director, or a hearing officer designated by the Department of Transportation Director or Deputy Director.
The only issues that may be raised on appeal are: (1) whether there is a public justification for the change, and (2) whether the petition is adequate.
A decision on appeal shall be subject to review by proceedings in the nature of certiorari instituted in the Superior Court of Mecklenburg County within thirty days. A certiorari appeal shall not automatically stay implementation of any proposed treatments.
Charlotte Department of Transportation600 East Fourth StreetCharlotte, NC 28202CDOT reserves the right to petition residents separately should disputes occur that question the petition's validity and neighborhood consensus for the proposed treatment.
Please call 704-336-7527 with any questions.


text:
Signs of Increasing Investments in Fabs
By Christian Gregor Dieseldorff, SEMI Industry Research and Statistics, San Jose, California (May 25, 2009)
SEMI announces the release of its latest issue of the World Fab Forecast.
It's no surprise that 2009 is an awful year for fab investment activity. Spending on fab construction projects has declined quarterly since 2008 and, on a year-over-year basis, is expected to fall by 56% in 2009. At less than $2 billion, fab construction spending in 2009 will be at the lowest level in the past ten years. Spending on equipping facilities (R&Ds, pilot and volume fabs) is expected to decline by 50% in 2009.
When Will Conditions Improve?
The latest data from SEMI's World Fab Forecast, taken quarter by quarter, shows some increase in investment for both fab construction projects and fab equipping in the 2nd half of 2009, with the trend continuing into 2010. For 2010, investments in fab construction projects are expected to nearly double and spending on equipping fabs may increase by about 90%, year over year, off the extremely low levels expected this year.
Figure 1 illustrates history and forecasts for total investments for fab construction projects and equipping fabs, by region, on a quarterly basis. China, Europe/Mideast and Japan show lowest level of construction spending since ten years. Construction spending in South Korea has almost stopped and is at a bare minimum in Southeast Asia. Only in the Americas is investment increasing, with total quarterly spending surging to the $1B mark, mainly due to Intel.
Figure 1 Quarterly Fab Investment Trends by Region
Intel announced a total investment of $7B over the next two years, as they upgrade fabs to 32nm. In 2008, Intel was the third largest spender for fabs equipping, and is now expected to jump to the top spending position for both 2009 and 2010, surpassing Samsung and Flash Alliance, the top two spenders in 2008.
When Globalfoundries launched at the beginning of 2009, it committed to spend a minimum of $3.6B and up to $6.0B over the next five years from Advanced Technology Investment Company (ATIC), which holds over a 65% stake of Globalfoundries. These funds will equip their facilities in Dresden, Germany, and in upstate New York. The Luther Forest fab in Malta, New York is expected to begin construction by mid-2009, with an investment of about $4B.
The way companies spend money is affecting the fab investment landscape in 2009 and 2010. Figure 2 illustrates the difference between the 2007-2008 and the 2009-2010 timeframes in terms of which companies dominate total investment in fabs. Comparing top spenders in the Europe/Mideast region, Intel's leading position shifts dramatically as Globalfoundries (AMD/ATIC) pushes into the lead.
Figure 2 2007/2008 vs. 2009/2010 Spending in Europe/Middle East Region
Figure 3 illustrates how the spending landscape changes for the Americas. Although Intel spent more than any other company in 2007-2008, it will now spend more than all the other companies combined in 2009-2010.
Figure 3 2007/2008 vs. 2009/2010 Spending in Americas Region
Other regions (such as Taiwan) are experiencing similar shift in terms of ranking top spenders. As most of the Memory makers reduce their spending, the share of other companies, such as TSMC, in total spending increases. In China, the share of Hynix-Numonyx JV in 2007-2008 was 46% and is expected to decline to about 12% in 2009-2010.
Some Fabs Closing, a Few Operations
Figure 4 illustrates historical data, since 1995, of the number of facilities beginning operations and those being closed each year. The chart includes projections for 2009 and 2010.
Since 1999, the industry went through three severe periods of fab closures. The first was in 1999 with over 40 fab closures. The second and worst to date was in 2002, following the Dot.com Bubble burst, with almost 60 fab closures.
The third period began in 2008. About 19 facilities closed in 2008 and we expect about 35 facilities to close in 2009. Fab closures, however, seem to slowdown in 2010 with only about 14 facilities projected to close.
Remarkably, there are still fabs beginning operations in 2009, with up to nine facilities beginning operations. Overall the trend of new facilities beginning operations has slowed down since 1995. This may be explained because most new fabs are 300 mm Megafabs for Memory production: fewer though larger fabs are being built. (The World Fab Forecast shows which companies are closing fabs and which are beginning operations.)
Figure 4 Annual Count of Fabs Closing or Starting Operations
In these days when most companies are laying off and closing fabs, it is good to learn of companies that are actually hiring. While TSMC announced hiring hundreds of new engineers for speedy 40nm ramp (that it is re-hiring employees previously laid off), CEITEC of Brazil is hiring new employees. CEITEC SA is a RFID and Analog company in Brazil managing the lone 200mm fab south of the Rio Grande. This fab experienced a long phase of equipping, and is finally able to offer products targeting niche markets in the RFID and Analog sector. Their design facility was inaugurated in March 2009, and the 50k wafers per year fab is already producing its first products.
Several new fabs are expected to begin construction in 2009: three in Europe/Mideast (including Russia) and two in the Americas. Only one of the new facilities will be a high volume fab (Globalfoundries). In 2010, about seven facilities are expected to begin construction; of these, five are considered high-volume fabs. (For details on which companies are beginning what type of fab, check out the World Fab Database reports that SEMI just published.)
Low Utilization Rates but High Installed Capacity
Total installed capacity typically changes only when the product mix changes or when equipment is being removed (such as when fabs are closed).
Worldwide installed capacity for 2009 will decline by about 3% to 15 million wafers per month (200mm equivalents), mainly due to fabs being closed. However, data from the World Fab Forecast show that total installed capacity for 2010 could increase by about 6%, to over 16M wafers per month.
Memory and Logic fabs are expected to take the biggest hit in 2009 with a capacity decline of 5-7% each of installed capacity due to closing fabs.
Installed capacity for foundries remains steady at 3.2M wafers per month in 2009. It is expected to increase by over 9% in 2010. Considering that utilization rates for foundries decreased in 4Q08 to 56% and to 35% in 1Q09, there is a lot of idle installed capacity available, so companies will be cautious in planning capacity investments.
Looking ahead, almost all foundries have announced that utilization rates will increase, from the 30-40% range in 1Q09 to 60-75% in 2Q09, while some 300mm foundry fabs are reportedly running fully loaded this month. For example, Vanguard International (VIS) expects to see positive gross margin in 2Q09 with fab utilization rates climbing to 60% in 2Q09 from 33% in 1Q09. UMC's utilization rate in 1Q09 was 30%, but is expected it to reach 75% in 2Q09. SMIC, with the help from local demand, expects to be profitable in 4Q09.
Summary: Positive Signs
Companies and industry observers are looking for positive changes in the global economy. The Wall Street Journal reports consumer confidence is increasing from March's 26.9 to April's 39.2 (based on April 28 2009 market data). The Present Situation index rose only a little from 21.9 to 23.7, but the Expectations index climbed from 30.2 to 49.5, as respondents were a bit more optimistic about business conditions. Stock indexes such as DOW Jones, DAX, NIKKEI and TOPIX show slow but increasing values in May 2009.
In the semiconductor market, spot and contract prices for 16 GB NAND are increasing again (from their lowest level in December 2008). Although demand forecast for 2009 has slowed down, demand forecast for the overall NAND Market looks good, showing an increase from below 10 Billion GB in 2009 to over 30 Billion GB in 2011 and over 60 Billion GB in 2012.
The recent released World Fab Forecast and FabFutures show that signs of increasing activities are already happening and more are anticipated so the industry can begin to move forward again to invest in both new technology and new capacity.
SEMI's World Fab Forecast tracks money spent on Front End semiconductor facilities that are equipping, which includes volume fabs, R&Ds and Pilot fabs, fab construction projects, investments for capacity, and investments for technology and product upgrades.
SEMI World Fab Forecast report provides high-level summaries and graphs; in-depth analyses of capital expenditure, capacity, technology and products, down to the detail of each fab; and forecasts for the next 18 months by quarter. These tools are invaluable for understanding how 2009 and 2010 will look, and learning more about capex for construction projects, fab equipping, technology level, and products.
The difference between the SEMI Worldwide Semiconductor Equipment Market Subscription (WWSEMS) data and the World Fab Forecast and its related Fab Database reports is that the fab database reports track any equipment needed to ramp the fab, upgrade, expand or change its wafer size regardless if it is new equipment, used equipment, or transferred equipment, while WWSEMS tracks only new equipment.
Please visit www.semi.org/fabs for additional information on these reports.
June 1, 2009


text:
Quarterback Mark Sanchez will start for the New York Jets when they visit the Detroit Lions on Friday. But running back Chris Ivory is far from a sure thing.
"I probably won't play this Friday, but definitely next week, Monday or Tuesday," Ivory told the New York Daily News on Tuesday night. "(By) Tuesday, I'll definitely be full speed."
Said Ivory: "I'll be back soon full-time. I'm almost there."
Ivory has been sidelined during training camp by a nagging hamstring injury, triggering the Jets to list Bilal Powell as the No. 1 tailback on the first unofficial depth chart. Coach Rex Ryan admitted Tuesday he was "kind of frustrated" with Ivory's status. With Mike Goodson unavailable and Joe McKnight missing time with a head injury, offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg also acknowledged the lack of reps are a concern.
We expect Ivory to assume starting duties once he's healthy. He's a bull-rushing back, but he has appeared in just 12 games over the past two seasons. Pesky knee, foot, groin, shoulder, concussion and hamstring issues have stunted Ivory's career. As it stands, his first action for the Jets likely will come Aug. 17 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.The Around The League Podcast is now available on iTunes! Click here to listen and subscribe.


text:
The design of Galaxie Polaris was quite literally a labour of love. I created the typeface for my then-fiancée, now-wife Tracy for use in her MFA thesis.
Galaxie was always planned to be a large family of families, all designed to work together. Polaris is the first Galaxie typeface to be completed, with the script Cassiopeia released in 2006, and serif and egyptian faces in the pipeline. Polaris was named for the pole star, and is the reference point for the development of the rest of the families.
Version 3 of Galaxie Polaris was released in September 2008, and includes the addition of the Cyrillic script, small caps, an alternate I, extended fractions, and improvements to many glyphs, particularly in the Heavy weight.
Type is a tool for delivering language; with Polaris, I set out to make a typeface that does this clearly and concisely, with the minimum of fuss.
Galaxie Polaris Styles
Galaxie Polaris is available in five feature-rich weights in Roman & Italic with built-in small caps.
Version history
V1.0—Initial release version; 2004.08
V2.0—Update: improvements to bold weights & kerning: 2005.04
V3.0—Update: addition of Cyrillic, small caps, minor glyph improvements & glyph set extension: 2008.09
V3.5—Update: addition of capital Eszett, renaming font files: 2013.10
Standard licensing: OTF (CFF-flavored OpenType)
Web font licensing: WOFF, EOT & SVG
Dynamic embedding licensing: OTF (CFF-flavored OpenType)
Other formats available upon request.


text:
Barry Switzer manages to bring race into discussion about Johnny Manziel
Barry Switzer has been on a roll the past couple days. First he called Johnny Manziel arrogant (with a cuss word for good measure), then he backtracked on that, sort of. Then he fed into stereotypes about African-American quarterbacks.
The latter two things happened during a rollicking interview with Nashville radio station WNSR (via TMZ Sports) on Thursday. Switzer was trying to extract himself from the hole he dug the day before on a St. Louis radio station.
MORE: NFL Mock Draft | League plan to eject N-word faces rejection
Comparing Manziel to Oscar Robertson for his ability to take over a game, Switzer gushed about the Texas A&M star who's expected to go high in the NFL Draft.
"I've never seen a football player, I've never seen an 11-man team sport, a guy do that. I've watched Johnny Manziel do it game after game after game, throwing touchdown after touchdown, come from behind, come from behind," he said. "He is a great competitor. He is a phenomenal football player. He is unbelievable. I don't give a damn what his measurements are, I look at results of what a guy does on the football field.
"I think he will be a No. 1 on a lot of people's (draft) boards and I think he'll go in the top five."
Buuuuut, Switzer couldn't leave it there.
"Now the problem is you might have to have the right coach, the right coordinator and the right person to work with him. And he's got to have a commitment to want to like football and play it, and I think he does. I think he's a great competitor. I think he can make it in the NFL."
Switzer then tried to own up to trashing Manziel, but he just ... couldn't ... do it. Not completely, anyway.
"I regret, really, me making comments that I (first) made six months ago when I saw him play his first game (in 2013). Yesterday I got in trouble again. But, you know, it's first impressions and it just come out again and I think anybody that's watched his antics on the football field ... you think he signed all those paraphernalia for nothing? Give me a break, guys. You know what I mean? 'Give me the money' sign on the football field. You don't have quarterbacks do that. I don't want the leader of my team doing those things."
So, Switzer loves Manziel, he loves him not ...
Anyway, a few minutes later the interview came back to Manziel. That's when Switzer veered back into dodgy territory. He said he'd take a chance on Manziel if the interview went well. "I love his ability, talent and play," Switzer said.
He wasn't finished, though. No, he wasn't
"I've always said I'd never recruit a white quarterback. I said the only way I'd ever recruit a white quarterback to play for me was if mom and daddy happen to both be black and that's the only way I would do it.
"I'd have to have the Jamelle Holieways, J.C. Watts, Thomas Lotts. Those guys are going to be my quarterbacks: great runners, great ballcarriers. I wasn't going to throw it too much, but to be able to pass and complete some, and those guys could. They could throw it and run."
Um, just as Manziel can (8,820 passing yards, 2,169 rushing yards over two seasons).
Switzer's Sooners racked up a 157-29-4 record in 16 seasons, so "those guys" were plenty good. And for the record, Switzer had three white starting QBs in Norman: Steve Davis, Kelly Phelps and ... Troy Aikman.
Maybe Switzer was spinning a yarn with his QB preferences. Maybe not. Either way, it was another entertaining day of radio and another day of Switzer keeping his name (and Manziel's) in the Interwebs.


text:
Syria holds elections amid lives interrupted
Polling stations opened on Tuesday in government-held areas of Syria for the country's presidential election. (June 3) AP
AMMAN, Jordan — Civil war has cast a pall over the ancient, cultured capital of Syria.
Unemployment and poverty are soaring. Fighting has reduced some suburban neighborhoods to rubble, while refugees from the war occupy abandoned buildings and public spaces. Schooling is haphazard, relationships interrupted and daily life altered.
"The electricity cuts off every four hours and then comes back for two hours," said Amira Ibrahim, a mother of three children in Damascus. "I have to wash clothes, iron and cook during these two hours."
"I have to help my kids also with their homework — there's no time for television cartoons," she added. "They need to finish their homework before the power cuts off again."
Yet some aspects of life in Damascus remain the same: Syrians are voting Tuesday to elect a president, and it's a foregone conclusion that incumbent President Bashar Assad will win by a wide margin.
Even though Assad is allowing two little-known parliament members to run against him this year — giving Syrian voters a choice among candidates for the first time in history — he'll likely garner nearly 100% of the vote, like when he last ran for office seven years ago.
"Syrians will speak their minds (today) during elections – they will choose a leader who will preserve security and preserve sovereignty," wrote official daily Al-Thawra.
When the polls close, Assad will almost certainly point to his landslide win as proof of his legitimacy. Today, however, after rebels have been fighting al-Assad's forces with mixed success for three years and the country's economy is in tatters, Syrians won't be so quick to accept the results.
"Elections have never be free in Syria, and they are certainly not going to be this time either," said Anna Boyd, a Middle East specialist at IHS in London. "It is very difficult to see how can they hold elections in much of the country because the government simply doesn't control much of the country."
Radwan Sayed, 37, lost his auto repair shop when fighting spread to his neighborhood in Rif Dimashq in the suburbs of Damascus. Asked if he thought the elections would be legitimate, he scoffed at the question.
"I do not care if it is legitimate or illegitimate," he said. "All we have witnessed for three years is inhumane and not legitimate. We only ask for a final solution to our tragedy. Will this election end our tragedy or not? Of course not. It is going to increase tension and division."
More than 150,000 have died in the Syrian war, according to the United Nations. Fighting has displaced 5.8 million people. The war has dealt a body blow to the economy: The U.N. estimates that nearly 8 million people have fallen into poverty since the fighting began. Unemployment stands at almost 50%. Schools, hospitals and other institutions are on the verge of closing.
"We are tired of war and want peace," said Tarek Abdullah, 29, a schoolteacher in Damascus, who says that at the start of the school year last year, he had 30 students. Toward the end, he had 18 due to shelling.
Every day routines in Damascus and elsewhere in regime-held areas have been distorted. People go out to meet friends and family earlier and less often because of checkpoints. Once promising relationships have been put on hold as potential partners have fled. Even weddings, gala celebrations that ran all night, are more modest — and over by early afternoon.
International efforts to end the fighting have fizzled. The United States insists that Assad step down, but President Obama so far has refused to become involved militarily. Russia and Iran, meanwhile, continue to back Assad's regime while Saudi Arabia backs the rebels.
In recent months, Assad has had less incentive to accept peace with harsh conditions. Infighting among secular and radical Muslim rebel groups has given Assad an advantage in the war and made the White House leery of helping opposition groups with links to terrorism. The Syrian president has retaken territory, stemmed attacks in central Damascus and crushed the resistance in their former stronghold in Homs, Syria's third-largest city.
His victories on the battlefield have done more to undergird his regime than contested elections ever could, says Joshua Landis, a Middle East Studies professor at the University of Oklahoma. A few years ago, many felt Assad's days in power were coming to an end. Now his fortunes are on the rise.
"The government has got the upper hand," Landis said. "The West always wants somebody to replace Assad that would be a little better, but they have never been able to engineer it."
The elections would have been a perfect opportunity for Assad to step down with dignity so that someone else could negotiate an end to hostilities, Boyd said. But in light of the Syrian government's recent military successes, if Assad leaves, his replacement would certainly come from the same leaders who are currently cracking down on the rebellion.
"For most of the rebels, this is completely unacceptable," she said.
That hard-line stance against Assad can be found in rebel-held regions like Azaz, a small town outside Aleppo, where the government won't even be opening polling stations. Different rebel groups and government forces have been fighting back and forth over Azaz for years, ruining neighborhoods and lives in the process.
A rebel sympathizer who owns a vegetable stand in Azaz, Abu Adna, 27, didn't take the upcoming vote seriously
"Which election?" he said. "There are airstrikes every day, hundreds of people die every day. Any person who votes for Bashar is against the Syrian people."
But Adna added that the upcoming elections remind him of the democracy he and other opposition supporters are seeking to establish.
"Now, it is fake." he said. "This election is not democratic. In the future, I want a real election."
Contributing: Emma Beals in Aleppo.


text:
This article will be permanently flagged as inappropriate and made unaccessible to everyone.
Are you certain this article is inappropriate?
Excessive Violence
Sexual Content
Political / Social
Email Address:
Article Id:
Reproduction Date:
The United Federated Forces of the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) was an American self-styled left-wing revolutionary group active between 1973 and 1975 that considered itself a vanguard army. The group committed bank robberies, two murders, and other acts of violence.
The SLA became internationally notorious for kidnapping media heiress Patty Hearst, abducting the 19-year-old and her 26-year-old boyfriend Steven Weed from their home in Berkeley, California. Interest increased when Hearst, in audiotaped messages delivered to (and broadcast by) regional news media, denounced her parents and announced that she had joined the SLA. She was subsequently observed participating in their illegal activities. Hearst later alleged that she had been held in close confinement, sexually assaulted and brainwashed.
Although the SLA considered themselves leaders of the black revolution, DeFreeze was its only black member. His seven-headed SLA cobra symbol was based on the seven principles of Kwanzaa, with each head representing a principle. The Swahili words for these seven principles are: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity) and Imani (faith).
The appearance of the symbol of the seven-headed cobra[2] on SLA propaganda indicates that it was copied from the ancient Sri Lankan and Indian seven-headed nāga; carved stones depicting a seven-headed cobra are commonly found near the sluices of the ancient irrigation tanks in Sri Lanka and are believed to have been placed there as guardians of the water.[3] The particular graphic of the seven-headed cobra used by the SLA may have been copied from an illustration in The Lost Continent of Mu by James Churchward.
The SLA formed as a result of the prison visitation programs of the radical left-wing group Black Cultural Association in Soledad prison. The idea of a South American–styled urban guerrilla movement, similar to the Tupamaros movement in Uruguay, combined with Régis Debray's theory of urban warfare and ideas drawn from Maoism, appealed to a number of people, including Patricia Michelle Soltysik (a.k.a. "Mizmoon").
Some activists within the New Left and the social justice movements compared the US prison system to concentration camps designed to oppress African Americans. They believed that a majority of African American convicts were political prisoners and that black power ideology would naturally appeal to them. Group member Willie Wolfe developed this ideology into a plan for action, linking student activists with prison militants.[4]
The SLA formed after the escape from prison by Donald DeFreeze, a.k.a. "General Field Marshal Cinque." He had been serving 5–15 years for robbing a prostitute. DeFreeze took the name Cinque from the leader of the slave rebellion who took over the slave ship Amistad in 1839. DeFreeze escaped from the Soledad State Prison on March 5, 1973 simply by walking away while on work duty in a boiler room located outside the perimeter fence.
DeFreeze has been accused by some sources of being an informant from 1967 to 1969 for the Public Disorder Intelligence Unit of the Los Angeles Police Department.[5][6]
DeFreeze had been active in the Black Cultural Association while at the California Medical Facility, a state prison facility in Vacaville, California, where he had made contacts with members of Venceremos. He sought refuge among these contacts, and ended up at a commune known as Peking House in the San Francisco Bay Area. For some time he shared living quarters with future SLA members Willie Wolfe and Russell Little, then moved in with Patricia Michelle Soltysik. DeFreeze and Soltysik became lovers and began to outline the plans for founding the "Symbionese Nation."
On November 6, 1973, in Oakland, California, two members of the SLA killed school superintendent Marcus Foster and badly wounded his deputy, Robert Blackburn, as the two men left an Oakland school board meeting. The hollow-point bullets used to kill Foster had been packed with cyanide.[7]
The SLA had condemned Foster for his plan to introduce identification cards into Oakland schools, calling him "fascist". In fact, Foster had originally opposed the use of identification cards in his schools, and his plan was a watered-down version of other similar proposals. An African American, Foster was popular on the Left and in the black community.
On January 10, 1974, Joseph Remiro and Russell Little were arrested and charged with Foster's murder, and initially both men were convicted of murder. Both men received sentences of life imprisonment. Seven years later, on June 5, 1981, Little's conviction was overturned by the California Court of Appeal, and he was later acquitted in a retrial in Monterey County.[8]
Little has stated: "Who actually pulled the trigger that killed Foster was Mizmoon. [9]
In response to the arrests of Remiro and Little, the SLA began planning their next action: the kidnapping of an important figure to negotiate the release of their imprisoned members.[4] Documents found by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at one abandoned safe house revealed that an action was planned for the "full moon of January 17". The FBI did not take any precautions, and the SLA did not act until a month later.[4] On February 4, 1974, publishing heiress Patty Hearst, a sophomore at the University of California at Berkeley, was kidnapped from her Berkeley residence at Apartment 4, 2603 Benvenue Avenue. The kidnapping followed by less than three months a November 1973 San Francisco Chronicle story in the "Society" section announcing the Hearst-Steven Weed betrothal (with the apartment's address given). The SLA had chosen to kidnap Hearst to increase the news coverage of the incident.[10]
Initially, the SLA issued an ultimatum to the Hearst family: that they would release Patty in exchange for the freedom of Remiro and Little. When such an arrangement proved impossible, the SLA demanded a ransom, in the form of a food distribution program. The value of food to be distributed fluctuated: on February 23 the demand was for $4 million; it peaked at $400 million. Although free food was distributed, the operation initially came to a halt when violence erupted at one of the four distribution points.[4] This happened because the crowds were much greater than expected, and people were injured as panicked workers threw boxes of food off moving trucks into the crowd. After the SLA demanded that a community coalition called the Western Addition Project Area Committee be put in charge of the food distribution, 100,000 bags of groceries were handed out at 16 locations across four counties between February 26 and the end of March.[11]
The FBI was conducting an unsuccessful search, and the SLA took refuge in a number of safe houses. While in the SLA's custody, Hearst later claimed she was subjected to a series of ordeals that her mother would later describe as "brainwashing". The change in Hearst's politics has been attributed to Stockholm syndrome, a psychological response in which a hostage exhibits apparent loyalty to the abductor. Hearst was later examined by specialist psychologist Margaret Singer, who came to the same conclusion.
Although Hearst's attorney F. Lee Bailey used the Stockholm Syndrome argument in her defense at trial, Terence Hallinan, the first attorney who represented her, was planning to argue involuntary intoxication, a side effect of which is amnesia, due to similarities in her reactions after capture to previous experiences taking LSD with her boyfriend Steven Weed.[12]
At Hearst's subsequent trial, her lawyer claimed that she had been confined in a closet barely large enough for her to lie down in; that her contact with the outside world was regulated by her captors; and that she was regularly threatened with execution. In addition, Hearst's lawyer contended that she had been raped by DeFreeze and Wolfe, but, because both men died before Hearst's capture and trial, charges were never brought against them. Hearst was thought to have had a relationship with Willie Wolfe, and described him at one point as "the gentlest, most beautiful man I've ever known."[12] The SLA claimed to be holding Hearst according to the conditions of the Geneva Conventions.
The SLA subjected Hearst to indoctrination in SLA ideology. In Hearst's taped recordings, used to announce demands and conditions, Hearst can first be heard extemporaneously expressing SLA ideology on day 13 of her capture.[4]
With each successive taped communiqué, Hearst voiced increasing support for the aims of the SLA. She eventually denounced her former life, her parents, and fiancé. At that point, she claimed that when the SLA had given her the option of being released or joining the SLA, she chose the latter. After she adopted the SLA's ideology, she announced that she was using the nom de guerre "Tania", after Che Guevara's associate "Tania the Guerilla".
The next action taken by the SLA was to rob a branch of the Hibernia Bank at 1450 Noriega Street in San Francisco; during this incident, two civilians were shot.[4] At 10:00 a.m. on April 15, 1974, SLA members burst into the bank.
Hearst participated in the robbery, holding a rifle, and the security camera footage of Hearst became an iconic image. (Hearst was tried and convicted for her involvement in the Hibernia Bank robbery. Her sentence was later commuted by Jimmy Carter and her crime eventually pardoned by Bill Clinton.) She has denied willing involvement in the robbery in her book, Every Secret Thing. The outlaw group was able to get away with over $10,000.[13]
The SLA believed that its future depended on its ability to acquire new members, and realized that, because of the killing of Marcus Foster, few if any people in the Bay Area underground wished to join them. Cinque suggested moving the organization to his former neighborhood in Los Angeles, where he had friends whom they might recruit. However, they relocated in a sloppy manner and had much difficulty in becoming established on their new turf. The SLA relied on commandeering housing and supplies in Los Angeles, and thus alienated the people who were ensuring their secrecy and protection. At this stage, the imprisoned SLA member Russell Little claimed that he believed the SLA had entirely lost sight of its goals and entered into a confrontation with the police rather than a political dialogue with the public.[4]
On May 16, 1974, "Teko" and "Yolanda" (William Harris and Emily Harris) entered Mel's Sporting Goods Store in the Los Angeles suburb of Inglewood, California to shop for supplies. While Yolanda made the purchases, Teko on a whim decided to shoplift socks.[4] When a security guard confronted him, Teko brandished a revolver. The guard knocked the gun out of his hand and placed a handcuff on William's left wrist. Hearst, on armed lookout from the group's van across the street, began shooting up the store's overhead sign. Everyone in the store but the Harrises took cover, and the Harrises fled the store and drove off with Hearst.
As a result of the botched shoplifting incident, the police acquired the address of the safehouse from a parking ticket in the glove box of the van (the vehicle had been abandoned). The rest of the SLA fled the safehouse when they saw the events on the news. The SLA took over a house occupied by Christine Johnson and Minnie Lewisin. One of the people in the house at the time was a then-17-year-old neighbor named Brenda Daniels, who was sleeping on the couch. Brenda recalls the events that day:
I went down to Minnie's every Thursday evening to play some cards and drink a little. I fell asleep early and when I woke up around two A.M. I saw four white women and three dudes—two blacks and one white. I saw guns spread out all over the floor, an' I asked them why they had guns, more than I'd ever seen in my life. They didn't answer, and, instead, the black dude asked me my name and then introduced me to everyone. [When asked if Patty Hearst was there] Man, how can I tell? All white women look the same to me.
—Brenda Daniels, [14]
The next day, an anonymous phone call to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) stated that several heavily armed people were staying at the caller's daughter's house. That afternoon, more than 400 LAPD officers, under the command of Captain Mervin King, along with the FBI, California Highway Patrol, and Los Angeles Fire Department surrounded the neighborhood. The leader of a SWAT team used a bullhorn to announce, "Occupants of 1466 East 54th Street, this is the Los Angeles Police Department speaking. Come out with your hands up!" A young child walked out, along with an older man. The man stated that no one else was in the house, but the child intervened stating that several people were in the house with guns and ammo belts. After several more attempts to get anyone else to leave the house, a member of the SWAT team fired tear gas projectiles into the house. This was answered by heavy bursts of automatic gunfire, and a battle began.
Two hours later, the house caught fire. Two women left from the rear of the house and one came out the front (she had come in drunk the previous night, passed out, and woken up in the middle of the siege); all were taken into custody, but were found not to be SLA members. Automatic weapons fire continued from the house. At this point, Nancy Ling Perry and Camilla Hall came out of the house. Investigators working for their parents would claim that they walked out intending to surrender and that they were unarmed but police later stated that Hall was shot in the head by police as she charged towards them and Perry was providing covering fire.[14] After Hall's body fell to the ground, it was pulled back inside the burning house by Angela Atwood. Perry followed Hall out of the house and was shot twice in the back. Her body remained outside the house.[15]
The rest died inside, from smoke inhalation, burns and gunshot wounds. The coroner's report concluded that Donald DeFreeze committed suicide. After the shooting stopped and the fire was extinguished, 19 firearms—including rifles, pistols, and shotguns—were recovered. Several thousands of rounds had been fired out of the house by the SLA and police in response had fired several thousands of rounds into the house. This remains one of the largest police shootouts in history with a reported total of over 9,000 rounds being fired. Every round fired by SLA members at the police missed the officers.
The SLA dead were: Nancy Ling Perry ("Fahizah"), Angela Atwood ("General Gelina"), Camilla Hall ("Gabi"), Willie Wolfe ("Kahjoh", misspelled by the media at the time as "Cujo",[16] who was reported to be Patricia Hearst's lover), Donald DeFreeze ("Cinque"), and Patricia Soltysik ("Mizmoon," "Zoya"). Most of the bodies were found huddled in a crawl space under the house, which had burned down around them.
New broadcasting technology (smaller portable cameras and more nimble and versatile mobile units that made it easier to cover unfolding news events) had recently been acquired by area TV stations, so Hearst and the Harrises were able to watch the televised siege live from their hotel room in Anaheim.
As a result of the siege, the remaining SLA members returned to the relative safety of the San Francisco Bay Area and protection of student radical households. At this time, a number of new members gravitated towards the SLA.[4] The active participants at this time were: Bill and Emily Harris, Patty Hearst, Wendy Yoshimura, Kathleen and Steve Soliah, James Kilgore and Michael Bortin.
On April 28, 1975, the remaining members of the SLA robbed the Crocker National Bank in Carmichael, California, and in doing so killed Myrna Opsahl, a bank customer. Hearst claimed to have been sitting in the getaway car.[17]
Much later, Patty Hearst, after being granted immunity from prosecution for this crime, claimed that Emily Harris, Kathleen Soliah (later aka Sara Jane Olson), Michael Bortin, and James Kilgore actually committed the robbery, while she and Wendy Yoshimura were getaway drivers and William Harris and Steven Soliah acted as lookouts. Hearst also claimed that Opsahl was killed by Emily Harris, but that she was not a witness.
Patricia Hearst, after a long and highly publicized search, was captured with Wendy Yoshimura on September 18, 1975. In her affidavit she claimed that SLA members had used LSD to drug her and had forced her to take part in the bank raid. However, Hearst's recorded statements, along with the fact that she had not escaped when she had the opportunity, made many think she had come to support her kidnappers. Despite her claims, she was convicted of the Hibernia Bank robbery and sentenced to seven years in prison but had served only 21 months when her sentence was commuted by US President Jimmy Carter. She was pardoned by President Bill Clinton on his last day in office.
On August 21, 1975, Kathleen Soliah failed in her attempt to kill officers of the LAPD when the bombs she placed under a police car did not detonate.
Soliah remained a fugitive, first in Rhodesia, and then in Minnesota under the alias Sara Jane Olson; she married a doctor and had three daughters.
The FBI caught up with and arrested Sara Jane Olson (Kathleen Soliah) in 1999 after a tip was received by the television show America's Most Wanted, which had aired her profile. In 2001, she pleaded guilty to possession of explosives with the intent to murder and was sentenced to two consecutive terms of ten years to life, although she had been told as part of a plea bargain that she would serve only eight years. She claimed that she pled guilty because of the climate after September 11, 2001 even though she had not made, possessed or placed the pipe bombs.
On January 16, 2002, first-degree murder charges for the killing of Myrna Opsahl were filed against Sara Jane Olson, the Harrises, Bortin, and Kilgore. All were living "above ground" and were immediately arrested except for James Kilgore, who remained at large for nearly another year.
On November 7, 2002, Soliah, the Harrises, and Bortin pleaded guilty to the murder charges. Emily Harris, now known as Emily Montague, admitted to being the one holding the murder weapon but said that the shotgun had gone off accidentally. Hearst had claimed that Montague had dismissed the murder at the time saying, "She was a bourgeois pig anyway. Her husband is a doctor." In court, Montague denied having said this and added, "I do not want [the Opsahl family] to believe that we ever considered her life insignificant."
Sentences were handed down on February 14, 2003, in Sacramento, California for all four defendants in the Opsahl murder case. Montague was sentenced to eight years for the murder (2nd degree). Her former husband, William Harris, was sentenced to seven years, and Bortin to six years. Soliah has had six years added to the 14-year sentence she is already serving. All sentences were the maximum allowed under their plea bargains.
On November 8, 2002, James Kilgore, who had been a fugitive since 1975, was arrested in South Africa and extradited to the United States to face federal explosives and passport fraud charges. Prosecutors alleged that a pipe bomb had been found in Kilgore's apartment in 1975 and that he had obtained a passport under a false name. He pleaded guilty to the charges in 2003.
Sara Jane Olson was expecting to receive a five-year, four-month sentence, but "in stiffening Olson's sentence ..., the prison board turned to a seldom-used section of state law, allowing it to recalculate sentences for old crimes in light of new, tougher sentencing guidelines."[18] Olson was sentenced to 14 years— later reduced to 13 years—plus six years for her role in the Opsahl killing. Hearst had immunity because she was a state's witness, but as there was no trial, she never testified.
On April 26, 2004, Kilgore was sentenced to 54 months in prison for the explosives and passport fraud charges. He was the last remaining SLA member to face federal prosecution.
After serving six years of the prison sentence, Sarah Jane Olson was released on parole and reunited with her family in California on March 17, 2008.[19] But after a discovery that her release was premature because of a clerical error, an arrest warrant was issued. She was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport and notified that her right to travel out of state had been rescinded. She was returned to prison.[20]
On March 17, 2009, Sarah Olsen was released, this time correctly, after serving 7 years of her 14-year sentence. She was to check in with her parole officer in Los Angeles where it would be determined if she would be allowed to serve her parole in St. Paul, Minnesota, with her husband and three daughters. Several officials, including the Governor of Minnesota, urged that she serve her parole in California,[21] but she was finally allowed to serve her parole in Minnesota.
On May 10, 2009, James Kilgore was released from prison in California. He was the last captured SLA member to be released.[22]
Founding member Joseph Remiro remains in prison as of 2014.
Some time around June 2001 an unidentified message was received via wire services that James Michael Hamilton III., a bomb maker for the group, had died of natural causes in or around the Huntsville Alabama area. This was not made known to the public until years later when blueprints for detailed bomb equipment was found in a home in Madison Alabama, once rented by Hamilton. Names of other SLA members were also on the blueprints. They believe Hamilton was not a direct member of the SLA but was recruited when needed. He was never charged with any crimes related to any SLA activities.
The SLA distributed photographs, news releases and radio-quality taped interviews in which they explained their past activities to the press. Since that time the SLA's activities have been covered in other ways in the media. These include films and television shows, such as:
Patti Smith's legendary 1974 cover of the popular 1960s song, "Hey Joe", begins with a salacious and provocative monologue about Patty Hearst and the SLA, which puts a feminist spin on the lyrics that were originally about a man who murders his adulterous wife and then flees to Mexico.
Thus, Smith's version effectively casts Patty Hearst in the role of Joe "with a gun in her hand"—a violent criminal rebelling against the law and all civil authority.[23] Before the fadeout, Smith sings in the voice of Hearst angrily repudiating both her privileged upbringing as well as the mainstream society which has condemned her as a spoiled, vacuous "pretty little rich girl" who became a terrorist. This particular recording was made when Patty Hearst was still a fugitive and members of the SLA were still at large.
Hearst is also referenced in the final line of Warren Zevon's 1978 song Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner.
Carved stones depicting a seven-headed Cobra are commonly found near the sluices of the ancient irrigation tanks in Sri Lanka; these are believed to have been placed as guardians of the water.
Investigators say bullets used in the murder of Oakland's school superintendent contained cyanide. Roland Prahl, chief investigator for the Alameda County coroner's office, said Friday that five slugs recovered during the autopsy on the superintendent, Marcus Foster, had the "distinctive odor of cyanide." A coroner's report verified the presence of the poison.
Perry and Hall exited the house, but were shot by officers who concluded they were trying to kill police rather than surrender.
[Hearst] claimed to have been sitting in the getaway car when at some point during the robbery an SLA member blasted mother-of-four Myrna Opsahl with a shotgun as she stood depositing church receipts, killing her instantly.
The Washington Post, ABC News, Mail Online, Good Morning America, The Daily Beast
Symbionese Liberation Army, Bill Clinton, San Francisco, Authority control, Che Guevara
Great Depression, Berkeley, California, Oakland, California, Bankruptcy, Upton Sinclair


text:
copyright, Craig Cutler.
Craig is a master of lighting. He'll light a bottle of booze for three days until it's "just right." This shot is a departure from his typically fastidious nature. It's raw. It's a little sloppy. You can smell it like a scratch-n-sniff. Kudos to Craig for getting out of his comfort zone and driving home the point that it's all about the beer. Done with 2 strobes.
Camera: Sinar p2 4×5 with Schneider 150mm Apo-Symmar and Kodak Portra VC 160 film, set on a tripod 8 feet back. Shot at 1/60, F32, ISO 100 (pulled 1/2 stop).
Lighting: The key light is an on-camera ring light at f22 1/2 (-1/2 stop). A standard reflector at f32 1/2 (+1/2 stop) is bounced up against the cabinetry (I'm guessing there are some above the sink) from camera left to break up the flatness.
Comments: It took over 4 hours for the stylist to make the food look as perfectly horrendous as it does. Not surprisingly, nobody had much of an appetite by lunch time and drank luke-warm Amstels in lieu of food.


text:
News tagged with tamoxifen
Tamoxifen is an antagonist of the estrogen receptor in breast tissue and is therefore used in the treatment of breast cancer. As of 2004, it was the world's largest selling drug for that purpose.
Some breast cancer cells require estrogen to grow. Estrogen binds to and activates the estrogen receptor in these cells. Tamoxifen is metabolized into compounds that also bind to the estrogen receptor but do not activate it. Furthermore tamoxifen prevents estrogen from binding to its receptor. Hence breast cancer cell growth is blocked.
Tamoxifen was discovered by ICI Pharmaceuticals (now AstraZeneca) and is sold under the trade names Nolvadex, Istubal, and Valodex. However, the drug, even before its patent expiration, was and still is widely referred to by its generic name "tamoxifen."
This text uses material from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA


text:
UC Health Pancreatic Disease Center is nationally recognized for the diagnosis, treatment and management of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Patients travel from across the nation to receive responsive, innovative care from our trusted team of compassionate physicians and staff. Our mission is to deliver outstanding, compassionate care to patients with pancreatic tumors and pancreatitis. We strive to improve the lives of our patients through innovative clinical and basic research in pancreatic disease.
Collaboration That Delivers Superior Care
Our physicians and staff collaborate with experts from many different specialties, personalizing superior care for every single patient we treat. Our team includes specialists from gastroenterology, hematology-oncology, surgical oncology, radiology and radiation oncology as well as a full support staff of nurses and ancillary professionals. With national recognition for treatments of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, many patients travel from all over the United States. Our physicians, nurses, and staff have been awarded honors in outstanding patient care, year after year.


text:
LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne was considered by most to be the best defensive back available in the NFL draft.
The Dallas Cowboys, in desperate need of defensive playmakers, couldn't pass on the All-American, who was "shocked" the Cowboys picked him.
Dallas selected Claiborne with the sixth overall pick Thursday night, moving up eight spots in the first round after a trade with the St. Louis Rams. St. Louis got the No. 14 pick and the Cowboys' second-round selection, 45th overall.
Draft trade tracker
Keep up with all the moves made during the 2012 NFL Draft with this comprehensive breakdown of each trade, including the Browns' bold first-round move. More ...
Claiborne led the Tigers with six interceptions last season and won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back. He was also LSU's top kickoff returner, averaging 25 yards per return, including a 99-yard touchdown at West Virginia.
The Cowboys were expected to focus on defense in the early rounds of the draft, with the goal of adding impact players for coordinator Rob Ryan.
Now they have used their highest draft pick since 2003, when cornerback Terence Newman was picked fifth overall, on another top cornerback.
Newman, a starter for all nine of his seasons in Dallas, was released by the Cowboys when free agency started and has since signed with Cincinnati.
The deal with the Rams was the 59th draft-day trade for Cowboys owner Jerry Jones since he bought the team in 1989. It was the 18th time one of those trades involved his first-round pick.
Last April, during a draft complicated by the lockout, Dallas used just two of its eight picks on defenders.
The Cowboys still have six more picks in this year's draft, including two fourth-round picks.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


text:
Warren Bedside Table - Small
Warren Bedside Table - Small
18"L x 18"W x 24"H
Paint & High Gloss Lacquer Available in 9 Colors Along With 2 Wood Finishes
Compatible with our Smart Outlet Option
Open shelf with finished back
Solid wood full-extension dovetail drawer with natural finish
Drawer has undermount concealed glides and is soft-closing
Classic Round Hardware included with furniture. Additional hardware options available here
Designed for small space living
All finishes fall below the Greenguard Limit for VOC content
Read more about delivery options on our shipping page.
Production lead time is 6-8 weeks for all finishes. Please allow up to 2 weeks for delivery.
Warren Bedside Table - Small shown Big Sky Blue, paint finish. We encourage you to order finish samples as color is represented differently from screen to screen.
Visit our Lookbook to see a variety of finishes, styles, and how others have styled their #ZiggyAtHome.


text:
Supernatural - Episode 9.10 - Road Trip - Press Release
By DarkUFO (December 24, 2013, 8:35 am)
Thanks to Elena for the heads up.
"Road Trip" — (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET) (Content Rating TBD) (HDTV)
DEAN'S BEST CHANCE OF SAVING SAM LIES WITH CROWLEY — Dean (Jensen Ackles) is devastated after Kevin's death and vows to find the angel that killed him, not only to free Sam (Jared Padalecki), but to seek revenge. Castiel (Misha Collins) arrives at the bunker and suggests they try to separate Sam's brain from the angel's so they can talk to Sam and have him expel Gadreel. However, there's one small problem: the only person who knows how to do that is Crowley (Mark Sheppard). Robert Singer directed the episode written by Andrew Dabb (910).


text:
South Boston city councilor says his female constituents aren't SMILFs
New City Councilor Ed Flynn (South Boston, South End, Chinatown, Downtown) can claim his first victory: Getting posters for the TV series "SMILF" removed from city bus shelters.
In a broadside against the show about the travails of a single Southie mom men would want to, you know, Flynn fumed yesterday:
In recent weeks, many of my constituents have relayed to me their disgust with Showtime's TV Show "SMILF" and its depiction of the people of South Boston. The proud mothers I know from Southie, who work so hard for their families and our community, have told me they find it unwatchable as it is a degrading, crude and inaccurate portrayal of their life in the neighborhood. At the same time, I noticed advertisements for the show featured at bus shelters around the city. I'm tired of Hollywood making a profit off of these abysmal shows that in no way capture the real lives, character and contributions of the people of South Boston.
Flynn continues he reached out to city officials, who managed to rip those posters out so that the proud daughters of Southie are no longer besmirched by a show written by a woman from Brookline.
Ed should really be focused on the real issues
Like buying a suit that's not 3 sizes too big for him.
Or getting the ...
... smokers out of bus shelters.
He should be
He should be but if you heard him speak when he was campaigning you knew he wasn't going to do anything about real issues. He provided no specifics or any plan for real issues...only hyperbole.
some more random thoughts:
- the producers should have filmed this in weymouth. no one is like that in south boston any more.
- nepotism and affirmative action - that's how eddie got his job. if it wasn't for his daddy he wouldnt be a city councilor. its the same privilege has george dumbya bush.
- go eagles.
Thanks Flynna
Because this was definitely the most important and pressing issue we have in Southie right now.
Salaried workers
He gets paid the same whether he tackles the housing market or bus stop advertising. Bingo, low-hanging fruit.
Victory? Sounds like his
Victory? Sounds like his accomplishment is losing ad revenue for the MBTA.
Not Flynn's "victory"
From the Globe:
Boston city officials said that the ads were already on their way out the door, prior to Flynn's complaint.
The "SMILF" posters were scheduled to come down this week, in place of new material, according to a statement. The ads had been booked for four weeks, with their time on display ending two weeks ago. Since then, the ads have been used as filler.
As for the bus shelters, they are owned by the city, not the T.
The ads had been booked for
The ads had been booked for four weeks, with their time on display ending two weeks ago.
(emphasis added)
So the ads were up for two weeks LONGER than they were supposed to be. Perhaps the City needs to look at their contract with the ad provider more closely. Also shoots a big hole in the claims from people who support the nonsense of "place advertising space in every nook and cranny we can shoehorn it into - as demonstrated by the MBTA's recent request to MassDOT to approve the installation of 16 - yes, that's 16 - additional digital display boards at station entrances throughout Downtown Boston - see
that this type of ad space is in high demand.
The city can't claim any
The city can't claim any additional payments from the advertiser if the ad stays up longer than contractually required. The advertiser paid for 4 weeks, they got 4 weeks. They aren't on the hook for any more than that, even if they might benefit from the extra ad time.
As for why the city didn't come remove them sooner - money. If they don't already have another ad lined up, they'd have to pay to send a crew out twice - once to take down the ad, and then again to put up the next one. That cuts into whatever small amount of money they actually make on the ads. And even if they wrote into the contract that the advertiser is to reimburse them for the cost of installing the ads, that probably wouldn't cover taking them down if there's nothing to replace them with. This is standard practice everywhere, and always has been, on everything from bus shelters to billboards.
You are correct though that this ad space isn't exactly in high demand. There are plenty of ads that stay up comically long, even in busy subway stations. There's still an ad I see every morning at Sullivan for a movie that came out in November and most likely isn't even in theaters anymore. That said though, I think there is significantly more demand for digital ad space rather than static.
And that's part of my point
WHY didn't the City have another set of ads lined up to go in place when the allotted time for these ads was up?
Because if the relevant employees
Were great at selling ads, they'd work in private industry making more money.
As I understand it, the City contracts
with an outside company to manage the ad space. Same with the T.
Because maybe there wasn't
Because maybe there wasn't another interested advertiser?
Proving why selling advertising space is not
a consistently reliable source of revenue. Also proving that claims made to the contrary by government to justify the continued and increasingly excessive proliferation of PUBLIC spaces with needless marketing messages for c^*p that people don't need is one of the biggest con jobs going.
So this politician found
So this politician found someone else's parade and got right out in front of it. "I got these ads taken down" for ads that were scheduled to come down already. Talk about parasites...
Like his job, it's a hand me
Like his job, it's a hand me down.
This was supposed to be a
This was supposed to be a reply on the first comment :(
OK, yeah, I can support this.
OK, yeah, I can support this.
I was just waiting for the outrage
I've seen those ads all over town (not just in SB.) I was wondering when someone was going to get upset that an acronym including the F word was plastered all over the place.
F word?
Pretty sure just the letter F was on the signs. Is that now banned?
The letter F is behind a lot
The letter F is behind a lot of advertising and media. Hell, my kid's Sesame Street episode was brought to us by the letter F.
What, the fictional comedy-drama doesn't portray your
life accurately? Ya musta been pissed when you realized that not every Will from Southie is a math genius, too. I'm afraid I have some awful news for you about living teddy bears.
"The proud mothers I know from Southie, who work so hard for their families and our community, have told me they find it unwatchable as it is a degrading, crude and inaccurate portrayal of their life in the neighborhood."
So go direct your own documentary, and leave the writer / director / star / daughter of a Southie mom alone. Eejits.
If it portrayed these
If it portrayed these complainers lives accurately no one would watch it because no one wants to watch a show about boring whiners who apparently have no real problems.
Worst pilot ever
How lame of a person do you
How lame of a person do you have to be to take up a city councilors time with your complaints about a TV show? That is some real #whitepeopleproblems nonsense.
Remember the Samsung
Ads on the T?
Casual racism isn't cool
Casual racism isn't cool
What do you complain to your City Councilor about?
If you've ever seen what comes up at meetings, you'd know that this is simply constituent service.
It is not the posters in city bus shelters your constituents are worried about it is the sex offenders that hang around Andrew and Broadway station.
He's absolutely right. Good
He's absolutely right. Good for him.
Did Someone Say Southie TV Show?
Good job!
Nice work Ed.
We don't have to accept the coarsening of society.
Yes, let's fight the coarsening of society by condemning ads
for a low-rated premium-cable TV show.
It wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that our own President is an abusive, foul-mouthed playground-level bully and self-professed sexual assaulter.
Way to keep your eye on the prize there, Ed.
"We can't do everything so we
"We can't do everything so we must do nothing."
But that's exactly the point.
But that's exactly the point.
Anti-Trumpers are up in arms about his and his staffers treatment of women, Hollywood and the New York media are in turmoil since the exposure of systemic misogyny and Ed points out a disturbing local examples -- and he gets mocked!
The show's title is demeaning and degrading.
Even Frankie Shaw admits that.
I am glad he pointed it out.
If the show had a different title, would be okay?
I'm guessing that no one who is whining about it has seen the show, which sensitively addresses topics like single motherhood on poverty wages, addiction, and eating disorders. I'm guessing Southie has more than a few women with those issues.
But even if the neighborhood were totally immune to those issues, it's still childish and dumb to suggest that a fictional TV show has to accurately reflect your life, or it's an insult to you. Find something less trivial to get worked up about. Almost anything will be less trivial.
Shut Up!!!!
This show doesn't portray S. Boston women badly. It's portrays one women, Frankie Shaw's character and her problems as a single mom. Stop lumping up everyone for political crap.


text:
You are Here:
Technical Resources
Natural Resources Assessment
National Resources Inventory
/ Wetlands - About the Data
Loading Tree...
Technical Resources
Estimates presented here are based upon the latest information from the National Resources Inventory (NRI). The NRI is a longitudinal sample survey based upon scientific statistical principles and procedures. It is conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), in cooperation with Iowa State University's Center for Survey Statistics and Methodology.
These results are based upon the 2007 NRI, which provides nationally consistent data for the 25-year period 1982–2007. The estimates in this wetlands report cover the conterminous 48 States only. Separate estimates also cover Hawaii, Alaska, and the Caribbean Area.
Release of NRI results is guided by NRCS policy and is in accordance with OMB and USDA Quality of Information Guidelines developed in 2001. NRCS is releasing NRI estimates only when they meet statistical standards and are scientifically credible in accordance with these policies; also, measures of statistical uncertainty are provided for all 2007 NRI estimates released to the public.
The NRI approach to conducting inventories facilitates examination of trends in wetlands over time because –
NRI classification of wetlands is slightly different than that used by the Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) in their statistically based Wetlands Status and Trends study. The NRI and the FWS inventory have different legislative mandates, sampling methodology, data collection processes, estimation procedures, and analysis routines that evolved independently over the past two decades, even though both survey programs use the Cowardin classification system. Recent collaborative efforts have resulted in enhanced classifications for both programs, but wetlands data collected by the two agencies are currently not comparable. The NRI multi-resource approach is beneficial to USDA analysts and others who examine conservation and agri-environmental issues.
Irrespective of the scale of analysis, margins of error must be considered. Margins of error (at the 95 percent confidence level) are presented for all NRI estimates. Note that estimates of change between two points in time will be less precise (relatively) than estimates for a single inventory year because the changes will be occurring on a smaller fraction of the landscape.
< Back to Wetlands 2007
NRCS Home | USDA.gov | Site Map | Civil Rights | FOIA | Plain Writing | Accessibility Statement
Policy and Links| Non-Discrimination Statement | Information Quality | USA.gov | WhiteHouse.gov


text:
Webelos to Scout Transition
From MeritBadgeDotOrg
The Webelos to Scout Transition is designed to help Scouts move from Webelos Scouts to Boy Scouts seamlessly. The goal of the Webelos to Scout transition should be more than getting a Webelos to join a Troop, but helping A Webleos to find the right Troop.
Journey to Excellence
For both Packs and Troops in Scouting's Journey to Excellence program, a Webelos-to-Scout transition plan is required. With a troop, the Pack should hold two joint activities, one of which is a parent orientation and camp promotion meeting.
Transition Tips for Webelos Den Leaders
- Webelos Den Leaders should complete proper training
- Webelos leaders should develop relationships with Scoutmasters of local Troops
- Webelos Scouts should have the opportunity to try all Activity Badges
- Webelos Scouts should transition as soon as possible after completing the Arrow of Light
Transition Tips for Cub Scout Packs
- Packs should align camping equipment list with list of local Troops to minimize financial burdens on families
- Packs should work with local Troops to provide Boy Scouts to help with events like campouts, recruitment nights, etc.
- Packs should encourage den leaders to use a Den Chief
Transition Tips for Boy Scout Troops
- Troops should include Cubmasters and Webelos Den Leaders in communications
- Attend Roundtables to meet Cubmasters and exchange contact information
External Resources
Scouting.org http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/ImprovedWebelosTransition.aspx


text:
Summer's here! Time to break out the grill and start charcoaling the chicken. You already know you can slather them with barbecue sauce, but this year we thought it was time for a refresh!
There are so many delicious, new ways to get grilling. We've pulled together new favorites that are just as easy as the classic standbys, but these babies offer up a flavor twist. With quick tips, and a gorgeous new recipe idea for all of the best foods, keep this grilling guide close. Summer is about to get hot and your grilling is about to get even hotter!
CHICKEN – What to Grill: Chicken Breasts, Chicken Thighs and Chicken Legs
Quick Tip: When grilling chicken, heat the grill on high, but turn it to low or medium-low once the chicken is placed on the tines. This will give you that gorgeous grilled look while allowing the chicken to cook through to the center without drying.
Try This:
Get your buffalo wing fix without the hassle of bones. This Grilled Cheesy Buffalo Chicken is incredibly tasty and has creamy mozzarella stuffed in the middle.
Or make this amazing Hawaiian Grilled Chicken over and over again instead. Serve with coconut rice and don't forget an umbrella for your drink!
STEAK – What to Grill: Higher-fat cuts like New York Strip or T-bones
Quick Tip: Tenderize your meat an hour before cooking by slathering it in salt. Just before grill time, wash the salt off, dry the meat entirely with a clean paper towel, then add seasoning and a bit of butter on the meat.
Try This:
Don't miss this Skirt Steak Fajita recipe! Grilled marinated steak and perfectly charred veggies are wrapped in warm tortillas for an incredible south of the border meal.
PORK CHOPS – What to Grill: Bone-in Pork Chops
Quick Tip: Cook pork like chicken on the grill! Heat the grill to high, but turn it to low once the meat is in place. Close the lid of the grill to allow the heat to cook the meat through without over-drying it.
Try This:
These juicy Rosemary Dijon Grilled Pork Chops make any weeknight meal seem like a special occasion.
HOT DOGS – What to grill: All-beef hot dogs
Quick Tip: Hot dogs only need about two minutes on a hot grill. Watch them closely. When they start to sear and fat begins to "sweat" out of the hot dogs, they're done!
Try This:
Give your hot dog the ultimate Mexican Hot Dog treatment by adding diced avocado, Cojito cheese, cilantro and tasty Chipotle mayo!
SAUSAGE – What to grill: bratwurst, Italian sausage, gourmet sausages
Quick Tip: Thread sausage on a kabob for a quick-cooking meat that will be done as soon as your veggies are ready to go.
Try this:
Good for you and easy to make? Put this healthy Grilled Chicken Sausage, Pepper and Onion Kabob recipe on you dinner menu tonight!
SALMON – What to grill: Full halves of fish or single fillets: fresh is best
Quick Tip: Cook salmon on a piece of foil that's been sprayed with nonstick olive oil. This keeps it from sticking to your grill and makes for easy clean up.
Try This:
A Grilled Cedar Plank Salmon infuses this dish with a lovely smoky flavor, and you'll get a healthy dose of omega-3's in every bite!
CORN – What to grill: Fresh corn, in or out of the husk
Quick Tip: Prepare flavored butters the night before for easy party prep where grilled corn will be served.
Try This:
Corn on the cob never tasted so good. This Mexican Grilled Corn recipe gives your traditional cob a fiesta flair with chili powder, cilantro and goat cheese.
SALAD – What to grill: romaine or Iceberg lettuce slices
Quick Tip: Use a basting brush to spread high-quality olive oil on the lettuce to ensure even grilling. It only takes a minute for lettuce to grill, so toss it on hot and have tongs ready to remove the finished dish.
Try This:
Yes, you can grill lettuce! Try this tasty Grilled Romaine with Toasted Almonds and Caesar Dressing for a new take on salad.
Before you shop: Love the summer recipes featured in this grilling guide but not sure where to begin? Read our Grilling 101 article to get started.
Brooke McLay is a professional recipe developer, food photographer, food writer, and single mom to four rad kids. Author of two cookbooks and the beloved blog, CheekyKitchen.com, her creative approach to fast, fresh, family-friendly foods has garnered her regular gigs with Disney's Babble.com, Tablespoon.com, Good Cook, and Coupons.com.


text:
GADSDEN, Ala. - Mary Pylant of Glencoe doesn't remember which of her approximately 90 Christmas porcelain pieces came first.
But year by year and piece by piece, her collection has expanded so that it now covers five tables in her house, with little room for further expansion.
Pylant , 83, said the six weeks of work it takes to put the Christmas metropolis together is worth it when she sees the reaction of children.
She usually begins turning the village on in early or mid-November.
When that happens for friends and people she knows, it creates a happy din of sound and light that produces wide eyes and smiles from children and adults.
The collection includes two turning carousels and a Ferris wheel that also moves, a lighthouse, trains, numerous skating and sledding scenes, toy factories, shops, churches, houses, a hot air balloon display and other Christmas-themed pieces.
Pylant said watching children's reactions - parents have to tell their children to put their hands behind their backs when they approach the village - makes it all worthwhile.
"The children, when they see it, their eyes get so big," she said. "I love to watch children at Christmastime. ... Christmas is children and family.
"Seeing them and seeing their eyes, that's Christmas .Christmas is children, it's not for adults."
With two trains running around Christmas trees in other rooms, and Santas and other Christmas items displayed throughout the house, there scarcely is a square foot in the house that doesn't scream Christmas cheer.
Decorations aren't just limited to the house. Outside there are about 30 Christmas-themed blow-ups along with a singing Santa that Pylant 's grandson, Travis Mims, began putting up in November.
Mims, 20, who lives with his grandmother, said she loves decorating for Christmas and he decided to help her. When something would fall over, he would fix it so she wouldn't have to stumble over it.
"If she sees something she likes, she gets it," Mims said. "If there's one she likes, she buys all of them.
"Christmas is her thing," Mims said, "and she wants to keep happy during Christmas - to rejoice and especially try and be around the people (who love) her and care about her. That's why she does it."
Pylant said she started purchasing and collecting the Christmas pieces about 10 years ago, looking for them on sale or at estate sales. She had seen them in magazines and liked them.
"When I come up on one I don't have, I try to get that," she said.
It's not a completely happy Christmas, however, as Pylant 's husband, Thomas, died this summer at age 90.
She said he used to enjoy pulling up a chair and watching the collection and the motion and sounds they made.
"He just enjoyed them so much," Pylant said. "He would just sit and watch them. He just loved the movement of it and everything. He said when he was a child, he never had anything.
"I promised my husband that I would do it, but ... it's been a joy in a sense because I know he would really enjoy it," she said.
Pylant doesn't rule out buying additional pieces in the future, but added, "Where would I put it?"
How long will she continue this tradition? "As long as I can do it, I will," she said.


text:
Hand of Fate - Snap #302
This week Snap Judgment proudly presents stories featuring unexplainable coincidences, the stars aligning, and unbelievable destinies, for both good and ill...
Urgent Care
Raised by a single mother, Wanda Rodriguez became a nurse to care for people in need. After decades at Calvary hospital, Wanda gets one patient she will never forget.
Produced by: Stephanie Foo, Pat Mesiti-Miller
Phoning It In
Fate works in mysterious and magical ways when James Judd lands the perfect job, the kind where they don't know you exist.
San Francisco writer and performer James Judd is the force behind his popular one man show 7 Sins. His new solo work, "Funny Stories," debuts at the Seattle Solo Performance Festival on April 19th. James is a former member of the Groundlings.
You can find out more at www.funnystoriessf.com
Produced by Jamie DeWolf
Sound Design by Pat Mesiti-Miller
Selfish Man
A father wrestles with the hardest decision a parent ever has make in this powerful and wrenching performance by Kyle Bowen.
Kyle works as a writer, storyteller, and poet who's performed on three continents and currently lives and writes in Chico, California.
Produced by Jamie DeWolf and Mark Ristich
The Tunnel
Joel ben Izzy sings a sacred prayer into a holy cavern, but he never thought God would answer him so quickly.
For more info, check out his website, StoryPage.com.
Produced by Stephanie Foo and Mark Ristich
Stock Photo Girl
Yvonne Puig made an impromptu decision on a trip to New York City as a young woman. She would see the consequences for the rest of her life. Yvonne originally published this story on ThisRecording.com -- check it out right here.
Produced by Stephanie Foo and Mark Ristich
The Magic Vials
Three women, three wishes, one vial of "magic" = The Hand of Fate.
For more on the story of the magic sperm, check out the book written by Carey, Beth and Pam, "The Three Wishes."
Producer: Anna Sussman, Pat Mesiti-Miller


text:
Stowheath Cycle Group
Stowheath Cycle Group
Stowheath Cycle Group is made up of adults with learning disabilities at Stow Heath Day Centre in Wolverhampton. The group has around 10 members and is supported by 2 champions who are staff at the day centre.
The group was initially set up to teach the members cycle repair skills, but has grown to be a self-sufficient local re-cycle bike scheme.
The local community has donated bikes and also seek advice and repairs from the club for their bike problems. The club also rides trikes, a hand cycle and the fixed re-cycled bikes around the grounds of the centre.
The club has also encouraged other centre service users to use the bikes to get them outdoors. Members range in age from people in their 30s to 60s and they are from a variety of backgrounds. Their biggest achievement of 2010 was the support given to one member (Simon) to enter a 13 mile cycle marathon in the city. It gave him the opportunity to ride in a mainstream event, plus an enormous sense of achievement.


text:
Teacher resources and professional development across the curriculum
Teacher professional development and classroom resources across the curriculum
This section includes summaries of the lessons featured in the video programs.
The lessons explore the literature through a reader-response
Session 1: Reader Response: Pat Mora
Alfredo Lujan uses a reader-response approach to explore the poetry of Pat Mora. The students write and present their own poems in response to the works in Mora's collection My Own True Name. By arranging for students to share their poetry at a local café, Lujan honors their writing as a way to communicate with each other as well as with the larger community.
Greg Hirst uses a reader-response approach by asking students to recognize that -- for personal reasons -- they are drawn to certain phrases and aspects of literature. In this lesson, Hirst helps his students to understand James Welch's work by getting them to focus on specific words that they find compelling and significant.
© Annenberg Foundation 2017. All rights reserved. Legal Policy


text:
Family Program Leaders Define Top Concerns
By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2007 - Top military family program leaders from across the services gathered here yesterday intent on answering tough questions on how to better work together.
Instead, after a day of discussions, leaders at the 2007 Family Readiness Summit came up with nine issues they will present to senior military leadership.
"Part of our goal was to identify best practices, lessons learned, challenges and requirements, and what we found was that regardless of which group and which questions they were working on, everyone came up with essentially the same list," said James L. Scott III, the director of individual and family policy for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs.
Each of the issues will be defined and will include recommendations by the group. The findings will be attached to a letter from Assistant Defense Secretary Thomas F. Hall to the service secretaries and reserve-component chiefs asking for their support in implementation.
Topping the list as a challenge was defining, and possibly renaming, family assistance centers across the services. The group noted that family programs have many different names across the services, and all have different meanings and provide different services.
"It's so confusing to our families -- even the military members," Scott said. "How do we get to one label?"
Army Col. Anthony E. Baker, chief of family programs for the National Guard Bureau, said the family assistance center is clearly defined in DoD regulations, but that it applies to an installation-level organization and does not mean the same thing for the reserve component, which has centers in geographically dispersed areas.
Members of the group expressed concerns that some family members do not go to the centers because of a possible negative connotation of the word "assistance."
"Nobody wants a handout," Scott said.
Funding also topped the list as a challenge. The group said more money is needed for more full-time personnel. More funds would help avoid burnout for the full-time staff and volunteers. Scott said there needs to be a balance. "We can't buy everything. We can't expect people to donate everything," he said.
Some participants expressed concern that current funding is tied to current operations and that those funds will not always be available. Funding should be consistent and not tied to specific operations, some said.
Also, the group said there should be one policy across the services on whether funds can be used for family member travel for training. Not all services will pay for family member travel for support-related training.
Use of emerging technologies was listed as a best practice and a challenge. Technology makes it easier to push some services down to the individual who is computer savvy, but the range of capabilities is so diverse among family members that new technology cannot be solely relied upon as a delivery system.
Partnering made the list of best practices. Partnering with the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve to help make contacts with local businesses was cited as a good example of partnering.
Also the development of the Web site MilitaryOneSource.com was seen as a best practice. The group members said they would like to see it further developed to include more tailoring to the individual services.
The group listed volunteers as a best practice, citing volunteerism as an integral part of a successful program.
The group also said there needs to be a focus on single soldiers' family needs, as well as the reintegration process after returning from deployment.
The summit's purpose was for group members to brainstorm ways to break down interservice bureaucratic barriers that sometimes prevent military family members from getting the help they need. This is the third such summit since 2001.
"I was very, very pleased. The response was much better than I expected it to be," Scott said. "It was a wonderful and powerful networking opportunity. I had a number of people come up to me and say 'We need to continue this.'"
Editor's Note: Military families can also avail themselves of the Defense Department's America Supports You program, which highlights home front groups across the nation that are providing a variety of services and support to troops and their families. A listing of these groups and information about their efforts is available at www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil.
[Web Version: http://www.defenselink.mil/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=3095]