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The Sandra Bullock-George Clooney space drama "Gravity" rocketed to the top of the box office and into industry record books during its opening weekend.
The Warner Bros. adventure debuted with $55.55 million in North American ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday — the biggest October opening ever and the biggest openings for Bullock and Clooney. The film also dominated the international box office, adding another $27.4 million overseas.
"It's all good news," said Dan Fellman, Warner Bros. president of domestic distribution.
He credited director and co-writer Alfonso Cuaron, who takes viewers into orbit with a story set almost entirely in space that explores challenges faced by two astronauts during a spacewalk. Cuaron's team developed equipment and technology to replicate the weightlessness of space.
"It's never been seen before, visual effects like this," Fellman said. "Just the space shots are mind-boggling. It looks like you're right there."
Last week's top movie, Sony's "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2," rolled into second place with $21.5 million. The animated sequel features the voices of Bill Hader and Anna Faris and a cast of "foodimals," like tacodiles and shrimpanzees.
R-rated fare rounds out the top six. Twentieth Century Fox's "Runner Runner," starring Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake, opened in third place with $7.6 million.
Warner Bros.' "Prisoners," starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal, locked onto the fourth spot. Universal's racing tale "Rush," starring Chris Hemsworth, drove into fifth place, followed by "Don Jon," Joseph Gordon-Levitt's directorial debut about a porn addict looking for love.
"The adult drama is back, and fall is the season for the adult drama," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for box-office tracker Rentrak. "This is when you get your more challenging films, some of the more esoteric fare, and a lot of those movies, by their nature, have to be rated R."
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Rentrak. Where available, latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. "Gravity," $55.55 million ($27.4 million international).
2. "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2," $21.5 million ($8.1 international).
3. "Runner Runner," $7.6 million ($7.6 million international).
4. "Prisoners," $5.7 million ($5.7 million international).
5. "Rush," $4.8 million ($7.5 million international).
6. "Don Jon," $4.16 million ($350,000 international).
7. "Baggage Claim," $4.12 million.
8. "Insidious: Chapter 2," $3.87 million ($9.3 million international).
9. "Pulling Strings," $2.5 million.
10. "Enough Said," $2.15 million.
Estimated weekend ticket sales Friday through Sunday at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada) for films distributed overseas by Hollywood studios, according to Rentrak:
1. "Gravity," $27.4 million.
2. "Turbo," $9.6 million.
3. "Insidious: Chapter 2," $9.3 million.
4. "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2," $8.1 million.
5. "Runner Runner," $7.6 million.
6. "Rush," $7.5 million.
7. "The Lone Ranger," $7 million.
8. "Smurfs 2," $6.1 million.
9. "Planes," $5.9 million.
10. "Prisoners," $5.7 million.


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Sydney - Will Genia, considered one of the world's best halfbacks, revealed Friday that he endured sleepless nights after being axed by the Wallabies but said he holds no grudges.
The scrumhalf was dropped for Australia's Rugby Championship clash against Argentina last Saturday, paying the price for inconsistency despite being stand-in skipper in the previous Test.
Nic White replaced him and was impressive on his starting debut, with coach Ewen McKenzie not feeling the need to call upon Genia's services off the bench.
The 47-Test veteran, who has received messages of support from greats including Nathan Sharpe and George Gregan, accepts he will again be a substitute behind White for the Test against South Africa in Cape Town on September 28.
"I was absolutely gutted when I was told I was dropped from the position I love and it still hurts," the 25-year-old told the Brisbane Courier Mail.
"It hurt on Monday. It hurt on Tuesday, Wednesday and the rest of last week. I got quite rundown not being able to sleep properly.
"The only thing that makes me feel better is when I go for a run, practise my kicking or do my extras because I know I'm that much closer to getting back to where I want to be."
Despite the setback, Genia said he bore no grudges against McKenzie and was determined to win back his place in the starting line-up.
"There's not one bit of a problem with Ewen. I've known him a long, long time," he said.
"It's my situation and mine alone to change. Basically, I got told I've got to play better because I had three Tests which were a bit off. I was told 'prove us wrong'.
"I accept the call. I definitely feel I can play better but, I tell you, I'm not ever going to put myself in this position again."
The Wallabies are due to fly out of Australia in the coming days for the two-week tour of South Africa and Argentina.

subset: commoncrawl


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I was attending a health fair not that long ago and got into a discussion with an MD about multiple sclerosis. He asked to look at my hands, to which I obliged. After a thorough exam of my finger tips (which took less than 10 seconds) he announced to me that he could have told me I had MS just by looking at my finger nails. "I wrote a paper about this years ago", your man said to me.
While he went on about the ridges in my nails being sign of something or other and that was caused by… Okay; I'll admit that I tuned him out after just a short time. My fingernails are showing that I have MS?
It brought the topic of crazy-arsed theories about MS to my mind and I thought it might be in interesting topic for a blog. With a little research I was able to find several theories, treatments and curative measure people have bought and sold over the decades. Some of them are harmless, some harmful.
This is by no means a complete list. And, I suppose the title I've given this post will convey my opinion of the tactics. This is not news reporting; it's an opinion blog. Please take it as that.
• Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has been offered to me by more than a few people. A housekeeper we once had absolutely Raved about what wonders the treatment had for children with Autism and friends of hers with MS. She was looking into buying a chamber to offer treatments for people with MS.
I passed.
While one small study back in the 1980s showed some promise, the positive results were never repeated and the FDA even issued a warning letter about the therapy.
• Bee Sting (aka Bee Venom Therapy). 1) Take a bee in a pair of tweezers 2) hold it near a particular part of your body 3) let the bee sting you 4) pick up another bee 5) repeat 6) see step 5
Touted as a treatment for arthritis over a century ago, Bee Venom Therapy started to see an emergence in the MS world in the 1970s. Studies from all over the world looked at both animal and human models of MS and found no improvement in symptoms, progression, MRI activity or relapse rate. In the animal model, in fact, the treatment showed the possibility of worsening the condition.
• Dental Filling Removal. Mercury amalgam filling removal hit its stride not long after a discovery on the other side of the world. A particular bay area in SE Asia showed a massive spike in MS-like symptoms several years after WWII. It was found that the area's drinking water had been contaminated with mercury during the war.
While mercury, lead and other heavy metals do cause neurological symptoms which can look much like MS, the pathology of how these symptoms come on is quite different. Having fillings removed actually exposes patients to more chance of heavy metal exposure than leaving the fillings stay.
• Alkaline Water Treatment. There is a new craze in the offing to neutralize the acid affects within our bodies. I've been hearing much about balancing with alkaline water. You may have seen testimonials on the internet from people who say they've cured themselves of multiple sclerosis by drinking these products.
They're also very willing to sell you this water (or a system to attach to your home tap). This treatment is also stated to arrest cancers, arthritis, and many other progressive diseases. Just ask your local multi-level marketing rep for details…
I'm pretty sure that you hear things (or have heard them in the past) which are touted as cure-alls and MS just happens to be one of the ills to be cured by new and improved Product-X. Sometimes I feel like the pharmaceuticals in the pipeline can come across that way too.
The fact of the matter is; there is not yet a cure for MS. Everyone with MS should find a treatment course which is right for them. I go by a paraphrase of Thomas Jefferson's when it comes to my treatments, "If it does not break my arm nor pick my pocket; what is it to me?" The problem, the above mentioned (and many unmentioned here) treatments can cause harm and do cost money.
I'd be interested to read of some other "MS Quackery" that you may have heard about (or likely told about by some well-meaning friend).
Wishing you and your family the best of health.
Don't forget that you can also follow me via our Life With MS Facebook page, on Twitter, and our new group on MS Connection.org. Check out our bi-monthly blog for the UK and look for our Very Special new monthly blog for the National MS Society.
Important: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not Everyday Health.


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Sugar is a flexible, fully responsive WordPress theme which is easy to use and setup on any site.
The theme is designed and built with the latest HTML5, CSS3 and Bootstrap libraries. The GUI is designed for novice user but still capable to accommodate advanced user needs.
CreditsThanks for the Amazing images and video credited to:
Disclaimer: Images used are copyrighted for Demo only and not included in the file.
SupportsFor related support questions, kindly check this link below:
- Supports are available by submitting tickets via our support team
We'd be very grateful, it helps us a lot and this is the link on how you give a feedback for purchased items and rate them.
Thanks!Updates :
- Version 1.2 – 5/2/2014
- Fix Comment entry broken due to typo in class invocation bug
- Version 1.1 – 4/17/2014
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Please go to our eBay Store http://stores.ebay.co.uk/chimeraleisureltd to purchase Marvel Comics from us online. Send us a message via eBay if you wish to collect from us in store.
Please be aware that there is an up to 24 hour turn around for items to be transferred to the store, as these are held at our warehouse and will need relocating to the store for you to pick up.
Our bricks and mortar store at 105 High Road, Beeston, Nottingham, NG9 2LH, contains different stock to the online site. If you're looking to check if we have an item in stock at the store, please call the store on 0115 9229880.


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Pub Tokens are the UK's only pub gift cards and pub gift vouchers that are not restricted to a particular chain or brand. By giving our pub gift cards or vouchers you can treat friends, family or colleagues in Norwich or elsewhere to: a memorable meal in a gastro-pub or pub restaurant; a well-deserved night away in a country Inn or hotel or just a few drinks by the fire in the local. We think we have something for everyone who loves Great British Pubs!
Pub Tokens are now welcomed at over 1,450 pubs and restaurants which means that we offer the widest choice of redemption opportunities of any multi-retailer pub focused gift voucher and with 15% off online purchases at the moment there is even more reason to choose Pub Tokens. Have a look at our great pub in Norwich, The Fieldfare.
Pub restaurants in Norwich have developed their food offer beyond all recognition in the last decade and at Pub Tokens we believe that a combination of great food and the unique ambience of a pub make pub restaurants a much more interesting choice for a special occasion meal and drinks than many soulless, modern restaurants.
We aim to ensure that recipients of our gift cards and vouchers have the widest choice of venues in which to redeem their gift. In order to offer this unrivalled choice we have partnered with some of the best pub restaurant operators in the country including Shepherd Neame, Greene King, Metropolitan Pubs, Inns of Character, Taylor Walker, Farmhouse Inns, Old English Inns, Barons Pubs, Hungry Horse, Golden Oak Inns, Belhaven, Horatio Group and Daniel Thwaites along with many independently owned freehouses.
Simply buy gift vouchers, gift cards or e-vouchers using this website. We accept payment by most major debit/credit cards and via PayPal. Your gifts will be dispatched on the same day if ordered by 2pm Mon-Fri or on the next working day if after 2pm. Your Gift will be delivered in an attractive branded card with your own personalised message. Gifts can be delivered to multiple addresses.
Our website details are clearly displayed on all products and your gift recipient will be instructed to use our website to find participating pubs near them.
If you are a business looking for the ideal staff or customer reward/incentive in Norwich then email firstname.lastname@example.com to discuss a bespoke discount.
Pub Tokens can be used like cash at any participating outlet to pay for food, drinks or accommodation and, like cash, can be used in conjunction with any other promotions available to cash customers unlike some other gift vouchers and cards.
Buy Norwich Pub Gift Cards today!


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As we begin to recuperate from #NYFW, our friends across the pond share their experiences, joys, likes, dislikes, and a lot of partying during #LFW, all through Twitter.
"Its all about London right now!!!" tweeted Rihanna, who made her first fashion appearance at the Stella McCartney presentation. But Rihanna, who was in London to celebrate her birthday, wasn't the only one partying with Stella. "Wow. WOW. #WOW The world's most glamorous flash mob (Amber, Shalom, Yasmin…) just took over Stella's dinner. Fashion history was just made," tweeted Derek Blasberg.
Derek Blasberg, whose fashion entourage never fails to include top supermodels, celebrities, and stylists, kept the twitter-verse afloat through all of his #LFW happenings. Derek's tweets ranged from the hottest shows, "All the coolest girls of London, and the prime minister's wife too, were openly drooling at Christopher Kane, and for good reason! #LFW," to his tete-a-tete with celebs, "@Burberry has started! And breaking news: the scrunchie is back! But as @KateBosworth just pointed out, they're best worn as belts now. #LFW."
@KateBosworth, who attended the Burberry show with boyfriend, director Michael Polish, tweeted, "Here's looking at you Christopher Bailey! Just. Gorgeous. xx @Burberry." Kate wasn't the only famous face sitting front row at Burberry. The 29-year-old actress was accompanied by actress Rosie-Huntington-Whiteley, fashionista Alexa Chung, and Anna Wintour.
W Magazine's Fashion Director Edward Enninful had more than just fashion to celebrate. "Its my birthday party…xoxo," he tweeted. Super model @Lily_Donaldon_ tweeted him back, "Happy birthday my darling Edwina!! X." The festivities however did not end with a line of twitter love. @DerekBlasberg tweeted soon after, "Just left the birthday boy in his bed with Kate, Naomi, Amber, Shalom and Kristen… (No really!) Feel the love."
One of the most celeb-attended shows during #LFW has to be @Mulberry_Editor. The star-studded front row included, "Michelle Williams, Lana del Ray, Bill Nighy, Downton Abbey's Michelle Dockery +Laura Carmichael, and Anna Wintour," tweeted theTelegraph's @HilaryAlexander. Not only does @LanaDelRey have a @Mulberry_Editor bag named after her, she also performed for its #LFW dinner. Women's Wear Daily tweeted, "Lana Del Rey wraps up set at Mulberry dinner with 'million dollar man'. Crowd thinks she's sweet."
London Blogger, @susiebubble tweeted about one of the most exciting shows presenting during #LFW. "Back out front of @WorldMcQueen #McQLIVE show…. The clothes are amazing…. Cant quite contain excitement." Derek Blasberg agreed, tweeting, "Another line that was much talked about: Wow, that McQ show was just magical. It was the first time the line showed and it was directional, conceptual and innovative. And wearable!"
image via Style.com


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A dear friend of mine and her husband are true fitness buffs. They've done several half marathons together and numerous races individually. Smith, is raising money this fall for a very awesome charity. I stole the following from his site...
"From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." Luke 12:48On December 5th, Kristin and I will run the White Rock Half Marathon in Dallas, Texas and as if that wasn't challenging enough, God has laid it on my heart to do what I can to change the world before I cross the finish line.So, what's all of this about? Every week, millions of women and their children walk more than 14 miles (or about 10 hours a day) just to get water for their families. Most of this water is contaminated, but it's the only water they have. They are forced to take the chance of getting diseases because there are no other options. More than 45,000 people die every year due to waterborne illnesses. With this information in hand, God has made my goal pretty simple: Go 13.1 so they don't have to go 14.I've made it my mission to raise $1310 to provide clean, safe drinking water to those that need it. If my goal is hit, 65 people will get clean water for 20 years. Your donation, be it $5 or $50, will literally change someone's life.Because of charity: water's unique model, 100% of all donations go directly to water projects, and each donation is "proved" using Google Earth when projects are complete. It's a pretty awesome operation.Please, do what you can. Help me change the world."Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthian 9:6-7
Watch the video by clicking on the link below.
You can visit his site to donate here.
I applaud you in your efforts, Smith! This is definitely a worthy cause.


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Archeology for Interpreters > 2. What Is Archeology? >
Baskets of artifacts illegally collected in a national park. (NPS)
America's archeological resources embody a rich heritage of human experiences and cultural identities. They provide information about people from the past and establish important connections to the present. They also provide evidence about important historical trends and events, inform about people's everyday lives and significant accomplishments, and give voice to people who are absent from or underrepresented in historical records.
Archeological resources are fragile and are easily damaged or destroyed. Bulldozers grading fields, looters digging for treasure, well-meaning visitors walking in restricted areas, erosion and other natural causes, and even archeologists who engage in unethical or unprofessional practices can cause damage to above- and below-ground archeological resources and thus lessen our ability to learn more about the past.
Interpretation can help law enforcement, rangers, and archeologists to protect archeological resources. Without meaning to do harm, many visitors feel the need to collect artifacts from the archeological sites they visit. They pick up objects from the ground in order to own a little bit of history. They may not realize that our ability to learn more about the past from these artifacts also depends upon knowing the artifact's provenience, meaning the precise location on the site the artifacts were discovered. So, taking souvenirs for one's own may be tempting, but it is wrong and is, in federal property including national parks, against the law.
Archeologists and interpreters should emphasize stewardship of archeological resources in any visitor exchange, from tours of archeological sites to exhibitions to discussions of ongoing fieldwork. Through effective preservation and protection, archeological resources can continue to convey their important history about people from the past to present and future generations of Americans.
Interpretive programs reach park visitors when they are still forming their opinions, value, and ethics. Long-term survival of park resources depends upon a stewardship ethic among the general population, The majority of threats to the resource are, by definition, human caused. Establishing a bond between visitors and the park can create a sense of shared ownership and lifelong commitment to park ethics.
For your information
Hidden Battlefields: Protecting the Archeological Story
Explore the importance of studying and preserving America's battlefields and how archeology expands our knowledge of their history and use.


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James is a writer and director. His first play, The Rubenstein Kiss won the John Whiting Award and TMA Award for Best Play.
Plays include: The White Whale (Slung Low/Leeds) The Rubenstein Kiss (Hampstead); City Stories (St James); Hidden in the Sand (Trafalgar Studios); The Wind in the Willows (Latitude/ Theatre503); Time and the City (Slung Low/Hull); Bobby and the Chimps (Florida); The Little Fir Tree (Sheffield Theatres).
TV credits include: If We Dead Awaken (Channel 4/Touchpaper). His first film script, The Watching Tree, is being produced by Blonde to Black Productions.
His first book of documentary photography, Nicosia: The Last Dividing Line, was published in Cyprus in 2013.
His photographs can be seen at www.jamesphillips.net.
Barney Norris was born in 1987 and grew up in West Sussex, London and Salisbury. He has been a student at Keble College, Oxford and Royal Holloway, a member of the Royal Court Young Writer's Programme, and a Pierce Loughran Memorial Scholar at the Yeats International Summer School. His award-winning debut play, At First Sight, was published and produced on tour in January 2011.
Barney's plays include Eventide and Visitors (winner of the Critics' Circle and Offwestend Awards for Most Promising Playwright). His first novel, Five Rivers Met On A Wooded Plain, is published by Doubleday.
He is co-artistic director of the Theatre company Up In Arms.
Liz studied English at Oxford University and trained in theatre design at the Slade School of Fine Art. She works as an artist, maker, writer and deviser and principally as a stage designer, for companies including the NT, RSC, Royal Court, and in the West End and principal regional theatres.
She has been designing professionally for around fifteen years.
Liz works collaboratively with directors, designers and performers and has designed extensively for physical performance, often incorporating aerial and circus techniques. She has designed frequently for directors such as Kathryn Hunter, on shows from Rebecca Gilman's The Glory of Living to Pericles at the Globe and Othello for the RSC.
Michael Gabriel has been drawing from live performances at the Oxford Playhouse for over thirty years.
He has made hundreds of quick sketches and paintings of actors, rehearsals, and performance moments.
As an Associate Artist, he continues to draw and exhibit at the Playhouse, and aims to create a body of work celebrating the experience and magic of theatre and the excellence of theatre in Oxford.
Michael's first exhibition of work, Between the Lines, was exhibited throughout the Playhouse in the autumn of 2009 and more recently Michael exhibited work with sculptor Alison Berman during Art Weeks 2010.


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|International Space Station Imagery
high res (1.6 M) low res (119 K)
|ISS028-E-017074 (16 July 2011) --- When asked by a reporter if she noticed a difference in the International Space Station on her current visit with the Atlantis STS-135 crew, versus an earlier lengthy visit, NASA astronaut Sandy Magnus mentioned the Cupola's addition, which was not on the station during her earlier stay there. This is one of series of photos showing Magnus, mission specialist for the Space Shuttle Program's final flight, taking advantage of the zero gravity of space and the panoramic view provided by the multi-windowed Cupola.
Curator: JSC PAO Web Team | Responsible NASA Official: Amiko Kauderer | Updated: 10/30/2012


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Resources for Researchers
NIAID offers many resources to support your research, including reagents, model organisms, and tissue samples, to name just a few. Use the filters under Filter Search Results to narrow your search, or simply enter specific search terms in the search field.
Showing results filtered by:CLEAR ALL
1 Results
Comprehensive Resources for HIV Microbicides and Biomedical Prevention (CRMP)
This contract provides gap-filling support services for HIV prevention drug developers including academic (investigators), for-profit and not-for-profit small and large companies, and other product innovators (henceforth identified as Sponsors) for the development of HIV non-vaccine biomedical pr


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– From African ethnic music to latin-tinged art rock, this…
First May Concert 2014
The 1st May Concert is surely one of the most anticipated musical events and debated in the Italian music scene. There is always great anticipation to meet the cast of artists , presenters and guests who will tread the stage in Piazza San Giovanni in Rome on the first day of May of this 2014.
The artists
The first is the participation of Clementino , rapper famous for his O ' vient and for his feat with Negrita titled Buenos Aires / Naples. The second is the extraordinary presence of Rocco Hunt will pass within a few months from the stage of the Ariston to the Piazza San Giovanni . There will also be linked to this historical band concert as the Modena City Ramblers and the Bandabardò.
Participate as a representative of a very strong singer-songwriter scene , Brunori Sas , recently on tour with his Camino de Santiago in Taxi , and Disturbed , fresh San Remo. Continuing with the long list of names come to the Levant, Stefano Di Battista and 50 sax Conservatory of Santa Cecilia , Francesco Di Bella, Taranproject with Daniele Ronda, Enrico Capuano, P- Funking Band. Finally , one of the most anticipated players certainly stand Pelù and Tiromancino.
The conduction
The historian Mark Godano organizer ensures that the run will be " less screaming " and see how the protagonists triptych composed by Dario Vergassola , Edoardo Leo and Francesca Barra.
Guests announced so far are the writer and journalist Aldo Cazzullo , Federica Sciarelli , known presenter and journalist, and the founder of Slow Food, Carlo Petrini . Max Paiella and Nino Frassica ( historical actor and television personality ) , will have the task of keeping up the mood even if you predict reflective passages and remembrance of the massacre of Door Broom.


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[Just in case there is any confusion about the title, this blog article is purely my own. It should not be blamed on one of the many excellent grassroots movements in opposition to the secret ACTA trade agreement, Mexico's Open ACTA whose Twitter account name is @StopACTANow. ]
In case you don't know what all the ACTA fuss is about (and why should you, the mainstream media, with it's vested interest, is not reporting on ACTA) this is a Video that gives a pretty good overview:
NO ACTA – Stop the Kraken
Converted to OGG format (large): NO ACTA – Stop the Kraken
Converted to OGG format (small): NO ACTA – Stop the Kraken
And this is the transcript of the text from the film.
ACTA proposes only one remedy against counterfeiting and piracy, and that remedy is repression. "
—KEI: Brazilian intervention at TRIPS Council: ACTA
This is Marietje Schaake, Member of European Parliament, on ACTA
Marietje Schaake on ACTA on YouTube
Converted to OGG format (large): Marietje Schaake on ACTA
Converted to OGG format (small): Marietje Schaake on ACTA
It's not over yet
Funny, even though consensus couldn't be reached, the ACTA countries have each taken the agreement back to their respective governments to try and get it signed. They have all agreed that there will be no further rounds of negotiation.
Apparently though, changes can still be made to the text. Since I am a citizen, not a diplomat, I have to wonder if this means that each country can sign a version of ACTA that they are comfortable with, respective of the wants and needs of the others? If so, it would detract from the point of having one universal treaty.
Do the participating parties know? Apparently President Obama wants to have something signed before his election. Its beginning to sound as though anything will do.
This is, of course, how bad laws and bad treaties are made.
Would ACTA benefit the citizens of any country? Clearly, the answer to that would have to be "no." ACTA is to the benefit of specific corporations at the expense of people. In it's original incarnation it was purely a corporate wish list.
Either way, it still hasn't gone away.
Here are a few links worth checking:
TechDirt points out that Korea (a possible model for ACTA) was pressured into a 1 strike law as part of a "free trade" agreement. In South Korea One ACCUSATION gets you evicted from the Internet.
Open… : KEI's Jamie Love on what EU must do About ACTA Respected UK journalist Glynn Moody reports Jamie Love's tweet which points out that an ACTA footnote opens the way to removing Patents from ACTA altogether. (Weak ties, eh? Sure looks like International Co-operative Activism to me, Malcolm.)
online petition: ACTA – PEOPLE BEFORE PROFITS! Avaaz petition regarding ACTA's pharmaceutical aspects.
Media Industries: ACTA, Pharmaceuticals opinion piece makes a nice ethical point.
OUPblog (Oxford University Press): The Proposed New Copyright Crime of "Aiding and Abetting"
Balkinization: Open Letter to the President on ACTA Negotiations
More than 70 academics, mostly legal scholars, are urging President Barack Obama to open a proposed international intellectual-property agreement to public review before signing it.
—ThreatLevel: Scholars Say International Property Accord Needs Senate Approval
There's even an online Blogazine devoted to stopping ACTA, the ACTA Daily
Oh! Canada: A.C.T.A.: Anti Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (double speak) article is kind of a resource roundup from a few months back. Lots of great links to help explain the background and the process.
Canada is one of the parties to ACTA.
Isn't it time that our government spoke up?
Maybe we could hear from Charlie Angus?
"A desire for profit is not wrong in itself, but it isn't the sort of urgent overriding cause that could excuse mistreating others."
— Richard Stallman, president of the Free Software Foundation
Thanks to Dr. Roy Schestowitz for the beautifully apt Richard Stallman quote.
OGG transfers via TinyOGG
"Marietje Schaake on ACTA" video converted/hosted with permission
No ACTA – Stop The Kraken
Released under a Creative Commons
Attribution Non-Commercial Share-Alike License (CC by-nc-sa)
Video & Audio: Anonymous
Music by Wasaru – New Andromeda Theory


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In the region that I cover from Seven Hills, Blacktown, St.Marys, Penrith, Riverstone, Windsor and the Hawkesbury region I speak to hard working business owners every single day who are not getting paid for the goods & services they've supplied to their clients in good faith on a handshake.
Business Owners need to learn from the banks….
When you approach the bank to apply for a loan you have to fill out an application form which details the banks Terms & Conditions of Trade… What do you think happens if you don't pay the bank back?
Now think of all the small to medium businesses throughout the Hawkesbury region who supply goods and services in good faith expecting to get paid. They are no different to the banks in that they are both credit providers.
However the small to medium businesses throughout; Seven Hills, Blacktown, St.Marys, Kingswood, Penrith, Riverstone, Windsor and Richmond, don't always protect themselves the way the banks do and put a watertight contract in place. But why is that?
The old fashioned way of doing business on a handshake is becoming increasingly outdated. As a business owner in 2016 surely you want security and peace of mind knowing you are protected when something inevitably goes wrong? And it's too late if you already have a problem.
If you are a small to medium business in the Seven Hills, Blacktown, St.Marys, Penrith, Riverstone, Windsor and Richmond areas, DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR and call or email me, Greg Clinton – 0405 057 774. We can spend 10-15 minutes discussing the tools you require to protect your business and its cash flow with a watertight set of Terms and Conditions of Trade


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Confetti Dots Let's Party Deville Napkinsbe the first!
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Luxurious and absorbent DeVille white cocktail napkins with a linen-texture finish. Luxurious napkin material sourced from Europe and personalized in the USA. Choice of . Typestyle only as shown. Shrink wrapped in sets of 50.
The Lets Party Confetti Dot design will always appear on napkins.
Sample shown with Silver Metallic Foil imprint and Placement N - Horizontal Centered


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Alright with the one of the most disappoinitng season coming to a close soon Knick fans have two major events comming up; one the firing (we assume) of Isiah Thomas as head coach, two is what will our lottery position be. Being that there is no way to get into Walsh's mind on the Isiah's job status; I decided to focus on the more logical event.
Damn That 3 game win streak!: The Knicks have put themselves in position to not being able to win a single game in the risk of them slipping to even lower in the lottery (we are only a half game worst than LAC). Currently we are 5th with an 8.8% chance of "winning the lottery". Had we not "won" those three games we would be tied for third with a 15.5 % chance at winning.
Lottery odds: Ok like I said 8.8% to win it all! We have a 9.7% chance to get the number 2 pick, and 10.7% chance at number 3. Here's where it gets tricky. If we stay at the fifth worst record in the league, we have no chance at the number 4 pick at all! (More on that in a second) We have a 26% chance at number 5, and our most likely percent chance is number 6 at 35%. We have a 8.7% chance at 7, which is just as likely as us getting the #1. and less than one percent at number 8, and no chance to finish any lower. So basically the win streak took us from a team who's worst case scenerio was the 6th pick, to a team that is likely to end up with the sixth pick. Damn this team can't even lose good!
How it works (sorta): There are way to many mathmatical equations for me to bore you with, but essentaily every one has a shot at the top 3 picks, ofcousre as we all know the likelyhood is based off of a teams record. But the 12,13,and 14th teams in the lottery can finish with a top three pick, but no other pick in between. So it is all or nothing for these teams. It's either they get 1,2,3, or they finish were there record would put them in lottery seedings, beacuse after the first three picks are established the rest of lottery order is deterimined by teams records. Hence why the Knicks at number 5 could not get the number four pick. If the top three teams get the top 3 picks, the #4 team assumes the forth pick, and the Knicks get the 5th. I know a little confusing, but I am trying to put it into the simplest of terms.
The Knicks best bet is to drop there remaining two games, Boston will beat us even with subs, and assuming Indy is still fighting for the playoffs, should beat us. And with Memphis facing Minnesota today, that could give the Grizz a better record. Now in the event we finish tied with Memphis the average chance of winning the lottery 11.9 and 8.8 is averaged and that is the teams likelyhood of winning the lottery.
Lets Go Grizz and Clippers! And Again DAMN THAT Three GAME WIN STREAK!


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I thought suicide watch (aka shadow watch) was a waste of time. If someone wanted to commit suicide for real, he would just do it and not start running around saying how he's going to do it. If someone in my unit said, "I'M GOING TO COMMIT SUICIDE," fellow Marines would normally respond with, "No balls, small penis, spaghetti pubes."
But in all seriousness, In 2008, the Marine Corps had the second highest suicide rate compared to the other parts of the Armed Forces. It came very close to first place.
After combat, it is one of the top killer of Marines. In 2009, 52 Marines killed themselves.
There is a simple explanation why Marines do it. The Marine Corps blows complete and total ass. There are many ways they do this and I can't hope to possibly explain it all.
For one, you are a government slave bound to follow the ridiculous whims of your Officers and Staff NCOs. Some of these tasks will push Marines to borderline suicidal levels. For example, I knew a section that did nothing all morning and afternoon. Just before they were about to be released, their douchebag Warrant Officer would dump a shitload of "high priority" work on them. Of course none of this work was "high priority" and could have been done tomorrow. These Marines had no choice unless they want to lose money and rank.
One negative effect of this is that Marines would have to spend extra time beyond their normal working hours. What remains unseen are Marines not having time to see their families, their loved ones, have fun or even relax. It makes life more stressful.
There are several questions that I want to ask of that Warrant Officer. Why can't they complete those turnover binders tomorrow and not that night? Why did you dump it on them at the last minute? Who is failing? This is just one example of things higher ups can do that can prevent thoughts of suicide.
A suicide brief is given everytime a Marine kills himself in my unit. Holy crap, they are boring. You sit on your ass for hours while there's someone who talks on and on about suicide, ways people commit suicide, suicide success rates, why people commit suicide, the works. Is this really the solution?
Instead of asking themselves where do all these problems come from, higher ups just look for solutions. Never once in my Marine Corps career has anyone asked me if I would commit suicide and why.
If you're thinking about suicide, do what I did. Say to yourself, "Just *insert number of years left in the Marines* more years left."
On a side note, I added the USMC Hall of Fame section to the "A Few Good Links" section.
Watching shadows since 1775.


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Tag: America
Travelling To America?
When you're travelling to America you need an ESTA visa which is part of the Visa Waiver Program. The visa has to be printed, ready to be shown once you have entered the country. You can qualify for this if you have a valid passport, are a citizen of an eligible country and you only plan on staying in the US without exceeding the 90 days permitted stay. To apply for this visa all you have to do is fill in a form which is easier to do online and then submit a payment. The ESTA visa would be valid for 2 years or until the passport runs out, it depends on which happens first. As long as the visa is valid you won't need to reapply for it during the two year period. Once applied for the visa could be either accepted or rejected within minutes.
In America you must tip between 15 and 20% in American restaurants; its part of a social contract and all Americans are aware of this, it's expected. American portion sizes are much bigger than you'll be used to. It's expected and considered part of the service for you to take food home with you. They don't have brown sauce, they don't eat meat pies, and chips don't come with everything. Americans drink a lot of coffee instead of tea which is why you probably won't have your typical cup of tea; if you ask for tea you'll probably be given an iced tea. To them biscuits are actually cookies and a biscuit is actually a type of savoury bread muffin. Whenever you order an alcoholic drink you are expected to tip the bartender at least a dollar per drink. They don't really see being really drunk or having a hangover as an accomplishment. People will casually smile and start a conversation with you in the street; it's nice to do so back. American flags are seen as a sign of national unity; therefore never do anything to disrespect one.
When you're visiting America there are so many different places you should go because you don't want to miss out. Some are better to go alone or with friends and some are better to visit with your family and children to be able to enjoy them properly. You need to make sure that you have a car, as not all of the transport is completely reliable and not everything can be reached easily by walking or public transport. Just a few places you should make sure to visit include the Grand Canyon, Alcatraz Island and the Magic Kingdom.


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Smart Football has moved!
Saturday, April 18, 2009
A few thoughts on Greg Paulus
Apparently Paulus was a sought-after recruit coming out of high school -- Tom Lemming ranked him the #1 QB in his class. So all these shenanigans aren't completely out of the blue. The blogosphere has gone bananas over this story, but what is Paulus doing?
Let's take a step back. Paulus, who has spent the past four years at Duke playing basketball, is in many ways simply another graduating senior in this crazy economy who doesn't know what he's doing next year. (His bio lists his major as "[P]olitical science with a certificate in markets and management studies." I'm guessing "markets and management studies" isn't quite as marketable this year as it has been previously.) It's pretty obvious after his senior-season demotion to the bench that the NBA is not in his future; I don't know what his options are regarding playing basketball in Europe, which actually pays quite well.
So he's exploring this football thing. The reports could be misleading, but it appears that the Packers approached him. And for some college, I don't really see the downside with letting the kid at least walk-on. You might as well bring in a guy who has some innate talent and let him prove himself. (Most all D-1 walk-ons tend to be "preferred walk-ons" who get recruited by the coaches -- walk-ons are very rarely of the "Rudy" cariety), And all the talk by some Michigan fans that it would somehow scare off their other QBs seems bizarre to me. But I guess that's moot now.
But what's realistic? I think it's rather unlikely that Paulus would get drafted -- at most he could hope to be invited in as a free agent. As a result, if he's serious about football, I'd recommend the option of taking a year in college pursuing an advanced degree while trying to improve as a quarterback, even as a backup. There's always Matt Cassel and Brad Johnson as your models of guys who never started in college. And it's not like Paulus would be brought in on Matt Ryan terms to be the guy right away anyway; he'd be looking at a few years in the pros as a backup as well. (This is why I recommend the opposite for Paulus than I did for Tim Tebow.)
Now this assumes someone wants him. David Cutcliffe, Duke's head football coach, said no way to Paulus as a QB. Yet, again, I don't see the downside with letting him walk on, and many teams have an open scholarship spot or two because of players let go for disciplinary reasons; unless you desperately need it why not?
Part of this deal is, as I said, Paulus is yet another college senior heading into a crazy job market with uncertain employment options. In five years, even if he made the NFL or NBA, he might still be out of work and then what? So another year getting some more job skills, on top of his Duke degree, is a good idea.
But here's a crazy idea: how about he goes to the Arena League for a year or two before trying for the NFL? While the Arena League hasn't done much for a lot of skill players or linemen, it has been of some help to quarterbacks because of the league's frenetic pace that requires accuracy and quick releases, not to mention hordes of passes. The average salary for an Arena League player is about $85,000, and many Arena League players work second jobs or go to school while they play. [Update: Some readers point out that the Arena League is taking next year off due to the economy (yikes). But that still leaves the CFL and some other possibilities.)
So maybe if Paulus can't be the next Tom Brady, maybe he can be the next Kurt Warner? And if that doesn't work out, maybe he'll have a good fallback plan.
12 comments:
i agree that it doesnt seem plausible for him to seriously play football this year but i think Weinke was out of football for a longer period of time and he seemed to get the hang of it back quickly when he rejoined the FSU team. I would've liked to see what he could do at a big school like Michigan.
The arena angle is moot as well since as you mentioned the economy, they have canceled this season as a cost cutting move. Not cutting back on salary, or not having cheerleaders or something. Canceling the season, in the name of the long term life of the league. Thats like the farley skit on snl where he drinks the tub of nyquil to pass out for the whole cold and flu season.
- squirrelyearl said...
Good analysis. I'm surprised the Michigan thing fell through since they're really struggling. I agree completely about pretty much any D-I school being willing to take a look at this kid. I mean he was good enough to be on the Duke Basketball team, that says a lot about his athleticism not to mention his past football accolades. I don't get the Duke Football coach, he seems so elitist. It's Duke Football, it's pretty close to the worst D-I program in the nation and he's not willing to give the guy a shot at QB? That really confused me when I saw that on ESPN.
I hadn't thought about the Arena angle, that is good as well. Although, the actual AFL is taking the year off so that does make things difficult, however, I know there's also the AIFL so that's an option. Also, there's always Canada. Anyway, if this guy wants to take a shot I hope he's given one and that he takes it. I'm a recent Political Science graduate myself so I can relate to a lot of the difficulties of the current job market.
- Walk On Boy said...
Another well thought out, completely rational post. Which means it has very little likelihood of coming to fruition.
Actually I'm very surprised that Duke is not taking a more serious look at him since it seems that it is little more than a low-risk high-reward type of situation. Or that the Blue Devils staff haven't thought of this sooner. Even one to two years of spring ball or even attending meetings would expedite the learning curve dramatically with little risk of him being injured {for basketball reasons} due to the nature of a non-live practice quarterback.
Duke arguably has the best QB returning in the ACC this year. Thad Lewis is a senior and his backup, Asack, just got moved to safety. So if your Cutcliffe, who do you want taking backup reps? The guy who's not going to be in your program in 9 months or an underclassmen who will take the reins in 2010?
For the Michigan gig there is also the not-so-minor consideration that an NCAA waiver is needed to play post-graduate after having 4 years of participation in varsity sport (a waiver usually based on injury or other calamity causing a missed season).
It also requires that the school receiving the transfer offer a post-graduate degree not available from the prior institution AND for which the player is eligible to enroll. Soon after Urban Meyer came to Florida, one of his better DB's (Ryan Smith) transferred to UF grad school from Utah and played another year of his two remaining years eligibility. (He got two years because he finished undergraduate early with an accelerated class schedule.) Don't know what graduate major UF had that was not available at Utah but that's probably an easy requirement to dodge with all the niche degrees available.
I think Chris is right in saying that Paulus' diminishing basketball marketability and undergrad degree left him kind of high and dry. But that's an experience many of his peers have every year. Numbers don't lie (until they grow into statistics).
- Unknown said...
The talk I had heard was that Paulus was going to try out as a wide receiver at some place or another, figuring that it's just too late to develop as a quarterback since he's been away from football for 4 crucial college years.
I don't watch much college basketball, but I remember when LSU played Duke in the NCAA Tournament back in, oh.. 2006? Paulus was the point guard. He just could not keep up with LSU point guard Darrell Mitchell, and Mitchell wasn't even a true point guard. He was a shooting guard playing PG by necessity. Paulus wasn't quick enough to guard him without hand checking. If the refs had called hand checking, he would have fouled out in 10 minutes.
The point is, Paulus is just not that athletic. I guess he's a smart player. Others say that and I don't have enough knowledge to dispute it. There's no way he could possibly play a high-athleticism-required position like wide receiver or defensive back, and I can't imagine there's a school out there that he could win a job at quarterback at considering there's a long learning curve at the position and he hasn't played since high school.
It would be like a true freshman coming in and winning a job after having missed his last couple years of high school with injuries. I don't think even an FCS team would be interested except as a novelty.
Michigan Fan here, this whole Paulus thing was blown out of proportion, ESPN was primarily to blame as they went apeshit with quotes and misquotes. Rod never promised him a scholarship or a shot at starting.
Also, is he that good of a player?? He played HS ball in a weak NY HS league (correct me if i am wrong) and was exposed in the 05 Army AA game, both during practice and game. He is not that elite of talent in football and made the wise move of playing college BBall.
Plus he has been out of football since late 04, i mean he hasn't even practiced football, very different from Cassel or Brad Johnson who were backups and ran practices.
Giving him a walkon spot is acceptable but only if you have like one scholarship QB on your roster, else Paulus brings nothing.
And we are doing fine at QB, Forcier is a good talent and a better fit for this O that Threet, plus the OL is coming along real well after being green last year. Also Minor and Brown are healthy (cross fingers) and teh O in general is more experienced. Plus Sheridan should be back from his broken leg and Denrad Robinson is coming in fall.
Sheridan is what he is, but the improved and experienced supporting cast should erase some of his shortcomings. So Paulus is not a necessity as some of you have made it out to be.
- Chris said...
Anon: First, no one can be "exposed" at the Army All-America game. He didn't play well but I find that rather meaningless. Many excellent players haven't played well; it is, in my mind, less significant than someone playing poorly at say the Senior Bowl, which also doesn't really matter in the long run.
Second, I used Cassel and Johnson as examples of people who have had successful pro careers without starting in college, which would be the Paulus description if he caught on with a D-1 team as a backup for a season (meeting all the requirements Richard said). If you want an example of someone who started in major college football after taking a big break from football entirely, try Chris Weinke, Heisman winner. It can be done.
And third, "[W]e are doing fine at QB." Don't count your eggs before they are hatched. I'm cautiously optimistic about Michigan too, but seriously, Tate Forcier is a 180 pound freshman: don't get ahead of yourself. And even if he's better than Pat White as a freshman (unlikely, though I'm sure he'll be an improvement, and probably has a very, very bright career), his size and everything else implies the risk of injury. And suddenly Sheridan is the answer such that everyone else should be scared away?
I find the argument that "Forcier was blindsided by this news" and all that laughable: if an 18 year old kid is tough enough to be the starting QB for Michigan, he better be tough enough to handle competition wherever it might come from. I thought he looked good at Michigan's spring game, but we're not talking about a seasoned Vince Young here, and again, he could always be injured; I don't remember Michigan fans being content with Sheridan last year (nor should they have been).
Thus, as I said above, as a walk-on -- assuming the NCAA requirements are met -- I don't see how it can be at all a downside for a team like Michigan. Other than people getting irrational about the whole thing.
- Unknown said...
I too find the "Forcier was blindsided" business to be baloney. Paulus may have been a highly coveted football recruit, but LOTS AND LOTS of highly coveted football recruits go absolutely nowhere. (Anyone remember Xavier Lee? I thought not.) Many many more highly coveted recruits need a lot of seasoning before they're ready. These two things are especially true at the quarterback position.
The best thing about freshmen is that they become sophomores. Greg Paulus would be like a true freshman quarterback who is never going to be anything other than a true freshman. Once he's not a true freshman anymore, his eligibility is up. What's worse is, he's already missed spring practice. The list of true freshmen quarterbacks who made a big difference to their teams is a short list, and I would venture to say NONE of them had a long layoff from football before their freshman season.
Greg Paulus is not going to be a contributing player for any high profile football team at any position this year. Maybe he can go to another league and develop for a while, but the CFL is not an option. The CFL is a higher level of competition than is D1 college football. Honestly, I have no idea what Paulus could do at this point if he really wanted to pursue a football career.
Chris...."try Chris Weinke, Heisman winner"....your argument while true for Chris Weinke is not applicable to everybody, he was an exception. Plus he spent a whole season (97)as a freshman at FSU and they blossomed. So he had the benefit of a year's worth of reps.
I am not questioning your assertion that Paulus will have a future in pro football, if he does good for him, and hope something works out for him since he likes sports so much has spent a long time at it. If not he has a great degree and alumni base to fallback on.
But the assertion that he is of help to M and that we are missing out on something big seems quite presumptive. He is no better that a "preferred" walkon, and we have a kid coming, Nader Furrah, who played right across the big house in Pioneer high.
If teh transferring player was someone who had played QB at another school, BCS or mid-major and who wants to play here because he was injured at his original school or just wanted another chance to impress, by all means offer that guy a scholarship even (M's very own Ryan Mundy exploited a NCAA loophole and had much productive fifth year at VWU in 07 and even got to play in SBXLIII as a seventh round draft choice for the STeelers, he would have never made it had he come out in 06).
I agree with the rest of your points, except the Forcier Blindside stuff never mentioned it so don't use it against me, but the fact is that you are an outsider and might share the faith and,possibly, the irrational enthusiasm of a fan of said school, so our opinions might differ here a little bit.
Also you never included the "improvement elsewhere on O" in your rebuttal, M has always had talent and last year they were raw and were adjusting to a whole new philosophy. This year things are going to be a bit better at least on those fronts.
And i will try to link reports form the 05 AA game week to support my theory that he might have been "over rated" prior to seeing him during practice!!


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BEREA, Ohio (AP) Third-string quarterback Thad Lewis is one day closer to starting for the Browns.
With Brandon Weeden and Colt McCoy not practicing again because of right shoulder injuries, Lewis worked with Cleveland's first-team offense on Thursday as the Browns prepared for Sunday's season finale against Pittsburgh.
Weeden and McCoy were hurt last week against Denver, and although coach Pat Shurmur has not ruled them out, it appears likely that Lewis will get his first NFL regular-season action.
Also, rookie running back Trent Richardson did not practice with a sprained left ankle and starting cornerback Sheldon Brown remained out with a concussion.
Shurmur will likely rule players out following Friday's practice if they're going to miss the Steelers game.
Lewis has spent two seasons with Browns, but has yet to appear in a game.
``He's got a live arm,'' Shurmur said. ``He's very athletic. He'll execute our offense the right way and I'm glad he's going to, if he becomes the starter here, will have an opportunity. He'll do a good job.''
The team signed free agent quarterback Josh Johnson, who would back up Lewis if Weeden and McCoy can't play. Shurmur said the team considered signing Seneca Wallace, who started seven games in two seasons with Cleveland before he was released in training camp.
With Cleveland's front office expected to make sweeping changes during the offseason, Sunday could be Shurmur's final game with the Browns.
Shurmur said he does not have a meeting scheduled with new owner Jimmy Haslam or CEO Joe Banner regarding his future. Shurmur said he's only focused on the Steelers.
``Listen, I get this,'' he said. ``My concerns are for our team and making sure that we do all the right things during the game to give our guys the best chance to win. And then at some point after that, I'll begin to think about what goes on from that. But I'm not worrying about it.''
Shurmur believes the Browns have improved during his tenure. Cleveland is 9-22 with Shurmur as coach.
``We've made improvements, some may say not fast enough,'' Shurmur said. ``But I think we've made improvements. And I think we came into a less-than-ideal situation when we got here. Every situation is different, and I'm proud of that. I'm proud of the work that the guys that I hired did in terms of inspiring the players to improve.
``We have not won enough football games. And I know that's the way this thing works.''
Online:http://pro32.ap.org/poll andhttp://twitter.com/AP-NFL


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- 3/4 cup unbleached all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup assorted nuts (such as walnuts, almonds, and hazelnuts), toasted, cooled
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) chilled unsalted butter, diced
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons water
- 1/4 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
- 3 large egg yolks
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- Santa Rosa Plum Compote
Recipe Preparation
Butter bottom of 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom. Finely grind flour, nuts, sugar, and salt in processor. Add 6 tablespoons butter. Using on/off turns, blend until coarse meal forms. Add egg yolk; blend until moist clumps form. Press dough over bottom and up sides of pan. Pierce crust with fork. Freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400°F. Bake crust until golden, 13 to 14 minutes. Cool completely.
Place water in very small cup. Sprinkle gelatin over. Let stand until gelatin softens, about 10 minutes.
Whisk egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch in medium bowl to blend. Place milk in medium saucepan. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Bring milk to simmer. Gradually whisk hot milk mixture into yolk mixture. Return to same saucepan. Stir over medium-high heat until custard thickens and boils, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Scrape in gelatin mixture and stir to dissolve. Let stand 5 minutes.
Transfer custard to metal bowl. Discard vanilla bean. Set bowl over another bowl filled with ice and water; stir until cool but not set, about 15 minutes. Fold in sour cream. Spread filling evenly in crust. Chill tart until filling sets, at least 2 hours and up to 6 hours.
Cut tart into wedges. Spoon plum compote over and serve.


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The Pentagon will send a one-star general to Afghanistan this fall as part of a politically parlous but determined effort by the US to assume greater control in the country's troubled southern sector.
It's a small change to the complex command structure blamed for an ineffective counterinsurgency strategy that allowed the Taliban to stage a comeback.
But the deployment of the commander may pave the way for the US to slowly begin taking over the southern sector's military efforts as NATO's role there diminishes over time.
"I really think this will be a precursor of a larger American role," says one retired senior officer familiar with the move.
With his recent promotion to brigadier general, John "Mick" Nicholson likely will become a deputy commander of what's known as Regional Command South, making him the "go-to" American contact to coordinate US efforts within the snarl of US and NATO commands. The retired senior officer describes General Nicholson as "a tremendous talent." "Putting Nicholson in there is recognition that we've got to get more US engagement in the headquarters," he says.
The deployment of Nicholson and a small American staff comes after reports last week that Defense Secretary Robert Gates will approve a $17 billion funding program to increase the size of the Afghan National Army by almost 100 percent to 120,000 soldiers.
Mr. Gates, who for months appeared unenthusiastic about making changes to the convoluted command structure in Afghanistan, will also approve changes in which the current NATO commander, Gen. David McKiernan – an American – will also report directly to US Central Command in Tampa. Fla. Currently General McKiernan reports through a NATO chain of command, which has stymied the American efforts to focus combat operations in the south.
"They are laying the necessary groundwork so that the really painful but necessary decisions will fall to the next administration – including the US taking over in a significant way," says one Republican aide on Capitol Hill.
Initially a symbol of what an American-led coalition could do in the days after the attacks in September 2001, the mission in Afghanistan began to falter a couple years ago as the Taliban exploited the ineffectiveness of the NATO-led peacekeeping mission there.
Now, American and some allied nations recognize the need for a definitive combat role in the southern sector, including Kandahar and Helmand provinces, where the violence is some of the worst. But the effort to right the approach has been hamstrung by a lack of troops and a bifurcated command structure in which, unlike the mission in Iraq, no single commander is really in charge.
In Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus is the sole commander and thusly can "shape the battlefield" using his own counterinsurgency strategy.
In Afghanistan, the senior NATO commander owns only about half the troops, the rest of which are American and fall outside the NATO chain of command. Additionally, each regional command, led by a different country's military, takes a different approach.
Violence, while limited to about 10 of the 365 districts across Afghanistan, is on the increase. And much of it stems from insurgents and other terrorist groups who cross the border into Afghanistan to conduct attacks and then retreat back across the border into the tribal region of Pakistan where they are essentially out of reach of coalition forces.
The US has had to stand back and rely on the fledgling efforts of Pakistani military and the Frontier Corps, which operates in much of the Pakistani border region, to go after these insurgents. That has unfolded with limited success thus far.
Changes are afoot, but they will be gradual as the sensitivities of doing anything that could be perceived as American heavy-handedness is a political thorn bush for the US.
Nicholson's deployment is "still being worked," says another military official, in part because of the political sensitivities of sending an American there. But the significance of the deployment of Nicholson and his small staff to the Regional Command South sector is that he will be able to help direct US military operations in the south.
Currently, for example, the contingent of US Marines working in the south fall under a NATO subordinate command that is shared by the Canadians, the Dutch, and the British. But in that particular case, the Marine efforts can be hampered by working under a foreign commander whose approach is not always as aggressive as that of the Americans.
The rotation of command in the southern sector is currently held by the Canadians. This fall, the Dutch will lead Regional Command South for 12 months, followed by the British for another year. It is likely the US in 2010 will then take over command of the south altogether, and retain it indefinitely, sources say.
An ultimate takeover, at least in some form, of the southern sector by the US is not ideal but would be welcome, says Carter Malkasian, director of the Stability and Development Program at the Center for Naval Analyses, a think tank in Washington.
"I think it would be better if we had allies stepping in to do it," he says. "But if they are not going to do it, in the end [US control] is a good thing because it will help improve the security situation."
But any push to remake the strategy in Afghanistan must take a regional approach, say experts such as the retired senior officer and others. For example, sources say McKiernan may also be given a more formal authority over the senior military official in the US Embassy in Pakistan, Rear Adm. Michael LeFevre.
There has been much focus on amping up the number of troops in Afghanistan. But most analysts who study the problem in Afghanistan, as well as many military commanders, recognize that more troops will not be the cure-all. Most important, they say, is a well-defined counterinsurgency strategy to support not only combat activities but also reconstruction and stability initiatives that typically make up the lion's share of any counterinsurgency strategy.
Nonetheless, the US seems poised to deploy additional troops to Afghanistan with perhaps as many as 3,500 or so leaving before the end of this year, says Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell.
"They are actively involved in determining whether or not additional forces can be sent to Afghanistan, perhaps as soon as this year," says Mr. Morrell.


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To interpret the natural world through research, education and exhibits; to promote understanding of the evolution and diversity of southern California and the peninsula of Baja California; and to inspire in all a respect for nature and the environment.
The San Diego Natural History Museum will be the premier collections-based environmental education and natural history research resource in our region. We will provide programs that are timely, user-friendly, and relevant to the real-life needs of the diverse populations of the San Diego-Baja California region today and tomorrow.


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When you meet someone new it takes time to get to know who they are deep inside. Once you get past the surface layer and start to explore, the real unfolding begins. Social profiling happens naturally, giving us a clue into who someone is inside. Does he drive a Hummer, Smart Car or Hot Rod? Does he live in the City or out in the Burbs? What does he do for a living, Artist, Accountant, Fireman? What you see on the outside is not always what is on the inside. You need to dig deeper.
What someone spends their day doing can be a reflection of what interests them, sometimes, but we don't all find ourselves immersed in our passion as a way of making a living. What matters is that we have passion somewhere within our day. Each individual soul placed on earth is here for their journey following their path. We are drawn to certain people for many different reasons. I like to think everyone has something to teach me whether it be a little or large lesson, I am open.
Our heart is what's most important. Finding out what make it beat is the fun part. What feeds his soul? Where does he find inspiration? What does he aspire to do when he grows up? 😉 What is he doing to make a difference in the world? What makes his blood boil? What makes his heart race? What brings him to the point of no return? What brings him to his knees? What topic of conversation intrigues his intellect? What are his religious beliefs? What makes him giggle? What scares him? What part of the woman's body does he find most erotic? Where are his erogenous zones? What was his most embarrassing moment? Has his heart been broken? Those are questions that are on my mind when I meet someone new. They don't need to be answered right away but they are floating in the back of my subconscious.
It takes time for our true colours to shine. Everyone has had a struggle here or there, I view those moments as an opportunity for character building. Isn't it more important how someone deals with less favourable situations than the perfect ones? We all make choices in life to where we are going, some earlier than others. Does it matter what we do as much as how we do it? Have we lost the desire to find out what really matters because we lack the time and energy to do so? Do we have the patience anymore to take the time to get to know someone, I mean really know someone!
Before you start to explore the male energy write down what it is you want his energy to radiate. Here are a few things on my wish list…care to add what's on yours?
Passion, intellectually stimulating, sensual, romantic, sense of humour, spiritual, healthy, creative, unselfish, confident, affectionate, loves children, loves to travel, compassionate, inner strength, sexual compatibility, chemistry, loves life, strong moral values, integrity, loves nature!
Time and patience is the only true way to find out what is deep beneath the surface.


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What's Next for Diversity?
This article was published in the New Amsterdam News.
For those of us who worked over so many years to reach the Supreme Court and affirm the constitutionality of affirmative action in higher education, which occurred in 2003 in Grutter v. Bollinger, this is the moment we have been dreading. The recent 5-4 decision limiting voluntary segregation programs in our nation's public schools represents an inversion of the historic Brown v. Board of Education decision's clarion call for racial equality in education. And it is all too easy to understand how societal efforts to achieve racial integration, including through affirmative action in higher education, are now in serious jeopardy.
To be sure, Justice Kennedy in his concurring opinion stopped the majority short of slamming the door on race-based diversity in our schools; and even the Chief Justice tried to explain why the use of race in law school admissions is different. Specifically, the Court said it was tolerable to consider race as one of several factors in Grutter because individual applicants were evaluated in a "holistic" way and because "the expansive freedoms of speech and thought associated with the university environment" – and fostered by diversity – "occupy a special niche in our constitutional tradition.
Yet anyone reading between the lines of the majority opinion could feel the Chief Justice straining to explain Grutter's constitutionality before making the point he really wanted to make: Grutter is a weak precedent with "expressly articulated key limitations" and that "the lower courts" have "largely disregarded" this "in extending Grutter" beyond "the unique context of higher education."
It is important that we read the narrowness of this interpretation of Grutter alongside the sweeping rhetoric that Chief Justice Roberts really wants this holding to signify: "The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race." This is the language anti-affirmative action advocates and a host of others will seize on. In this way, the methodical process Thurgood Marshall and others followed to achieve the Brown revolution will be used by the Roberts Court to undo it.
The difference is that the Brown decision brought the law down to earth, where it could finally see that separate school facilities were, as a matter of fact and experience, "inherently unequal." The Seattle and Louisville decision removes the law to its formalistic and disconnected position of a century ago, where as empty rhetoric, it imagines an America that never way – and because of it, may never be.
In doing so, it obscures the larger debate about race in this country. Stripped bare, however, these school decisions are not about precedent, they are about broad philosophical differences about the role of public institutions in dealing with issues of race in America. Undergirding them is the feeling that Justice Scalia has made explicit, that society is tired of mending centuries of slavery and Jim Crow segregation, and that it is now up to those who have been discriminated against to "make it" on their own, as other groups have. For them, to consider race even for the noble end of integration does more harm than good by inflaming racial tensions.
These arguments make many Americans uncomfortable, and so they avoid them. I say let them be put on the table and debated, not hidden beneath phony "interpretations" of Brown. How should we respond to the fact that cities are more segregated today than they were a half century ago, or that the unemployment rates among African Americans in our inner cities is a multiple of the national number?
"One of the things I learned in leading the litigation in the affirmative action cases was that dealing with issues of race is not something that people in the mainstream of American life want to talk about, but with the proper leadership, they will."
The problem for the chief Justice is that wishing Brown stood only for the simpler proposition of "stopping discrimination" does not make it so. From the very beginning, Brown impelled us to take affirmative steps to achieve racial justice. And it is absurd to think the Court that decided Brown would have struck down these local school districts' efforts to carry out that mission. Yet this is precisely the result the Roberts Court wants us to take at face value. It is up to us to confront them on this and to insist that if they are going to take this new turn in our basic law, they must state their real reasons for it. Otherwise, the Court will continue pretending that its rulings are consistent with the Brown line of cases – and thus devoted to "conservative" principles – until there is nothing left of Brown. If that is not the epitome of "judicial activism," what is?
I often wonder what the unanimous Brown Court would think of a country fifty-three years later that has proven itself too impatient to achieve racial justice after centuries of being too slow to recognize it. Perhaps knowing painfully the legacy of invidious discrimination they were seeking to overturn, they actually would not be surprised by this most recent turn of events. After all, every half century or so, the nation seems to back away from solving the problems of racial injustice, only to recommit itself to the cause when the pot is about to boil over. From the beginning of the Constitution to Dred Scott; from the Civil War and emancipation to Plessy; from Brown to today – we always seem to be better at articulating our ideals than delivering on them.
But it doesn't have to be this way. One of the things I learned in leading the litigation in the affirmative action cases was that dealing with issues of race is not something that people in the mainstream of American life want to talk about, but with the proper leadership, they will.
For example, while we were eventually praised for enlisting the support of forty of the Fortune 500 largest US corporations and from leaders in the military, it was exceedingly difficult to get those advocates to sign on to the cause of affirmative action in higher education. Like many of our political leaders, they were convinced that a majority of Americans would oppose them, and pointed to Prop 209 in California for proof. It was only after the late President Gerald Ford agreed to stand with us that things began to change. "I don't want future college students to suffer the cultural and social impoverishment that afflicted my generation," he wrote in the New York Times. That is what inspired General Motors to sign on – only then were we "in business."
I fear this latest Court decision represents the first act and scene of a national tragedy of withdrawal from Brown and Grutter's promise of a more inclusive America – a perilous shift in the direction of constitutional law from the last half century. But the scenes that follow are still ours to write – if only we have the courage and will to take up the pen. As President Ford said, "If history has taught us anything… it is the notion of America as a work in progress."


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Working with entrepreneurs and world-class venture capital firms to create and build fast growing Internet services, eCommerce and Digital Media businesses.
Monday, January 02, 2012
The cult of the founder
Settling for co-founder is certainly a better moniker than even CEO.
Founders take the risk, make the leap, make the sacrifices.
And we need the heroic and iconic founders - the Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, Marc Andreessen, Nikolas Zennstrom et al to inspire future ones. Their tales are the stuff of legends.
We all know, however, that it is far more complicated than that.
Seldom has a founder been able to realise a dream (or even formulate that dream) without the commitment, blood, sweat and tears of at least a few others. Think Steve Wozniak, Paul Allen, Kevin Colleran (who??) and bunch of others, Janus Friis, Craig Silverstein.
Founders often get disproportionate rewards - both financial and in terms of recognition.
Most recently, I have been consulted - along with many others - by the UK Government asking for ideas as to how to stimulate further the growth of entrepreneurialism in the tech sector.
The Government has been listening and have implemented some important tax and visa changes which are most helpful in this regard. Two of the policies illustrate just how founder focused they have been - and where there is room for further important enhancement.
Firstly, UK capital gains tax - the tax on the first £10m for entrepreneurs is now only 10%.
However, if you did not have founder shares, but joined after the founding of the company and have an option package, then providing its an approved scheme - eg EMI - then you'll be taxed at 28% - or if unapproved then possibly at 50%. Doesn't seem right, does it?
Often senior execs in a startup have taken considerable risk, leaving highly paid jobs, accepting far lower salaries in the expectation of making a significant capital gain.
We need to attract more of this type of talent to our startup companies and a change to the CGT rules will help significantly.
Secondly, the Entrepreneurs Visa. A big step forward enabling non EU entrepreneurs, with recognised backing to enter the UK. This does not yet apply to talented people - non founders.
So, lets hear it for the unsung backup teams - its tough to build a great company but doing it on your own is simply impossible.
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- Replies
early employees, most definitely. Someone coming from a well paid, 'safe' job at a large corporate joins a startup swapping income for potential capital gain. The number of shares they will seek is often directly related an expected outcome. The difference between 50% and 10% tax is material.Delete
+1 for a more tax efficient way of providing stock options to non-full time staff.ReplyDelete
Adding industry influencers, mentors or advisors to a company is an essential step in expanding experience, connections and guidance. These people usually take a non-full-time role which means their stock options must be unapproved. Stock options are a great incentive in these cases, but 50% tax really takes the icing right off the cake. Would love a better way.
Totally agree!ReplyDelete
One point I would add on this one Robin is that EMI relief on approved options is still capped at £120,000 of market value (unlike Entrepreneur relief at 10M!). Seems like this should be increased.
If you join in a senior role in a startup that already has a strong valuation, you are very likely to have some or all of your options open to full whack income tax.
Ideally, tax incentives should help build big successes where we create multiple millionaires in each company!
I'm still holding out for a lack of angel investment being the biggest challenge facing the UK. Every founder (or co-founder, of which Wozniak was one) I know says raising the money takes too long, is too hard and tends to be poor valuation, making future investment rounds more difficult.ReplyDelete
While it seems a little unfair that CGT for early employees is not as generous as for founders, the founders put in a lot of work getting the company to the point where it can employ people - and I'm not hearing many people saying they're struggling to recruit into start-ups because of the CGT issues for equity parts of the remuneration package.


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Rifle Hunters Shape Elk Evolution
Humans have shaped the evolution of animals for as long as we've been catching and eating them. In the days of spear hunting, speed and boldness were survival assets. But with today's high-powered rifles, the tables have turned. Animals that speed off in the open are most at risk. And the advantage goes to shyer, more secretive animals. At least among elk. So says a study in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B. [Simone Ciuti et al, Human selection of elk behavioural traits in a landscape of fear]
Researchers outfitted 122 elk with GPS collars, and tracked their movements before and during the hunting season. They found two different 'personality' types: "bold runners," who ran a lot in open range; and "shy hiders," who kept a lower profile.
As expected, "shy hiders" were more likely to avoid hunters' gunsights, and survive. And that effect was strongest among young elk facing their first hunting season. Which suggests some genetic basis for their behavior, because the youngsters hadn't yet learned to fear human hunters.
Problem is, sitting still is a bad tactic for escaping wolves and grizzlies. So human hunters may actually be selecting for traits that make elk more vulnerable to their natural predators. Leaving them stuck between a rock and a hard place.
—Christopher Intagliata
[The above text is a transcript of this podcast.]


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Sunday School Classes
October 4 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am
An event every week that begins at 10:00 am on Sunday, repeating indefinitely
CMPC Adult Sunday School Classes:
History of the Christian Church. Taught by Doug Ostien in Room A116 downstairs.
College Class: Applying a Biblical Worldview to Cultural Concerns. Taught by Armando Becerra and Andy Jobson in Room A104 downstairs.
Women's Class. Understanding Your Blessings in Christ, a study of Ephesians, by Elizabeth George. Taught by Claudia Rollo in the Parlor
1 Samuel. Taught by David Martin, Ben Phillips and John Rollo in Room A114 downstairs.
Acts. Taught by Bob Bradbury, Tom Day, John King and Kennedy Smartt in the Fellowship Hall upstairs.
"The Next 500 Years: the 2017 Ligonier Conference Celebrating the Protestant Reformation." Taught by Keith Cox, Benny Hurley and Jack Sweeney in Room A107 downstairs.
Gospel Insights into Contemporary Issues: The Book of Hosea. Taught by Robert Martin, Marty Moore and Dennis Swinehart in Room A110 downstairs.
The Harvest. The Gospel and Evangelism; taught by Dee Hammond in the Gathering Room downstairs (A102).
What is Church Membership All About? Taught by Pastor John in his study.


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I think it's great that you recently felt the need to shell out a fortune for FUBARMED, the new computerized chart system that runs your office.
Apparently FUBARMED has a feature that lets you list me, or any other doctor, as a "consultant" in a patient's chart. I assume the idea here is to improve physician communication.
It seems like an absolutely great idea. You order an MRI, or labs, and your computer automatically faxes the results to my office, too.
In theory, that sounds nice.
But FUBARMED has no fucking clue what different doctors care about.
So it faxes me EVERY DAMN THING. Mrs. Patient (who I'm seeing for migraines) gets a pap smear? I get the results. She calls you with a runny nose? The phone note shows up on my fax machine (along with your delightful response "what color is her mucus?"). She needs a refill on her cholesterol medication? FUBARMED faxes me a notification, then a copy of your approval.
As far as I can tell, this great program of yours is functioning primarily to waste my time, paper, and fax machine toner.
Hoping to see one come over soon that says "Patient doesn't like Dr. Grumpy, wants you to take him off the consultant list."
Yours truly,
Ibee Grumpy, M.D.


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Patient Information
We've provided this information in response to the most frequently asked questions from our patients. Please don't hesitate to contact us, if you need additional information.
What can you do if you develop a cough at midnight? Call the Riverside Nurse, a free service that's available 24/7. A registered nurse trained in telephone triage will answer your questions and, if needed, refer you to a physician for treatment. Call 1-800-675-6368. Of course, if you have a life-threatening situation, call 911.
You can pay your medical bill online using Riverside's secure service. Visit Pay Your Bill Online.
One of the keys to lifelong good health is to have regular health screenings. The National Institutes of Health recommends these medical screenings based on your age and gender.


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Formerly Rose City Stamp & A-Z Stamps
In 2019, Stamp-Connection purchased both Rose City Stamp and A-Z Stamps, combining all into one company to better serve your needs.We thank you for your continued patronage and look forward to many more years of our continued relationship with you.
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Quote of the Day - My son got to call me on the cell phone and say, ?Hi, mom, I'm back.' It was pretty exciting.
A Remote Wipe May Strand You Without Data: What Now?
While you're flying back from a business trip to a remote corner of Eastern Europe - where you don't speak the language - imagine this: your mobile phone boarding pass disappears, and your interpreter just spun his heels and waved goodbye when you reached the security line. No problem, you say, I'll just call <insert name of airline here> and get the boarding pass sent by email.
Then you check your email, and nothing's there. Nor are your contacts, calendar or any other information on your cell phone. It's blank, and so is the stare on your face.
Although you didn't know it, your phone just got (accidently) remotely wiped by your company's IT department. Wiped. As in erased. Gone. Nothing. Nada. Zippo. Dead in the water. You are suddenly stuck far, far away from help in an inhospitable place with none of the data that you've become dependent upon to live your life.
Think this secenario isn't possible? Then ask this woman, whose phone was accidently wiped by her employer while she was on a trip from Silicon Valley to Los Angeles. I just changed the location of the story to highlight the dangers.
She was surprised that her company was able to erase the data stored on her telephone because she owned the phone, the phone number and paid the bills. Plus, her company hadn't told her that they had the power to wipe all data from her cell phone.
A quick search turned up no cases where employees have sued their employers over such practices, but you can bet there's one in the wings.
It's not a hard thing to do. Check out these easy-to-follow instructions on Microsoft's website. If you have an iPhone, it's just as easy (provided you clicked on the right settings on your phone before you lost it). Google claims it has the same feature, although many find it hard to use. Blackberry does the same thing.
This feature may be new to you, but not to many corporate IT departments.
So, if you own a company and have employees who use cell phones, then you might want to consider a cell phone use policy. Inc. Magazine offers a few tips to consider. If you're adventurous, you can use LegalZoom to write one for you. (In fact, I hope you do. I get a lot of work from entrepreneurs who try to be lawyers).
If you haven't thought about these issues, it's about time. Someone's going to sue as this remote wipe feature is used more and more as people continue to lose their cell phones.
But first, backup your cell phone. Then call me.