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This past week I met with a prospective client who purchased a non-qualified annuity in 2004. He handed me the original contract, a pile of statements, a few annual reports and just about every other document he had saved over the years. My task was to determine if he should keep the annuity or cash it in.
I found this was a perfect example of how the real story can only be found when you dig beneath the surface, a place that clients rarely visit. If annuities are a part of your practice, if they affect you in any way or to any extent, you'll want to read this closely. Here's what transpired.
This client invested $100,000 in a non-qualified annuity in mid-2004. This annuity had a few bells and whistles. For example, there are three separate account values to consider: the actual market value; a minimum guaranteed income benefit (MGIB); and a minimum guaranteed death benefit (MGDB). For the latter two, each year the account grows by 7 percent until its value reaches three times the original investment ($300,000 in this case). After a minimum period of 10 years, the client is free to annuitize it and trigger an income stream. The income would be based on the greater of the actual market value, the MGIB (if the annuitant is alive) or the MGDB if the annuitant is deceased (the 10-year minimum period is waived for death). Moreover, the income would also be based on the applicable annuity factor as written in the policy at the time of issue.
In this particular case, according to the most recent statement, the market value was $117,600 and the MGIB and MGDB were $182,554. The client asked me to assume he would annuitize it eight years from now as this would be the point when the MGIB would be approximately $300,000.
The first step was to determine the internal rate of return (IRR) during the income period. Per the client's request we used a period certain of 20 years. Therefore, the entire period covered in the analysis was 27 years (seven for accumulation and 20 for income).
Using the contract's annuity rates, I discovered the IRR varied based on the length of the period selected. For example, with an income stream of five years the IRR was 2.5 percent and for 30 years it was 2.89 percent. For the 20-year period chosen by the client, the IRR was 2.86 percent.
This leads us to question number two. Before we introduce it, we need to clarify the parameters surrounding the question. To do this, we need to run two scenarios.
Scenario A would be to keep the annuity and earn the guaranteed 7 percent annually for the next seven years, at which time the value of the MDIB would be $293,142. This would be the amount that the income stream would be based upon. Scenario B assumes the client cashes in (he's over 59-and-a-half years of age), pays the taxes, and invests the net proceeds in a taxable account.
Immediately, we observe Scenario B is at a disadvantage.
Now for the second question: What annual interest rate would the taxable account need to average per year to make each scenario equal? In other words, if the taxable account were to average X percent, the client would have no preference. I found this annual rate to be 5.935 percent. Hence, if the client earned 5.935 percent per year, at the end of the 27th year, the taxable account value would equal zero.
We also had to consider that part of the annuity's income payments are subject to taxation. Therefore, I assumed the after-tax income payment was also deducted from the taxable account beginning and ending at the same time. In the annuity, each income payment comprises a return of basis plus growth. At some point, when the basis has been fully recovered, the entire income stream is subject to tax.
Hence, in each scenario the applicable tax rules were applied. In the taxable account I had to assume a portion of its annual return was also subject to tax (i.e.; interest, dividends and capital gains).
To summarize, if the taxable account were to earn a gross annual return of 5.935 percent, the client would be indifferent as to which option was best. For curiosity, I also used an average annual rate of 7 percent and at the end of the 27th year, the client would have slightly more than $102,000 remaining in the taxable account.
The conclusion is this: Actuaries are very bright individuals, and it's probably best for this client to cash it in and invest in a taxable account. That is, if we can exceed 5.935 percent per year.
See also:


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by Chris Parker, Copyright 2009 s8int.com
Photo:Similar to Modern Sighting
Papua New Guinea is a huge Island north of Australia, the home itself of some fairly unusual fauna. Brian Irwin is an Australian who recently visited Papua New Guinea where he met a number of residents of small islands of West New Britain, who had recently seen huge creatures which, if accurate must describe living dinosaurs. These sightings have been occurring since the early 1990's.
Irwin detailed these new eyewitness accounts in a story he wrote about them entitled "Theropod and sauropod dinosaurs sighted in Papua New Guinea?"
More about these recent sightings shortly, however first we wanted to recount the story of the huge creature which was seen and described by scientists on Papua New Guinea back approximately 100 years ago.
According to an article in the Steven's Point Wisconsin Gazette of August 31, 1910, "one of the most remarkable scientific discoveries ever made" was reported from the "wilds" of New Guinea. According to the article, a "prehistoric monster" much larger than an elephant had been discovered and encountered not by common folks like me and you, but by "scientists".
In addition, to the "giant monster",the scientists had come across a "marvelous race of pigmies" who averaged just over four feet in height.
According to the article; "the expedition was sent out by a committee appointed by the British Ornithologist's union to explore the great Snow mountains in Dutch New Guinea, and consists of several famous scientists, headed by Walter Goodfellow, the naturalist."
"According to the official reports, the Gazeka is of gigantic size and fearsome aspect. It is black and white striped, has the nose of a tapir and "a face like the devil."
Among the English inhabitants of the island, the animal is known as Monckton's Gazeka, in honor of Mr. C. A. W. Monckton, a former explorer In New Guinea, who first reported its presence in the mountains.
Mr. Monckton, during his ascent of Mount Albert Edward, in the west of British New Guinea, discovered the huge footprints and other indications of the very recent presence of some tremendous monster that had evidently been prowling on the grassy plains surrounding the lakes on the summit at an elevation of about 12,500 feet.
He followed the trail all day, and came upon the monster at dusk, just as it was devastating a settlement of the pigmies.
The little natives were screaming and running for their lives, although they turned every now and again to aim their poisoned arrows at the brute.
Monckton let fire as soon as he was able to get in a proper position, and the huge Gazeka at once turned upon him. As it reared upon its hind legs and pawed the air it looked to the hunter as big as a house, standing fully 25 feet high.
Two of Monckton's bullets seemed to take effect, as a stream of blood flowed freely from the animal's shoulder, but before Monckton was able to reload the animal turned and fled. By that time it was too dark to follow him, and Monckton never had another opportunity to renew his pursuit
In the Remainder of this article, we provide larger photos, positively identify "Monckton's gazeka" and bolster witness accounts of a dinosaur sighting with native art-Click Here or Photo at the top of this post, above
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subset: commoncrawl


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I voted yes, that it should have some yellow tints to it.
All neon yellow? Probably not... But a gold mask? Sure!
Or yellow markings on a normal skull? Could be cool too...
I'd love to see hints on green in there too.
Honestly, it's the YELLOW SKULL that makes Skeletor unique and different from all the other skulls out there.


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Well, the 2009 Golden Globes nominees were announced this morning, so it's time for a new edition Hookers, Victims & Doormats*. (With the hope that you will weigh in!) The award-worthy roles, after the jump.
Best Actress (Drama)
• Angelina Jolie, Changeling: First of all, any movie that includes a hysterical woman screaming "I want my son back!" as the emotional climax of the trailer is treading heavily on "victim" territory. And, what do you know, Jolie's character is the biggest, most stereotypical victim on the list of female nominees.
• Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married: Our own Hortense thinks Hathaway's character is pretty victim-y, but we think she is mostly just a manipulative, angst-filled addict. What do you think?
• Meryl Streep, Doubt: Has this movie even come out yet? Streep's character doesn't seem like a victim at all from the trailers, most likely Streep plays a shrew in this film.
• Kristin Scott Thomas, I've Loved You So Long: What is this movie? Oh, it's French. Well, judging from the plot synopsis it doesn't look like Scott Thomas's character fits into any of our usual stereotypes. What do people who have seen the film think?
• Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road: Again, has this movie come out yet? We're going to withhold judgment until we see it.
Best Actress (Comedy)
• Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky: We are going to say there were none of the regular female stereotypes in this film. Hawkins's character was just too damn likable.
• Frances McDormand, Burn After Reading: Again, McDormand doesn't play any of our regular stereotypes in this funny film. We're liking how this list is shaping up!
• Meryl Streep, Mamma Mia!: We have only seen the musical (don't ask) and Streep's character definitely wasn't a hooker, victim or doormat on the stage, so we assume it is the same on film.
• Emma Thompson, Last Chance Harvey: This film hasn't come out yet — reserving judgment.
• Rebecca Hall, Vicky Cristina Barcelona: Hall's character wasn't any of our normal stereotypes. Hurray for women in comedies this year!
Supporting Actress
• Amy Adams, Doubt: In the film's trailer, Adams seems a little doormat-y to us.
• Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona: Hm, Cruz's character was a little shrewish at times, but we can't pin a particular stereotype down on her.
• Viola Davis, Doubt: Okay, people, we get it: we all have to see Doubt!
• Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler: Oh look, another film that has not been released yet. Tomei plays a stripper, which, obviously, sounds sort of hooker-y.
• Kate Winslet, The Reader: As we saw yesterday, Winslet's character doesn't fit into one of the typical stereotypes.
Best Actress (TV Drama)
• Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters: Anyone who is a fan of the show: please weigh in.
• Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU: Hargitay's character usually deals with hookers and victims; she doesn't play them.
• January Jones, Mad Men: This one's a bit tough: Jones's character is a little bit of a doormat and victim, but she has been showing more depth and strength as the series progresses.
• Anna Paquin, True Blood: No strong stereotypes really stick out to us in this character.
• Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer: Is there a category for "badass"?
Best Actress (TV Musical or Comedy)
• Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?: Maybe a bit shrew-y in the beginning, but the whole point of the show is that she is trying to correct her previous bad behavior, right?
• America Ferrera, Ugly Betty: Not really a victim or a doormat, Ferrera's character holds her ground when up against her co-workers.
• Tina Fey, 30 Rock: Let's see, a woman with a great job, a good sense of humor who doesn't get hung up on guys? Fey's character is probably the best female character nominated!
• Debra Messing, The Starter Wife: Messing's character doesn't follow a particular stereotype. Other than, rich, self-obsessed, LA woman.
• Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds: A victim of the man, maybe!
Earlier: 2009 Golden Globes: Good Year For Jokes, Midnight Tokers
*Inspired by Shirley MacLaine's assertion that the best parts for actresses fall into one of the above categories.


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Ah, my two favorite WB writers. The things we could accomplish if we were neighbors, or rather, the things I could learn, being both hopeless and cheap. Thanks for the insightful information.
Help for the Decoratively Hopeless (or the Cheap): Myscha Theriault on BTR
Yes, it's time for another weekly Blog Talk Radio Show tonight, and this one's featuring our very own Myscha Theriault. We discuss kitchens on a dime (or $100, in my case) and how to use your food as festive décor for any mood.
Myscha's one of those bloggers that you wish lived right down the street from you. Sure, you could share a nice glass of wine and one of her do-ahead breads, but secretly, you just want her to "eyeball" your kitchen and tell you what to do.
We get close to the experience of a professional walk-through with tonight's "Kitchens on The Cheap" episode of Living Large on a Small Budget. If you can't make the 8pm CST live airing, it's available for download beginning an hour after it airs.
What do we cover? So much in so little a time:
- How decorative containers can hold stuff and make your kitchen look "professional"
- Things like old garden gates and rebar make excellent pot rack materials
- You can make that kitchen island you've always wanted – with stuff someone else might likely throw away
Even if you're kitchen is nothing more than a corner of a studio apartment, there's something in tonight's interview for you! Check us out on Blog Talk Radio (and tell your friends!)
Here are some of Myscha's other fabulous decorating posts:
Cheap Decorating: Three Simple Hacks for Style on a Dime
Getting it Done at Dollar Tree
Disclaimer: The links and mentions on this site may be affiliate links. But they do not affect the actual opinions and recommendations of the authors.
Wise Bread is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
There's probably a reason we all don't live on the same block. Global domination? Not quite in reach. A mean BBQ? Totally doable.
Linsey Knerl


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LeBron James watched Lonzo Ball play in Las Vegas during the 2017 NBA Summer League, taking in a Los Angeles Lakers' game from a baseline seat as a spectator.
He had a better view Wednesday.
James and Ball were on-court teammates for the first time when the Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors 123-113, back in Las Vegas. Ball didn't start the preseason contest, but replaced Rajon Rondo just 2 minutes, 13 seconds into the game.
"It's just fun to have our full group," James said.
James and Ball didn't play very much. Ball has been recovering from a knee issue, and it was his first appearance this preseason.
James didn't want to burden his new point guard with a lot of expectations, so he was keeping his approach very simple.
"He plays basketball," James said of Ball before the game. "He knows how to play basketball."
It was James' first game against the Warriors since last season's NBA Finals — when his second stint as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers ended with Golden State sweeping its way to a second consecutive championship. But he downplayed the exhibition being any extension of his rivalry with the Warriors, or the rivalry between the California clubs.
"Preseason game," James said.
Wednesday's games:
John Wall scored 32 points, including a layup with 1:26 left that put Washington ahead for good.
Wall finished with nine assists and Bradley Beal scored 17 points for the Wizards. Andre Drummond led the Pistons with 17 points and 20 rebounds, and Blake Griffin added 16 points for Detroit.
WIZARDS: Markieff Morris scored 15 points and Jason Smith added 14. … Washington once led by as many as 14 before needing big plays from Wall late to pull out the win.
PISTONS: Detroit took 45 shots from 3-point range, 42 from 2-point range. … Reggie Bullock was 4 for 8 from beyond the arc.
UP NEXT: Washington (3-1) hosts the Guangzhou Long-Lions on Friday. Detroit (1-3) faces Cleveland in East Lansing, Michigan, on Friday.
Jonathan Issac and Aaron Gordon each scored 15 points for Orlando.
Nikola Vucevic grabbed 11 rebounds and Melvin Frazier Jr. scored 10 points for the Magic. Mike Conley scored a game-high 24 points for the Grizzlies, shooting 9 for 14.
GRIZZLIES: Memphis was outrebounded 54-38, and 12-1 on the offensive glass. … Marc Gasol and Jaren Jackson each scored 10.
MAGIC: Orlando took control with a 12-1 run in the second quarter. … Rookie Mo Bamba didn't play because of a bruised wrist.
UP NEXT: Memphis (2-2) hosts Houston on Friday. Orlando (2-2) hosts San Antonio on Friday.
Bam Adebayo scored 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, and Josh Richardson scored 25 for Miami — which set a franchise record for preseason points in a game.
Derrick Jones Jr., back from a sore shoulder, scored 18 for Miami. Julius Randle led New Orleans with 23 points.
PELICANS: Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday rested. … Nikola Mirotic scored 19, while Elfrid Payton and Darius Miller each scored 17. … New Orleans' 24 turnovers turned into 39 Miami points. … The Pelicans shot 56 percent and never led.
HEAT: Dwyane Wade, Goran Dragic, Hassan Whiteside, Wayne Ellington, Rodney McGruder and Justise Winslow all got the night off. … Kelly Olynyk was 2 for 8 in 13 minutes, all of his shots coming from 3-point range.
UP NEXT: New Orleans (0-4) hosts Toronto on Thursday. Miami (2-3) hosts Atlanta on Friday.
Rookie guard Trae Young connected on a 3-pointer — from the Georgia Tech logo near midcourt — with 2.2 seconds left to send Atlanta to the win.
Taurean Prince had 25 points for the Hawks, and Young finished with 22. Rudy Gay led all scorers with 28 for San Antonio, on a 10-for-15 shooting night.
SPURS: The Spurs shot 55 percent — and allowed Atlanta to shoot 58 percent. … Bryn Forbes scored 22 points. DeMar DeRozan and Derrick White each had 15. … White started at point guard in place of Dejounte Murray, who tore his ACL earlier this week and will miss the season.
HAWKS: Alex Len finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds. … Kent Bazemore scored 15 points.
UP NEXT: San Antonio (2-2) visits Orlando on Friday. Atlanta (2-2) visits Miami on Friday.
In Montreal, Toronto point guard Kyle Lowry got ejected in the third quarter for getting two technicals.
Danny Green scored 22 points and Kawhi Leonard had 11 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for Toronto. Jarrett Allen led the Nets with 24 points.
NETS: D'Angelo Russell scored 18 points and Caris LeVert finished with 13. … The Nets were outscored 35-11 in the third quarter.
RAPTORS: Toronto was 16 for 36 from 3-point range, with Green going 6 for 7 from deep. … Fred VanVleet and Jonas Valanciunas each had 11 points.
UP NEXT: Brooklyn (1-2) visits New York on Friday. Toronto (3-1) visits New Orleans on Thursday.
Justin Holiday and Zach LaVine scored 22 points apiece to lead Chicago.
Thaddeus Young, who missed Indiana's first three preseason games due to a foot injury, made 8 of 12 from the field and finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds in 29 minutes.
BULLS: Bobby Portis made his first start of the preseason, scoring 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting. … Jabari Parker, who signed a two-year, $40 million deal with Chicago in July, had 11 points in 26 minutes off the bench. … The Bulls hit 13 of 30 (43.3 percent) from 3-point range.
PACERS: Rookie Aaron Holiday hit three 3-pointers and finished with 15 points. … Domantas Sabonis had 13 points and nine rebounds in 20 minutes and Victor Oladipo scored 12 points with seven turnovers.
UP NEXT: Chicago (2-2) hosts Denver on Friday. Indiana's preseason ended at 2-2, and the Pacers open the regular season at home against Memphis on Oct. 17.
Jake Layman scored 28 points for Portland on 10-of-14 shooting, including 5 of 7 from 3-point range.
Josh Jackson led Phoenix with 13 points and Richaun Holmes added 12.
TRAILBLAZERS: Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum (coach's decision) did not play. … Evan Turner (shoulder), Gary Trent Jr. (quadriceps) and Moe Harkless (ankle) — a last-second scratch — missed the game due to injury. … Nik Stauskas had 10 points, seven rebounds and five assists and rookie Gary Payton II scored eight points in eight minutes.
SUNS: Devin Booker, who underwent hand surgery on Sept. 10 and was expected to miss six weeks, said he'd like to play against the Mavericks in the regular-season opener next week. … No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton had nine points and four rebounds in 15 minutes. … Phoenix (2-3) made just 8 of 31 (25.8 percent) from 3-point range.
UP NEXT: Portland (2-2) closes out its preseason schedule at home against Sacramento on Friday. Phoenix opens the regular season on Oct. 17 when it plays host to Dallas.
Brandon Ingram scored 26 points for the Lakers, and James had 15 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in 18 minutes — all in the first half.
Stephen Curry had 23 points and Klay Thompson scored 20, including four 3-pointers, for Golden State (1-3).
WARRIORS: Draymond Green (knee) did not play. … Kevin Durant had 18 points and 12 rebounds before fouling out in 24 minutes. … Golden State made just 20 of 36 free throws and committed 25 turnovers.
LAKERS: Ball had seven points and four steals. … Kyle Kuzma scored 22 points and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 20. … Los Angeles made 38 of 46 (82.6 percent) from the free-throw line.
UP NEXT: The Lakers (2-3) and Golden State play again Friday, at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, in the preseason finale for both teams.
Source: usatoday.com
Photo Credit: ClutchPoints


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Smart Football has moved!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Is the NCAA infringing the rights of its current and former players?
Not that I'm convinced that makes any difference. The bottom line is that everyone owns their own name and likeness, and any use of that name or likeness without permission that is infringing -- particularly for commercial use -- is impermissible. Now the question is what is infringing, and the NCAA simply maintains it hasn't infringed on anyone's rights. It hasn't yet had to explain why, though frequent arguments are that the kids are already compensated with scholarships or that the likenesses in the games aren't infringing enough -- you know, that Florida QB #15 that runs like a rhino and throws 50-yard bombs could be anybody. Neither is persuasive.
The first looks just about foreclosed. Recently a federal appeals court decided that NFL Films infringed on John Facenda's distinctive voice when it used clips in advertisements for EA's Madden football. Facenda of course had that booming voice, and he had signed a contract with NFL Films. But in signing a contract didn't mean he waived all his rights for all time. Instead, as the Court said, "Facenda consented to participation in films documenting NFL games, not an advertisement for a football video game." The same might be said of the NCAA's scholarship athletes.
And the second is not how it works. You can infringe on someone's publicity rights without saying them by name; the question is basically whether the whole thing passes the smell test. For example, successful plaintiffs in publicity rights cases have included Muhammad Ali (who sued Playgirl magazine after it published a drawing of a naked guy resembling him with "The Greatest" written under it), Vanna White (an advertisement by Samsung showing a robotic blonde woman turning over a Wheel of Fortune display), George Wendt and John Ratzenberger, who played Cliff and Norm on Cheers (animatronic likenesses of Cliff and Norm were placed in airport bars). On the other hand, the unsuccessful have been Joe Montana, who sued regarding the use of his image after having won the Superbowl, as that was merely the recording of an historic fact, and baseball (again!), which sued a company that made cartoonish, spoof baseball cards. The court there ruled that the baseball cards were sufficiently a parody of the players such that a suit wasn't permissible. (No word on whether that defense would remain for players who receive absurdly low ability ratings in EA's NCAA Football.)
One irony here is that the sports leagues -- usually always on the same side -- are now put on opposing sides with the simultaneous rise of these fantasy baseball challenges. In these cases, Major League Baseball and its players union have sued proprietors of fantasy baseball leagues, arguing that a player's name followed by his historical stats constitutes an infringing of publicity rights. These suits have not fared well, but they provide a nice contrast with the NCAA's position, which is that recreating the image and likeness of current and former athletes is not infringing.
So what would happen if the courts ruled against the NCAA? I'm not sure how damages might work, but I would guess the NCAA would try to get its future players -- i.e. 17 year old kids -- to sign waivers of their publicity rights, forever. (Kind of like Facebook does for any photos you upload there.) But you also might get antitrust issues with, say, forcing all the various Universities to take on this policy, or then enforcement issues when, say, some WAC school offers its recruits the opportunity to play for them without having to sign away their publicity rights. It's an interesting mess.
7 comments:
EA Sports does not ship the game with "Tim Tebow" they hip it w/ QB#15 of Florida. If anything the rights to a players' likeness belong to his employer ie the School and the school surrenders rights to its conference anyway. Never ceases to amaze me that people who are handed glory and the opportunity to get a degree still want more scratch.
The headstone of the Republic will have nex per lawyer quod cupiditas on the headstone.
er ship it with and will have on it....
preview is my friend....at any rate the only way "poor poor Tim Tebow" can prevent his "likeness" from being "misused" is by having the edit feature removed at which time EA and other game companies will be dealt a blow....
hobbyists like me will move on and the Madden title will be harmed since they will not be able to market accurate rosters.
- Jeremy said...
Honestly, it will probably kill the game. One reason people buy the game each year is because of new players. Yes, there are usually a couple of new features each year, but usually they are minor (note: the stadium intros are cool and I haven't played a game in 5+ years).
However, it's not likely that the NCAA will start paying players because there's the question of how much. It's one thing in the NFL where you have about 30 teams. Given the 150+ teams in the FBS and FCS, it's unlikely that a game could sell for a reasonable price. At best, the college football game will die. If damages are retroactive, then you can expect EA to be hurt in general. I'm not sure how this will effect other games (i.e., Madden) because we won't know the size and scope of the lawsuit.
What really gets me is that no current players are screaming about this. Rather, it's the hasbeens. From what I can tell from player interviews, most current players love to play themselves.
- Chris said...
Coryell, a few responses: (1) Madden is totally irrelevant to the discussion; it has a license with the NFL Players Association, and thus pays them to use their names. This will have no effect on them, because, again, EA pays the NFL to use their names and likenesses.
(2) The fact that they didn't put QB#15 on the cover doesn't change the fact that they sell a product where one of the main draws is the ability to be Tim Tebow. If people wanted to emulate him themselves by creating players, that's one thing, but EA puts it all together for them. It's not about preventing it, it's about selling a product with all of that loaded onto it.
(3) I'm not convinced his likeness is owned by his school. Does your employer own your likeness, if it wanted to use you to promote anything it wanted? Or to sell your face to a third party to sell cheeseburgers or tires? (Ignore the fact that few of us are famous enough for it to be worth it, but that's the rub: if you're famous enough for it to be worth it, then your likeness has value, and you could be selling it yet they are selling your face without your permission.)
Jeremy: (a) As I said above, the Madden point is irrelevant.
(b) I don't know why it would be so expensive (why more expensive than Madden?). It's not like the players at small schools are huge draws. You could pay into a trust fund for the players after they graduate; if you leave before graduating you could forgo what you had paid in; and you could just pay a flat rate to all players regardless of skill that is determined early on.
(c) The argument about current players versus later ones is dumb. Of course the 19 year old kids have no idea that their likeness is valuable. Like many choices in college, their full ramifications don't become evident until later.
Now, I will say this: I think the Ed O'Bannon claim is more persuasive (or as I said about, sympathetic at least) than the former players who complain about games made while they were in college; UCLA and the NCAA are still making money on Ed O'Bannon's likeness, long after he has left the court and everything is gone. (He also challenges other materials UCLA keeps putting out.) As evidenced by what the players associations of every pro league do, the likenesses are protected and they get sold for good money. The idea that college is entirely distinct -- to the point where you owe NFL players hefty fees and college players zilch -- strikes me as a bridge too far.
Finally, Coryell, you can yell at lawyers but this isn't judge-made doctrine: publicity rights laws passed have been passed by the legislatures of just about every single state.
As a final, final note. Again, you can do waivers in these scenarios, and maybe that would solve things. But there's other issues with that, as I said. But the NCAA is free to make giving up your likeness a condition of accepting a scholarship -- that's at least a bargain. The way it is now they just take it and assume they have every right to.
Just one more step down the long road to reality. The NCAA is nothing more than the operator of minor league professional sports. (Exactly how is the mission of "higher education" satisfied to a greater degree by a D1 school with paid players than by a D3 school that fields unpaid players?)
At present the status quo happens to believe that the semi-slave labor is justly compensated with a supposedly bargained-for payment of a college education.
If it's not all about who gets to keep the money, then why not have all college athletics be completely amateur and nobody gets any form of payment (scholarship)?
The answer is obvious. The NCAA would cease to exist, and minor league professional sports would begin to prosper outside the realm of the NCAA. No more monopoly and private industry would be able to compete for the physical skills that the D1 schools currently exploit.
I mean seriously, why the heck is the NCAA in the business of competing with private industry to field minor league sports franchises? Why not operate auto plants instead? Makes about the same amount of sense.
- - Think Tanker said...
The kids opportunity for the degree is earned because they play for that School. Not for the school or conference to sell their likeness. What about the kids who pay for school and walk on? They are not being compensated with free tuition.
It never fails to amaze me the number of people who completely dismiss the value of a college education, room, and board as slave wages.
A lot of people who are not great football players work two jobs while attending school part time for the right to get a college education. In practical terms, at an expensive school it might be worth a couple hundred thousand dollars.
That does not figure the value of 1) round the clock access to top notch training equipment and facilies (a modest fitness club membership would run you $50 a month).
2) Access to top notch professional trainers who are willing to work with you on a daily basis (again, price this on the open market)
3) free medical treatment for all sorts of injuries and sicknesses
4) individual job training by the top people in the field (ever seen the cost of sports academies run by non-experts?)
5) free training clothing, shoes, etc
6) free on the job training at the highest level (we call these college football games)
7) on site interviews (we call these pro-days, practices and games)
8) Free air time where you can build reputation with prospective clients (we call them fans) and employers (we call them NFL coaches and GMs)
This really is a tremendous deal. yes, the players also have to do things like work out and try and improve in their chosen craft and play in football games that are auditions for professional employment.
But what exactly would they be doing anyway? Sitting around eating cheeseburgers? Not if they wanted to succeed professionally. Essentially, they are getting a hell of a lot of compensation for preparing themselves for their professional careers.
And the NCAA, which is just non-profit universities is taking the money they generate and investing it back in Athletic Programs, scholarships, endowments, etc, etc.


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Hyper Lode Runner (Gameboy) (Pre-Played - Game Only)
$ 11.99
Earthdate: 2264. The renegade Red Lord of Darkness has overthrown the United World government with his army of cyborg fanatics. Millions of political prisoners are being tortured in his infamous Labyrinth of Doom far beneath the surface of the planet. Very little is known about this subterranean maze of brick-walled catacombs. Just vague rumors about the hidden millions in stolen gold guarded by a ruthless band of mutant cyborg zombies commanded by the merciless General Zod. Only one thing is sure... none of your predecessors have ever come out of this dreaded place alive. But you must find a way out with a lode of gold big enough to launch the counterrevolution. You are the last hope; the last of the great Lode Runners.


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Don't miss this unintentionally hilarious graphic from the Wall Street Journal on the hardship of taxes. We learn, for example, that the frazzled working mother of two children making $260,000 a year will have to pay an additional $3,356 in federal taxes for 2013. My heart bleeds.
I say you could pop this graphic wholesale into Mad Magazine and it would be brilliant satire.
And as Charles Pierce points out, the only people on the graphic not paying more taxes are African-American. Yeah, real subtle.


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German Presidency: S&D Leader Iratxe Garcia's powerful speech to Chancellor Merkel
Merkel in the EU: Iratxe Garcia Perez addresses Angela Merkel in Plenary Debate ahead of the German Presidency: "There are moments in history that
Merkel in the EU: Iratxe Garcia Perez addresses Angela Merkel in Plenary Debate ahead of the German Presidency: "There are moments in history that
Following the vote in the plenary on 10 July 2020, the S&D Group expresses its deep satisfaction for pushing forward the concept of a European Health
European Own Resources are vital to help the EU recover in the post Covid-19 lockdown era. As the next European Union budget is being fine-tuned and
There has been too much talking. Now it's time to act. Millions of refugees have fled their home due to conflict, violence and suffering. Supporting
The spread of disinformation is a direct threat to our societies by default. It undermines our democracies, it harms our values and it affects our
"I can't breathe." The words of George Floyd as he was killed. These words were not only the cry of one man; these were the cries of all those
Our President Iratxe García has a message for the European Commission and the Council: You have a Parliament here ready to support you, provided you
In this first episode of "What's Left?", we take a look at ideas to recover from the worst recession since the Great Depression, following the COVID
Women must be at the heart of our COVID-19 financial response.
"It is intolerable that 23 pro-EU countries are hostage to four preferring a national response. It's not about more or less money, it's about


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Freddy P (From Diddy's Making Da Band) Says He Turned Down Lil Wayne's Offer To Be Young Money!
" Lil Wayne wanted to sign Freddy P , cause he lot he had a potential to blow , Freddy P declined because he didn't want to be in a group , cause he jus got out of Da Band . Holla @ImFreddyP newly signed to B Major S/O @ByrantMckinnie @MTMovieStar" - MikeyT
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In 2009, research into new HIV prevention methods had its ups and downs: A once-promising microbicide failed, attention turned to HIV drugs as the "next best thing" for HIV prevention, and for the first time, encouraging data for an AIDS vaccine emerged. New data from a range of prevention trials are expected in 2010. While none of the approaches being tested will replace current methods of prevention -- condoms, behavior change counseling, needle exchange, harm reduction, etc. -- each presents the possibility of adding a new prevention option, changing the HIV prevention world. And that could help protect millions of people around the world.
AIDS Vaccines
The Thai Trial: A Shot in the Arm
Though dozens of AIDS vaccines have been tested over the years, until recently, not one had been shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection. But in September 2009, important results from an AIDS vaccine trial were released. The RV144 study, also known as the "Thai trial", took place in Thailand from 2003 to 2009. It was the largest AIDS vaccine trial to date, with over 16,000 participants. The trial studied two vaccines, ALVAC and AIDSVAX, and found that the regimen may have provided a modest protective effect. This was surprising, in part because AIDSVAX alone had already been tested in two large trials where it was found not to be effective.
There were 51 infections in people who received the vaccines and 74 in people who received a placebo (a dummy shot). Put another way, there were about 30% fewer infections in people who received the vaccines compared with those who received the placebo. This suggests that the vaccine provided some level of protection. But if any vaccine that was 30% effective was made available, people would need to know that it did not eliminate the risk of HIV infection, and that it would need to be used with a proven prevention method like condoms. There is also a slim possibility that the result was due to chance. And, it looks like most of the protective effect of the vaccine occurred during the first year of the study -- possibly a temporary benefit that waned over time. The study is now being followed up with other research to try to understand whether any immune responses induced by the vaccines can protect against HIV.
Other Vaccines
There are many research advocacy groups that track ongoing HIV prevention research. For more in-depth and up-to-date coverage, including details on ongoing research, please visit:
The encouraging results from the Thai trial came two years nearly to the day after we learned that Merck's MRK-Ad5 vaccine -- the best hope for a vaccine at the time -- was not effective. There were two large-scale trials of the Merck product: the Step trial, which took place in the Americas and Australia, and the Phambili trial in South Africa. The Step trial was stopped early, in September 2007, after a review of the data revealed the vaccine did not protect against HIV.
Further analysis appeared to show that some people who received the vaccine were more rather than less likely to become infected if they were later exposed to HIV. Longer-term follow-up showed that uncircumcised men who got the vaccine had a higher risk of acquiring HIV.
Researchers had hoped the Merck vaccine would lower viral loads in people who received the vaccine but later became infected. This is one goal of AIDS vaccines, though it is different from how the public generally understands vaccines. One approach scientists are trying is an HIV vaccine that targets the cellular arm of the immune system; since cellular defenses act after cells have been infected, they are not expected to be able to protect completely against infection. An HIV vaccine targeting cellular immunity could lead to lower viral loads in people who got the vaccine but later got HIV.
A vaccine that doesn't prevent infection, but keeps you from getting sick? We generally assume that vaccines provide complete protection against infection. In fact, not all approved vaccines provide 100% protection to all people who receive them. But they do provide high levels of defense -- enough effectively to prevent disease. Approved vaccines teach the body to make antibodies against the viruses or bacteria in question. Antibodies target foreign invaders in the body before they are able to infect cells. Today there are efforts to develop AIDS vaccines that target both cellular and antibody defenses. Scientists think that this one-two punch of immune defenses is the best hope for a vaccine.
Currently, the largest ongoing AIDS vaccine trial is the HVTN 505 study, which plans to enroll over 1,300 men who have sex with men in the U.S. The trial is studying a cellular vaccine strategy, looking at the vaccine's safety and its effect on viral load in people who become HIV positive during the study (the vaccine itself cannot cause HIV infection). A complete list of vaccine trials can be found at www.avac.org/trials.
Why Has AIDS Vaccine Research Been so Challenging?
HIV infects the cells of the immune system and has highly effective strategies to evade the body's defenses. Developing a vaccine that can outsmart these strategies is a difficult task, especially since HIV mutates so often. Even when effective defenses emerge, the virus can often escape from immune control.
The results from the Thai trial were the first to suggest that a vaccine may lower the risk of infection. In the coming years, researchers will work to build on that possibility, but it will likely take many years to develop a highly effective vaccine.
What's Next?
Researchers are working to determine why Thai trial participants who received the vaccine had slightly lower rates of infection than those who received the placebo. The Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise -- a group of organizations working to speed the development of a preventive vaccine -- is also updating its Scientific Strategic Plan for the AIDS vaccine field, to be released later in 2010. In addition to efforts around understanding the results of the Thai trial, there is ongoing work on antibody vaccines and improved T-cell vaccine candidates.
Can a Pill a Day Prevent HIV?
Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, is an experimental prevention strategy using approved HIV drugs. Several trials are studying whether the use of HIV meds by HIV-negative people can reduce their risk of HIV infection. Animal studies have shown a high level of protection against infection when HIV drugs were given before exposure to SHIV (an HIV-like virus that can cause disease in monkeys). For years, HIV drugs have been given to HIV-negative infants born to mothers with HIV. Post-exposure prophylaxis also uses HIV meds in people who think they've had a recent HIV exposure. These examples support the study of PrEP in clinical trials.
Current PrEP trials involve nearly 20,000 HIV-negative people from different populations in over a dozen countries. They are studying Viread or Truvada taken once a day, and some small studies are also looking at PrEP regimens that aren't taken daily.
By this fall we should hear results from a large safety trial sponsored by the CDC, which enrolled men who have sex with men from Atlanta, Boston, and San Francisco. The trial was designed as an expanded safety study, so we will not get effectiveness results from this trial. Initial results from several large effectiveness trials are anticipated in late 2010 and early 2011.
There is, of course, hope that these trials will report positive results and make PrEP a viable new prevention option. But even if PrEP is shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection, there will still be challenges to making it available.
First, there are questions that the current trials won't be able to answer. For example, we will still need to find out if there are long-term safety issues, if PrEP is safe for pregnant women and adolescents, and if resistance is an issue.
In the U.S. (and elsewhere), one of the most common questions about PrEP is, "Who will pay for it?" In an era of ADAP waiting lists and a new health reform law, the answer is not yet clear. While generic Truvada costs as little as $143 a year in developing countries, its retail price in the U.S. is $14,000 a year. It's not known whether private insurance will cover that cost -- and imagine the debates on whether Medicaid should pay to protect so-called "risky" gay men.
Also, if PrEP does work, it will likely be only partially effective. It's not expected to provide 100% protection or to be a replacement for other prevention options like condoms or clean needles. In the real world, the effectiveness of PrEP will depend on the degree to which people take PrEP drugs as prescribed. Effectiveness would also be hampered if people increased their risk behaviors. In addition, there are concerns about giving healthy people HIV meds for long periods of time. PrEP, like any other new strategy, would need to be introduced in programs that had thorough, ongoing counseling for its users.
A microbicide is a substance designed to prevent or reduce the sexual transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections when applied inside the vagina or rectum. Microbicides may be gels, lubricants, or creams and could be applied through applicators, suppositories, or vaginal rings.
So far, results from large clinical trials of microbicides have been disappointing: Three vaginal gels -- Carraguard, BufferGel, and Pro2000 -- were found to be safe but not effective, and three trials suggested the product being tested may be harmful (Nonoxynol-9, Savvy, and Cellulose Sulfate).
Despite these disappointments, researchers are conducting new trials of microbicides that contain HIV drugs. These products consist of gel formulations of HIV drugs that can be applied to the vagina or rectum. It is hoped that these microbicides will be more potent against HIV and last longer in the vagina and rectum than those previously tested, and that they will not result in the creation of resistant virus.
Hope in 2010
The CAPRISA 004 trial, conducted in South Africa between 2007 and 2009, is the first large trial of a vaginal microbicide containing an HIV drug to be completed. The trial studied the safety and effectiveness of a gel containing tenofovir (the drug in Viread), and results are expected in July 2010.
The results of this study will be important to the future of the microbicide field. If it shows that this gel has an impact on women's risk of HIV infection, it will be the first microbicide trial to have a positive result. Follow-up research would of course be needed to confirm and explore the result before it could be approved for widespread use.
If the CAPRISA 004 trial does not show the gel to be completely effective, there are two possible outcomes: that the gel was clearly not effective or that it was partially effective. But if it does not prove effective, advocates and researchers will need to unite in support of future trials. Critics may question the continued funding of large trials if product after product fails to prove effective. But more trials are important to move the field forward. Each trial has a unique design and population, and each moves the field closer to the goal of providing women and men with an additional prevention method that they desperately need.
Other trials of microbicides containing HIV drugs are ongoing or in the planning stages. One such trial, the VOICE study being conducted by the Microbicides Trial Network (MTN) in countries in Southern Africa, is comparing the safety and effectiveness of the same gel studied in CAPRISA 004, and two different PrEP regimens (Viread or Truvada pills). Results are expected in 2013. Many of the research organizations in the microbicide field have also planned vaginal ring studies as a way to deliver a microbicide. Some of the studies test the acceptability of a vaginal ring, as this technology has never been used for this purpose before.
Rectal Microbicides
Compared with vaginal microbicides, rectal microbicide research is in its infancy. Political and cultural reluctance, a lack of funding, and scientific challenges have all contributed to the delay in their development.
The vagina and rectum are two separate and biologically different compartments in the body. It is very important that any vaginal microbicide in late-stage clinical testing also be tested for rectal safety, since a vaginal microbicide that is readily available will most likely also be used rectally, regardless of whether that use is approved.
To keep the field of rectal microbicides moving forward, the group International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (IRMA) estimates that $10 million will be needed annually from 2011 to 2014 (a 40% increase from the 2010 estimate), and $44 million annually from 2015 to 2020 (over six times the investment expected this year). Between 2007 and 2010, the U.S. government contributed over 91% of rectal microbicide funding. Efforts must be made to find more diverse funding sources.
This year holds great hope for microbicides as we await the result of the CAPRISA 004 study. If this gel is found to be effective, a renewed vigor will keep the field moving forward Regardless of the CAPRISA outcome, other trials continue and are planned in the search for an effective microbicide.
By the end of 2010, the landscape of HIV prevention will be different regardless of the trial outcomes. Researchers are hopeful that results from clinical trials of HIV vaccines, PrEP, and rectal and vaginal microbicides will provide promising results for the future of HIV prevention. None of these interventions will be the answer to ending the HIV epidemic. But some or all of these options may be an important part of a comprehensive response that will curb the spread of the disease.
Sarah Littlefield is a Clinical Trial Specialist at The Population Council. Deirdre Grant is the Program Manager at AVAC: Global Advocacy for HIV Prevention.


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text: North Carolina is one of five states receiving a $1.6 million grant as part of the Accelerating Opportunity program. The program, which is designed to increase the number of adults who earn a GED and a credential, focuses on developing pathways in high-growth fields such as business technologies, health sciences, and transport systems. Nine colleges in North Carolina participate in the program and the state will extend the Basic Skills Plus program – a program that supports adults in the transition between the attainment of basic skills and occupational credentials – to all 58 community colleges by 2014.


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Geotourism is a great way to see the United States. Keith Riggs at the US Department of Agriculture recently posted a really good blog post about touring through Northern California and Southern Oregon on the national Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway. The route runs from Lake Almanor in Northern California to Crater Lake in Southern Oregon, passing through seven national forests along the way. Riggs writes:
'Along this journey from volcano to volcano you'll find opportunities for adventure, exploration, communion with nature and an appreciation for the culture and history of the region. You'll also find residents eager to share the beauty and mystery of this land that is dotted with evidence of an eruptive past.'
We'd like to make sure you know about some of the residents along the way–the innkeepers of Southern Oregon bed and breakfasts ready and eager to host you as you explore the volcanic region of Southern Oregon.
You'll find our Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild members in Southern Oregon here on the OBBG website. Each one is a different lodging experience, but all are inspected and approved members of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild.
- The Prospect Historic Hotel & Dinner House is the closest bed & breakfast to Crater Lake and offers a full range of meals in the dinner house.
Driving the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway is just a taste of the range of Oregon geotourism. The innkeepers of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild are ready to share Oregon, its Culinary Tourism and Geotourism, its environment, culture, and heritage with you. Get to know our State like a local; stay with one of our nearly 100 hosts in any one of our six regions. Experience romantic getaways, historic treasures, and tucked away rustic retreats. Whether your trip is for a quiet escape to a quaint rural or coastal town, taking in Oregon Geotourism, for a World Class City experience, or for a new spin on business travel, you can be assured of combining gracious hospitality with ambiance by staying at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.


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Jackson Bryer is the author of 'The Heath Anthology of American Literature: Contemporary Period (1945 To The Present), Volume E (Heath Anthologies)', published 2009 under ISBN 9780547201801 and ISBN 054720180X.[read more]
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Please fill the application form and send it together with the following documentation (by mail or email) to the contact address below:
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Karrine Steffans Retires At her 30th Birthday Party! "Im Done With The Game, I Dont Want These Niccas"
Karrine Steffans 30 birthday party
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One Direction Bring Flawless 'Story of My Life' to 'X Factor' [VIDEO]
One Direction performed their new single 'Story of My Life' on 'X Factor' tonight (Nov. 21) and probably gave the show its best ratings of the season. It was, in a word, flawless.
The boys got their start on the British version of the show, so performing on the ratings-challenged U.S. version for Simon Cowell is just repaying a debt of gratitude. They wore dress pants and blazers in different shades of black, grey and white, showing their uniformity. They performed on a lighted stage, and the crowd was louder than they were.
It's Harry Styles who leads the song, and while they all stood in a circle and took turns with their parts, it was Hazza who was the star of the performance.
Hazza was beautifully disheveled, while Zayn Malik rocked a beard. So did Liam Payne! Niall Horan was perfect as always, while Louis Tomlinson continued to flash his ankles in super short skinnies.
Put it all together, and you have boy band perfection.
1D are growing up, both in their looks and their sound, and you can't argue with the results. It all works.


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H2D: Their long, long out-of-print compilation LP + extras. Essential melodic punk.
Detour: After being out of print for over 10 years, this little beauty is back in stock as a limited edition factory pressed cd of only 200 copies. Call them mods, call them punks... What ever they were they played some fantastic punky mod tunes. Forming in 1978 and releasing two highly sought after eps which are nowadays impossible to find this band have become cult status! Sadly two of the members are no longer with us but this release 'in memory of...' pays homage to them... This cd features 19 tracks that have been taken off both of their eps, unreleased acetate and a live gig.
Tracks: Even If I Know / Sema 4 Messages / Actors All / Do You Know Your Friends / Be Aware / Keep On Running / Capital City / Talking / Dynamite (On The Night) / Up Down Around / Penthouse Blues (Live) / The Kids Are Alright (Live) / Dynamite (On The Night) (Live) / The Goods Gone (Live) / Even If I Know (Live) / Do You Know Your Friends (Live) / Keep On Running (Live) / In The Underground (Live) / Capital City (Live)
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Woody Allen has been – at least by his usual press-shy standards – on a media blitz in recent days, unexpectedly dropping names like Lindsay Lohan and Tonya Harding as he promotes his new film, "To Rome With Love."
Allen is famously a sufferer of the inability to experience pleasure – a phenomena known as "anhedonia" (which, incidentally, was the original title of perhaps his greatest triumph, "Annie Hall," released just over 35 years ago). But he can be forgiven for seeming to nearly enjoy himself lately, even cracking jokes about the pitfalls of fame.
"It's not so terrible," he told reporters recently. "The bad stuff is greatly outweighed by the dinner reservations."
Allen, riding as high as he's capable of since last year's surprise success of "Midnight in Paris," is in the midst of a renaissance. With his Rome-set comedy set for release Friday, we're at the welcome point where a new Woody Allen movie is suddenly once again a big event.
In decades past, Allen turned out landmark films like "Annie Hall," and "Manhattan" with gaps of a year or less, leading to constant anticipation of his next flick and long movie house lines – at least in New York and parts of Europe. "Midnight," a clever – and, far more importantly, very funny – comedy expanded Allen's audience, pulling in more than $150 million worldwide, which, while hardly big money for Harry from Hogwarts, proved a personal record-setter for Woody from Brooklyn.
The film reawakened in longtime fans a dormant excitement about Allen, whose prodigious output has yielded more disappointments than gems in recent years. Sure, 2008's Spain-set "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" offered a sexy meditation on Allen's recurring theme of the fickleness of love. But in "Midnight," the filmmaker triumphed by being unafraid to show heart, wearing it on the sleeve of his Oxford shirt. He let whimsy guide him, and produced a likable, comically conflicted character in Owen Wilson's dreamer Gil, an Allen surrogate who lost – and found – himself in the Jazz Age.
In "Rome," we'll get to see Allen on screen for the first time since the 2006 clunker "Scoop." His cast includes some Woody favorites – Judy Davis, Penelope Cruz – and some new players, including Jesse Eisenberg and Roberto Benigni, who portrays an ordinary man suddenly beset by paparazzi for no apparent reason.
The last time an Allen movie generated this much pre-release hoopla dates to "Husbands and Wives" in 1992, the year he learned a hard, self-inflicted lesson about price of fame. The intense interest in the film stemmed from his relationship with Soon-Yi Previn, the daughter of his then-girlfriend Mia Farrow – a scandal that exploded onto the front pages 20 years ago this summer. "The heart wants what the heart wants," he infamously told the press at the time.
He eventually married Previn, now 41 to his 76. But the controversy still trails him. The suddenly hot-again Allen got some presumably unwanted publicity Sunday when his estranged son, Ronan Farrow, tweeted, "Happy father's day -- or as they call it in my family, happy brother-in-law's day."
Though generated from hurt and sadness, it's a funny line – one that could have come from Allen, who once quipped, with somewhat less edge, "I don't think my parents liked me. They put a live teddy bear in my crib."
Allen has long cautioned against seeing his jokes and films as reflections of his own life. But it's hard not to in movies like "Husbands and Wives" and 1983's "Zelig," in which his human chameleon character becomes famous, only to be loved, hated and loved again. But unlike Leonard Zelig, Woody Allen never changed for anyone.
He's already working in his next movie, starring, among others, Louis C.K. – which sounds like another big event in the making. In the meantime, check out a preview of "To Rome With Love":
Hester is founding director of the award-winning, multi-media NYCity News Service at the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism. He is the former City Editor of the New York Daily News, where he started as a reporter in 1992. Follow him on Twitter.


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The wife and I took a day off recently and headed down to Werribee Mansion. It's a huge old stately home which has been turned into a public attraction, and has some enormous and very beautifully manicured grounds. We spent the afternoon enjoying the patchy sunlight and exploring the gardens.
The home itself is an attractive piece of grand architecture which makes for a nice backdrop to the flower beds. The light was challenging- but this made it interesting. Shifting clouds meant that catching enough light on the foreground to reduce the difference between light sky and darkened ground (dynamic range) was tricky- but when it worked, the cloudy sky was full of movement, interest and contrast. There were a couple of classic old greenhouses beside the flowerbeds, starting to sag a little round the middle, and they made for interesting subjects as well. The day's photoshoot was a fun mix of portraiture and scenery, full of colour and soft lighting.
Here are a few of my favourite shots, these ones of the grounds themselves:


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Earlier this week, I published a brief article in this newsletter (at http://goo.gl/8oF3Nn) about a new cell phone service from Google. I mentioned that I thought it was overpriced at $20 to $30 a month or more. For more than two years, I have been using a similar service from a small-time cellular service provider that provides essentially the same service. I usually pay $10 a month for unlimited voice minutes and text messages but occasionally upgrade to $25/month for a week or two when traveling and expect to use the wireless data plan frequently. When I return home, I then "downgrade" to $10/month again. The service has proven to be very reliable and I am happy with it.
I also found this to be a great tool for placing free calls back home when traveling internationally, instead of paying the normal, outrageous international roaming charges often associated with using cell phones when traveling in foreign countries. I used this cell phone several times last week while in England to call back to my family in the U.S. at no charge.
I am used to paying $60 a month or more, sometimes much more, for cell phone service. Several lower-cost services have appeared in recent years and have become popular. However, one service appeals to me and I have now been using it for nearly two years. To use the service, you first have to purchase an Android cell phone from the company. Four models are available with purchase prices of $99 to $399. You then select from the level of cell phone service you want at monthly prices of $5, $10, $25, or $40 per month. I normally pay $10 per month but have occasionally upgraded to $25, then downgraded again once I no longer had a need for the higher-priced service. I once tried the $40 a month service for a few weeks but found it provided little benefit to me so I soon downgraded.
The cell phones use Sprint's nationwide network and have worked everywhere I have tried it within the U.S. The same phones also can place calls over a wi-fi network from anywhere in the world. Most so-called "smartphones" can place calls over wi-fi although that capability normally is not included when you purchase the phone. You typically have to go to the Android Play Store or to the iPhone App Store to download and install a third-party app to add wi-fi calling to the phone. In contrast, my new cell phone already included wi-fi calling when I purchased it. Even better, it uses only one telephone number. My friends and relatives can reach me at any time by dialing the one number, whether I am connected by the cellular network or by wi-fi. Most other apps that add wi-fi calling to a phone require two different telephone numbers for the two different connections. (Google's new Fi service is an exception.)
Best of all, with this cell phone company, you can change your level of service at any time (up to twice a month) and you also may cancel the service at any time. There are no multi-year contracts involved and no early cancelation penalties.
The $10 per month service has met my needs perfectly when at home or when traveling around my home town area. However, when traveling longer distances, I usually upgrade to the $25 a month service, then downgrade when I return home. That provides cellular data service when I am traveling and away from my home Internet connection. Since this company does not have contracts, I can upgrade, downgrade, or even cancel the service at any time with no penalty involved.
To be sure, these bargain prices do have some restrictions; but, I found those restrictions to be so minor that I can safely ignore them, and I suspect that many others can do the same. If I wish, I can upgrade my service at any time to include additional features, although at higher prices. Even the highest-priced service at $40 a month is still cheaper than that of most other cell phone services.
Even better, I no longer own a standard, old-fashioned wired telephone in the house. I can now use my new cell phone for all my calls, both at home and when outside the home, for a TOTAL of $10 a month (plus taxes) for all telephone conversations. Compare that to your monthly telephone bill. Do you have a wired phone in the house plus a cell phone? If so, what is the total amount you pay for both phones? Or for three phones if your spouse also has a cell phone?
At these prices, you probably can also give another phone to a teenager in the house. His or her cell phone could cost a maximum of $10 a month although with a few restrictions. Actually, considering the amount of money to be spent, it is fewer restrictions than a normal cell phone.
I am using an Android "smartphone" that not only places and receives telephone calls but also surfs the web with a built-in web browser, sends and receives text messages, reads and writes email messages, takes pictures, plays music, plays videos, reads and updates my calendar, maintains a large phone book, displays maps, provides directions, plays games, and much, much more. In short, it is a normal Android cell phone.
I have now cut my cell phone monthly expenses from nearly $100 a month that I paid more than a year ago to about $10 a month. I also found that the phone and the service work well. The people I call never know that I am a cheapskate… uh, "thrifty." In fact, a few people I have talked with have remarked how clear the connection is. I have only received those comments when connected via a wi-fi connection, not when connected via the cell phone network.
I have been using Republic Wireless' service for more than two years. Republic Wireless is one of a few companies that offer "hybrid calling" telephone calls. This service only works on Android smartphones sold by Republic Wireless.
The Android phone I am using looks and acts like a normal cell phone. Indeed, it works well as a normal cell phone on Sprint's cell phone network. If a Sprint cell phone connection works well in your area, a Republic Wireless cell phone will also provide exactly the same quality of connections for you. All Republic Wireless cell phones use the Sprint network for cellular network connections. You can check the coverage for your area at https://republicwireless.com/tools/coverage-check. In the area where I live, 4G networking (the highest speed available on today's cell networks) is available everywhere. Sprint's coverage may be different where you live.
What differentiates Republic Wireless, aside from the low prices, is the "hybrid calling" feature. The mobile devices sold by Republic Wireless are pre-configured to utilize both the Sprint cell phone network as well as any wi-fi network(s), if available. Using a wi-fi connection results in much lower expense to the cell phone company. In the case of Republic Wireless, the company passes the savings on to its customers.
There are no app downloads or extra steps required.
When in range of a wi-fi network of sufficient speed, the Republic Wireless phone will connect to the wi-fi network and place all calls, text messages, and data over the Internet. The voice calls are made by using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology. However, if the phone is carried outside the range of the wi-fi network, all calls are automatically shifted to the Sprint cell phone network. In short, the user has telephone capabilities wherever he or she goes, as long as a wi-fi or cell network is available.
I will use an example to illustrate the capability of this feature. If I start a call while connected to wi-fi, such as when inside my home and using my own wi-fi network, and then I walk outside, get into my automobile, and drive out of range, the Republic Wireless cell phone even switches the call to the cell phone network automatically in mid-call. The other party and I probably won't even notice the change.
To be sure, almost all of today's smartphones have the capability to place telephone calls over wi-fi networks. With most smartphones, all the user needs to do is install VoIP software, such as one of the programs available from Ooma, Skype, CallCentric, Viber, MagicApp, Vonage Mobile, and dozens of other VoIP providers. However, Republic Wireless is one of three companies I know of that include VoIP capabilities within the phone when purchased. (Google is one of those companies. T-Mobile will also include VoIP calls but only if you purchase both a cell phone and a special wi-fi router from the company.) Even better, Republic Wireless is the only company I know of to provide this hybrid calling service for as little as $10 a month for (nearly) unlimited calls and text messages.
In my case, I spend many hours most days within range of wi-fi networks. I have a wi-fi router/access point in my home, connected to a local Internet provider's broadband network. The same network allows me to read and write email messages, surf the web, download files, watch streaming video on a high-definition television in my living room, and talk on the telephone. Best of all, my in-home wi-fi network can do all those things simultaneously. Your wi-fi broadband service probably can do the same. As long as I am at home, my Republic Wireless cell phone places all telephone calls over the Internet and also receives calls in the same manner. The call quality of VoIP calls over the Internet is almost always better than the call quality of a cellular network connection on any cell phone.
When I am out of the house, I am also often within range of wi-fi networks, although not always. Such networks exist in many restaurants, coffee shops, libraries, airports, commuter trains, stores, and elsewhere. For instance, I had a dental appointment a few weeks ago and noted that my dentist offers free wi-fi for patients. I could have placed calls from the waiting room of his office. With the hybrid calling, I also could place calls via the cell phone network if the dentist had no wi-fi.
When a local wi-fi network is not available, the Republic Wireless cell phone automatically switches to Sprint's cell phone network and then operates in exactly the same manner as any other cell phone that uses Sprint's network. In short, it just works.
Republic Wireless claims that research shows that most people are around wi-fi networks 60% of the time, and that percentage is growing. If that's you, all you have to do is set up your phone to automatically access the wi-fi networks you have at home, work, and anywhere else you spend time. The unique Hybrid Calling technology takes care of the rest. In my case, I think I am within wi-fi range perhaps 90% of the time except when traveling by automobile.
I also noticed that many airlines now offer wi-fi connections but prohibit voice calls through wi-fi. I think that's a good thing as I don't want the passengers around me to talk on their phones for the entire trip. I'll give up my own phone calls also in order to have peace and quiet.
All the calls I have made so far have featured excellent audio quality on both wi-fi and cellular connections.
Unlike most other cell phone companies, Republic Wireless has no contracts. The Republic Wireless customer can cancel at any time without paying any penalties. Even better, the customer can also upgrade or downgrade to a different level of service at any time, up to a maximum of two service level changes in any one month. You could change twice this month, twice next month, and so on. There is no charge to upgrade or downgrade, you simply pay the new rate starting on the day you make the change.
The fees of $5 a month to $40 a month are for the telephone service only and does not include the purchase price of the phone. Republic Wireless presently sells four different Android phones: a specially-modified Motorola Moto E for $99, a specially-modified Motorola Moto G (first generation) for $149 and a specially-modified Motorola Moto X (first generation) for $299. Anyone who wants the latest and greatest technology might prefer the specially-modified Motorola Moto X (second generation) for $399. I have a Motorola Moto X (first generation) and it has worked well for me.
I see other companies selling unlocked Moto G and Moto X phones for $200 to $400, but those offers do not include the modifications needed to work on the Republic Wireless service. In short, if you are interested in using the Republic Wireless service, you need to purchase your phone directly from Republic Wireless.
Republic Wireless used to sell cheaper phones, including the one I purchased two years ago. That phone worked well but contained an old version of the Android operating system, had a low-resolution camera, and also had a small screen that wasn't the best for surfing the web. It also did not have nearly as many features as the newer Moto cell phones. I am really enjoying my Moto X and prefer it over the old phone. I hear similar reports about the Moto G and Moto E.
My Moto X has excellent audio and almost as many features as my Apple iPhone at only a fraction of the iPhone's price. It is the equal of any other Android phone selling at roughly the same price. You can find dozens of reviews of the Moto X by starting at http://goo.gl/U12C6v. Reviews of the Moto G may be found by starting at http://goo.gl/XXEn1c while reviews of the Moto E may be found by starting at http://goo.gl/MBlMye. You will note that almost all the reviews say good things about these phones.
Keep in mind that Republic Wireless has no contracts. You can cancel at any time without paying penalties. You can purchase cheaper cell phones from other companies by signing up for a one-year or two-year contractual commitment for service that costs $40 a month or more. I'd suggest you calculate the total cost of the other phone plus the required service over two or more years, then do the same for the Republic Wireless service and phone. I suspect you will find Republic Wireless to be significantly cheaper.
Republic Wireless offers four levels of service:
$5 a month: This cheapest service allows for unlimited telephone calls, text messaging, and data (using the web) on wi-fi networks only. It does not include the ability to connect via a cellular network except for emergency 911 calls, which will be placed over Sprint's cellular network. I doubt if anyone will choose this service for long-term use. After all, you can purchase excellent VoIP telephone devices for less than Republic Wireless's $99 or $149 or $299 purchase prices. However, I can see this as being a useful option for anyone who only wants a "part-time" cell phone, such as one that is to be used only when on vacation or when spending time at the cottage. The owner could upgrade to a higher level of service for the few weeks or months for the time it is needed, then downgrade to the $5 a month plan for the rest of the year in order to keep the account open and maintain the same telephone number year-round. It will then function as a telephone anytime you are connected by wi-fi, such as around the house. It could also serve as an "emergencies-only" cell phone as it can dial 911 over the cellular network. You might want to keep it in the automobile's glove box, along with a power cord that plugs into the dashboard's power outlet, to make emergency calls.
$10 a month: This is the plan I use most of the time. For ten dollars a month, the user gets unlimited telephone calls, text messages, and data (using the web) on wi-fi networks PLUS (nearly) unlimited telephone calls and text messages on the cellular network. It does not include data over cellular networks (surfing the web, email, downloading files, etc.) although the user can do all that via wi-fi. I feel this is an excellent choice for anyone who does not need to use the Internet when away from wi-fi networks. Where else can you obtain (nearly) unlimited telephone calls and text messages on a cell phone for only $10 a month? That is a bargain, in my opinion. If you later decide you want to add cellular data, even for a short time, you can always upgrade within minutes and then downgrade again later when you no longer need the data service, all without changing the voice service. Occasionally, I will upgrade for one day when going on a short trip and then downgrade the following day.
$25 a month: The user receives unlimited telephone calls, text messages, and data (using the web) on wi-fi networks PLUS (nearly) unlimited telephone calls and text messages and data (using the web) on the 3G cellular network. In short, the user can do everything at 3G speeds. This is the option I normally use when traveling.
$40 a month: This plan is nearly identical to the $25 a month plan except that it allows for connections at the higher 4G speeds. The user gets unlimited telephone calls, text messages, and data (using the web) on wi-fi networks PLUS (nearly) unlimited telephone calls and text messages and data (using the web) on a 4G cellular network. In short, the user can do everything at 4G speeds if within range of a 4G tower.
NOTE: Keep in mind that the Moto X phone can use 4G data but the cheaper Moto E and Moto G phones are limited to the slower 3G cellular data networking. If you purchase a Moto E or Moto G, you will have no need for the $40/month service. The $25/month 3G service will be sufficient for Moto E and Moto G users. All the phones operate at full speed over wi-fi network connections.
Even the highest-price offering strikes me as being cheaper than most other cell phone providers although a few others do offer 3G connections for $40 a month and a very few offer 4G speeds at $40 a month.
In some areas, 4G network connections are spotty. 3G is available almost everywhere, but 4G has not yet spread to the suburbs in many areas. See the coverage map at https://republicwireless.com/tools/coverage-check to see the coverage in your area.
I don't see any advantage in paying $40 a month for 4G coverage in an area where the user can only obtain 3G connections. Of course, that is rapidly changing as 4G becomes more popular even in the suburbs and rural areas.
I was impressed by the ease of setting up my cell phone service. I received the box from the mailman, opened it, briefly scanned the instructions, and made my first telephone call about five minutes later. I didn't have to call customer service or anyone else for assistance. The phone's battery was already fully charged when I opened the box. When turned on, the phone automatically led me through on-screen instructions to configure my account and the phone itself. I did not need to plug it into a computer to configure the cell phone. I was never asked for any technical information, other than my in-home wi-fi network's name (called the SSID) and password. I did have to supply my name, address and billing information.
In most cases, you can transfer an existing telephone number to your new cell phone. You also do not need to transfer right away. You can try out Republic Wireless for a while, then transfer your number whenever you're ready.
Nothing is ever perfect, of course. Here are a few of the disadvantages of Republic Wireless that pop to mind:
1. This telephone will only call other telephones in Canada and the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. Republic Wireless promises to add international calling some day but has not yet announced an expected date of availability.
2. Republic Wireless' cellular service is only available via Sprint's network to customers in the U.S. When traveling, telephone, text messaging, and data connections to the network may be made from any wi-fi network in the world. Cellular network connections cannot be made outside of the U.S.
However, this is also an advantage. For instance, on recent trips to Canada, England, and to Scotland, I was able to call home every night at no charge by using the Republic Wireless phone on a wi-fi network provided by the hotel. However, when I went out on the street and was out of wi-fi range, the phone was useless. Still, I will always carry this phone with me on foreign trips as it provides free phone calls to the U.S. as long as I have a wi-fi connection. That is much, much cheaper than paying roaming rates when using other cell phones! I have heard of some people receiving cell phone bills for $300 or more upon returning from a short foreign trip. That won't happen with this phone!
3. The words "(nearly) unlimited" need to be explained. In fact, all Republic Wireless plans offer truly unlimited calls made via wi-fi, but calls placed on the cellular network do have some restrictions. In short, the user is limited to about 500 minutes per month for cellular network calls, although unlimited calls may be made over wi-fi networks. The user also may not exceed more than 25 megabytes of roaming cellular data usage in any one month billing cycle
My opinion: If you need more than 500 minutes per month of voice calls or more than 25 megabytes of roaming cellular data on a cell phone, you shouldn't be looking at low-cost cell phone services. You need a professional data service that is designed to meet your needs. Those are very generous limits. In addition, all calls and all data connections on wi-fi networks are always unlimited.
The complete Terms and Conditions may be found at https://republicwireless.com/legal/terms-and-conditions.
4. The monthly rates listed do not include taxes. State and local taxes do apply and vary by location. On average, Republic Wireless members pay approximately 17% of their monthly rate in taxes (on top of the stated monthly rate). My monthly bill, with taxes, is usually $13 unless I upgrade during the month for a while.
5. The hybrid calling requires a broadband Internet connection to work properly on wi-fi. You need about 80 kilobits per second both ways to hold a call. In fact, almost all cable, DSL, and fiber optic broadband Internet connections are already much faster than that. However, Internet connections via satellites are not recommended because of long delays encountered. The more bandwidth available, the better the call quality. Don't forget that streaming video or downloading large files all use bandwidth, so your mileage may vary if you receive calls and watch Netflix at the same time. In my case, I have a high-speed Internet connection in my home supplied by the local cable company. I have watched Netflix streaming videos while simultaneously making phone calls and surfing the web on a computer. I have not yet encountered any speed problems, but anyone using a slow Internet connection may experience difficulties.
6. The Republic Wireless hybrid calling phone will only connect to known wi-fi networks. The person using the phone must manually connect to a wi-fi network once by specifying the encryption key, if any. Once connected, the wi-fi parameters, including the encryption key, are saved within the phone. Future connections will be made automatically without user intervention. Of course, the phone's user can manually edit the list of "approved" wi-fi networks, if desired.
Some wi-fi networks, such as those found in coffee shops, airports, and elsewhere, may require additional steps every time you connect, such as approval of a set of Terms and Conditions. The cell phone legally cannot read and accept such Terms and Conditions; a human will have to approve those manually for each connection.
In my experience, most wi-fi networks work well but a few may be too slow to support voice calls. I gave up trying to use wi-fi connections in airports. The airport wi-fi connections often are too slow so I simply use the normal cell phone network connection instead. However, wi-fi has worked well from coffee shops, restaurants, hotel rooms, and many other locations, both in the U.S. and overseas.
All in all, I am pleased with the Republic Wireless Moto X phone and the associated service. It has worked well for me. I especially like the low prices! I am not paid to write this article, nor do I receive any commissions from Republic Wireless. I am simply a satisfied customer.
If you would like to investigate further, look at https://republicwireless.com. Please note that Republic Wireless also offers a 30-day, money-back satisfaction guarantee. See https://republicwireless.com/faqs for details. I won't be asking for my money back.


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Coverage sped past the foundation's note that what some might interpret as a dumbing down of Congress, others will see as more effective communications. And lawmakers of both parties still speak above the heads of the average American, who reads at between an 8th and 9th grade level.In all that coverage, the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune was a rare voice expressing Our view: Congressional speech is easier to understand. Some of the members of Congress ranked as simple speakers defended the practice, as did freshman Rep. Mick Mulvaney. "People have been teaching this for decades," he said on CNN. "If you want someone to understand your message, you speak clearly and concisely."
My question is simply this: Since when did speaking simply equal stupid in public speaking?
Congressman Mulvaney is right: Those of us who coach speakers aim for clear and concise in communications. But that's not the same as "dumbing down" your content, by any means, and in fact, it's a tougher intellectual exercise to be clear than it is to use the jargon you find so familiar. As health reporter Ivan Oransky likes to say, he wants sources to "talk to me like I'm your smart 14-year-old nephew."
I've trained thousands of scientists, engineers and other smart experts in all disciplines, from physics to public policy, and in my experience, the suggestion that you have to dumb down your content is just a powerful way to say "I don't know how to do this any other way, and I don't want to try." It's your audience that must be at fault, not you, in that line of thinking. I think we also try to bring good speakers "down a peg" by mocking them for being clear and simple. Would we really like it better if we didn't understand them?
Effective speakers know that most public audiences prefer you to omit jargon and cut to the chase: What's the bottom line? After we know that, you might have our interest secured and be able to add in some detail. Without clarity, however, you'll lose the listeners.
That's true even when technical speakers are trying to balance technical vs. non-technical language for a mixed audience of experts and generalists. Technical experts also enjoy talks that are clear, concise and engaging. Who wouldn't? You can always fill in the details in the Q&A, or refer the experts in the audience to more information on a website.
How do you feel about members of Congress speaking simply? Share your views in the comments.
|This post was featured on Ragan.com


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Dir: Craig Viveiros. UK. 2012. 88mins
Camera operator turned director Craig Viveiros continues to show promise with his second feature after the prison drama Ghosted. Low-budget road movie The Liability brings a laconic English sensibility to a Tarantino-style set-up, and there are hints of the Coen brothers and strong undercurrents of Harold Pinter in John Wrathall's darkly comic screenplay while a talented cast ensures that it remains entertaining and endearing even as the plot veers off the rails.
There is a sweet heart to the wayward tale in the relationship that develops between the naive, excitable O'Connell and the more jaded, laidback Roth.
Metrodome are set to release theatrically in the UK in May, which should serve as a shop window for greater returns in ancillary.
A convincingly unhinged Peter Mullan makes the most of his few, juicy scenes as volatile criminal Peter. Exasperated by his girlfriend's gormless teenage son Adam (Jack O'Connell), he bullies the lad into serving as a driver for weary, cigar-loving assassin Roy (Tim Roth). A seemingly simple job becomes overly complicated when the duo are caught in the woods chopping up a body.
A quirky, chalk and cheese buddy film steps up a gear with a chase, a showdown, revelations of sex trafficking and a journey through a world in which gunshots and abduction never seem to attract the attention of the police.
The lurch from blood-spattered violence to black comedy and elements of father/son bonding creates an inconsistent tone to the film, but Viveiros makes atmospheric use of unfamiliar
Northumbrian locations and there is a sweet heart to the wayward tale in the relationship that develops between the naive, excitable O'Connell and the more jaded, laidback Roth. The fact that it carries echoes of a similar chemistry between the young Roth and John Hurt in The Hit thirty years ago will only enhance the film buff appeal of The Liability.
Production companies: Corona Pictures, Av Pictures, Starchild Pictures, Met Film Post
International Sales: AV Pictures, firstname.lastname@example.com
Producers: Richard Johns, Rupert Jermyn
Executive producers: Clare Christie, John Crocker, Toby Jermyn, Jeremy Middleton, Nicholas Moore, Angad Paul, Victor Bateman, Lee Brazier, Chris Hainsworth, Sean Kelly, Ed King, Martin Gentles, Carlo Dusi, Tim Roth.
Screenplay: John Wrathall
Cinematography: James Friend
Editor: Pia Di Ciaula
Production designer: Matthew Gant
Music: Vicky Wijeratne
Main cast: Tim Roth, Jack O'Connell, Tallulah Riley, Kierston Wareing, Peter Mullan


text: A Canadian, an American and a China man are stranded on a deserted island. The Canadian tells the others that he will be in charge of food. American volunteers to be in charge of water and the Chinese man says he will be in charge of supplies. They split up to do their jobs and decide to meet up later. When the Canadian and the American return, there is no sign of the Chinese man. Days pass by, but they still can't find their friend. One day as they are walking along a path, the Chinese man jumps from the bushes and yells "SUPPLIES!"


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Search Constraints
You searched for: Author Johnson, Samuel Y. Remove constraint Author: Johnson, Samuel Y. Subject Ocean bottom Remove constraint Subject: Ocean bottom Subject Geology Remove constraint Subject: Geology Institution Stanford Remove constraint Institution: Stanford Place Ventura County (Calif.) Remove constraint Place: Ventura County (Calif.) Place California Remove constraint Place: California Format Shapefile Remove constraint Format: Shapefile
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1. Geology: Hueneme Canyon and Vicinity, California, 2012
2012. Ritchie, Andrew C., Johnson, Samuel Y., Clahan, Kevin B., Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, and Golden, Nadine E. This polygon shapefile represents geologic features of Hueneme Canyon and the surrounding vicinity in California. The offshore map area is characte... Geological Survey (U.S.).
2. Geology: Offshore of Ventura, California, 2013
2013. Johnson, Samuel Y., Ritchie, Andrew C., Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, and Golden, Nadine E. This polygon shapefile depicts geological features within the offshore area of Ventura, California. The offshore part of the map area largely consi... Geological Survey (U.S.).


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December 6, 1934 - July 18, 2013
Walden, NY
Rose M. Paradine, of Walden, NY formerly of Syracuse, NY, a retired secretary for the Syracuse School System, entered into rest Thursday, July 18, 2013 at the Valley View Nursing Home in Goshen. She was 78.
The daughter of the late James and Sophie Pasternak Spagnolo, Rose was born December 6, 1934 in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Survivors include her daughters: Susan Tansey and her husband, Cyril Jr. of Walden, Laura Paradine of Syracuse, Katrina Paradine and husband, Richard of Washington, Carla Paradine of Mississippi; brother, James Spagnolo of W. Springfield, MA; granddaughter, Erika; great-grandchildren: Bailey, Arianna and Cole; as well as nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the Valley View nurses and staff for the years of wonderful care and support.
All funeral services will be private.
In lieu of flowers please make donations in Rose's memory to Alzheimer's Association, Orange & Sullivan Regional Office, 384 Crystal Run Rd., Suite 102, Middletown, NY 10941-4103
Funeral Arrangements under the direction of White & Venuto Funeral Home, 845-562-6550; for condolences, please visit www.WhiteandVenutoFuneralHome.com.


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This workshop is for the creative ones among you! The use of scissors, glue and a soldering iron should not scare you, and the eagerness to try new things should be your second nature. We will be working with paper, glitter pens, LED lights, resistors, wires and plastic spheres. The fun will last the whole […]
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