text:
An insider's view of what is really happening in the Harris County Criminal Courts
Saturday, February 11, 2012
GUEST POST: The Difference Between "Tough" and "Just Plain Mean"
48 comments:
Outstanding Spunk. Maybe BJ should read this and open his eyes. He needs to quit putting the republican party's welfare ahead of the welfare of the citizens of Harris County.
- February 11, 2012 at 5:42 PM
We are wondering if Gary Polland will be providing another list of ADA's to fire like he did after she won her first term. Polland made no secret of his hit list and gleefully bragged that Pat had asked him for one back in 2008.
Also not tough, but mean.
- February 11, 2012 at 5:42 PM
Does Anderson have a list? Murray are you coming back? We hope so/You can make sure things are run the way it should be.
- February 11, 2012 at 5:59 PM
It's the 232nd grand jury doing the other investigation
- February 11, 2012 at 5:59 PM
WOW: Spunk thank you for this educational post. It sums up Lycos perfectly. Takes you from day one with Lycos to current. So informative anyone can read this and get the whole story.
Thank you Murray for sharing this with us. This is the type of info that needs to get out to the public. These type of articles will make all the difference in the outcome at the voting booth. I will be sending this post on to others. You never know what will happen.
- February 11, 2012 at 6:04 PM
Great post. I have one other "mean" story. I remember attending an awards ceremony on the 6th floor in which two ADA's were recognized by the FBI for work they had done on a murder case invovling some children. The FBI SAC in Houston was there presenting the awards. Her majesty, PL, seemed annoyed that she had been bothered to attend this important event recognizing two outstanding prosecutors. (I should mention that one prosecutor was unintentionally left out of this particular award.) Her majesty refused to take part in offering any remarks or photographs with the awardees or the SAC. I, personally, was embarrased and ashamed. The two prosecutors were professionals and made no public comments about the obvious snub. To me, this was Pl just being mean.
- February 11, 2012 at 6:25 PM
All those that dare all Anderson supporters (yea, I'm talking to you Don)to put their cash on the line & speak up or shut up, this piece explains why we don't. Most of us can't afford to put our job on the line, but can & will vote! Can & will get all our friends to vote! Can & will get everyone we know to put a sign in their yard!Can & will encourage all who don't work for Harris County to give to the Anderson campaign so fear no longer trumps what's best for the public! Put that in your camel and smoke it....
- February 11, 2012 at 6:30 PM
Anon 6.04-----send all voters the number of innocent people convicted in Holmes,Rosenthal era.Send the cases reversed because of Brady violations,other misconduct---Send them the names of prosecutors that gave sweetheart deals to defense lawyer friends and then when they left the "office" went to work for same defense lawyers. Give the voters the full story if you are really honest.Long Gone and Glad
- February 11, 2012 at 7:14 PM
AnOn 514--why don't you do it? Enlighten us all please. Names, numbers, etc. I'll be waiting !!
- February 11, 2012 at 7:22 PM
The dump that JBH takes each day has more integrity than PL +all her Bureau chiefs combined.
- February 11, 2012 at 7:36 PM
a post well written. Thanks and please do something to get the word out beyond this blog and let the public know what Lykos, Palmer & crew are up to.
- February 11, 2012 at 9:19 PM
Don't forget her failure or refusal to prosecute Public Officials.
Houston City Council Member James Rodriguez
Houston City Council Member Jolanda Jones
Houston City Council Member Jarvis Johnson
Houston City Council Member Al Hoang
Harris County Constable Victor Trevino
Harris County Constable May Walker
And don't even get me started on "Activist" Quanell X
She'll have ADA's ask for a No Bill every time so she won't have to face the slightest hint of negative media. Its all about her.
That is not justice. That is not enforcing the law. That is a travesty.
- February 12, 2012 at 12:57 AM
Tough or mean - one more account to add to Spunk's compendium - when Lykos was judge she frequently took long "lunch" breaks (a characteristic common to many judges). However, she added a twist to this habit. Although the defense attorney and proscutor were present in the courtroom at the designated return time and the jury panel was in the jury room Lykos would be AWOL. Upon her tardy return though she would apologize to the jurors for the prosecutor and or the defense attorneys for allegdly keeping them waiting. The brazenness was obvious - the apology even was rendered in the presence of the "offending" party or parties. Yes -mean.
Calvin A. Hartmann
- February 12, 2012 at 12:47 PM
"We are eager to show the public all the evidence in this case." - Patricia R. Lykos (2/1/12)
"The Harris County District Attorney's Office has long been eager to share what we know with the public. Now that the grand jury's proceedings have ended, we will be responding—vigorously.
In the days to come, our website—HarrisCountyDA.com—will feature a new section devoted to setting the record straight." (source: www.harriscountyda.com).
Ms Lykos:
Happy Sunday! We realize today is the day of rest, but we wanted to let you know we are looking forward to this promised evidence.
-the public
- February 12, 2012 at 1:08 PM
Those retirement checks are still coming in for people who worked at the "office"----Must not have been to bad. Same now for those working there. If it is that bad,leave and use all your talents to practice law.
- February 12, 2012 at 1:42 PM
Anon 1:42
I wish for you employment under Lycos.
- February 12, 2012 at 2:08 PM
So you're the dufus that puts definitions in his posts.
- February 12, 2012 at 4:22 PM
Here is an idea for everyone reading this blog. Texas is one of the few states that allows ordinary citizens and other entities not the DA to bring cases to a grand jury. Maybe its time a group of concerned lawyers to donate their time and civil service to bringing a few of these cases to a GJ independently.
- February 12, 2012 at 6:26 PM
The boss may not always be right ,but they are always the boss. My check comes in and I work and keep my mouth shut.The people that work here are not complaining.It is all the people that want to work here.The ones sent away because of what they had done before this boss arrived.
- February 12, 2012 at 6:32 PM
AnonHole 6:32pm
I work here! Horrible place to work for the last three years. People who are in charge have no clue. Those are the people who grew up in the office before Patsy. Each thought he/she could do it better but can't.
Come on Mike and Zack. There are two shots at this Target, not counting the investigations. Odds are in our favor.
- February 12, 2012 at 6:57 PM
Rachel, you're blathering again. If it's not Rachel, then you are someone who nobody trusts to say anything around...
- February 12, 2012 at 7:13 PM
Anon 6:26
I would be willing to file one of those cases with the GJ. If you get serious about this I will give you contact information.
Anon 6:32
As far as keeping your mouth shut Good Job. About no one complaining but the people that want to work there that were sent away. Seriously if you truly believe that then I think you could use a good counselor, you seem to be suffering from delusions. Could be your schizophrenic. Maybe it is so horrible at work that your mind has made another personality come forth to take over because of the severe conditions at the DAs office.
- February 12, 2012 at 7:35 PM
Anon. 6:32
Could it be Stockholm Syndrome?
- February 12, 2012 at 9:34 PM
@anon 7:35 this is anon 6:26. Will create a new email address for you to email me tomorrow, as mine has my name in it and I'm sure we are going to want to do this privately.
- February 12, 2012 at 10:25 PM
In her defense, I recall that a Chief from the 5th floor (not misdemeanor) went to HPD to teach a class.
- February 13, 2012 at 12:25 PM
"We are eager to show the public all the evidence in this case." - Patricia R. Lykos (2/1/12)
"The Harris County District Attorney's Office has long been eager to share what we know with the public. Now that the grand jury's proceedings have ended, we will be responding—vigorously.
In the days to come, our website—HarrisCountyDA.com—will feature a new section devoted to setting the record straight." (source: www.harriscountyda.com).
Dear Ms. Lykos:
Hello. Perhaps we are not looking in the right spot. We would appreciate your pointing out where this new feature is on your website.
We are hopeful today is the day you eagerly release this evidence.
- the public
- February 13, 2012 at 1:47 PM
- granky2 said...
Good post. It should be in the Chronicle, but we all know that liberal excuse for a newspaper is only good for one thing and very few of us have outhouses anymore..
- February 13, 2012 at 3:05 PM
Can I get an AMEN!!!!
And, Hoop troll, hate to come up with the math, but just because you were vindicated under Lykos doesn't mean Lykos prosecuted you. MATH FAIL.
- February 13, 2012 at 3:11 PM
I'm curious. Who, besides herself, the narcissistic bitch, has ever described Lycos as "tough"? Everyone I know just thinks she's mentally unstable, crazy, unpredictable and extremely volatile. Anyone who has ever put their trust in her deserves what they get. Are you listening, Little Jimmy?
- February 13, 2012 at 3:31 PM
The dump that JBH takes each day has more integrity than PL +all her Bureau chiefs combined.
February 11, 2012 7:36 PM
Do you know this from personal experience? Is that you, Chuck?
- February 13, 2012 at 4:15 PM
It seems that sometimes people are so vested in a certain outcome they are blinded to other peoples' views.
Pat Lykos being a horrible individual does not excuse bad behavior of others.
Rest assured Jimmy Leitner, Rachael Palmer and even Pat Lykos will get their comeuppance. We ought not sacrifice our integrity in the process.
There is a huge difference between justice at all costs and winning at all costs.
Just Sayin'
- February 13, 2012 at 5:03 PM
This is Texas where being mean and tough are positive character traits.If you had ever served in the military ,you would know what tough and mean really is. It is not what you are seeing now. This is baby stuff.
- February 13, 2012 at 6:30 PM
6:30 - Yes. Compared to dealing with IEDs or storming the beaches of Normandy, this is relatively insignificant. But the standard to be Harris County District Attorney is not "do you suck more than Adolf Hitler or Sadam Hussein." Lykos still sucks in every way imaginable.
- February 13, 2012 at 7:55 PM
Watched Ted Oberg tonight. Good report but I am sure tomorrow Lykos will announce the only reason she had Don McWilliams investigate the 185th was at their request. That is about as credible as claiming they were doing a criminal investigation.
- February 13, 2012 at 8:39 PM
Somebody ought to post the email Lykos sent the staff today that Oberg reported on.
- February 13, 2012 at 9:25 PM
What a terrible example Lykos is for the new ADAs. Is she trying to Teach them that it is ok to lie ? She is a pathetic example of truth and justice.
- February 13, 2012 at 10:16 PM
Ive been watching and I dont think Oberg is being truthful.
- February 13, 2012 at 10:32 PM
I was wondering which broom Pat Lykos will ride in on?
- February 13, 2012 at 11:21 PM
10:32. Donnie you missed it! Lykos is the liar here. How can you tell? Her lips are moving.
- February 14, 2012 at 7:13 AM
And Anon 10:32 probably thinks ADAs should always take the 5th when asked questions about evidence and whether evidence was hidden or not.
Sorry Anon 10:32, it takes proof to show lying and Oberg has been showing proof that Lykos has been lying.
- February 14, 2012 at 9:31 AM
"We are eager to show the public all the evidence in this case." - Patricia R. Lykos (2/1/12)
"The Harris County District Attorney's Office has long been eager to share what we know with the public. Now that the grand jury's proceedings have ended, we will be responding—vigorously.
In the days to come, our website—HarrisCountyDA.com—will feature a new section devoted to setting the record straight." (source: www.harriscountyda.com).
Ms. Lykos:
Happy Valentine's Day! We hope you are wearing your pink suit today - the one on your website looks great on you.
Hey, speaking of websites, today would be a great day to share the evidence with us.
- the public
- February 14, 2012 at 1:33 PM
Around the BAT Van time, AC stopped answering the phone and was only accessible by email.
At the time, it was a total pain and I thought she was a diva. That was before I realized what a gift from God RP is.
She's not stupid. Obviously, someone needs to get the email. Find the email!
- February 14, 2012 at 3:30 PM
I wonder if the Rangers are hauling computers away from the CJC pursuant to a search warrant or if they were released voluntarily?
- February 14, 2012 at 4:17 PM
Just wait til the Grant funding investigation from the Senator's office hit the news...
- February 16, 2012 at 5:08 AM
What about how she is paying for the media people?
- February 16, 2012 at 10:20 AM
Anon 5:08
Please share about the grant funding you mentioned. Some of us have no clue
- February 16, 2012 at 6:33 PM
DAO applied for and got some Fed grants; the money was used for something unapproved. Austin is investigating.
- February 16, 2012 at 10:41 PM
Anon 10:41
Thank you. Amazing, does it ever stop?
- February 17, 2012 at 7:49 AM


text:
TAMPA, Fla. -- Republican leaders pushed through contentious changes to delegate rules over the objection of conservatives and supporters of Texas Rep. Ron Paul.
Loud boos erupted Tuesday on the floor of the Republican National Convention as RNC Chairman Reince Priebus and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, ruled that a voice vote was sufficient to approve credentialing rules for delegates at future conventions.
Shannon Stapleton / Reuters
Delegates shout in protest over changes in Republican party rules that would restrict the impact of grassroots movements, before a vote to adopt the new rules during the second session of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, August 28, 2012.
Chants that sounded like "Seat them now!" did battle with chants of "U-S-A" from supportive delegates seeking to shout the protestors down.
The rules change essentially tightens party control over the manner in which delegates are allocated and bound to candidates.
A delegate rule change by RNC Chairman Reince Priebus and House Speaker John Boehner was approved despite the vocal objections of conservatives and supporters of Texas Rep. Ron Paul at the Republican National Convention.
The proposal prompted frustration from some supporters of Paul, whose campaign was able to appeal to the somewhat arcane rules of delegate allocation to win a majority of four states' delegations, despite having failed to win a single nominating contest.
Other conservatives -- including 2008 vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin -- had protested the move as a power play to shut out grassroots conservatives.
As Priebus and Boehner brought up the controversial rules change for a voice vote, supporters replied with loud "ayes," and almost equally vocal "noes."
When Boehner determined, in his capacity as the convention's permanent chairman, that the ayes had won it, cheers and boos mixed together in the convention hall.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Inside a look with the Ambassadors
Like us, you're probably in need of some well-deserved Disney magic! Well, do we have a surprise for you…
We recently visited the Resort to meet with our Magic Keepers and made sure to take some snapshots to offer you a glimpse inside our Parks, Hotels and Disney Village while they're temporarily closed. We hope you'll enjoy them as much as we enjoyed making them for you!
We can't wait to see our Guests passing the turnstiles again… 👋
Which way to go? Fantasyland, Frontierland… too many options! Yes, we know Disneyland Park very well and no, we don't really need a map, but it's so nostalgic… 🗺
While roaming Main Street, U.S.A., we bumped into some of our Magic Keepers: Maintenance Cast Members who continue to take care of our attractions during the temporary closure!
What better place to wish for fun and laughter at our Parks than the wishing well near Sleeping Beauty Castle? 🙏
Who else can't wait to see goblins and ghoulies, and creatures of fright at Phantom Manor? 👻
You just can't get enough of this view…
Yo-Ho, a pirate's life for me! 🌴
Food, glorious food… this is making us hungry!
Before heading out to Walt Disney Studios Park, we were able to see how our Nature & Environment team continues to take care of our landscaping. 🌱
Speaking of an iconic view – curious to see how it will look like in the future!
Of course, we had to check out the Hotels too. Sending some love to our Cast who continue the magic for our Guests beyond the Parks!
I'm SO excited about Disney's Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel and can't wait to see it open! I'll probably still be shouting Avengers Assemble weeks after… 💪
The idea of an American Diner is probably one of our favourite concepts. Two burgers and fries please! Wouldn't say no to that car either… 🍔 🍟
And this concludes our peek at our Parks, Hotels and Disney Village. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed making these pictures for you! Before leaving, we dropped by Joana's previous work location: World of Disney! ✨
0 thoughts on "Inside a look with the Ambassadors"
Hi, there! I'm from Brazil, and I'll be at DisneylandParis on my 40th birthday with my family (a husband and 3 daughters). May I have my "magical birthday ever"? This include a character? How I order it? We're ordering a 1day/2parks ticket, and we have a doubt about the time of Paris Express. It leaves Disnenyland at 8pm, is that time AFTER the fireworks and night parade? We're very excited with this family travel,and we'll be waiting ansiously for your reply
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I've never seen that castle elevation artwork before, could you post it in a higher resolution? Would love to thoroughly investigate the details of it.
Kind regards
Disneyland Paris Treasures
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What's the point of attracting adults and "reconnecting them with childhooh emotions and memories" if once they're there you'll treat them like they're not welcome?
Maybe the problem is not our perception is wrong. Maybe the problem is you really don't want us to go.
There's a Santa Fe style hotel? Oh my! Will have to go back and stay there! Only hotel I had time to see on my first visit was the Disneyland Hotel on my way into the park to see Captain Eo after it re-opened in June 2010. I was on a one-day visit via the Eurostar from London (on holiday there from Australia) so very limited time – too limited. But I loved it.
I've been 4 times to Disneyland Paris in the last 3 years and each time the service has been absolutely dredful and not even apologetic – would love to see how this changes.
What is the exact division of the other 75% of visitors?
We've ariverd at the end of the line and I have what I need!
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Is there any chance of buying used furniture if your aren't an employe?
Also my question:-) Is there a way to buy something although i'm not working at Disneyland Paris?
So, so sad to see this icon show close! I first saw it in California in 1987 and was blown away by what was then incredible 3D technology, as well as Michael's performance. When I visited Disneyland Paris for the first (and thus far, only) time on 24 June 2010 I was on a EuroStar day trip to the park from London which I was visiting for Michael Jackson 1st anniversary events with his UK fans. When I heard that Disneyland Paris and other Disney Parks were re-opening the film as a tribute to Michael, I HAD to make the journey across the channel to see it again. Needless to say, I made the most of the opportunity for repeat screenings on that day. And though I've since seen it repeatedly in Anaheim and Tokyo (shortly before it closed there last year) I'll never, ever forget seeing it on the big screen for the first time since the 80s at Disneyland Paris. I'm not sure I want to go back now. 🙁
It's a shame this classic has to go, really!
I'm glad I got the chance to experience it once again with the tribute performance.
It was not quite the same since many of the original effects and the look and feel of the cinema were missing, still the old 3D glasses/technique and and analogue! print/and projector was used, which was and is kind of lazy from Disney. Also, the print was very worn out the last time I've seen it and should have been replaced long ago.
But, still better than no Captain EO.
Since Captain EO will never return to the Disney parks, please release a worthy blu-ray of this classic masterpiece (in 3D and 2D). I'm sure plenty of Disney-, Michael Jackson-, Anjelica Huston, Franics Ford Coppola- and George Lucas-Fans would buy it in an instant!
I sure would!
Why oh why is this closing?
Have seen it several times at Disneyland Paris in the last couple of years and and each showing was packed out! Judging by everyone's reaction on the way out, the audience clearly loved both the film and its effects.
Bad decision, Disney 🙁
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It already looks amazing! I very curious how the hotel will look when finished.
The reason it has closed is that jardly anyone watches. Figures have dwindled and have been for years. It has been declining in the mast few years. Everyone moans and groans but it costs Disney to keep it running and if the audiences ain't coming, who can afford to keep it.
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Will the renovation include the geysers and mark twain? 🙂
Great presentation! I'm really happy to see all the (good) changes at Disneyland Paris.
We used these just after Christmas. Such a vast improvement since our last visit in summer 2014. Well done! I still had to wait from about 9am to get a good spot in the queue, but then we only waited about 10 minutes in the actual pavilion, as opposed to 70 minutes last time!
We had a wonderfull new years evening at euro disney 2015 – 2016!!!!
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Thank you!
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Will the foliage be refurbished? Many leaves and small branches are missing and spoil the attraction so hopefully these will be refurbished.
Sharp thgikinn! Thanks for the answer.
Hello We are a family of 4 with my husband and 2 children.I am 32 weeks pregnant.With the easy access card will I have access to attractions with my family.
would changing the perception around DP to attract adults or a particular age groups not be at the expense of other age groups eg kids, teenagers.
Is there a computer program that will automatically start other programs?
I value the knowledge on your websites. Thank you!.
What a shame that they cast aside the park's heritage, people's memories and their love of DLP by destroying the named stones and replacing them with bland slabs.
There were a few broken and loose ones, but surely they could have been kept and relayed to a better standard than they had previously.
It has really dampened our DLP experience. What next? Removal of the castle?
it'sasmallworld is more beautifulthan before.
I will ride to it's a smallworld during go to disneyland paris.
Are you stopping bed and breakfast next October 2017
i come to disney land for 20 years every year 2or3 times
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when y order to stay in the hotel why did they not mention
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i hope you understand why i writhe this
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much needed
I'm so glad that the inrtneet allows free info like this!
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Hello, I am staying at the Hotel on 9/23/16. That day is my daughter's birthday. Do you have the opportunity to purchase a cake?
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Can anyone help with getting in touch with photopass for Disneyland Paris. Tried sending email through contact us but email keeps coming back undeliverable. All photos are not coming up and need them to find my photos.
Not Impressed! Big Thunder mountain is one of my favorite Disney Rides! Shut! Simlarly, the Star Wars events are apparently unavailable.No mention of these attractions being shut when my booking was made in June. My grandson, for whom we arranged this trip, has extatically reached the height limit, and a star wars addict/devotee will now be denied these pleasures. Will there be a refund/discount offered?
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text:
Jennings 2.0: Cobb does it all
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The parallels were drawn almost immediately; the similarities obvious – to everyone, including the guy everyone was comparing Randall Cobb to.
It was a mid-September Friday afternoon, and Cobb had only played one game for the Green Bay Packers at that point. But as Greg Jennings watched the then-rookie second-round pick from a distance in the locker room, he couldn't get over how much the youngster reminded him of, well, him.
"He does, he really does," said Jennings, who as a 2006 second-round pick carried himself in a mature, wise-beyond-his-years way from Day 1, from his attitude to his quiet confidence to his intelligence to his professionalism. "I gauged that off the first time I really met him.
"I spoke to him a few times during the lockout over the phone – never got a chance to actually meet up and get to meet him face-to-face – but once I met him, his demeanor, the way he approaches the game, his football IQ, just the way he carries himself, it reminds me a lot of how I carried myself as a rookie coming in: Just all ears, wide open, ready to learn, ready to absorb any and everything.
"The kid is good. I'm telling you. I told my parents (the same thing). Receivers always talk. We see a guy, we know immediately, 'OK, he can do some things.' I actually looked him up because I had no clue who he was. I told him I checked his highlight film out, and I saw one play, and I'm like, 'He's going to fit in real good.' He's one of those guys where, if you can get the ball in his hands, he's going to make people miss. He's going to make things happen. And that's the type of guy we like to have around. And, he's smart, and that's the type of guy we like to have and I know '12′ likes to have. So he's going to fit in really good."
Jennings knew of what he spoke. A year later, Jennings is sidelined for the foreseeable future with a torn abdominal muscle that will require surgery on Tuesday. Initially thought to be a groin injury, Jennings has missed four of the Packers' seven games this season – the injury originally occurred late in the Sept. 9 regular-season opener against San Francisco – and his absence for much of this season has given Packers fans a glimpse of what life could be like for the offense next year, as Jennings is set to become an unrestricted free agent in March. In the less than three games Jennings has played, he's caught only 12 passes for 78 yards and one touchdown.
Into the breach has stepped Cobb, who enters Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lambeau Field having caught 37 passes for 435 yards and three touchdowns. (Only Jordy Nelson has been more productive, with 40 catches for 532 yards and five TDs.) With Nelson listed as questionable with a groin injury, it could be Cobb, James Jones, little-used veteran Donald Driver and undrafted rookie free agent Jarrett Boykin who comprise the Packers' wide receiver corps against the Jaguars.
And if that's the case, expect Cobb to rise to the occasion.
"We know what Greg brings to the table. It's going to be hard not having him out there," Cobb said this week. "We've had a couple of weeks where we sustained some success, so hopefully we can just continue that and we can just keep going between all of us."
In that time, Cobb certainly has won the confidence of "12," quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He's also won high praise from the NFL MVP, who predicted Cobb "is probably going to go down as one of the best picks in Ted Thompson's career, if not the best." In the same conversation on his weekly radio show on 540 ESPN and ESPNWisconsin.com on Oct. 16, Rodgers also made this comparison, which may ring a bell:
"He's very intelligent and deliberate about his preparation. He understands soft spots in zones; he's very detailed in his route running. He and Greg were both very similar when they came in. I still remember the first day that Greg was here in 2006. He ran a comeback outside, and it was just the most mature route I'd seen from a first-year player. Obviously I was just a second-year player, but you look back and go, 'Man, that guy was really detailed in his routes.'
"The professionalism that Greg took to the team as a young player was so refreshing and surprising, because he just carried himself in a way that it was very respectful and classy, but also that he belonged. He had enough confidence in himself. I hadn't seen that with any player until Randall. Randall came in last year, (and) again (he was) very respectful and classy, but with that kind of edge like, 'I belong here. This isn't too big for me.' And it's not that every player who comes in is overwhelmed, but you just don't see that class and that respect and that confidence from a young player. Greg and Randall, I've just never seen anybody who just got it like those two guys and there's no question why they're such talented players."
Last season, as a 21-year-old rookie, Cobb made his share of mistakes. In fact, in the team's season-opening victory over New Orleans, he made two – and scored a touchdown on each of them. He ran the wrong route on his touchdown catch, and he violated what was then special-teams coordinator Shawn Slocum's rule about bringing a kickoff out of the end zone from more than 5 yards deep. (That rule has since been abolished, thanks to Cobb's 108-yard touchdown on the play.)
This season, the Packers felt so good about Cobb's accelerated learning and versatility – he played quarterback, running back and wide receiver in college – that they developed more plays specifically designed for him. He's only carried the ball three times, but he's put up 67 rushing yards for a gaudy 22.3-yard average and also lines up in the backfield frequently to create mismatches. He has not yet thrown a pass, but he did throw one last Dec. 4 against the New York Giants, so it's in the playbook.
And, most important, he's developed into a Jennings-esque big-play, legit wide receiver, catching seven passes for 102 yards and a touchdown at Houston on Oct. 14, then following that performance up with eight catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns – plus a 19-yard run – in last Sunday's victory in St. Louis.
"He's made very good improvement from the first year to the second year. He's still learning, but he's a quick learner and he's a productive guy right now," offensive coordinator Tom Clements said. "Hopefully he can increase that and continue moving forward.
"Not everyone can do it. But he's able to do that because he has a good understanding of the game generally, he played quarterback at some point in the past and he was used in college similarly to the way we're using him now. He understands defenses and can understand why we're trying to do things and what the defense is trying to do, and that's helpful. The more knowledgeable you are about what the defense is doing and what you're supposed to do, it helps you be productive."
Cobb has certainly been that, although for all his maturity and Jennings-like ability, he confessed that at a point last season he behaved like, well, a rookie.
"I feel like midway through the season, I felt comfortable with my position instead of being hungry for more and continuing to have success and try to get better at my craft every day," Cobb admitted. "This offseason, I just took a whole different approach and got back to the old me."
That approach has continued to impress Rodgers, who has continued to heap praise on Cobb – to the point that he claimed to be out of compliments earlier this week. He also felt compelled to pull Cobb aside and warn him.
"I told him in the weight room yesterday, 'I've been giving you a lot of praise. You have a lot to live up to. Don't let me down.' And we had a good laugh," Rodgers said. "He's doing a real good. I'm just proud of him. Just being in the business for eight years now – you pull for the good guys. You pull for the guys who do it the right way. He's easy to root for because he really cares about it, and I think he has a lot of leadership ability that you're going to see come out in the next couple of years as he gets more confident in speaking up.
"But I'm just really proud of him and the way that he approaches his job and the ability that he has shown on the field. It's fun to give him opportunities because I think he's really earned it."
While Rodgers is thinking long-term with Cobb, he's simply focusing on the here and now. Despite his expanded role on offense, he's maintained his kick- and punt-return duties, and he doesn't expect that to change.
"Right now is the only thing we're worried about. We're worried about this year and getting to the Super Bowl this year. If it takes me doing both this year, then that's all I'm worried about right now," Cobb said. "The future will be the future, and only time can tell that. Right now I'm going to do everything I can to contribute and help this team.
"I believe every guy in this locker room knows what they're capable of doing personally. Whenever we have the opportunity, it's next man up. We never want to see one of our guys go down, but when they do, you have to have the next man ready.
Listen to Jason Wilde every weekday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on "Green & Gold Today," and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/jasonjwilde.


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Conigar Pit is a little known rocky and sandy cove tucked behind Old Castle Head near Manorbier.
At low tide it is a wide stretch of beach at the western end of which is situated the little cove called Presipe, which has become a happy hunting ground for people who collect fossils. Children find great fascination in a hunt for fossils, such as trilobites and ferns, attractive coloured semi-precious mineral stones and crystals. And if they tire of fossil finding they can explore the rock pools or enjoy a pleasant bathe, if the tide is right and the sun warm. The views from the cliffs are also stunning, with Lundy and the Devon and Somerset coasts often visible.
Conigar Pit derives its name from the fact that it was once a rabbit warren, a 'coneygarth,' where this valuable food source introduced by the Romans was 'farmed' for consumption at the local castle, in this case magnificent Manorbier Castle, half a mile inland.
The twin coves are a feature of the 11-mile walk along the National Park Coastal footpath from Broad Haven South to Skrinkle Haven, a route which passes beautiful Barafundle Bay Beach, recently voted one of the top ten beaches in the world.
It is a walk for the seasoned path enthusiast for the three-mile stretch between Broad Haven South Beach and Stackpole Quay alone has a total of 173 steps, as well as four kissing gates and one wicket gate to negotiate. The walk is very rewarding as it gives the opportunity of seeing the cliff ledge nests of kittiwakes, razorbills and guillemots at Old Castle Head and also the strong likelihood of spotting a chough, a puffin or a peregrine falcon. There is a Coastal Cruiser bus return service three times a day and you are never far from a beach, a village pub or toilets.
There is a National Trust car park for which a charge is made in the summer season and also a toilet. There is a Danger Area marked on maps of Old Castle Head and visitors have to be aware of the potential hazards presented by crumbling cliff edges, steep steps and tidal conditions.
At Presipe fossils are abundant. The beach between the two coves is sandy and very pleasant for children, but supervision on the steps down is advised. To reach the spot, follow the coastal path from Manorbier camp and the way to the beach becomes obvious as you reach the headland. Access is best at low tide otherwise only the western end can be reached. If venturing into the coves on the eastern end at Presipe, it is a crucial precaution to keep a very careful eye on the tide as it is so easy to be cut off here. It is also advisable to inform someone where you are going and what time you expect to return as mobile phone signals are often weak or non-existent in these sheltered coves.


text: There isn't enough time today to do a recap of yesterday and night, so I've just posted my favorite picture from the festivities. This short, sweet, and spicy cocktail was from Chef Sammy D. at the restaurant First in the Venetian. Sammy was very cool, and in addition to serving up a bunch of delicious appetizers, he mixed up a batch of "spicy Vegas sunrises" - a blood orange and jalapeno vodka cocktail that I thoroughly enjoyed. Stay tuned for a proper recap soon.


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Over the years I have encountered several clients who've told me they are bisexual. One of them had a dilemma. A woman in her late twenties had experienced several short-term relationships with women and men since she was a teenager. For the past three years, she had been in a monogamous relationship with a male partner, and now he had asked her to marry him.
She loves him and they both would like to have children. The problem is that she has never told him that she is bisexual; she prefers to be in a heterosexual relationship because settling down and having a family is very important to her. Now her difficulty was, should she tell him or not!
I am often surprised how many people know very little about their partner's sexual past. Sometimes this is because they don't know how to ask, or they don't want to know because of insecurity or jealousy. Having to compete with a member of the opposite sex can even be more daunting!
Most people don't understand the concept of bisexuality, and the assumption is often made that "you are either, gay, straight, or lying". Many bisexual people complain that they feel like outsiders, who don't fit in to the gay or straight world. It's difficult for them to find acceptance and there are very few role models.
Gay men often believe that bisexual men are really gay, but in denial. Bisexual women are often mistrusted by lesbians for "sleeping with the enemy" while straight women may reject bisexual men out of misguided fear they may have HIV or other sexual transmitted infections. Bisexual men are told to make up their minds.
The sex researcher Alfred Kinsey noted more than 50 years ago, that sexual attraction varies along a continuum and he devised a seven-point scale to describe this. At one end are people who are exclusively heterosexual and at the other end people who are exclusively homosexual. In between are many graduations of desire. This third category, meaning people with some significant attraction to both genders is called bisexuality.
In Australia there hasn't been much research done yet into the subject. However last year in the US a Pew Research Centre survey revealed that bisexuals differ from gay men and lesbians on a range of attitudes and experiences related to their sexual orientation. For example, while 77 per cent of gay men and 71 per cent of lesbians say most or all of the important people in their lives know of their sexual orientation, just 28 per cent of bisexuals say the same.
Many bisexuals avoid coming out because they don't want to deal with misconceptions that bisexuals are indecisive or incapable of monogamy, or going through a phase (stereotypes that also exist among straights, gays and lesbians alike). They also feel that they are sometimes shunned by the gay and lesbian and the straight world alike.
Another client, who has been happily married for 20 years and has three children, has an active sex life with his wife, but he also has occasional anonymous sex with men. He explained that while he is not romantically attracted to men, it's exciting and easy to hook up with another man and get a sexual release. But his wife found out and was devastated and she believes he must be gay or bisexual.
This scenario happens quite often, and the men in this category are known as "married men who have sex with men". Most of these men insist they are not gay or bisexual. However it's very confronting and confusing for their wives if they are found out.
So, with all the myths and prejudices that bisexuals experience, will they be more accepted in the near future? There are many gay characters in the movies or TV but very few bisexual ones. Exceptions include Nolan Ross, the wealthy software inventor in the popular TV show Revenge. And The Good Wife has an interesting main character, the investigator Kalinda Sharma.
As for celebrities, Anna Paquin, Megan Fox, Lady Gaga, and Angelina Jolie have openly stated that they are bisexual, but maybe it's slightly more acceptable for women. Katy Perry famously performed a song called I Kissed a Girl and Madonna kissed Britney Spears on stage, but I doubt if Justin Bieber or Bruno Mars would have dared to kiss a boy!
What do you think?


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WWF pays tribute to Linda Norgrove
Posted on 10 October 2010
Global environment organisation WWF has paid tribute to Linda Norgrove, a former employee who played a pivotal role working with indigenous people to protect the Amazon headwaters. Linda, taken hostage while working as an aid worker in Afghanistan, died Friday during an attempted rescue.Lima, Peru: Linda Norgrove, a British aid worker being held hostage in Afghanistan died on Friday during an attempt to rescue her by NATO forces. Originally from Sutherland in the Scottish Highlands, Linda was a former employee of WWF Peru and the United Nations, working for the firm Development Alternatives Inc at the time of her kidnap.
Juan Carlos Riveros, head of the Science and Climate Program in WWF's national office in Peru, worked with Linda during her time at WWF and has sent this message of remembrance and condolence:
"Linda started working for WWF Peru in 2002 and left in September 2005. She first began supporting work in the Peruvian portion of the Northern Andes, and a few months later she took charge of the Forest Program."
"Her time in Peru was crucial for the consolidation of the Forest Program of WWF Peru and the broadening of supporters (donors), which after Linda left included the European Union (a project on forest management with indigenous communities) and the Italo-Peruvian Fund (conservation of the Cordillera del Condor – Condorcanqui).
"Her work was fundamental for the implementation of the Peruvian portion of the Amazon Headwaters Initiative*, which during her tenure led to the establishment of Alto Purus National Park, the largest park in Peru, and a Gift to the Earth to then President Toledo for doing so. In the end, she even left the seed funding to support restoration work in Tabaconas-Namballe in Northern Peru. Her perseverance was key for the construction of WWF's alliances and work with indigenous federations in Peru."
"None of this would have been possible without the dedication and effort that Linda put into what she did. And yet, she always took time to relax with the whole team in WWF Peru. For many of us, Linda has been a friend, a sister or even a daughter, who left for Afghanistan to keep helping people and advancing environmental conservation. In the end, I think that she discovered and loved Peru like few Peruvians, and left us a high standard of commitment and devotion to WWF's mission."
Linda left a message for WWF on her departure in 2005:
"I'll always remember the challenges wéve faced together, the experiences, trips, celebrations and the achievements wéve accomplished together. It has been an honor and a highly valuable experience for me, being able to work with all of you towards the conservation of the Amazońs cultural and biological diversity." (September, 2005)
Everyone working for WWF globally gives sincere thanks for Linda's life and work and all of our thoughts are with her family and friends at this tragic time.
* The Amazon Headwaters Initiative is spearheaded by WWF in collaboration with the governments of Peru, Bolivia and Brazil, local NGOs and indigenous/traditional communities. The goal of AHI is to conserve the southwestern headwaters of the Amazon River through the creation and improved management of inter-connected protected areas and indigenous territories.


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Ryan Hanson was running late, and showing up without being in costume for Superhero & Celebrity Night in Target Center's Los Locos section simply would not do. Semi-desperate measures were in order: "I was frantically putting duct tape on my tighty-whities on the light rail," he said.
Even after Hanson had joined Wonder Woman, Slash, Garth from "Wayne's World" and an uncanny Justin Bieber lookalike in Section 121, he still was applying shiny duct tape to his Max Deal outfit. Soon enough, he and his two dozen cohorts were all dressed up and ready to chant, cheer and bang their Whacker Clappers, never leaving their feet from tipoff to final horn.
Turns out that rookie sensation Ricky Rubio, superstar Kevin Love and a vastly improved Timberwolves team aren't the only ones bringing more electricity and enthusiasm to an arena that has been moribund for several years now. Los Locos, a new particularly rabid fan group, brings a different look but consistent gusto to every home game.
"What they have done is brought attention to 'Hey, it's OK to stand up, it's OK to cheer the whole game,'" said Jeff Munneke, the team's vice president of fan experience. "They often start a cheer, and it goes to the back end and then around the arena. They keep the energy coming whether we're down 10 or up 10. It's all positive energy."
Indeed, on this night, as an injury-ravaged Wolves squad had a rather tepid performance against Houston, Los Locos never lost their mojo. "We view ourselves as a catalyst," Hanson said. "It was dead in here the last few years. I was a spectator. Now I'm a fan.
"When I'm leaving the game, I keep hearing people from different parts of the arena saying 'Who are those people?'"
Initiated by the fans
"Those people" are a spirited entourage started by Mark Haugen of Minneapolis. Last summer, after the Rubio signing signaled a possible end to the team's dismal travails, he and Munneke kept discussing the concept of a "super fans" section for the team, which no other National Basketball Association franchise had.
A few other teams have fan sections devoted to one player, but Haugen wanted the fan fervor to focus on the entire team, So he gathered a "dyed-in-the-wool" core of more than a dozen folks who fit his self-styled acronym PIE (Person of Irrational Exuberance). The team supplied them with seats about 20 rows up behind the basket, near what everyone hoped would be kindred spirits.
"I just had the idea that we needed a section with crazy fans like soccer games have," Haugen said. "They stand the whole games and wave flags. Colleges have that kind of enthusiasm. So the idea was to be near the College Night section to create a little critical mass."
Early on, some other fans assumed they were a fan club for Spanish import Rubio because of the frequent "olé, olé" chants. Los Locos donned sombreros for one game, prompting a small kerfuffle, from a smiling Rubio ("[I am] from Spain, you know?") to being dubbed "Sombridiots" on the Timberwolves fan blog Canis Hoopus.
"We weren't trying to say Rubio was Mexican. We know where he's from," Haugen said. "We were just trying to get people to pay attention to us."
Mission accomplished, with themes that included surgeons' outfits (tied to the KISS song "Calling Dr. Love"), Wig Wednesday, pirates' garb for the Lakers (L.A. hijacked the Minneapolis Lakers franchise in 1960) and even Sid Hartman Night (dressing in Sid's signature suit). This week will bring All White Saturday Night, and Feb. 7 will be Toga Tuesday because the opponent is the Sacramento Kings and "we don't need a ruler to tell us what to wear," Haugen said.
Nor does ringleader Haugen dictate that choice. "We have an e-mail chat group and throw ideas out there and see what kind of feedback we get," he said. Toga Tuesday, by the way, will afford him a second chance to channel the late John Belushi: On Superhero/Celebrity Night, Haugen dressed as a Blues Brother.
Creating a culture
The superstar/celebrity theme actually originated with a newbie to the group, Joanne Taylor of Rogers. "I had this [Wonder Woman] costume made when I turned 40. I needed an incentive to lose weight," said Rogers, who still fits into the outfit at 43 and was attending her second Wolves game ever. "I plan on being here a lot more, as long as I can dress up and act crazy."
Taylor is one of several women in the contingent. Hanson's wife, Raquel, came as a Kardashian, with raven hair and a black dress showcasing the physical characteristic for which the sisters are best known.
Cedar Schimke of Minneapolis had the Justin Bieber hood/ball cap/bangs look nailed. As for the voice, "I sang earlier and people told me to stop. But hey, 'Never Say Never,'" she said at halftime. "I think Ricky Rubio is the Justin Bieber of the NBA."
A couple of seats away, John Castillo, who invented the hard-foam Whacker Clappers that the group uses, had bulked up with some padding beneath his SuperClapper uniform. He spent the entire game howling and whacking away -- and smiling ear to ear, even as the game slipped away from the home side.
"We make sure no matter what, we have fun," Haugen said. "A month of games creates a culture."
Growing that culture is a goal, but on Los Locos' terms.
"We're recruiting people," said Scott "Skolt" Asplund, his face painted in Timberwolves colors. "It's a grass-roots project, but [any new additions] will need to growl and howl."
Hanson added: "I don't think everybody's got to wear chrome duct tape underwear, but they can partake somehow."


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Celine Dion: Through the Eyes of the World hits theatres this weekend. Celine and the family attended the premiere in Miami last night. There's her angel, her miracle, her amazingness, her most wonderful, the blessed, the child of her life and love and existence, the transcendental, the elemental, the every word that describes every great feeling – her son Rene Charles.
Hush, love
I see a light in the sky...
How can you not love her? I posted this link last week but it needs to be seen again. Jezebel's feature of Celine's many faces. Click here.
As for Celine at the Olympics, many of you have asked why she was absent from the Opening Ceremony. VANOC invited her but she declined. Always the purveyors of too much information, the Dions informed the world that she was busy getting implanted. Only Celine.
Photos from INFphoto.com and Juan Garces/Splashnewsonline.com


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Grand jury to decide if fatal shooting was self-defense
The fatal shooting of a man suspected of trying to break into a southeast Houston apartment will be referred to a grand jury.
A man was inside his apartment in the 3900 block of Wentworth with his girlfriend and a 2-year-old when they heard a knock at the back door about 8:20 p.m. Wednesday, according to a Houston Police Department news release.
Once the door was open, an armed man pushed his way inside, pointed a handgun at the male tenant and demanded he get on the ground, police said.
Instead, the resident ran to his bedroom to retrieve his own gun. The intruder chased him and the tenant shot him several times, police said.
The intruder was declared dead at the scene by paramedics. His body was between the kitchen and the living room and a firearm was on him, HPD officer Christopher Hassig said.
The tenant, 24, was questioned and released. He was not injured. The case has been referred to a grand jury, which will decide if charges are warranted in the case.
Whether the men knew each other was unclear, Hassig said.


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Ithaca College's Committed to Change Program was launched in 2011 when the Partnerships for Sustainability Education and Commit-to-Change programs were united into a single entity. The new Committed to Change program is divided into five major activities:
Our goal with the Committed to Change program is to provide the best possible opportunities for students and faculty alike to learn about and pursue careers focused on sustainability with an emphasis on local and global connections and partnerships.
For nearly ten years, the Partnerships for Sustainability Education (PSE) was primarily a collaboration between Ithaca College and EcoVillage at Ithaca. Much of the early PSE work was underwritten by a grant from the National Science Foundation, which was later supplemented by institutional funding. Among the PSE's primary activities we:
- offer a rotation of Topics in Sustainability courses focused on community-based projects, many of them taught or co-taught by professional educators from EcoVillage at Ithaca;
- offer an annual sustainability curriculum development mini-grant program for faculty interested in infusing sustainability into their courses; and
- serve as a catalyst for various sustainability efforts in the community, such as Sustainable Tompkins and Ithaca Carshare.
For four years, the Commit-to-Change Program, which was underwritten by a major grant from the HSBC in the Community Foundation, has promoted student and faculty transformation around sustainability. For students, we awarded scholarships for incoming students that serve as role models, offered funding for students pursuing unpaid internships and research funding for faculty-student collaborations, and fellowships for exemplary completed projects. Likewise, for faculty, we have hosted the annual Finger Lakes Project, a sustainability curriculum development workshop to expand the presence of sustainability in our curriculum among faculty at Ithaca College and other regional institutions of higher education. Our more recent endeavor under the Commit-to-Change program was to expand our academic and service learning opportunities with select partners in Belize, Ecuador, and Ukraine.
The merged Committed to Change program retains the most successful elements of these two earlier programs, while allowing us to move into new directions.


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When a Hawk Goes a Hunting My Own
Home. Central time. 5:30am.
Last night I slept like a kid pretending to sleep. This is what it looks like to sleep. Pillow, blanket, eyes shut. Sometimes it worked. I napped for a few minutes. Maybe an hour. Then woke up and looked out at the moon. I did not make tea or go to the porch. This is the problem with being tired and insomniac. You want to sleep. Really, you do. But that brain keeps going clickity, clack down the track. A fun fact about the new novel - it involves two sisters who have inherited the insomniac gene that assails all the women in the family. The men sleep like the dead.
At 5:30 this morning I gave up any thoughts of going back to sleep because of the birds.
The birds.
It started a long time ago, many, many years ago in fact when Mama and Daddy were at the creek. They spent some years there in retirement if that's what one would call it. They just called it life. They were some of the happiest of their lives. Daddy fished. Mama walked and worked in the flowers. She got some sun and that beautiful pale, skin that doesn't look kin to me got a tan. They both fed 'our birds' as they called them by which they meant the whole swampy creek full of birds. They had multiple feeders with seed For birds who like seed and fruit feeders for birds who loved fruit. They had raccoons that would eat from the porch at night and stare right in the window at them. They had a tribe of wildcats that came up out of the woods and took up residence. We had always had a few dogs and a few cats 'at home' down on the corner of 11th St. but now they had all manner of furry beasts that answered to their call. Even the wild birds came when they called them. They were Tarzan and Jane of Holmes creek.
One day a hawk took up there realizing he'd hit pay dirt. All those birds feeding at feeders were like me passing a fruit stand. I'll have one of those, and a red one and a green one and an orange one and so on. Momma and Daddy became sorely vexed over the situation because they felt attached to the birds that they had watched through this whole circle of life. The mating rituals, the nest building ritual, the baby birds being fed ritual and the fledglings learning to fly ritual.
When I got home recently after days away Mama wanted to tell me she was worried about 'our birds'. Now, this has been an effort of mine to make Mama happy. To hang flower boxes for flowers I don't have time to water so she points out to me - those flowers need watered - but the fact is my efforts to make Mom happy, to paint shutters and plant flowers has resulted in things looking down right lived in around here. Much more like a home than a house where I pull in and go to the computer with blinders on - write, work, write, work.
Now, I've put out multiple feeders. Seed feeders for birds that like seed and fruit feeders for birds that love fruit. Mama tells me she'd seen a hawk out there on more than one occasion the past days gone by and the birds aren't coming to eat at all. She's right. There is seed still down in the feeders. So, when I heard the birds at 5:30 I thought - well, I haven't slept all night why try to sleep now. Just go check on the birds.
Coffee made, to the porch I go.
The rooster is crowing. But it's a different crow. Either it's a new rooster or an old rooster. One finding his crow or losing it. That noise just doesn't sound like the rooster I know. And right I am. Because 'my' rooster answers this crow. Seems that there are now two roosters down the hill now. Maybe they live next door to each other. Down the hill is a good distance for a rooster to be at 5:30 in the morning. It's that kind of poetic ambience you can listen to outside but not one that is crowing at 5:30 in your ear right outside your window.
The birds are singing but only a little. Like they are whisper singing. A mother redbird comes to the feeder but she doesn't relax. She keeps looking up and over her shoulder. The next bird, some kind of finch I'm too tired to get up and get the bird book to identify is so nervous he isn't even getting any seed. He just sits there. Crazy eyed, staring up into the trees.
Bout a hundred years ago, a lifetime away now someone shot that hawk at the creek. Might have been boys on a dare. Or someone that just didn't care. My daddy found him. Brought him to my mother and laid it at her feet on the porch. She looked at the feathers, the span of the beautiful wing and said, 'Oh, how majestic,' through her tears. She still tells me about this. The beauty of that bird. "'They have a right to eat, too," she says, "I just don't want them eating my birds."
I google bird eating hawks. What to do. Move feeders under shelter, it tells me. Good ole google. At 6am it knows just what to do. I go down the steps that need replaced, make a mental note - these steps sure need replaced before they just fall off the house - and gather up the feeders. The seed feeders and fruit feeders and special little suet feeder and bring them back up the rickety steps to the porch and hang them up where I know they will make one heck of a mighty mess. There will be seed everywhere. And other stuff to clean. But, Mama's birds give her some peace.
Eventually, google says, the hawk will grow bored with birds having shelter and move off down the creek somewhere. Go to better hunting grounds. Someone else's backyard feeder.
When Mama gets up she takes her coffee to the porch, says look, "This one hangs upside down. That's just the way he likes it. He's that kind of bird."
These are the brief moments in my life where I know I did good. Where I got it right. And the world hangs for a moment in incredible balance where all is well and all shall be well and all is well with my soul.
Happy Sunday. I pray your soul find peace and comfort today, a perfect balance, in the middle of your busy life. And that you realize more times than not - you did good. You got it right.
Your fan,
River Jordan
ALSO - You can now check out my new Patreon Page here for new ways you can be a part of this wild journey called my writing life. Links for the Undercover Reader Posse, Story Support, the Phonebooth Writer Series and more!
Thanks so much for reading, liking and sharing with friends.
July 2020


text: The first-ever Booooooom film screening was a huge success! Thank you all for showing up and packing it out! Huge thanks to the gang at W2 for hosting the event for FREE! If you came out and enjoyed the film, please note that "An Island" runs on donations so if you feel inclined you can jump over here and support the project! Cheers!


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Nothing seems more quintessentially baby to me than a baby bonnet! And no fabric seems better suited for one than Liberty of London's gorgeous Tana Lawn. It's just the right material for this classic garment: soft to the touch and in patterns sweet enough to rival even the cutest little baby face.
But when you have a baby born in the height of winter, with snow falling and winds howling, however cute and charming it is, a delicate hat of just lightweight Lawn won't do. And so, for the winter baby, I made a Winter Baby Bonnet.
Michael Miller's sumptuous Organic Sherpa adds an extra cozy layer and an extended tie doubles as a mini scarf. Decorative and functional, this Winter Baby Bonnet perfectly frames the baby's face while keeping her sensitive head protected from the elements.
With so many beautiful Liberty prints to choose from, I know I'll be making one for every winter baby I know! – Corinne
- Outer Hat: 1/2 yard of Liberty of London's Tana Lawn. We used Hot Pink Wiltshire (above left) and Pink Thorpe (above right).
- Lining: 1/2 yard of Michael Miller's Organic Sherpa, 100% organic cotton
- A 110- yard spool of Gutermann's 100% Cotton Thread. We used color 1040.
These are enough materials to make one hat in any size.
Additional materials needed…
- A Winter Baby Bonnet template, available for free download here, printed and cut out in the appropriate size.
- A walking foot for your sewing machine.
Sizes are shown for 0-3 (3-6, 6-12, 12-18, 18-24) months.
To print the PDF template, be sure to first download the pattern and then print it. This means rather than simply clicking the link and opening the PDF in a browser window, you should click on the pattern link using the "right click" or "control click" option on your mouse or keyboard. This will give you the option to "Download the linked file." Once the file is downloaded, it should print like a charm!
Prewash all fabrics before starting. This is particularly important with the Organic Sherpa, which shrinks quite a bit with its first wash and dry.
Use ¼-inch seam allowances unless otherwise noted.
The right side of the Organic Sherpa is the fuzzy side.
This pattern is also available as a printer-friendly PDF. Just click here!
You will use the prepared template to pin and cut 2 Hat Sides from the Liberty of London and 2 Hat Sides from the Organic Sherpa, but first be sure to line up the grain line properly. Here's how…
The Liberty of London has two grain lines, one that runs parallel to the selvedge and one that runs perpendicular to the selvedge. Line up either one with the template.
The Organic Sherpa only has one grain line, and it runs parallel to the selvedge and along the line of the knit. Line it up with the template, as shown above.
Also, to be sure that you cut the two Hat Sides from each fabric with the proper orientation, cut one Hat Side with the right side of the fabric facing up and one with the wrong side of the fabric facing up. The two Hat Sides from the same fabric should be mirror images of each other.
Cut one 3 ½ by 11 ½ (3 1/2 by 12 1/2, 3 3/4 by 13 1/2, 3 3/4 by 14 1/2, 4 by 15 1/2)-inch Rectangle from both the Liberty of London and the Organic Sherpa. The grain line of the Sherpa should run along the long edge of the Rectangle.
Working with the Liberty of London pieces and with right sides facing, pin one long edge of the Rectangle to the long outside curve of one of the Hat Sides. It can be tricky to keep curved seams wrinkle-free. Use a lot of pins to ensure that the seam will come out un-puckered and smooth. Sew around the pinned curve.
Cut notches in the seam allowance along the curve. Trim the seam allowance to 1/8-inch.
Repeat with the second side. This is the Outer Hat.
Now, working with the Organic Sherpa and with right sides facing, pin one long edge of the Rectangle to the long outside curve of the Hat Side. The knit fabric is much more flexible around the curve than the Liberty of London, so you shouldn't need as many pins to keep the seam flat.
To sew, change the foot of your sewing machine to the walking foot and stitch along the pinned curve.
Cut notches in the seam allowance along the curve. Finger press the seam open.
Repeat with the second side. This is the Lining.
Attach the Outer Hat and Lining
With right sides together, slide the Lining inside the Outer Hat. Pin the pieces together along all edges.
With the walking foot still attached to the machine, sew around the pinned edge, leaving the short end of the Rectangle at the nape of the neck open. Backstitch at the beginning and end of the seam.
Trim the seam allowance along the sewn edge, leaving the unsewn area untrimmed.
Pull the hat right side out through the unsewn gap. You may need to use a tool, such as a chopstick or the eraser-end of a pencil, to push the hanging ties through.
Press the edge flat.
Thread a length of cotton thread onto a needle and use a ladder stitch to close the gap at the nape of the neck. Here's how: Fold the edges under so that they align with the adjacent seams. Pull the needle from the wrong side to the right side of the hem's fold so that the thread's knot is inside the hat.
Insert the needle into the opposite fold, directly across from the exit point, picking up about ¼-inch of fabric.
Go back and forth like this, sewing through the folds, until you reach the end of the opening. Tie a knot at the end.
Pull the thread through the hat and snip it at the exit point to hide the end.
You're all done!


text: LED grow lights are a good choice if you are interested in growing indoors without a lot of hassle. Traditional grow lights generate a lot of heat and use large amounts of electricity, which raises your monthly electric bill by noticeable amounts. These LED grow lights stay cool, and use only a minuscule amount of energy.


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Rafael Caldera
|Rafael Caldera
|President of Venezuela
In office
2 February 1994 – 2 February 1999
|Preceded by
|Ramón José Velásquez
|Succeeded by
|Hugo Chávez
In office
11 March 1969 – 12 March 1974
|Preceded by
|Raúl Leoni
|Succeeded by
|Carlos Andrés Pérez
|Senator for Life
In office
12 March 1974 – 2 February 1994
In office
2 February 1999 – 20 December 1999
|President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Congress of Venezuela
In office
|Solicitor General of Venezuela
In office
26 October 1945 – 13 April 1946
|Personal details
Rafael Antonio Caldera Rodríguez
24 January 1916
San Felipe, Yaracuy
24 December 2009
(aged 93)
Caracas, Venezuela
|Political party
National Convergence
|Alicia Pietri Montemayor
|Alma mater
|Central University of Venezuela
|Roman Catholicism
|Official website
Rafael Antonio Caldera Rodríguez (Spanish pronunciation: ; 24 January 1916 – 24 December 2009) was President of Venezuela from 1969 to 1974 and again from 1994 to 1999.
Caldera taught sociology and law at various universities before entering politics. He was a founding member of COPEI, Venezuela's Christian Democratic party. He first ran for president unsuccessfully in 1947 and tried again every time it was possible until finally succeeding in 1968, winning by a relatively scant 33,000 votes against a recently divided Acción Democrática party. When he was sworn into office in 1969, it marked the first peaceful transfer of power from one party to another in Venezuela's history. During his first presidency, Caldera was able to pacify the country by granting an amnesty that allowed guerrilla fighters, who had been operating clandestinely for almost a decade, to reincorporate into society and participate in politics.
In 1993, Caldera split from COPEI, the party he had founded, to form a new political party, Convergence, which, supported by a coalition of many small leftist parties: (MAS, MEP, PCV) as well as some centre-right parties (URD, MIN), raised Caldera to the presidency in December 1993. This was a fatal blow to the traditional parties which, leaderless and demoralized, garnered few votes in the election. He won a very narrow victory in that year's presidential election. During his second presidential period, he pardoned Hugo Chávez, who eventually went on to succeed him in 1999.
- Family and education 1
Political life 2
- Foundation of several parties, and the beginning of COPEI 2.1
- Presidential candidate 2.2
First term as president (1969–1974) 2.3
- Pacification of Venezuela 2.3.1
- Political activity and leaving COPEI 2.4
Second term as president (1994–1999) 2.5
- Economic crisis 2.5.1
- Dismissal of Charges to the 1992 coup participants 2.5.2
- Last years and death 3
- Bibliography 4
- Trivia 5
- Honours 6
- See also 7
- References 8
- External links 9
Family and education
Rafael Caldera, was born in San Felipe, Yaracuy. His parents were Tomás Rafael Caldera Izaguirre and Rosa Sofía Rodriguez Rivero. Orphaned at a young age, he was adopted by his aunt Maria Eva Rodriguez Rivero, who was married to lawyer Tomás Liscano,[1] and became part of a wealthy Venezuelan Roman Catholic family. He married Alicia Pietri de Caldera (granddaughter of Juan Pietri, and first-cousins with Arturo Uslar Pietri and Andres Boulton Pietri) in 1941 with whom he had six children: Mireya, Juan José, Rafael Tomás, Alicia Helena, Cecilia, and Andrés Antonio Caldera Pietri.
Caldera attended elementary school in San Felipe 1921–1922, entered San Ignacio school of the Society of Jesus in Caracas 1923–1925, in 1926 returned to Yaracuy studying at Padre Delgado school, and secondary education again in Caracas (San Ignacio school) 1927–1931, made his superior studies in this city, at the Central University of Venezuela (UCV) 1931–1938, obtained a doctorate in the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, later was professor of sociology and law in several universities including the UCV, where he was a student leader, which took him into the political world.
Due to his education, Caldera was fluent in languages including French, English, Italian, while being somewhat fluent in German and Portuguese. Caldera was also a leading student on the 19th century humanist and educator Andrés Bello and wrote multiple books on politics, literature and Christian Democracy, and was a member of the Venezuelan Academy of the Language. As such, one of his achievements is the acceptance of millardo ("milliard", 109) by the Royal Spanish Academy in 1995 as an alternative to mil millones (in English: one billion).
Caldera participated in educative and political circles, like the direction of the Venezuelan Institute of Labor rights (1958–1966) and the presidencies of the Venezuelan Association of Sociology (1958–1967), the Christian Democratic Organization of Latin America (1964–1968) and the Worldwide Christian Democratic Union (1967–1968).[2]
Political life
|Part of a series on
|Christian democracy
|Politics portal
Foundation of several parties, and the beginning of COPEI
Caldera was secretary of the Venezuelan Catholic Youth. In 1936 he participated in the formation of the National Student Union, which on 1 October 1938 became the political party Electoral Action. This party later merged with the National Action Movement, legalized on 2 June 1942, which was one of the groups that formed the social Christian party COPEI on 13 January 1946, with Caldera becoming known as a co-founder of the party. Caldera stood as COPEI's candidate in the 1947 presidential elections, being defeated by the Acción Democrática (AD) candidate, writer Rómulo Gallegos. Gallegos was overthrown a few months later by a military junta, headed by Carlos Delgado Chalbaud, who was later succeeded by the dictatorship of Marcos Pérez Jiménez.[3]
Presidential candidate
After the overthrow of Pérez Jiménez and the consequent constitution of a provisional government headed by Wolfgang Larrazábal in 1958, Caldera was elected Solicitor General of Venezuela, but left this position, to participate in the 1958 Presidential Elections, which were won by Rómulo Betancourt of Acción Democrática. Nevertheless, Caldera had much influence as a leader in his political party, which was the third strongest political force in the country at the time. Together with Betancourt, Jóvito Villalba, leader and founder of Unión Republicana Democrática (URD), and other political leaders, he elaborated and signed the Punto Fijo Pact, (named after Caldera's house, which was the site chosen by the leaders to sign the document). Supporters of the pact claimed that it provided the basis of a democratic coexistence which would hold for the next 40 years, laying the foundations for principles such as free and transparent elections, respect for electoral results, the conformation of checks and balances for the branches of the government, with representation of independent political forces, and the application by those governments of a Common Minimum Program that guaranteed the democratic viability and the development of the country with the due internal consensus.
Caldera was COPEI's unsuccessful candidate for president again in 1963. However, he won the 1968 elections, and was sworn in as president on 11 March 1969. It was the first time in Venezuela's 139 years of independence that an incumbent government peacefully surrendered power to an elected member of the opposition. However, COPEI still had a minority in the legislature.[4][5]
First term as president (1969–1974)
|Rafael Caldera
|Gonzalo Barrios
|Miguel Angel Burelli
|Luis Beltran Pietro Figueroa
|Total votes:
Caldera's first government emphasized the end of the Betancourt doctrine, which denied Venezuelan diplomatic recognition to any regime, right or left, that came to power by military force. Caldera broke the isolation of Venezuela with the rest of Latin America, recognized the military governments of the region, and made a policy in defense of the insular territories, and the Gulf of Venezuela, and signed the Port of Spain Protocol with Guyana, which concerned the Guayana Esequiba. The president's economic policies were notable for the reinforcement of the power of the employer's association Fedecámaras, and the period of North American economic crisis, that also characterized the first term of Richard Nixon, with low oil prices, which caused the economic growth of Venezuela to stagnate. Caldera also presided over a period of pacification of the country, making a ceasefire with the left armed groups of FALN, which were then integrated into the political life, and legalising the Communist Party of Venezuela in spite of the opposition of Acción Democrática.
Caldera also reformed the 1961 Constitution to remove a ban on election to public office for people who had been sentenced to more than three years in prison, which had been specifically designed to politically disqualify General Marcos Pérez Jiménez, by means of its retroactive application. Caldera closed the Industrial Technical School permanently, and the Central University of Venezuela for two years, due to student protests against his government. On 9 December 1970, Rafael Caldera created the Great Marshal of Ayacucho Institute of National Higher Defence Studies (IAEDEN), to further the development of a state security perspective, and to contribute to the defence culture of the nation.
Caldera, who raised the tax on the rent to the oil companies to 60 percent, initiated the construction of El Tablazo petrochemical complex, in Zulia State. He also inaugurated the Poliedro de Caracas, the Universidad Simón Bolívar and the Miguel Pérez Carreño Hospital in Caracas, and concluded the demarcation of borders with Brazil. Rafael Caldera ended his first term as president on 12 March 1974, and was replaced by Carlos Andrés Pérez, from Acción Democrática, who won the 1973 elections.[6]
Pacification of Venezuela
In 1969, the new government inherited a country with active urban and rural guerrilla movements, bans on two important political parties and many political leaders imprisoned. From the beginning of Caldera's presidency, this practice was suspended and constitutional guarantees thereafter were maintained.
The government was reported to have an attitude of ideological pluralism and dialogue across the political spectrum, entered into talks with the armed groups, legalized leftist parties and released jailed politicians, demanding only that they stay within Venezuelan law. However, on 3 October 1970, the administration of President Rafael Caldera ordered the Central University of Venezuela (UCV) to be raided by the military and Rector Jesús María Bianco was forced to resign. The University reopened in 1971 with a new Rector and a new plan for renovation. Media was prevented from reporting too many details about the students who were massacred during the raid.
As result from this violent-means effort, by the end of Caldera's presidency, for the first time in many years, no significant political organization in Venezuela planned to threaten the ruling class by attempting to take control of the government by violent means. At the 1973 elections, leaders of the old guerrilla movements who had not died or disappeared and had negotiated with the AD-COPEI consensus, were elected as senators and deputies.[7]
Political activity and leaving COPEI
Caldera waited the ten years of the constitutional period, of no immediate re-election, and stood as a candidate again in the 1983 Presidential Elections with COPEI support, and was defeated by Jaime Lusinchi of Democratic Action (AD). In 1987 stood for the COPEI nomination for the 1988 presidential election, being defeated by Eduardo Fernández. Caldera tried to move Copei to the centre-left in order to fill in the space emptied by AD, but lost the intra-party conflict to Fernández who wanted to continue Copei's traditional centre-right position.[8] In 1993 he decided to leave COPEI, and participated in the presidential elections of the same year with his new party, known as National Convergence, with the support of groups which had been his historical opponents, such as the left parties PCV, MAS and MEP.
|We cannot ask to people with hunger to immolate themselves for a democracy that has not been able to give them enough to eat.
— Declarations of Rafael Caldera at the National Congress after the 4 February 1992 coup attempt[9]
Caldera won his second term as president in February 1994 – a win with its roots in his speech to the National Congress on 4 February 1992, the date of the first failed coup d'état against the second government of Carlos Andrés Pérez. His tacit support to the Caracazo in 1989, the 1992 coup attempts led by Hugo Chávez, and the opposition to the neoliberal economic reforms pursued by Pérez in his second term, mark the beginning of Caldera's return to the presidency for a second term. Caldera won with around 30% of the votes, followed very closely by three other candidates, but the abstention rate was 39.84%. Caldera could benefit from centrist and centre-left voters who did not feel represented by any of the traditional parties. He performed much better than Copei's candidate Oswaldo Álvarez Paz.[8]
Second term as president (1994–1999)
In his second presidency, Caldera included politicians from other political backgrounds who supported his candidacy in his cabinet, like some representatives of MAS party,
- Use dmy dates from June 2013
- Commons category without a link on Wikidata
- Articles with Spanish-language external links
- Rafael Caldera
- 1916 births
- 2009 deaths
- People from Yaracuy
- Central University of Venezuela alumni
- Central University of Venezuela faculty
- Presidents of Venezuela
- Venezuelan democracy activists
- Venezuelan life senators
- Venezuelan people of Canarian descent
- Venezuelan people of Spanish descent
- Presidents of the Chamber of Deputies (Venezuela)
- Venezuelan Roman Catholics
- Roman Catholic activists
- Venezuelan lawyers
- Copei politicians
- National Convergence (Venezuela) politicians
- Members of the Venezuelan Academy of Language
- Recipients of the Order of the Liberator General San Martin
- Grand Crosses of the Order of Vytautas the Great
|Party political offices
Preceded by
Luis Herrera Campins (1978)
COPEI presidential candidate
1947 (lost)
1958 (lost)
1963 (lost)
1968 (won)
1983 (lost)
Succeeded by
Lorenzo Fernánndez (1973)
Eduardo Fernández (1988)
Preceded by
National Convergence presidential candidate
1993 (won)
Succeeded by
|Political offices
Preceded by
Raúl Leoni
President of Venezuela
1969 – 1974
Succeeded by
Carlos Andrés Pérez
Preceded by
Ramón J. Velásquez
President of Venezuela
1994 – 1999
Succeeded by
Hugo Chávez
- (Spanish) Rafael Caldera — Official biography.
- (Spanish) Rafael Caldera — Biography from National Convergence webpage.
- (Spanish) Speeches and Biography
- (Spanish) Extended bio by CIDOB Foundation
- (Spanish) Interview to Rafael Caldera (RCTV, 19 September, 1993) - YouTube
- (Spanish) Rafael Caldera´s message to Venezuelan Youth in 1998 on YouTube
- Rafael Caldera — Daily Telegraph obituary
External links
- ^ Guillermo Morón, "Los Presidentes de Venezuela". Caracas: Meneven, 1979
- ^ Family and education
- ^ Foundation of several parties, and the beginning of COPEI
- ^ Presidential candidate
- ^
- ^ First term as president
- ^ Pacification of Venezuela
- ^ a b
- ^
- ^ Second term as president
- ^ Foreign policy
- ^ [1] Archived 17 June 2006 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Economic Crisis
- ^ a b
- ^ Later trajectory
- ^ a b
- ^ a b
- ^
- ^ Murió el expresidente Rafael Caldera. Globovision, December 24, 2009
- ^
- ^ Lithuanian Presidency website, search form
See also
- Argentina : Order of the Liberator General San Martin
- Lithuania : Grand Cross of the Order of Vytautas the Great (7 March 1996) [21]
- Caldera was famous for the use of gel in his hairstyle.
- During Rafael Caldera's first government, television became a new way to communicate. Through Habla el Presidente, a television program, the head of the Venezuelan state informed about government projects and policies.
- In 1996, astrologer José Bernardo Gómez predicted the death of Caldera, and claimed he would not finish his term. He was later arrested by the DISIP. After these events, Gómez decided to abandon his career.
- During his second presidency, because of his age and unintelligible speeches, Caldera was imitated by many Venezuelan comedians, one of them Laureano Márquez.
- Rasgos Biográficos del prócer José Gabriel Álvarez de Lugo (1932)
- Andrés Bello (1935)
- Derecho del Trabajo (1939)
- Idea de una sociología venezolana (1953)
- Aspectos sociológicos de la cultura en Venezuela (1957)
- El Bloque Latinoamericano (1961)
- Moldes para la Fragua (1962)
- El lenguaje como vinculo social y la integración latinoamericana (1967)
- Especificidad de la Democracia Cristiana (1972)
- La Solidaridad Pluralista de América Latina (1973)
- La Casa de Bello (1973)
- Temas de Sociología Venezolana (1973)
- Cinco años de cambio (1974)
- La Nacionalización del Petróleo (1975)
- Reflexiones de la Rábida (1976)
- Caracas, Londres, Santiago de Chile: las tres etapas de la vida de Bello (1981)
- Parlamento Mundial: una voz latinoamericana (1984)
- Bolívar Siempre (1987)
- El pensamiento jurídico y social de Andrés Bello (1987)
- Los causahabientes, de Carabobo a Puntofijo (1999)
- La Parábola vital de Rómulo Betancourt (2002)
- La Venezuela Civil, constructores de la república (2014; posthumous)
- Los desafíos a la gobernabilidad democrática (2014; posthumous)
His poor health caused by Parkinson's disease forced him to retire from politics during his last years.[15] Caldera died around 2 a.m. on 24 December 2009 at the age of 93.[16][17][18] His son Andrés Caldera announced the death, but did not specify a cause.[14][17][19] His funeral was on 26 December 2009, in Caracas.[16] He was buried the same day.[20]
On 2 February 1999, Rafael Caldera concluded his second term as president and was succeeded by Hugo Chávez. Although Caldera granted Chávez amnesty and his release from prison in March 1994, Chávez criticized Caldera in his inaugural speech. After the parliamentary elections of 30 July 2000, National Convergence remained with a single representative in the new unicameral National Assembly until 2005.
Last years and death
In 1994 Caldera fulfilled a promise made during the presidential campaign, by pardoning and dismissing the charges against the military figures involved in the 1992 Venezuelan coup d'état attempt,[14] giving them full political rights and making it impossible to try them on any charges related to their armed movement, including the deaths of more than 200 people as a direct consequence of the failed coup. Many of the military figures, once liberated, grouped in the MVR political party, under the leadership of Hugo Chávez, who ultimately, after several years in the political wilderness, won the 1998 presidential elections. That election saw the comprehensive defeat of Acción Democrática and COPEI, which had alternated in government for 35 years (from 1959 to 1994), and which now lost their influence on the Venezuelan political scene.
Dismissal of Charges to the 1992 coup participants
Due to differences with his coalition partners such as MAS, Caldera looked for the support of AD in Congress. Some AD members entered the Ministerial cabinet.[13]
Apertura Petrolera was adopted to increase involvement of the private sector and international oil companies in the operation, exploration and refinement of petroleum and natural gas. The worldwide oil market crisis negatively influenced this process.
In 1997, a tripartite commission, consisting of representatives of industrialists, workers and the Government, assumed the reform of the regime of social benefits, and the deep revision of the labor law. The tripartite commission created a system of social benefits.
Although Caldera promised during his campaign never to accept the help of the International Monetary Fund, his government rescinded the vow due to the economic crisis. The effect of the interventionist on the economy of Venezuela led Caldera to announce the Agenda Venezuela (Venezuela Agenda) programme, which promised to restore the macroeconomic balance and to beat inflation. He applied measures labeled by his opponents as neoliberal, in agreement with the recommendations of the IMF. The bolívar was devalued by 70%, the exchange rate regime was imposed, fuel prices were increased by 800%, rates of interest were liberalized, and the process of privatization was continued. His program was welcomed by the IMF, but not by the populace. Demonstrations and disturbances were frequent.
Caldera also had to handle a vertiginous inflationary spiral and a parallel reduction of the Forex reserves, employees generously for the support of the bolívar in front of the U.S. dollar. On 27 June, he announced the temporary suspension of some constitutional guarantees, fundamentally related to the private property and the free economic activity, to allow control of the exchange market, the banking system and prices by the State. The financial organizations bankrupted by the draining of deposits and those affected by speculative practices went to be adjusted by the State. The Central Bank of Venezuela announced the suspension of all of its transactions in dollars.
The confidence and credibility of Venezuelans and foreigners at the financial institutions were affected seriously. More than seventy thousand medium and small companies went bankrupt, fundamentally due to the exchange rate regime imposed by the government, which made it difficult to obtain the currency to acquire intermediate goods. The prices of food, clothes and transport rose without control, impoverishing a greater number of Venezuelans.
|Rafael Caldera
|Claudio Fermín
|Oswaldo Alvarez Paz
|Andrés Velásquez
|Total votes:
Economic crisis


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The Crew technical staff has arrived in Indianapolis looking to improve its roster in Thursday's 2013 MLS SuperDraft. Technical Director Brian Bliss is pleased with the talent pool he and the rest of the staff observed at the MLS Player Combine in Fort Lauderdale over the last five days.
"Obviously, we were able to see quite a bit [in Fort Lauderdale] over the five days and three games," Bliss said on Wednesday. "A lot of it is confirmation of what we've seen from a good percentage of the players during the college season. It was a good chance to re-confirm what we do and learn a little bit about the guys that we don't know that much about from schools on the West Coast."
While Bliss and the Crew brass are prepared to select ninth overall in the SuperDraft on Thursday, the Crew could still explore making other transactions in Indianapolis to either acquire established MLS talent or move up in the Draft order.
Trade rumors have already begun to swirl as the Chicago Fire has reportedly traded its First Round pick and allocation money to the Colorado Rapids for midfielder Jeff Larentowicz. Other deals will likely be made, and Bliss is still considering all options for the Black & Gold.
"There are some trade possibilities," Bliss explained. "Obviously, we've got a couple players that have drawn some interest from some other teams that could potentially help us move up in the Draft. We can package some things together with players and picks. We have some flexibility."
Former Crew midfielder and United States International Robbie Rogers will not return to English Championship side Leeds United after his loan to Stevenage in England's Third Division expired on Wednesday. Should Rogers decide to return to MLS, the Crew currently hold his rights. The Crew could look to trade those rights ahead of the SuperDraft.
"Everybody knows now that Robbie [Rogers] is available because he's terminated his contract with Leeds," Bliss said. "There are some assets there that we have that are pretty attractive and we could possibly make a deal on Draft day."
The 2013 MLS SuperDraft begins at noon ET on Thursday and will be streamed globally via ESPN3, ESPN FC, MLSsoccer.com and YouTube.


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Olympic Champion Mark Spitz Debuts Men's Skincare LineJanuary 2, 2012
Earlier this month, an interesting natural-skincare line for men was introduced that caught my immediate attention.
Other than I'm a guy who is always looking for great skin care, the reasons? 1.) A hero of mine—nine-time Olympic gold-medalist swimmer Mark Spitz—is behind it; and 2.) His partners are the co-owners at one of my favorite natural-skincare companies, derma e Natural Bodycare—Linda Miles and David Stearn.