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The Wessex Research Group Network archive contains those lectures that have been digitised and are freely downloadable as a personal educational tool. Further lectures can be found by clicking the buttons below as well as at Podbean, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Title: The Tree of Life and the Holy Grail
Speaker: Sylvia Francke
Grail law is all about choice and the ideals of service and democracy. In this marvellous oration Sylvia (a grail researcher for over 20 years and author of the book The Tree of Life and the Holy Grail) examines the meaning of Grail Law in the context of Steiner's philosophies of esoteric christianity. This lecture also considers the relationship between Grail sites and sacred earth energies and the role of groups such as the Cathars and Templars.
Title: The Da Vinci Code Uncovered. Templars in Rosslyn
Speaker: Margot Daru Elliot
Margot looks at the work of Dan Brown in the context of him leaving us a series of clues that can enable each of us to unravel the mysteries of the Da Vinci Code. What clues do we have from the paintings of masters such as Leonardo Da Vinci about Grail Law, Jesus, Mary Magdeline, sacred geometry, the church and the historical and actual truth of biblical events? Is the Roman Catholic Church founded on a lie?
Title: Atlantis. The Truth
Speaker: Nigel Blair
In what represents the culmination of 25 years of research on this subject, Nigel states that around 12,000 years ago, a series of islands located in the Atlantic and possibly the size of France consisted of 10 kingdoms known as Atlantis. What happened to this civilisation that conquered much of the land around the Mediterranean? Were they the victims of the regular cycles of planetary catastrophe?
Title: Medieval Mysticism
Speaker: Anne Bancroft
In what is a fascinating lecture, the meaning of mysticism in the 11th, 12th and 13th century is defined and the commonalities between the teachings of Medieval Mystics and elements of Zen Buddhism and Hinduism are then discussed and compared to the tense relationship that existed between Medieval Mystics and the Christian Church which strove to suppress such teachings.
Title: Two Modern Mystics. Gurdjieff and Krishnamurti
Speaker: Anne Bancroft
A marvellous lecture in which Anne provides us with an insight in to the lives and teachings of two twentieth century mystics. It is said that Gurdjieff (1866-1949) liked to present his teachings in a complex way whilst Krishnamurti (1895-1986) adopted a very simple approach to the concept of self awareness. A marvellous oration that leaves the listener with much to ponder!
"Truth is a pathless land. Man cannot come to it through any organisation, through any creed, through any dogma, priest or ritual, nor through any philosophic knowledge or psychological technique. He has to find it through the mirror of relationship, through the understanding of the contents of his own mind, through observation and not through intellectual analysis or introspective dissection..." KrishnaMurti
"People don't do but just react. People must learn to really be and really do" Gurdjieff
Title: Life After Death
Speaker: Harry Johnson
It is only in recent Western European society that the existence of non-existence after death is considered. The concept of life after death and reincarnation is taken for granted by every other society. Harry gives an excellent lecture in which he presents analytical evidence for the continuation of life after death, a description of what happens after death and discusses the possibility that life after death is a life of the mind without the body and not subject to the physical nature of time. The totality of experience relates to the larger soul self and not the individuality expressed through a particular brain in any one lifetime spent physical form. The relationship between the soul and brain is also discussed.
Title: Working with the Invisible Guides of Humanity. The Masters Beyond Error and Illusion
Speaker: Carol Fraser
At the beginning of this fascinating lecture lasting nearly 3 hours, Carol presents the listener with a fundamental invocation that is an entrance to a spiritual path. How ready are we as individuals to work without illusion? If we aspire to connect and work with ascended masters and higher forces, we must learn to work in a spirit of truth so that we are not open to manipulation and deception. The work and role of ascended masters in guiding humanity towards ascension and the incorporation of the Christ consciousness in to ourselves, is discussed with special emphasis on the green, violet and golden streams of energy.
Title: Crop Circles. Gateways to New Worlds
Speaker: Stanley Messenger
What are the spiritual significance of crop circles? What is it that beings from other dimensions are trying to convey and is humanity grasping the concept of what is being asked of us? In a truly mesmerising lecture that includes channelled information from Steiner himself, Stanley describes how Planet Earth and humanity is in the process of taking a major evolutionary step forward, which for humanity involves thinking from the heart rather than with the intellect.
Title: UFO's Mans Cosmic Test
Speaker: Nigel Blair
A well researched lecture suggesting that since 1947 levels of UFO activity around planet Earth has become more frequent. Why are Extra Terrestrials observing human activity with an increased level of interest? What are the spiritual and philosophical significance of the messages that we have already received and continue to be sent in the context of religious belief, the raising of the planetary vibration and the second coming of the Christ consciousness? During the course of this informative and exciting lecture many of the messages given to us by extra terrestrials are once again conveyed, raising more questions about the destiny of mankind.
Title: The Mystic Beatles. The Fab Four as Transmitters of the Perennial Philosophy
Speaker: Dean Carter
Dean presents the findings of his research in to the role of the Beatles as transmitters of the Perennial Philosophy. The talk begins with a summary of what is meant by the term 'Perennial Philosophy' before relating it to the spiritual development of the Beatles (in particular John and George) as portrayed through songs written prior to 1967.
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text: Shopping CartYour Cart is EmptyQuantity: RemoveSubtotalTaxesShippingTotalThere was an error with PayPalClick here to try againThank you for your business!You should be receiving an order confirmation from Paypal shortly.Exit Shopping CartYSET Academy Youth Social Educational Training YSET ADMINISTRATORS AND INSTRUCTORS Dr. Trevor Baptiste: DirectorJames McLaughlin: Reading TutorKaren Kress: Human Resources Kevin Murdock: Registered Nurse Dr. Corrie Tratner: Occupational Therapist/Instructional ConsultantDr. Elizabeth McAnulty: Physical Therapist/Curriculum Consultant YSET BOARD OF DIRECTORSDr. Paula Starnes: PresidentBrenda Moses: TreasurerKaren Kress: SecretaryDr. Felix Quayson: Officer Advisory Board Jonnie StarnesJanet MunginDr. Arlela BethelJeimy Pozo YSET ACADEMY is job training at its finest. Toggle NavigationHomeAbout UsStaffContact UsCorporate SponsorsContributionsPhoto GalleryYSET English OnlineHomeAbout UsStaffContact UsCorporate SponsorsContributionsPhoto GalleryYSET English Online / PreviousNextPausePlayClose


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Data protection portal
Data Subjects
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Before the first whistle, you should know that we use your data to provide customer service, manage our relationship and allow you to pay for your ticket.
We can't wait to welcome you to one of our events to share our love of the beautiful game!
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Thanks for being part of the team of staff and volunteers who make our events happen. We couldn't do it without you!
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Without our hard-working officials, there's no game, so thanks for everything you do for the sake of football around the world.
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Thanks for helping us tell football's story! We use your data to manage access to the FIFA Media Channel and accredit the journalists, photographers and broadcast reporters who help us bring football to the world.
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Match agents help us bring communities, countries, clubs and national teams together – you embody FIFA's Living Football philosophy.
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You're fundamental for the development of the game's stars. We use your data to comply with the rules of football and in particular the FIFA Football Agent Regulations.
Without fans like you, there's no football. Your enthusiasm gets us up in the morning and drives us to make football truly global.
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You're the future of the game. We use your data to help keep football safe and open, protect young players, comply with the rules of football, distribute funds and support payments, and share information between member associations and FIFA.
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With summer right around the corner, excitement mounts at the idea of soaking up some rays on the beach or enjoying the extra hours of sunlight at a family picnic. But in the quest to protect our skin from the sun's harmful UV rays, we often overlook the dangers of active ingredients in commercial sunscreens. A Center of Disease Control study found that "97% of Americans are contaminated with a widely-used sunscreen ingredient called oxybenzone that has been linked to allergies, hormone disruption, and cell damage." According to an analysis by the Environmental Working Group, this is because "sunlight causes oxybenzone to form free radical chemicals that may be linked to cell damage." Oxybenzone, which is widely used, was also linked to low birth weights in baby girls whose mothers were exposed during pregnancy. Another active ingredient, octinoxate, ehas been linked to contact dermatitis, acne, and rashes from allergic reactions.
But there are many options to keep your skin protected and healthy this summer. Companies have created alternative sunscreen options that are made with natural or non-toxic active ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, forgoing harmful man-made chemicals that leave our skin vulnerable to a slew of allergic reactions and additional health risks.
Here are 5 amazing sunscreens that will leave you worry-free this summer!
1. Goddess Garden leads the way in natural and organic sunscreens, with their Baby Natural Sunscreen earning the title of number one sunscreen by the Environmental Working Group in 2011. The Natural Sunscreen has an SPF30 and is 92% organic, the highest in the market. The 3.5-ounce tube is priced at $14.99.
2. JĀSÖN makes a line of natural sunscreen with shea butter and green tea extracts. Their broad-spectrum family variety is SPF45, tear-free, and water-resistant and just $9.87 for the 4-ounce tube.
3. Green Screen Organic SPF20 Sunscreen by Kabana Organic Skincare is chemical, gluten, and corn-free. Their eco-friendly packaging is 100% recycled and the product itself is biodegradable, making is reef and environmentally friendly. Green Screen comes in 1, 4, and 8-ounce sizes priced at $5.99, $16.49, and $30.95 respectively.
4. LAVANILA strives for luxurious skincare free of petrochemicals, synthetics dyes, and parabens. Their The Healthy Sunscreen SPF30 Body Cream is infused with shea butter, green tea extract, and cooling cucumber. The 4-ounce tube is priced at $38.
5. Moisturize and protect your skin with Sunology SPF50 Body Sunscreen. Their unique formula contains antioxidants and omega oils that fight free radicals and degradation that keeps your skin youthful under the sun's harmful rays. The product retails at $14.99 for a 3-ounce tube, a markdown from the original price of $19.99.
All these companies offer a variety of products, from baby to sport and facial sunscreens. Check them out and find the one that works for your lifestyle!
BONUS: make your own vegan sesame sunscreen with this recipe from Gorgeously Green!


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by Lillian Mangeau
Lauren Parsekian, co-founder of the anti-bullying non-profit called Kind Campaign, does not look like the kind of girl who would get bullied. She's tall and slender. Her long blonde hair could belong to a movie star. She's perky without being annoying and smart without being a know-it-all. So listening to her tell how a group of friends turned on her in middle school and ostracized her for nearly two years is a little surreal.
It started with a rumor planted by a jealous friend at a birthday party in seventh grade. It turned into universal shunning by her group of friends, an eating disorder, and suicidal thoughts. But Parsekian won't name names or even say what the rumor was about.
"We try and not talk about the details because we don't want to make it look like we're still stuck in the drama of it," Parsekian says.
But she and her co-founder Molly Thompson do talk about the general outlines. They tell their stories to girls in schools across the country. Parsekian and Thompson say telling their stories gets girls to open up about how hurtful teasing and bullying between girls can be.
"It's almost like a right of passage to be mean and catty to one another," Parsekian says. "It's this thing we expect and that we almost laugh off sometimes, but it's really damaging.
'She has, therefore I don't,' is a mode of thinking common to women ages 12 to 62
Girls and women are often mean, manipulative, and cruel to each other. This kind of nastiness often bubbles under the surface of a sweet exterior and can be easily missed by adults, Parsekian and Thompson say. This can leave girls feeling both attacked and alone and can often lead to girls feeling they have to lash out at each other to protect themselves.
"I don't think we have to be that way," Parsekian says. Her goal is to convince today's girls to do things differently; to be kinder to each other. Parkesian and Thompson ask girls to take a kindness pledge that includes a vow to not stand idly by while other girls are being bullied or hurt. Even if you can't do anything right that minute they say, you can talk to the girl later, or tell a parent or teacher what is going on.
Kind Campaign started in September 2009, a few months before the highly publicized death of 16-year-old Pheobe Prince. Prince committed suicide after enduring a year of bullying by several of her classmates at a public high school in western Massachusetts.
Since then, the issue of bullying has exploded into the national conversation and Kind Campaign has not been the only organization to take on the touchy issue of teasing and bullying between women and girls. As the founder of the non-profit, I Am That Girl, Emily Greener puts it: "It's hard just to be a girl in this world."
Girl World
The term "girl world" was popularized by writer Rosalind Wiseman, author of New York Times bestseller, Queen Bees and Wannabes. Wiseman posited that things are tougher than they seem for adolescent girls and explained the different ways girls are mean to each other or competitive with one another. Though many of her conclusions about what life is like for girls are now considered common knowledge, they opened new doors for many parents and educators when the book came out ten years ago.
I Am That Girl focuses on facilitating conversations between women about how to be better friends to one another. Greener and her business partner, Alexis Jones, say women often come to relationships from a paradigm of scarcity. That is, if you are pretty, then I can't be pretty too. Or if you are successful at work then I can't be successful at work too.
Greener says, "She has, therefore I don't," is a mode of thinking common to women ages 12 to 62.
"It's what's made the beauty industry so successful," she says wryly. From middle school on, Greener says, women report being insecure about whether there will be enough to go around. Sometimes they're afraid of their own success, lest they lose their friends in the process of going after their dreams.
"It's one thing to have a friend be there for you when you're low," Greener says, "but when you're soaring, that's when we see friendships get into trouble and the claws come out."
Greener says she urges women to approach life with the idea that there is plenty to go around. Cheer your friend's promotion, because you could be next and you want her to raise a glass for you, right? And if she did snag the promotion because she's working harder or is smarter than you, take it as a learning experience. Rather than wasting time on jealousy, solicit her advice.
Be Your Own Advocate
Young anti-bullying activist Emily Anne Rigal, 18, champions her own model of self-empowerment. Rival is the founder of We Stop Hate, an organization that gathers and disseminates social media created by teens for teens aimed at boosting self-esteem.
"If I was going to explain it to older people it's just that we teenagers record videos and post them online for others to watch," Rigal said of the dozens of videos that We Stop Hate has posted on YouTube in the last three years. Most of them feature teens talking directly to the camera saying, basically, "You are cool. Stop listening to anyone who says you're not. Love yourself and do your thing."
Rigal's theory is that if the person being teased or bullied doesn't stand up for herself, it's never going to get better.
And to do that, she needs to feel worthwhile. This doesn't always mean standing up to the bully directly, sometimes it means asking for help from adults or other friends.
As a case in point, Rigal cites her own recent experience of being on vacation with two other friends recently. One friend was feeling like Rigal and the third friend was attacking her by telling her she wasn't independent enough to start college.
"We were kayaking. I was with my friend who felt bullied and my other friend was in the other kayak," Rigal says.
"We're like, 'You're going to college and you need to be self-sufficient,' and finally I turn around and I'm like 'Oh my God, you're crying.'"
Rigal says she didn't intend to be mean to her friend and she didn't realize the negative impact her seemingly positive words would have. She says she felt horrible when she realized how much hurt she had caused. She's glad her friend took the scary move of standing up for herself.
"If she didn't stand up for herself, we wouldn't have known," Rigal says. "The person being bullied has responsibility to speak out."
She's careful to say this is not a case of "blame the victim." As a young girl, Rigal herself was bullied. She says no one wanted her to sit at her lunch table, play on her team in gym, or be her partner in class. It was brutal, she says.
Eventually it got so bad that she switched schools. With a fresh start, everything changed. But it took making that big move, with the help of her parents, to change things.
'Sit Here.'
Taking responsibility for the parts of a bad situation you can control isn't just a message for girls on the sharp end of the stick, Rigal says. Girls involved in bullying, even tangentially, have the option of taking control of their actions.
"Being a bystander is sort of like being a bully," Rigal says. "You think, 'I'm not going to say anything mean, but I'm also not going to ask her to sit at my lunch table.' You're adding to the problem, because if you did stand up and say, 'sit here,' you're completely changing the situation."
Kind Campaign co-founder Thompson agrees. She has her own story of being bullied as a teenager. It starts out much the same as Parkesian's: Another rumor. Another jealous friend. Another year of confusion and angst that got so bad she was afraid to walk down the halls of her school.
The major difference between Thompson's story and Parsekian's is that it ends with the nasty friend admitting the error of her ways.
Towards the end of junior year, Thompson remembers walking the hallway and seeing her tormentor. Her heart started pounding. She tried to avoid being spotted. But then something unexpected happened.
"She called my name and she said, 'I'm so sorry,'" Thompson says.
"She said she didn't know why she did it and she was sorry. That's my favorite part to share because it shows how transformative an apology can be."
The final part of the Kind Campaign sessions now include girls filling out "apology cards" to people they've hurt either by direct teasing or by standing by while someone else did the teasing.
These have brought on cathartic tears and renewed broken friendships before their eyes, Thompson and Parkesian say.
'People often ask, 'Will bullying ever end?' Rigal says. 'I hate that question because it's natural to some extent. It will always happen to some degree.'
There could be a never-ending debate about whether the teasing and bullying girls do is worse or more damaging than the kind boys do. One thing is sure: it's different. And it hurts. And no matter how hard these non-profits try, chances are it's never going away entirely.
"People often ask, 'will bullying ever end?'" Rigal says. "I hate that question because it's natural to some extent. It will always happen to some degree."
The good news is that another thing girls do a lot of—talking— may be the best cure. Whether it's sharing your story on YouTube, focusing on being nicer to your friends, or apologizing when you mess up, telling other girls how you feel can go a long way to healing the wounds caused by mean words.


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The TLGTA membership elects its Board of Directors from eligible members each year at our annual AGM/Banquet. This year's election will be on October 22nd. If you are interested in being a Director, please register by Thursday, October 20th and indicate which position you are applying for. You must be in attendance at the AGM/Banquet to be elected. The positions are listed below.
At the AGM/Banquet, the members must approve the By-Laws and vote in the new Board of Directors for 2016-2017. The only people eligible to vote are our members (not guests), who have paid their membership dues and are in attendance at the AGM/Banquet. A copy of the By-Laws can be found here. If you have any questions about the Election or the By-Laws, please e-mail us.
Positions eligible for the 2016-2017 election include:


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TVA coal ash spill: 5 things to know on 10-year anniversary
Mike McCarthy was a healthy 45-year-old veteran and father in search of a job amid the 2008 recession when he got the call from a union hall.
"My union buddy, Milkshake, he called me and said that you need to get out to Kingston," McCarthy recalled in a deposition. "The dike just blew."
McCarthy, a heavy equipment operator from Knoxville, headed out to the TVA Kingston Fossil Fuel Power Plant, leaving behind his family and their Christmas celebration. Some 7.3 million tons of coal ash was spilling from a dike at the plant in Roane County — the nation's worst industrial environmental disaster ever.
"It looked like Mars out there," he said. "It was crazy. We were trying to find bodies buried, you know, vehicles. We didn't know if there was anybody underneath the ash or not. We were blessed that it happened at what time of day it did, you know, in the middle of the night, you know, so the school buses weren't running. But I swear, for a long time I was waiting to find a vehicle underneath there."
The coal ash spill:TVA told Jean Nance coal ash was safe. Now, she's dead.
McCarthy and hundreds of heavy equipment operators and construction workers from across East Tennessee and the nation stopped the ash before it could claim lives.
Now, a decade later, more than 30 of McCarthy's disaster relief colleagues are dead. He and more than 250 others are sick or dying, and they say what a decade ago was the nation's worst spill of coal ash is now its worst case of mass poisoning by it.
On the anniversary of the spill, here are five key things to know about the coal ash spill at the TVA Kingston Fossil Fuel Power Plant on Dec. 22, 2008, and its aftermath:
1. TVA at fault
Coal ash, laden with toxins such as arsenic, lead and radium, was largely unregulated and its storage at power plants across the country lackadaisical at the time of the spill.
The TVA Office of the Inspector General would later conclude that TVA treated coal ash like household garbage and blamed the dike failure on TVA's negligence.
Workers had warned of dike problems. A USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee investigation would later show TVA sent to the spill site supervisors with no scientific training on coal ash.
2. Behind closed doors
The spill covered 300 acres in the tiny community of Swan Pond in Roane County. Homes and property were damaged, and property values throughout the community tanked. TVA insisted the public was safe as it fended off lawsuits and threats of lawsuits from angry landowners and Roane County leaders.
USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee has since learned TVA was successfully lobbying the Environmental Protection Agency behind closed doors to water down public warning signs and lower worker safety standards. Roane County's government leaders didn't sue. A decade later, they're threatening to do so, saying TVA lied to them about the toxicity of coal ash and the dangers of exposure to it.
3. TVA tosses out cash
TVA opened up its pocketbook as a congressional hearing on the spill was convened, shelling out $43 million to governments in Roane County for "economic damages" and an additional $70 million to settle landowner lawsuits before the spill was even cleaned up.
Landowners were required to sign agreements that would bar them from suing TVA later if they wound up sick, the newspaper's investigation has since shown.
TVA would pay Jacobs Engineering, a global contractor with a history of worker safety lawsuits and test tampering allegations, more than $64 million by the time the spill was cleaned up in 2015. TVA offered Jacobs bonuses if the firm didn't report any workplace injuries or illnesses and finished the job under budget and on time.
Workers were never informed of the list of 26 toxins and metals in coal ash nor were they provided protective gear. The workers have since accused Jacobs staffers of lying to them about coal ash and refusing them gear. TVA offered medical testing and care to residents in the Swan Pond community but has never offered it for the exposed workers.
4. Ratepayers foot the bill
The cleanup cost TVA ratepayers $1.2 billion. The spill — and its focus on coal ash storage — led to tighter but limited regulations on coal ash storage but no increased protections for workers. As a result of those regulations, TVA began converting all of its coal plants to dry ash disposal — which is much lighter in weight than wet ash — and phasing out wet storage facilities like the one that failed at Kingston.
The agency estimated that will cost $1.5 billion to $2 billion over the next decade. Since those regulations have gone into effect, arsenic contamination has been discovered at a TVA coal ash storage site in Memphis, and TVA is being sued over claims of groundwater contamination at its storage site in Gallatin. USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee recently discovered a report showing TVA's newest coal ash storage facility at the Kingston plant is showing signs of contamination in groundwater test wells. TVA won't talk about it.
5. TVA mum on worker medical testing
Attorneys for roughly 75 of the Kingston disaster cleanup workers in November convinced a federal jury that long-term exposure to the coal ash there is the likely cause of their illnesses. That verdict sets the stage for another round of trials at which sickened workers will get a chance to make a case for monetary damages for medical testing and treatment.
Since USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee launched its probe in 2017, another 200 workers have been identified as sickened with the same list of ailments linked to the constituents of coal ash — blood diseases, cancers and chronic breathing issues among them. Many do not have health insurance. There were 900 workers at the height of the cleanup effort, so hundreds still may be unaware of potential poisoning.
Anda Ray, then a TVA top-ranking official, promised at a public meeting in October 2009 TVA would pay for medical testing and treatment for anyone harmed by coal ash. Advocates for the workers are now calling on TVA to pay for testing and treatment for all of the disaster relief workers. TVA agreed to pay Jacobs' defense bills and is refusing to talk about the lawsuit or the workers.
THE 'EXPENDABLES':Coal ash spill workers treated as 'expendables,' lawsuit by sick and dying says
NEWS YOU NEED: Sign up for our free newsletter to get the latest headlines.


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Vinoscenti Vineyards
I was well aware bc has its own little wine country in the Okanagan. But I had no idea that there were some great hidden gems located in the lower mainland too! For my friend Kat's birthday, I booked us a wine tasting and tour for 2 (thank you Groupon!) at a cute little winery […]Read More


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Display second digit not working; some buttons not working
The second digit in the GE JES1384SF Microwave display is not working, so that 4:30 reads as 4: 0. The defrost and the cup buttons do not work. Otherwise, microwave works fine.
The microwave just needed to be unplugged and plugged back in. I didn't realize that, but we had a power failure and now it works fine again.


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Technique Talk: Illustrator/ rapper King Vada
Technique Talk is a weekly online Alive feature that spotlights the process of a Columbus artist. Know someone we should talk to? Send tips email@example.com.
Of course, you probably recognize King Vada - aka Vada Mitchell and formerly aka L.e. for the Uncool - from his various and respected rap projects. Did you know dude can draw, too? The King has an exhibit of his artwork, illustrative anarchic sketches of introspection, at Upper Cup Coffee Co. that opens this Saturday. Vada's friend DJ Abyss will be slinging beats and there will be a raffle for Vada's prints. The artist took some time to talk about what music inspires him when he works and why isolation is important in his creative process.
"Life Long Portals"
Upper Cup Coffee Co.
5-9 p.m. Saturday, May 11
79 Parsons Ave., Olde Towne East
What kind of art do you make?
I guess people categorize it as illustration. I just like to call it thoughts that I end up drawing. I create art because I think it is neat to put down these creepy thoughts I have.
When do you make art and why?
I am always thinking of shapes and images, constantly. I honestly create whenever I have the time to do so.
How often do you make art?
It depends on what I have going on. I am also a writer and recording artist. When I am traveling I don't have a lot of time to sit down and do art, but I do go on art binges.
Where do you make art?
I create most of my art alone at home. I have never been the "Hey guys! Let's sit and sketch together!" type of person. Not that I don't enjoy watching other artist create, because I do! I am just more effective creatively when I am alone... and with music.
What has been inspiring your work lately?
Music always inspires me. People like Erykah Badu, Little Dragon, Nas, Daft Punk. I have been listening to a lot of How To Dress Well - he's an artist from Chicago. Memories drive some of my pieces too. Sometimes I go back to when I was a child and try to remember things I saw.
What advice that you've found invaluable would you give a new artist?
"Art is to be made, not taught." There is no "right" or "wrong" way to create art. Sounds cliché, but I believe in that whole-heartedly.
What do you do while you work?
Make a playlist of music. Sometimes, I'll just play episodes of the "Twilight Zone"...mainly because of the writing of it.
Do you ever experience artists' block?
I honestly never have "artist block." It might be a situation where I want to be completely alone. Sometimes it's hard to focus with distractions around.
Three artists, living or dead, that you would invite to a dinner party:
Marc Jenkins
Leonardo da Vinci


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Chicken, sweet potatoes, vegetable glycerin, water, flaxseed, sunflower oil (preserved with citric acid), natural chicken flavor, fructooligosaccharides (from chicory root), dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product, phosphoric acid (a preservative), citric acid (a preservative), brewers dried yeast, zinc proteinate, mixed tocopherols (a preservative), taurine.
Watching your cat trying to cough up hairballs can be heart wrenching, and well, a little gross. Keeping Fluffy's belly in tip-top shape is an excellent way to combat this problem. Get Naked® Furball Relief treats for Cats nurture a healthy digestive system with natural dietary fiber and probiotics. These soft treats include Ganeden BC30 (a patented strain of Bacillus coagulans) that helps improve digestion. Added natural vegetable oils aid in the passage of fur balls through the digestive system. Your cat will gain the stomach empowering benefits of Get Naked® Furball Relief, while enjoying the delicious chicken flavor.
- Natural with Added Taurine
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- Added Ganaden BC30 Probiotics Support Healthy Digestion
- Made with Real Chicken
- Under 3 Calories per Treat
- Savory Chicken Flavor


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A 70 year old man in Kitui County has been charged in court for defiling a mentally ill class six girl.
Mwava Kimali is accused of impregnating the girl despite knowing that he is a minor.
Prior to impregnating the girl Kimali had an affair with the girl's mother and bore with her a baby.
He was arraigned in court last week and released with a 300,000 shillings bond.
He is however yet to be released as he has been unable to pay the bond.


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Quite simply, music has been a part of Sara's life from day one. The daughter of Grammy-winning bassist Rob Wasserman, Sara was immersed in a rarified musical world from an early age. This unique experience has molded Sara into a young artist with whom few can compare.
To be surrounded by such virtuosity starting at such an early age is a rare experience for an artist. Yet, what emerged from all these powerful influences was Sara's own unique musical style. Her musical influences draw from a diverse list of artists – From Aretha Franklin, to Marvin Gaye, Etta James, Mary J. Blige and Bonnie Raitt, Sara effortlessly blends expressive lyrics with seductive melodies that visibly move her audience. From her soul-stirring ballads to her sensual up-tempo vocals, Sara's unique take on contemporary melodies is a refreshingly creative approach.
Sara's collection of songs includes "Fly Away," an extraordinarily beautiful ballad that epitomizes the strength of her songwriting abilities. "Fly Away" was written and initially recorded as a solo ballad, but after hearing it, Aaron Neville, the legendary singer, fell in love with the song and asked to be able to join Sara in duet. The result is an impassioned rendition describing the realities and consequences of loves lost. Their newest collaborations are "Fresh Out of Tears" and "I Am A Song" both songs featuring Aaron's original words and Sara's melody.
Aaron Neville joins a list of A-list performers, musicians, writers, and producers who have contributed to this breathtaking project; including Lou Reed, Christian McBride, Rob Wasserman, Jim Capaldi from Traffic, Vernon Reid from Living Colour, Bob Weir, Stephen Perkins from Jane's Addiction, Irvin Mayfield, DJ Logic, Soulive; Producers Eran Tabib (Angie Stone), Randy Emata (Santana, Kenoly Brothers) and Milton Davis (The Neville Brothers). Very few new artists are as blessed as Sara to have this many talented people believe in her music and contribute so magnificently to it. It speaks volumes about her as a person and an artist.
Sara has showcased at SXSW and Music Connection magazine has voted Sara's material in the top ten of new artists. She has performed at Party in the Park Festivals in the UK, and numerous venues throughout the USA including the Warfield Theater, Fillmore Auditorium, and Shoreline Amphitheatre in San Francisco, Tipitina's, New Orleans, and Hard Rock Café, Las Vegas.
Most recently, Sara's orginal song "You Got Me" was featured on ABC's "Falcon Beach" and her song "Somehow Forever" debuted on CBS's "Girlfriends."


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20 Trendy Swimwear Styles to Try This Summer
Cutouts are going to be everywhere.
If you treat the beach like your personal catwalk (or even if you don't), you're probably on the hunt for a trendy suit for the season as we speak. This year we're seeing tons of unique one-pieces, cutouts, and stripes — and these are some of our favorite styles.
SHOP NOW: $35, asos.com
Slimming stripes on flattering one-pieces are one of the biggest trends of the year — and monochromatic colors never go out of style.
SHOP NOW: $45, modcloth.com
The retro look is back! Pinstripes, buttons, and super high-waisted bikini bottoms lend to an adorable and comfortable look.
SHOP NOW: $40, target.com
Playful patterns are an easy way to stick with your go-to style (like a crop top that'll stay put in the water and protect your shoulders from the sun) while embracing a trend.
SHOP NOW: $33, target.com
A peplum tankini allows you to easily transition from beach to boardwalk — just add a denim skirt or pair of white shorts to complete your look.
SHOP NOW: $100, modcloth.com
A classic black suit is always in style, but adding a criss-cross over the neck is incredibly sexy and allows you to adjust the amount of coverage you want for your bust area.
SHOP NOW: $48, asos.com
Off-the-shoulder tops help showcase toned arms and a ruffled front is perfect for women with small busts who want to add a little extra oomf and exaggerate this area.
SHOP NOW: $45, target.com
Crochet fabric will let you to try something new, but don't worry: the peekaboo material doesn't show off too much skin.
SHOP NOW: $55, modcloth.com
Sporty styles (like the high neckline on this bikini top) are having a serious moment. Plus, bold patterns and body confidence are always on trend.
SHOP NOW: $48, nordstrom.com
One-pieces that show almost as much skin as bikinis are for women who want to make a statement. The plunging v-neck on this suit stays put thanks to a collar neckline.
SHOP NOW: $50, torrid.com
A peplum helps show of your waist and hide your stomach if you're self-conscious of this area. But the best part of this adorable suit is that it's a one-piece that just looks like a bikini.
SHOP NOW: $84, zappos.com
This suit offers two trends for the price of one: A flirty, ruffled neckline with a tropical floral print. Just add a maxi skirt, throw on some slip-ons, and you're ready for a day out.
SHOP NOW: $62 and up, amazon.com
Embroidery over solid patterns helps dress up an otherwise plain suit. The intricate details add an effortless touch that makes the suit look more expensive too.
SHOP NOW: $71, swimsuitsforall.com
Have you seen a cuter tropical print? The bra bikini top look is very in this summer and it'll offer serious support for your bust.
SHOP NOW: $71, swimsuitsforall.com
A bright, solid color matches everything, no matter what print you pair it with. And the high-waisted cutout on this suit hits right above the belly button, so there's no awkward or uncomfortable bulging.
SHOP NOW: $79, nordstrom.com
This bikini is all about offering choices based on your mood: You can wear the straps in a classic front-to-back style, or wear it as a halter top with criss-cross straps in the back.
SHOP NOW: $79, urbanoutfitters.com
Can't stray away from the basic black one-piece? Opt for this trendy style with stylish rings on the sides.
SHOP NOW: $54, urbanoutfitters.com
Athleisure has been a staple this year, and it's showing no signs of stopping. Neon colorblocking and spandex materials will make your swimsuit look like gym gear.
SHOP NOW: $30, torrid.com
You can wear the straps on this suit across your shoulders or take them off completely to make this a strapless midkini (now add that word to your internal dictionary ASAP).
SHOP NOW: $62, modcloth.com
The watercolor flowers over the black and white background on this suit turns an already sophisticated style into a piece of art.
SHOP NOW: $50 and up, amazon.com
A rouched one-piece is super slimming in the tummy area and a sophisticated style, which might be why this style is so popular.


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Delete an alert
Applies To: Windows Home Server 2011
You can use the Alert Viewer on the Launchpad to delete alerts generated for your computer.
If you delete an alert and the server detects the problem again in the next network health evaluation cycle, it generates a new alert.
To delete an alert
From the computer that is connected to the server, open the Launchpad.
On the Launchpad, click any of the displayed alert icons (critical, warning, and informational) to open the Alert Viewer.
In the Alert Viewer, right-click the alert that you want to delete, and then click Delete this alert.
For more information about computer alerts, see Understanding alerts.


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Trend: Print Mix
Spring 2015 RTW
The biggest trend I saw on the runways for spring 2015 was the use of mixing prints. These could be seen with contrasting patterns, textures, and scale used to create some of the more interesting designs. They signal to women that it's de rigueur to mix it all up and forget about matching.


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The Handloom
Meet Cansu Cansever Designer/Owner of The Handloom, apparel and home goods handcrafted with a blend of traditional Turkish culture and the Southern California sun. Handloom is a minimalist lifestyle brand, blending bohemian chic with oriental tradition. Each garment has its own story and hand-loomed by skilled, local artisans in the remote villages of Turkey.
Our manifesto is to uphold the hand-looming art form that has been overlooked by mass production and bring it back to a personal, craftsmanship level.
To see the collection press here: The Handloom


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ABIGAIL WILLIAMS Reveals Dates for Upcoming North American Tour
Black metal stalwarts ABIGAIL WILLIAMS will join the eclectic lineup of Ensiferum, Kalmah and Aenimus for the "Path to Victory Tour" this fall, kicking off on November 14 in Richmond, VA.
"We are looking forward to going out with our friends in Ensiferum," says ABIGAIL WILLIAMS leader Ken Sorceron. "Since the tour starts around the same time we release our new album, we plan to showcase some new songs along with some old favorites."
ABIGAIL WILLIAMS, long considered the black sheep of the black metal scene, will release their boldest and most diverse offering to date, Walk Beyond the Dark, November 15 via Blood Music.
Equal parts introspection and extremity, Walk Beyond the Dark is a testament to the band's journey across the years – all the miles they've traveled, all the trials endured, all the mud thrown at them, all to keep doing what they love, on their own terms and without compromise.
Throughout all of these storms and tribulations remains band leader and songwriter, vocalist and mastermind Ken Sorceron. In so many ways, Sorceron himself is ABIGAIL WILLIAMS, its heart, mind and spirit. Deftly wielding the forces of light and dark in skilled measure. Icy guitars and bleak atmospheres encircle. Rapturous bursts of string accompaniments penetrate the melancholic futility of shadow and despair. Powerful guitars shift between slithering rhythms, contemplative grooves and all-out assaults.
Songs like visceral opener "I Will Depart" and the torrential "Into the Sleep" take aspects and elements from each of the band's previous iterations – the gleaming metallic riff-work of In the Shadow of a Thousand Suns, the seething rage of In the Absence of Light, the grim grandeur of Becoming, the moody melodic menace of The Accuser – and weave them together into something that's far more than the mere sum of its parts.
The band recently revealed the first single from the album, "I Will Depart," whetting fans' appetites for ABIGAIL WILLIAMS' highly-anticipated fifth album. Watch the lyric video for "I Will Depart" here.
ABIGAIL WILLIAMS tour dates with with Ensiferum, Kalmah and Aenimus:
11/14 – Richmond, VA @ The Broadberry
11/15 – Reading, PA @ Reverb
11/16 – Ottawa, ON @ Maverick's
11/17 – Montreal, QC @ Corona Theater
11/18 – Toronto, ON @ The Opera House
11/19 – Chicago, IL @ Reggies
11/20 – Kansas City, MO @ The Riot Room
11/21 – Denver, CO @ Oriental Theater
11/23 – Calgary, AB @ Dickens
11/24 – Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theater
11/25 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
11/26 – Portland, OR @ Bossanova Ballroom
11/27 – Oakland, CA @ Metro Opera House
11/29 – Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex
11/30 – San Diego, CA @ Brick by Brick
12/1 – Mesa, AZ @ Club Red
12/2 – El Paso, TX @ Rockhouse Bar & Grill
12/3 – Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey Live
12/5 – Lexington, KY @ Manchester Music Hall
12/7 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
12/8 – Brooklyn, NY @ The Warsaw


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Stadium Talk With Grant's Tomb
Darren Campbell of the incredibly informative Vikings blog Grant's Tomb volunteered to write an article for me updating us on the latest news surrounding the stadium battle.
Naturally, my laziness and loathing of the topic had me ecstatic to receive his offer. Darren is a great writer, with a great site, and I hope you will all help me thank him for the post by visiting Grant's Tomb today. Besides, his ability to use the word "bafflegab" in the following article officially makes him a better blogger than me by immeasurable amounts.
To view the word "bafflegab" (and the rest of Darren's article) click the button and make the jump.
Vikings decision not to relocate ensures another year of worrying fans.
February 15th, 2011 should have been a good day for Minnesota Vikings fans. That was the deadline for NFL teams to indicate they wanted to relocate. But the Vikings – even with its Metrodome lease expired and no deal in place to build a new stadium anywhere in Minnesota – let the deadline come and go without doing anything.
So the Vikes will play the 2012 season in Minnesota. That should be great news, right? The Vikings and state and city politicians now have another 12 months to work on a stadium deal before the team can officially broach the subject with the league again. The pressure is off. There are no tight timelines to get something done. Both sides now have the time to get the right deal in place – one that will be good for the Vikings and good for the public.
However, I don't view the Vikings passing on filing any relocation requests as positive. In fact, I think it's a negative if we're looking for a resolution to an issue that's dragged on far too long.
What I fear the Vikings have actually done is doom its loyal fans to another year of worrying about the franchise's future beyond 2012.
And I write that because as a guy who is a pretty good procrastinator, I know that there is nothing like a deadline – or a missed deadline – to spur on action.
That certainly holds true in professional sports. We saw it with the NFL and NBA lockouts. It didn't seem like negotiations in both cases really got going in earnest until the owners locked out the players and both sides had no choice but to work something out.
My view is the Vikings stadium saga is the same deal. While the three central public figures in these talks – the Vikings Lester Bagley, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak – are currently saying nice things about a plan to build a new stadium over 11th Ave. South on the east side of the Metrodome, there are a lot of moving parts in that proposal .
And as the Vikings and the state work on a deal, Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission Chairman Ted Mondale said this week that there is still a bit of work to be done before an agreement to build on that site can be consummated. "The little detail is we have to get a Legislature and a City Council to back it."
Good luck with that, Ted.
I think ESPN's Kevin Seifert had it right this week when he blogged about the Vikings decision to let the Feb. 15th deadline to relocate pass. His view was the Vikings willingly gave up any leverage it had on this issue and ensured this is going to drag on longer than it had to.
Vikings fans, and Minnesotans in general, would have been mad if the Wilf's had used the relocation card with the NFL on Wednesday. But at least it would have signaled the first real decision made by anyone on the stadium issue since, well, ever.
Instead, Vikings fans are likely going to get another year of wrangling and bafflegab from the team's owners and state and city politicians on this. The Vikings are no closer today to resolving their stadium issue than they were a year ago. And they are no less a threat to move to another city than they were a year ago, either. Expect 2012 to feel a lot like 2011 when it comes to the Vikings future in Minnesota.


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Greitens names new director of financial institutions
The Associated Press
Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens has named a longtime banker as the acting director of the state's Division of Financial Institutions.
The governor announced in a news release Friday that Lee Keith will be the state's new finance director.
Keith was the former president of Gold Bank in St. Joseph, Mo., and also led banks in Sullivan, Springfield, and Columbia. He recently led a turnaround effort for Mercantile Bank in Quincy, Ill.
Keith's appointment will be subject to Senate confirmation.
Greitens said in a written statement, "Lee has been a fierce advocate for small towns. He's done multiple bank turnarounds. His experience is unmatched."


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- 11 November 2022
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- News
What is radicalization leading to violence?
There is no universally accepted definition of radicalization leading to violence. However, the Centre for the Prevention of Radicalization Leading to Violence (CPRLV) defines it as follows:
a process whereby people adopt extremist belief systems—including the willingness to use, encourage or facilitate violence—with the aim of promoting an ideology, political project or cause as a means of social transformation.
At the heart of the process of radicalization leading to violence is a dynamic that involves individuals severing ties with those in their immediate environment (family, friends, colleagues, etc.), and progressing along a radical path that may eventually lead to violence.
In short, violent radicalization entails:
- The adoption of an ideology that becomes a way of life and a framework for meaningful action for the individual;
- Belief in the use of violent means to promote a cause;
- The merging of ideology and violent action.
Are violent and non-violent radicalization the same thing?
It is important to distinguish between violent and non-violent radicalization. Sometimes people who are firmly entrenched in their own beliefs may adopt positions that, while radical, may not necessarily be opposed to democratic norms and values. Such radicalization would not be considered violent.
Moreover, nonviolent radicals may play an extremely positive role in their communities as well as in a larger political context. Most progress in democratic societies has been the result of some form of radicalization. Martin Luther King, Gandhi and even Nelson Mandela were all considered radicals in their day. When firmly established ways of thinking and doing things are contested via a radical critique of certain aspects of the social system, this may cause society to evolve in a positive direction.
Radical viewpoints become problematic when they legitimize, encourage or validate violence or forms of violent extremist behaviours—including terrorism and violent hate acts—in order to further a particular cause, ideology or worldview. Individuals who are undergoing a process of violent radicalization may encourage, assist in or carry out violence in the name of a specific belief system because they are categorically convinced their system of beliefs is absolute and exclusive.
Is violent radicalization a form of mental illness or cult-like mind control?
Violent radicalization should not be confused with mental illness, nor should the two been seen as mutualy exclusive. While mental illness may at times be a possible factor in some forms of radicalization, current research has thoroughly documented the psychological 'normality' of individuals on the path of radicalization. Similarly, it would be wrong to confuse "radicalization leading to violence" with cult-like mind control: while the two phenomena have numerous characteristics in common, radicalization does not automatically involve the development of a sort of "mental hold" over the individual that removes the latter's ability to exercise free will.
- 10 November 2022
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- News
The CPRLV'S PRESENTATIONS AT THE CEFIR'S CONFERENCE
- 26 October 2022
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- News


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BBC Scotland's senior football reporter Chris McLaughlin broke the news that Rangers would not be stripped of Scottish Premier League (SPL) titles by an SPL Independent Commission an hour before its findings were formally released on Thursday. The initial reaction from delighted Rangers fans was that their club was exonerated by the Commission of any breach of SPL rules in their registration of players paid partly through Employee Benefit Trusts (EBTs). Yet before that pre-release hour was out, it was clear that the opposite was true. Rangers were guilty of just about everything thrown at them. And the Commission's report condemned the conduct of the club's directors and representatives between 2000 and 2012. Yet Rangers' fans' sense of victory is undiminished. How so?
McLaughlin rightly identified the "agenda"; fellow-journalists looking for a "sexy" story from 40-odd pages of legalese, fans of other clubs (mostly, though not exclusively, Celtic, for obvious if hardly responsible reasons) and Rangers' fans, apparently happy to take any condemnation (which is just as well) to keep their titles. So journalists have focused on the non-title-stripping. The "mostly Celtic fans" (categorised as "anti-Rangers haters" by one confused tweeter recently) have scratched their collective heads at how Rangers could improperly register players for years and not receive the sporting sanction usually applied in such cases. And Rangers fans have interrupted their cheering long enough to say "time to move on" …among other, less polite, suggestions.
The statements from current Chief Executive Charles Green and former owner David Murray contained more incongruity than you could shake a stick at – if that's how you prefer to spend your day. And you wouldn't guess from reading them that Rangers were found guilty on all count, or why this was. Two issues have been given less attention than "title-stripping"; the legal knot which tied the SPL's 'prosecution' in knots and the legalese booting that erstwhile Rangers administrators Duff & Phelps and solicitors Biggart Baillie received on their way to the kinder-sounding 'admonition' for non-cooperation with the Commission. The most recognisable result of player-registration 'issues' is an asterisk, against a team's points total on a league table, directing you to the footnote "x points deducted for fielding an ineligible player." And the assumption that improper registration = ineligibility has run from fans right through to the SPL itself. This, it was revealed during the Commission hearings, is incorrect – with the revelation and its timing possibly of equal importance.
Rangers fielded a whole team of improperly-registered players on the day they clinched the 2005 SPL title. But, for two reasons, this squad was deemed eligible to play. These reasons are astounding, but legally sound. "The issues," the Commission reported, covered four time periods between 23 November 2000 and 1 August 2012. The first three reflected the timing of changes in SPL and SFA Rules. The fourth was Rangers' period in administration. The SPL 'charges' against Rangers included playing ineligible players. However, the SPL failed to charge Rangers with this during the first two periods, to 23 May 2005. So the Commission was "not prepared to consider this part of the argument" until then. Worse was to follow for the SPL and its representative at the hearings, Rod McKenzie of Harper MacLeod. The Commission reported: "Mr McKenzie explained" that SPL rules "had hitherto been understood to mean that if, at the time of registration, a document was not lodged as required… a condition of registration was broken and the player automatically became ineligible to play."
Not so. The SFA's Head of Registration, Alexander Bryson, explained that "once a player had been registered with the SFA, he remained registered unless and until his registration was revoked." So "even if there had been a breach of the SFA registration procedures," such as, for example, the deliberate non-disclosure of £47m payments to players, the registrations would not be "invalid from the outset." "This is an important finding," the Commission report understated nicely. "It means there was no instance shown of Rangers FC fielding an ineligible player." Not so much "important" as 'fundamentally undermining' the SPL's entire case in this regard. So, had McKenzie yelled "now you tell me!!" at Bryson, it might not have been a surprise. You have to wonder at the lines of communication between the SFA, based at Hampden Park, and the SPL, also based at Hampden Park. It was (very) public knowledge from last March that the SPL were investigating Rangers' player registrations, and from last August that Rangers were to be charged with fielding ineligible players.
Bryson would have known that no Rangers players were ineligible, unless this was revealed to him in a dream the night before he gave evidence to the Commission. Yet Bryson and the SFA remained silent on the matter, for reasons which would make fascinating reading. Thus the SPL had to prove that the actual non-disclosure of EBT payments gave Rangers an unfair sporting advantage – a thankless task, not least because it didn't. Had Bryson and the SFA been looking to get Rangers off this particular hook (which they weren't) they could hardly have conceived a better plan. The registrations were invalid because Rangers deliberately failed to disclose EBT payments. But the SPL could not establish this because… Rangers deliberately failed to disclose EBT payments – a situation which might have given Joseph Heller writers' block. So the Commission didn't even consider the question of whether Rangers "cheated." It would be impossible to argue that Rangers were cleared of the accusation on a "technicality" without drawing accusations of an "anti-Rangers agenda" and "Rangers-hatred." But, based solely on the Commission's own words, it is equally extremely difficult to argue otherwise.
Immediate comparisons were made between Rangers escaping meaningful punishment and East of Scotland League Spartans being flung out of the Scottish Cup because one date was missing on one registration form for one player, Keith MacLeod, with the SFA accepting that Spartans had not sought an "unfair advantage." The situations differed, though, MacLeod was UNregistered, rather than being improperly-registered. More analogous was Jermaine Darlington's signing for Wimbledon in 2006. Darlington WAS registered, but with the Welsh FA, as he had been a Cardiff player. For his registration to automatically transfer to England "international clearance" was required. Wimbledon didn't know this, so didn't seek it. And they were deducted all 18 league points won with Darlington in the side. This was reduced to three on appeal to the FA because the FA were making it up as they went along. It was (very) technically improper registration, with ineligibility conferred retrospectively.
Presumably, no clubs have tested the SPL's interpretation of its eligibility rules. But the football authorities should (could?) have resolved the issue long before any Commission hearing. No aspect of the Rangers saga would be complete without odd deeds from Duff & Phelps. And the Commission's report delivers handsomely. The administrators, and Rangers' solicitors,' were charged with "failing to deliver" information to the SPL. But Messrs Paul Clark and David Whitehouse were busy men in March 2012, when the SPL came calling for the array of documents required for the investigation. They were set a deadline to produce the paperwork and, given the fraught circumstances of Rangers' administration, their request for a deadline extension was reasonable. Alas, the Commission's report noted, "no materials were produced" before the new deadline. Michael McLaughlin of solicitors Biggart Baillie was 'Rangers' (Oldco's) representative. And he told the SPL that "the club" did not consider itself "compelled to intimate documents that relate to the Trust at this time," a considerable change of story… and wrong.
McLaughlin then said Oldco would provide documentation "as and when it becomes necessary and appropriate," a decision which was not theirs to make. Meanwhile, the administrators stuck to the original story, undertaking "to make… documentation immediately available." But whatever the approach, the result was identical. As the Commission reported, tersely, suggesting impatience with events, "this did not happen." McLaughlin, for whatever reason, misled the Murray Group, whose trust payments the SPL were investigating. He wrote that the SPL, had "requested intimation of financial information and financial documentation by Rangers" and "we have been asked to ask the Murray Group… if it would be prepared to intimate" the information. McLaughlin clearly confused the words "requested" and "required," and probably gets his car insurance quotes from fictitious meerkats. He also told the SPL that "disclosure of the requested information might breach the Data Protection Act," which might be regarded as the legal/financial stating that "the dog ate my homework." "Financial information is not included among the 'sensitive personal data' listed… in the Act," the Commission noted, which McLaughlin could surely have ascertained for himself by reading the act.
The reluctance to supply information echoed Rangers' non-cooperation with HMRC investigators. So they were being consistent. And the deadlock was only broken when BBC Scotland aired the documentary Rangers – The Men Who Sold the Jerseys, in May. This documentary contained exactly the information the SPL were seeking, which BBC Scotland obtained "by unknown means." And the Commission noted, with a hint of sarcasm, that "this event appears to have been the trigger for more activity in response to the SPL's request." Another week passed before Biggart Baillie produced any required information, which the Commission said "clearly did not" comprise everything which was "extant and should have been provided," – the BBC had listed more data on its website. Only very eventually indeed was everything provided, which made it easy for the Commission to find Oldco guilty of all charges.
If the Commission's report was part of "an excellent day" for Rangers, as fans' spokesman Chris Graham claimed on STV on Thursday night, then their bad days since they went into administration must have been shockers. But Graham was on shaky ground in belittling the Commission's criticisms of Rangers. Journalist Graham Speirs called the report a "withering condemnation of Rangers." Graham disagreed. "You're getting into technicalities over disclosure." Graham continued: "I'll take the opinion of Lord Nimmo-Smith and the QCs" over those of Rangers' critics." In that, Graham was quite right. Unfortunately, though, in the Commission's opinion Rangers were guilty of "a serious… breach of rules intended to promote sporting integrity." "The seriousness, extent and duration" of these breaches was worthy of "a substantial financial penalty." Rangers' "deliberate non-disclosure" of EBT arrangements was based on a "seriously misconceived assumption." And much, much more.
Still, Graham was prepared to "take that," so long as 'they' didn't take any titles, a viewpoint that most supporters would share with Rangers fans if they were to ever find themselves in the same position. Charles Green, meanwhile, felt that the above was "much ado about very little," although he did also add that the issue "could and should have been dealt with by the SPL board." It was also interesting to hear Speirs note on STV that Green was prepared to sacrifice titles for a place in the Scottish League's first division last summer and that he "didn't give a monkeys about titles" until persuaded by manager Ally McCoist of the importance of the issue to fans. He then, Speirs concluded: "became a zealous defender… another example of playing to the gallery." Murray had plenty to say too. The words "Murray Group Management Remuneration Trust" hint at his somewhat central involvement in this whole situation, but he might be wise to keep his own counsel for a while yet. Chris Graham wants people to "let the club just get on with things now," and to a point perhaps he is right. But Murray and Craig Whyte being allowed to "get on with things" was partly responsible for the mess in which the club found itself. It is to be hoped that lessons have been learned from those mistakes, but if Rangers' fans see the SPL Commission's findings as an outright "victory" for their club when it was found guilty on all counts, those lessons might not necessarily have been learned just yet.
You can follow Twohundredpercent on Twitter by clicking here.


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Revealing mistake: In the beginning of the movie, when Pee-Wee's breakfast contraption is running, if you look closely at the "orange" that is being squeezed, it is really an orange coloured sponge ball. (00:05:10)
Revealing mistake: When the pancakes are sticking to the ceiling, you can see that when one hits the ceiling, it jumps. The pancakes were actually being dropped on the floor with an upside down shot. (00:05:45)
Revealing mistake: In the scene where Pee-Wee is face to face with Professor Tanaka asking for Francis' whereabouts, the background behind Pee-Wee turns into an obvious painting on a set between shots. Notice how all sunlight and wind vanishes when he shouts "Where are they hosing him down?" (00:22:15)
Revealing mistake: When Pee Wee is driving while Mickey is sleeping, he is passing all these signs that warn the road is going to become curvy. If you look at the bottom of the signs, you can see they are being moved on a track while the camera stays stationary. Full screen only. (00:38:30)
Revealing mistake: When Mickey drops off Pee Wee in the middle of nowhere he hears animal sounds all around, so he reaches for his headlight glasses and puts them on. All the animals except for a few small critters like raccoons are all fake. (00:40:55)
Revealing mistake: After Pee-Wee tears through a Godzilla production in the Warner Bros. studios with his bike, he exits the stage, ending up on an alley where he turns left to evade the props and security guards on his tail - one of which has a motorbike. On the pavement beneath him is a curved skid mark from a previous take, not unlike the one left behind by the motorbike seconds later. (01:15:40)
Revealing mistake: The entire snack bar cartoon sequence shot at the drive-in theater during the world premiere of "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure" is actually a montage of different shots patched together, and it almost looks completely seamless until you focus in on the car farthest right. Notice how the passengers change positions every time the shot changes on the drive-in screen. (01:21:00)
Revealing mistake: Throughout the studio scene where Pee Wee is shot from the front being chased by security, the fact that his bike is on a rig can be seen by how rigid the bike is when he pedals it and it doesn't move side to side like it does when he's riding it freely in all the other shots.
Revealing mistake: After the bar scene where Pee Wee leaves riding the motorcycle, we can see it's a stuntman, given the different physique of having wider shoulders and a fuller head of hair than that of Pee Wee.


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Club Review: D-Edge Brazil
Living on D-Edge
One of the fastest growing economies in the world, Brazil isn't best known for its selection of underground clubs. Instead, increasing affluence among its upper class society, especially among young professionals, has generally stifled clubs with a serious musical agenda. A-list celebrities, professional footballers and models buying sparkler-topped champagne bottles are where the money is. Not scruffy music geeks more interested in the model of the DJ's mixer than the mixer in the booth's ice bucket.
Still, this hasn't stopped one club in Sao Paulo sticking true to the clubbing principles that Berlin and London cling dear. Opened in 2003, D-Edge's determination to book DJs based on underground credentials rather than their ability to pull cash-rich punters has won it plaudits worldwide.
Despite trailblazing an audacious path for over nine years in a nation already steeped in effervescent carnival tradition and samba groove, it still looms large as an anomaly within Brazil's financial capital.
It's for this reason that Renato Ratier, the club's owner, is recognised as nothing short of a subcultural figurehead. Jumping between resident DJ sets at D-Edge and the club's southern sister, Warung (of which he's secured a 25% share of the business), regular tours of Europe's finest clubs and releases on the club's label, his guardianship of high-end house and techno in Brazil is no secret, albeit within a niche local circle.
House and techno refinement might be increasing in Brazil, but it still lacks the potency it has in Europe by miles. The gap between the upper and lower echelons of society still dramatically dwarfs that seen elsewhere in Western society. This BRIC economy may be faring well in comparison to developed financial markets, but corruption sends money upwards, lining the pockets of the most privileged, therefore thwarting rapid middle class growth. As a result, clubs target those who do have floods of cash to spare to make amends. Generally, these are not the sort of clubbers interested in seeing Martin Buttrich and Adam Shelton at D-Edge on a night like tonight, a Thursday. So, does this put pressure on promoters to book commercial acts to help balance the books? Not Renato.
"I want to be successful and make money, but I'm never going to do strange things to make money," he tells DJ Mag with an air of nobility. "They know my history, I spend money to try and get my dreams. So the involvement is programming, booking and we're going to look at re-modelling the club, changing the concept a bit to try to improve. In the south of Brazil, people are really into the music. The people have to trust you, but you have to push their limits as well."
That D-Edge's model — to fly over relatively unknown international talent (locally, anyway) in exchange for an affordable door tax — isn't deemed attractive enough for others to follow suit is the very thing that's helped keep it alive. According to Renato, while other clubs in Brazil are pushing underground dance music — Club Vibe (Curitiba), Beehive (Passon Fundo) and Warung (Cambouriu) — D-Edge stands pretty much alone in Sao Paulo, the country's largest city.
It might sound clichéd, but Renato's heart is with the music not with making money. The lack of competition is testament to Brazil's limited demand, but sticking true to principles is core to the agenda.
"It's financially feasible, we work hard to keep the quality and we are always searching new paths," adds Renato. "We are now in an international crisis but we are still keeping investments in necessary points to keep the club in service. We consider this an investment for the concept, so it's a sustainable project for sure. And we consider D-Edge an institution, not only a business."
Besides, it's not only its music policy to rival any of Europe's elite that's won hearts. More aligned to establishments such as Watergate or the now-struggling Cocoon, due to its sleek, space-age interior, than the nondescript tunnels and warehouses of East London, an air of mysticism surrounds D-Edge for those yet to enter, especially from a European perspective. Winning vocal advocates (and repeat appearances) in the form of Luke Solomon, Sven Väth and Solomun, it exists in the minds of the uninitiated not only through their continued support, but through aspirations generated by photos of the underground's brightest stars before Tron-like visuals, cubic neon strips and modular laser panels. Sao Paulo's outsiders hear the club's revered name uttered through hushed tones and knowing glances. Occupying a very unique corner of the city's nightlife, it's a beacon that hasn't gone without notice.
As we enter, it's the club's ultra-chic decor that strikes us. Upstairs, the recently opened VIP snug, with its smooth warm-up house grooves, could almost be computer generated, its deep red light-stripped walls and ceiling extended by a hall of mirrors; an optical illusion that gives it a sense of extra length, potentially hazardous for first time clientele in search of the toilets at the far end.
Meanwhile downstairs, One Records boss Adam Shelton's energetic tech-tinged house is drumming up a commotion from the enthusiastic congregation below; his tough, jacking percussion bolstered by a sturdy underbelly of groove, made infectious by loopy swirls, vocal samples and soulful chords.
This main room — a tall but compact jet-black box tiled with luminous flashing squares, which give its flat floors a false sense of varying dimension (tricky after a few vodkas) — is something you'd expect from one of Steven Spielberg's wet dreams: high walls, a dynamic arrangement of motion strip lighting and a flashing LED surface behind the elevated DJ booth that make for an immersive experience — the perfect setting for Martin Buttrich to step up to deliver some deep, sense-altering house.
Levelling space-age vibes to match the futuristic surroundings, yet harmonic enough to send the floor into a hypnotic trance, Buttrich's set builds from lush house melodics towards more driving techno, still honouring the majestic musicality we've come to expect from the Desolat co-boss. By now, the VIP area to the right of the booth is as jumping as the dancefloor below, as pressure within edges towards optimum level.
Outside on the smoking terrace on the roof around 6am, the bar is still in full service as the orange glow of sunrise rears its head, as lively crowds of clubbers continue to congregate in high spirits. The 3000AD-inspired VIP room underneath is equally vibrant, manned by Diogo Accioly winding up a vivacious classics set, while downstairs in the main room, crowds are begging for one more to finish off Buttrich's delicately layered set of sublime techno-laced sonics.
Made up of multiple facets — the intimate and slick VIP room, main room spectacle and rooftop smoking terrace — the D-Edge experience washes over with all the synapse-rushing intensity you'd expect of a high-end superclub. However, you won't find many with a music policy this tight — even in Europe. Let alone, Brazil.
Words: Adam Saville


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"Queen Elizabeth II, the oldest monarch in the world, turns 90 today. She has been served by 12 prime ministers, starting with Churchill. She also navigated the decline of the British Empire; braved the tragedies of her family and the nation; and edged out Queen Victoria as the longest-reigning monarch in British history: 64 years now. This 1939 photo from the @nytimes archives depicts then-Princess Elizabeth, 12, flanked by her parents King George and Queen Elizabeth at a benefit performance at the Coliseum in London." By nytimes on Instagram.
Posted on infosnack.


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US Sees Few Options Left In Its N. Korea Diplomacy
UNITED States officials are concerned over the shortage of options available if the Clinton administration concludes that North Korea, as is suspected, is embarked on a nuclear weapons program. The preferred US option is to persuade the United Nations Security Council to impose economic sanctions.
The latest setback occurred with North Korea's refusal to grant inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access to a laboratory suspected of being used to extract bomb-grade plutonium. The IAEA will render a final determination of the inspection process Monday.
It was on that day that the administration had proposed resuming high-level talks with North Korea in Geneva. State Department spokesman Mike McCurry said it was doubtful the US-North Korean talks could begin Monday because the IAEA evaluation won't be known until then.
Three Asian countries with the largest stake in the issue - China, Japan, and South Korea - all have indicated varying degrees of resistance to economic sanctions, US officials said Wednesday. All prefer to deal with North Korea diplomatically, but the United States is concerned that the time for diplomacy may be running out.
CIA Director James Woolsey, speaking on NBC, called North Korea ``a key part of this sort of devil's brew of three or four countries - together with Iran, Iraq, and Libya - that are engaged directly and indirectly in terrorism and proliferating of weapons of mass destruction.'' Call for Whitewater hearings
REP. Dan Rostenkowski, who relied on President Clinton's help in winning a key Democratic primary race in Illinois this week, is the second top House committee chairman to declare that Whitewater hearings may be necessary.
``I think the congressional hearings are going to be inevitable,'' the House Ways and Means chairman said, even though ``the American people are tired of all this.''
House Speaker Thomas Foley (D) has refused to budge from his opposition to hearings, saying that special counsel Robert Fiske Jr. expressed concern that any hearings could become ``a method of backing into the fundamental questions involved in Whitewater issues in Arkansas.''
On Tuesday, Rep. Lee Hamilton (D) of Indiana said hearings might be the best way to get the facts out ``quickly and completely.'' Known for his bipartisanship, Hamilton is chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Meanwhile, former Sen. Barry Goldwater (R) said Wednesday that Washington should kill the clamor over Whitewater and let President Clinton do his job.


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CISA and the FBI have released an advisory warning of potential cyberattacks that may occur over the coming Labor Day weekend, noting that in recent years hackers have launched dozens of devastating attacks on long weekends.
They urged organizations to take steps to secure their systems, reduce their exposure and potentially "engage in preemptive threat hunting on their networks to search for signs of threat actors."
Eric Goldstein, executive assistant director for Cybersecurity at CISA, said ransomware "continues to be a national security threat" but noted that the challenges presented by potential attacks are "not insurmountable."
"With our FBI partners, we continue to collaborate daily to ensure we provide timely, useful and actionable advisories that help industry and government partners of all sizes adopt defensible network strategies and strengthen their resilience," Goldstein said. "All organizations must continue to be vigilant against this ongoing threat."
Kaseya attack
He urged organizations not to pay ransoms in the event of a ransomware attack and said CISA or local FBI field offices should be contacted before any decisions are made.
CISA noted that there is generally an increase in "highly impactful ransomware attacks" that occur on holidays and weekends, noting the devastating Kaseya attack that took place on July 4.
CISA said it does not have specific threat intelligence indicating attacks are imminent but explained that threat actors know IT teams are limited on holiday weekends and listed a number of attacks that took place on holidays this year.
They cited the Mother's Day weekend attack in May by the DarkSide ransomware group on Colonial Pipeline and the Memorial Day weekend attack on major meat processor JBS by the Sodinokibi/REvil ransomware group. REvil then hit Kaseya on July 4, continuing the holiday attack trend.
more coverage
- Everything you need to know about the Colonial Pipeline attack
- Ransomware just got very real. And it's likely to get worse
- Survive by outrunning the guy next to you
- DarkSide explained: The gang behind the attack
- Colonial Pipeline aims to restore operations by end of the week
- Colonial Pipeline paid close to $5 million in ransomware
- Colonial Pipeline restarts operations
- Attack serves as fair warning to persistent corporate inertia over security
"The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, which provides the public with a trustworthy source for reporting information on cyber incidents, received 791,790 complaints for all types of internet crime — a record number — from the American public in 2020, with reported losses exceeding $4.1 billion," the advisory said.
"This represents a 69 percent increase in total complaints from 2019. The number of ransomware incidents also continues to rise, with 2,474 incidents reported in 2020, representing a 20 percent increase in the number of incidents, and a 225 percent increase in ransom demands. From January to July 31, 2021, the IC3 has received 2,084 ransomware complaints with over $16.8M in losses, a 62 percent increase in reporting and 20 percent increase in reported losses compared to the same time frame in 2020."
The FBI added that over the last month, the most frequently reported attacks involved ransomware groups like Conti, PYSA, LockBit, RansomEXX/Defray777, Zeppelin and Crysis/Dharma/Phobos.
More ransomware groups are also coupling the encryption of IT assets with the secondary extortion of organizations with stolen sensitive or proprietary data, according to the notice. CISA added that ransomware groups are increasingly deleting backups and adding other tactics to make attacks more devastating.
The most common initial access vectors involve phishing and brute forcing unsecured remote desktop protocol endpoints, according to CISA. Ransomware gangs are also using dropper malware, exploiting vulnerabilities and taking advantage of stolen credentials.
At times, ransomware actors spend weeks inside a system before launching an attack — typically on weekends or holidays — so CISA urged IT leaders to proactively search their systems for potential points of access. Suspicious traffic patterns and strange access locations may help tip off IT teams of the potential for an attack, CISA noted.
IT leaders, like ThycoticCentrify vice president Bill O'Neill, said malicious actors often know that long weekends mean there will be a delayed response or an unprepared 'skeleton crew' that simply doesn't have the resources to simultaneously monitor for and deter threats fast enough.
"Or threats will be monitored, trigger automatic alerts, and enforce certain lockdowns, but often those still require human action for mitigation and additional security controls," O'Neill said.
"And because most organizations would prefer to have their data released immediately rather than wait out the duration of a holiday weekend (and incur continued reputational damage), they're also more likely to negotiate with attackers and pay out the requested ransom to minimize long term risks associated with these attacks."
Lookout senior manager Hank Schless added that hackers know people may be traveling and not able to access their work computer or mobile device in order to help stop an attack once they receive an alert of suspicious activity.
Attackers have already become much more advanced in how they gain entry to an organization's infrastructure — even when teams are fully staffed up and working, Schless told ZDNet.
Jake Williams, CTO at BreachQuest, explained that most ransomware attacks seen today could be easily discovered before encryption by following the guidance from CISA.
"This is especially true for reviewing logs. Threat actors could certainly perform lateral movement while staying out of logs, but with the plethora of potential victims with horrible cyber hygiene there's currently no need to do so," Williams said, adding that extremely basic levels of cybersecurity hygiene and monitoring are enough to achieve early detection of today's ransomware adversaries.
Tripwire vice president Tim Erlin put it succinctly: "Attackers don't take the weekends off, and neither should your cybersecurity."
- T-Mobile hack: Everything you need to know
- Surfshark VPN review: It's cheap, but is it good?
- The best browsers for privacy
- Cyber security 101: Protect your privacy
- The best antivirus software and apps
- The best VPNs for business and home use
- The best security keys for 2FA
- The ransomware threat is growing: What needs to happen to stop attacks getting worse? (ZDNet YouTube)


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Today, at the Microsoft's event in Mumbai, the Chief Executive Officer Mr. Satya Nadela announced the arrival of Microsoft Surface Pro 4 in India. He promised the release of Surface Pro 4 for the country next year in January. He also said the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950XL will be launched in the country by the end of this year.
The Surface Pro 4 was released in USA last month and is set to be launched in UK on 12th November 2015. Nadela did not hint us about the exact release date and prices but in USA, it was priced starting $899 (INR 59,000), the Pro 4 with i5 starts at $999(INR 65,000) and the i7 model will start at $1599(INR 1,00,000).
The Microsoft Surface Pro is a tablet which features a 12.3 inch PixelTouch display with 3:2 aspect ratio, 2736×1824 pixel resolutions at pixel density of 267 ppi and also features Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protection. The Surface Pro 4 measures 11.50 x 7.93 x 0.33 inch and this time, the company has deducted the amount of space given to bezels in Surface Pro 4 to make it look smaller.
The tablet runs on 6th Gen Intel processor using the Windows 10 OS and offers expandable RAM up to 16 GB. For graphics, it has Intel HD graphics 515 with m3 processor, Intel HD graphics 520 with i5 and Intel Iris with the i7 variant. It has a 5 MP front-facing HD camera and 8 MP rear camera with autofocus and 1080p HD video recording. The hybrid tablet also offers 802.11ac WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy and USB 3.0 port.
[stbpro id="info"]Also See: Top 10 Awesome Features of Surface Pro 3[/stbpro]
A new stylus has been launched, it is called the Surface Pen, and it has been redesigned with an eraser, magnetic storage and an all-year battery life. Much like Apple's new keyboard for iPad Pro, a revamped Type Cover has been released and it will be sleek and lightweight, with a larger precision glass trackpad, an integrated backlit keyboard and a fingerprint sensor.


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In Mexico state, violence against women has surged
MEXICO CITY — For hours, gunmen held captive a church group camping on a spiritual retreat.
They raped girls and beat boys. They stole their cellphones.
Finally the gunmen left; the youths wrapped themselves in blankets and walked five miles to find help.
The attack late last week outside Mexico City illustrates the mounting dangers — especially violence targeting women — in the Mexican state that until last year was governed by the man who will be the nation's next president.
The state of Mexico, which surrounds Mexico City on three sides, has seen an "alarming" surge in the number of murders and rapes of women, according to several human rights organizations. Much of that increase occurred during the governorship of Enrique Peña Nieto, whose six-year term ended last fall before he went on to win this month's presidential election.
"We identified a systematic pattern of violence against women, triggered by a lack of investigation, prosecution and punishment by the system of justice that exists in the state," a Mexican watchdog group, the National Citizens' Observatory of Female Murders, concluded this year.
The organization was rebuffed in its efforts to persuade the state legislature under Peña Nieto's government to issue an alert to women to protect themselves. It identified 1,003 slayings of women during Peña Nieto's term, roughly half of which went unsolved and largely uninvestigated.
In 2011, two women a day, on average, were slain or went missing in Mexico state, according to the organization.
In the camping incident, about a dozen gunmen invaded the eco-friendly Hummingbird campground where about 90 youths and adults were on a retreat sponsored by the Church of the Holy Trinity. The attackers held the group captive from late Thursday until the predawn hours of Friday.
One girl told Mexican television that the assailants pointed their guns steadily at the youths, forcing several girls into their tents, where they were raped.
Alfredo Castillo, state prosecutor, said five female members, three under the age of 18, were raped. He said Monday that one suspect had been arrested and several others "identified" and were being sought. Authorities were familiar with the group because of its past criminal activity, he said, adding that the isolation of the campground made it vulnerable.
"It was an area that was totally isolated, remote, wooded," Castillo told Milenio television. "They [the people on retreat] were looking to be completely out of contact with other people.... That's why there was no police presence."
Castillo, who has been quoted in news reports as saying women get killed and attacked in Mexico state because they use drugs, did not return calls to The Times.
In a report this month, Amnesty International said violence against women in the nation had reached alarming proportions.
"In recent years we have witnessed not only an increase in killings of women but a continuing routine lack of effective investigations and justice," the London-based human rights organization said.
In the run-up to his campaign for the presidency, Peña Nieto sought to portray his public security record in more positive terms than the reality would suggest. His government redefined "homicide" in a way that allowed officials to claim the number of murders had declined when, according to most experts, it had soared.
And his government used a legal loophole to assert that there were virtually no extortion cases in the state, when, in fact, Mexico state had one of the nation's highest rates of extortion, a favorite sideline crime of drug traffickers.
Perhaps the darkest mark on Peña Nieto's record was the 2006 incident in San Salvador Atenco, when nearly 30 women were arrested during a protest by peasants and then sexually assaulted by police while in detention.
Peña Nieto has since said it was necessary to use force to put down the protest but also recognized that abuses took place.
Yuriria Rodriguez, an activist with the observatory, said the lack of prosecution of women's slayings in Mexico state has led to a climate of impunity. "They want to close their eyes," she said.


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Editorial: Rancho Cielo – Still a bright star
June 29, 2012
There was disappointment this week for those laboring in the optimistic work out at Rancho Cielo. A young adult, newly enrolled in one of their rehabilitation programs, made the news; not for some early progress he made in their program, but for his being arrested for his involvement in a murder that happened last year.
Since 2004, Rancho Cielo has been trying to turn former gang members and other repeat offenders into productive citizens.
Retired Judge John Phillips had the vision for this facility, created on the abandoned ruins of the old Natividad Boys Ranch that was once used for juvenile incarceration. As a judge in the Superior Court, Phillips had seen and heard the worst, and he passionately believed that punishment alone would not turn the tide; but that a program that actually taught the most troubled and challenging young people how to make an honest living, building responsibility and self-esteem, could literally turn their lives around.
Through four different programs focusing on vocational and basic job skills, Rancho Cielo has indeed made an impact. Virtually all of their vocational graduates are successfully working in the construction and food services sectors. The Monterey County Probation Department separately measures recidivism in their Silver Star program aimed at younger students working to get their high school diplomas. They have an impressive 76-percent success rate.
But Rancho Cielo is not a haven for forgiveness, but a boot camp for redemption. And part of the equation for redemption is not just remorsefulness and good works, but owning up to ones bad choices and accepting the consequences.
The fellow arrested on their campus this week may well have had good intentions, but his past caught up to him and he was charged with having a debt still not paid. The courts will settle that score, but Rancho Cielo should not be harshly judged.
Our KSBW Editorial Board believes they should, and will, continue their zeal, taking on those who have been marginalized, that have been sucked into gangs, that have been turned out from troubled families and give them the tools and the chance to make a better life. In the violence, crime, drugs, poverty, and poor choices, which compose the dark night, Rancho Cielo is still a star brightly shining as a beacon of hope.


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I woke up this morning to my husband baking cookies. I had a cookie exchange to go to at 1:00 p.m. and I needed 14 dozen cookies baked before I left. I slept in a little late (9:00 a.m.) and I woke up to the smell of cookies. God bless my sweet husband. He already had 4 dozen done, and was working on the rest when I woke up. He's a good man.
The annual cookie exchange is a treat we look forward to every year. I leave the house with 14 dozen of the same kind of cookie, and return to the house with 14 dozen of different kinds. The first thing my husband and I do when I get back from the exchange, is separate what we will be keeping at home and what we will be taking in to work with us. After taking about 10 minutes to decide and sort, I have about 3 dozen of cookies staying home; the rest are going in to work with us.
|Nick's arrangement of cookies for work.
Last night, before my husband's Christmas party for work, we took our annual Christmas photo with our dogs. The photo was done within 4 attempts. Not so bad, considering it was just us, a tripod and a 10 second delay between each shot.
I can't help but laugh every time I see this picture. In order to make this photo happen, each time we attempted a shot, I had to get the camera ready, click the button, grab a dog toy, run to my spot, throw the toy toward the camera and strike a pose just in time for the picture to take. It was hard not to laugh after the third time. This was the fourth take and we're thinking it's as good as we're going to get, considering.
Christmas cards: family photos or traditional cards?
Christmas cookies: bake a ton, just enough or none at all?