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SEOUL/HELSINKI (Reuters) - LG Electronics Inc slashed its sales targets on Thursday, as it struggles to break into the fiercely-competitive smartphone market.
The South Korean firm, the third-largest phone maker globally by volume, also said it was unable to predict a turnaround time for the phones unit, which has reported four consecutive quarterly losses.
LG has been slower than its bigger local rival Samsung Electronics in refocusing on smartphones and its smaller scale has held it back from profiting from rising demand for cheaper phones.
"Our overall performance is gradually improving ... but it's difficult to give a precise prediction when our business will turn around due to a fast changing external market environment," Park Jong-seok, head of LG's handset division, told reporters.
LG cut its 2011 smartphone sales forecast to 24 million handsets from a previous target of more than 30 million, while slashing the overall handset sales target by a quarter to 114 million units from 150 million.
In the first half LG sold almost 50 million mobile phones, including slightly more than 10 million smartphones, Park said.
In contrast, Samsung is expected to have sold 19 million smartphones in the second quarter alone.
"LG's weakness in smartphones is having a knock-on effect across the portfolio and severely straining margins. Nokia's recent price drops reflect the cut-throat economics all phone makers face," said Ben Wood, research director at CCS Insight.
Nokia, which like LG has been slow to revamp its high-end offering, has cut the prices of its smartphones in Europe by up to 15 percent, two industry sources told Reuters earlier this week.
"The next few quarters are going to be brutal. Nokia and (Blackberry maker) RIM are cutting prices and margins to stem eroding market share while others such as Samsung see a window of opportunity to grab share. Its a storm that will undoubtedly result in some high-profile casualties," Wood said.
LG is expected to report a fifth consecutive quarterly loss from handset sales in the April-June period because it has failed to introduce products to challenge Apple and Samsung and due to weakening demand growth for its simpler handsets.
But it has been gradually narrowing its losses and its overall performance is recovering, helped by solid demand for such models as the Optimus 2X and Optimus Black.
Analysts expect when the company reports results later this month to show second-quarter losses from handset sales narrowed to around 70-90 billion won from a 120 billion-won ($112.5 million) loss a year ago.
"In mature markets, the LG brand is still considered a step down from Samsung, which makes their products less appealing," said Carolina Milanesi, a Gartner analyst.
"HTC now means more to many consumers than LG. LG has been struggling to deliver more than just hardware and with the weaker brand, they are left many times to compete on price."
By comparison, Samsung is widely expected to sell at least 19 million smartphones in the second quarter and easily beat its 2011 smartphone target of 60 million units, helped by solid sales of a new version of its Galaxy S.
Samsung estimated on Thursday its second-quarter operating profit would come in at 3.7 trillion won and analysts expect a surprise on the upside from the handset division.
LG said on Thursday its Optimus 3D smartphone will be available through South Korea's top mobile carrier SK Telecom. It aims to sell 1.7 million Optimus 3Ds this year.
Shares in LG closed down 1.8 percent on Thursday.
($1= 1065.950 Korean won)
Editing by Matt Driskill, Greg Mahlich


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Superb luxury crossover SUV.
Sport Utility Vehicles
Editor: Jim McCraw
$32,790 Base Price MSRP
$43,530 As Tested MSRP
Model Lineup: Buick Enclave CX ($32,790); CX AWD ($34,790); CXL ($34,990); CXL AWD ($36,990)
Standard Engine: 3.6-liter dohc 24-valve V6
Engine Options: 275-hp 3.6-liter V6
Standard Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Transmission Options: 6-speed automatic
Basic Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles
Assembled In: Lansing, Michigan
Model Tested MSRP: Buick Enclave CXL AWD ($36,990)
Standard Equipment: leather upholstery, air conditioning, power steering, power disc brakes, power windows, power locks, console, cruise control, message center, trip computer, floor shift, fog lamps
Standard Safety Equipment: frontal airbags, side-impact airbags, curtain airbags; electronic stability control, ABS, EBD, tire pressure monitoring, collapsible pedals
Optional Safety Equipment: all-wheel driveDestination Charge: $735
For 2008, Buick has retired the Rendezvous utility vehicle, and the Rainier sport utility, and the Terraza minivan from the showroom lineup, and in their place, there's a single vehicle that will try to be all things to all traveling families, the new, 2008 Buick Enclave.
Buick Enclave shares its basic platform with the Saturn Outlook and the GMC Acadia, but it's as different from each of them as chalk is from cheese. Enclave is aimed at the upper end of the crossover segment, with competitors like the Acura MDX, Lexus RX 350 and Mercedes-Benz R 350. Enclave's styling is completely different from that of the Acadia and Outlook.
But what really sets the Enclave apart is its modern cabin, with stylish illumination, crisp graphics, genuine wood trim and nice leather. The seats are comfortable, and it can be ordered with a second-row bench seat or luxurious captain's chairs, depending on whether seven- or eight-passenger capacity is needed. There's lots of convenient cubby storage and the Enclave offers 115 cubic feet of cargo space with all the seats folded down.
Equipped with GM's new high-feature 3.6-liter V6, the Enclave offers good acceleration performance while earning an EPA-estimated 16/22 City/Highway mpg under the more stringent new test procedures. Enclave is rated to tow up to 4500 pounds.
At introduction, there will be two models, the Buick Enclave CX and the CXL. Both come with the high-feature 3.6-liter 24-valve V6 with variable valve timing. The standard CX comes with front-wheel drive ($32,790), while the CX AWD ($34,790) features all-wheel drive. The CXL also comes with a choice of front-drive ($34,990) or AWD ($36,990). At this stage, no hybrid or diesel version is on the horizon.
Options are many, including a range of three entertainment packages: Package 1 ($980) includes a 6CD changer, MP3 player, rear seat audio, and Bose speakers; Package 3 ($3025) adds a DVD touch-screen navigation and backup camera in addition to the other elements. The Luxury package ($925) includes heated outside power folding mirrors with turn-signal repeaters, steerable headlamps, tilt and telescope steering, and a 110-volt power outlet; the Driver Confidence package ($520) includes remote engine start, ultrasonic rear parking assist, and heated washer fluid. Freestanding options include chromed aluminum 19-inch wheels ($1495), metallic clearcoat paint ($170), a power sunroof with a second-row skylight ($1300). Other options include the Panasonic DVD rear-entertainment system, trailer towing ($350), power sunroof ($800), fog lamps ($115), cargo cover ($50), cargo divider, chrome trim package, and a 6CD upgrade ($295).
Safety features that come standard include OnStar emergency communications (with turn-by-turn navigation), anti-lock brakes, traction control, and StabiliTrak electronic stability control. Enclave is rated as a five-star front-crash, five-star side-crash and four-star rollover safety vehicle by the federal government.
Walk Around
The exterior design of the new Buick Enclave is of a completely different flavor than the GMC Acadia, which is deliberately truck-like, and the Saturn Outlook, which carries the new Saturn front-end and grille design and is well downmarket from the Enclave.
The Enclave looks like it belongs in the same showroom with Buick's latest-generation of sedans, the LaCrosse and the Lucerne. The Enclave's protruding vertical bar grille and vestigial portholes on the hood make sure you know it's a Buick.
The long body shell is anything but boxy, with curvy, swoopy, and sexy shapes from every angle. All of the front lighting elements use clear lenses, with lots of different elements to please the eye and light the road. Everything under the bumper is kept simple and clean to draw the eye to that massive grille. The standard tires are big, fat 18-inchers on seven-spoke alloy wheels, with 19-inchers optional and 20-inchers from your dealer, and they certainly add to the visual punch of the Enclave. The roof and the side windows are done in a gracefully decreasing sweep from front to rear, accented by bright-metal roof bars that follow the roof's curvature perfectly front to back.
Out back, the top-hinged tailgate with standard power opening and closing is a work of art, with the rear glass extending beyond the sheetmetal into the rear opening. The rear glass is quite large, and is convex-shaped, coming to a point just above the Buick tri-shield logo and above the wide-screen taillamps. Under the rear bumper is a diffuser panel and dual exhausts with bright tips, making for one of the tastiest rear-end treatments in the crossover segment.
The cabin is what sets the Buick Enclave from other seven- and eight-passenger crossovers. Starting with the double-wave dashboard and instrument panel and going all the way back to the rear cargo floor, it's as modern as tomorrow and as functional as a Swiss Army knife.
The chrome-ringed white-on-black instruments and analog clock are highly styled, with a soft blue-green illumination (which is repeated around the perimeter of the headlamp), and halo lighting at night. The graphics are large and clear, and the wood is real. On the CXL version, the steering wheel is leather and mahogany, with 10 switches and controls mounted on it for easy use. Layout is typically GM, with a large, bright navigation screen low enough to be shaded, high enough to be seen without distraction. The dead pedal on the far left of the floor is the first one we know of to be specially designed for use by women wearing high-heeled shoes.
Because it's rigged for seven or eight passengers, buyers have a couple of options: The standard seven-passenger, 2-2-3 seating scheme uses second-row captain's chairs with a feature called Smart Slide that allows easy entry into the third row by flopping the seats forward and sliding them fore and aft; this can also be ordered with a second floor console for storage and 12-volt power. Or, there's a second-row bench seat that makes for a 2-3-3 seating scheme for a total of eight passengers.
Either way, the driver gets an eight-way power bucket seat and the front passenger gets a four-way power bucket seat. All the seats we sat in were comfortable and supportive.
Storage space and flexibility gets high marks. There's 19 cubic feet of cargo room just inside the power tailgate behind the third row, 66 cubic feet with the third row seats down, and 115 cubic feet with both rows folded. And if you need to, you can flop the passenger seat over as well for extra-long cargoes. There's storage on top of the dash for sunglasses, iPods, and cellphones. There's another 4 cubic feet of storage space under the rear cargo floor. Buick says the Enclave has 24 storage areas, counting door pockets, under-seat areas, and built-in storage. The Buick Enclave has more cargo volume than the Acura MDX, the Lexus RX, Volvo XC90, and Audi Q7.
Driving Impressions
The Buick Enclave offers brisk acceleration performance. Buick claims a 0?60 time of 8.2 seconds, not bad for 5000 pounds. Its 3.6-liter V6 engine features a special intake system for increased power. Its six-speed automatic transmission benefits from special gearing that gives a 14.2 overall ratio in first gear for rapid acceleration and a 2.33:1 ratio in sixth gear overdrive that lets the engine run at very relaxed rpm at Interstate cruising speeds. So you get quick acceleration performance for jumping on the freeway, but long-legged relaxed cruising at high speeds.
Equipped with GM's new high-feature 3.6-liter V6, the Enclave offers good acceleration performance while scoring an EPA-estimated 16/22 City/Highway mpg. By comparison, the Cadillac Escalade is rated 13/20 mpg. The Enclave is 800 pounds lighter than the Escalade and its V6 is more fuel-efficient than the Escalade's V8.
For some years now, Buicks have been all about living your driving life in splendid isolation, and that's true is spades with this big empty box called Enclave, the toughest kind of vehicle to quiet down. The Buick folks have taken dozens of time-consuming and expensive steps to quiet down the engine, transmission, all-wheel-drive system, and tires, isolate the front and rear suspension and steering from the cabin, and wrap the entire package in sound-deadening materials in the floor, pillars and doors, all under the rubric of Quiet Ride. In lab tests, the Buick Enclave is quieter than the Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, and Acura competition, and in our road-driving experience in Missouri, was extremely quiet. Conversations between first-row and third-row occupants at 70-plus mph were heard and understood in normal speaking voices, and the XM satellite music played through loud and clear at reasonable volumes.
The suspension underneath the Lambda platform, at least on the Buick version, is far more sophisticated, far sharper in handling and far more compliant and comfortable than what we've come to expect from this class of vehicles. The rear suspension is especially complex and expensive, designed to work well with or without the rear-drive portion of the all-wheel-drive system, and using elaborate aluminum H-arms to put the wheels out as far as possible to the corners and allow for a wide, flat load floor up above.
Flying around on Ozark Mountain two-lane roads or humming down the Interstate 44 and 64 network in and around St. Louis, the Enclave showed us accurate steering, although a bit numb. It provided a quiet, compliant ride, and very, very quiet road behavior.
The all-wheel-drive system operates automatically, full-time all the time, adjusting to road speed, throttle position and the relative speeds of each of the four tires, wet or dry. We think the all-wheel drive is well worth the extra money. Normally, it is biased 90/10 front/rear torque split, normally operates between 40/60 and 60/40 in most driving, and can divert 100 percent of available torque to the rear wheels if necessary. No buttons, no ranges, no fuss, just traction.
With all due respect and reverence for classic Buicks like the '56 Century, the '63 and '66 Rivieras, the pavement-ripping GS 455 Stage III of the muscle-car era, the giant old Estate Wagons, and the refined current crop of Lucernes and LaCrosses, we'll go out on a short, sturdy limb and call the Enclave by far the best Buick ever built, and the most complete Buick we've ever driven. If you're in the market for a luxurious family hauler, give this one a long, serious look.
NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Jim McCraw test drove the Enclave in the Ozarks.
Top Cars

subset: commoncrawl


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This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
PHOENIX— The Internal Revenue Services issued its annual "Dirty Dozen" list of tax scams to watch out for in 2014 in an effort to help people avoid costly mistakes.
These scams can occur year round, but many of them peak during tax season as people fill out their tax returns. The schemes included on the list range from identity theft to false promises of free money.
"Taxpayers should be on the lookout for tax scams using the IRS name," said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen in a statement. "These schemes jump every year at tax time. Scams can be sophisticated and take many different forms. We urge people to protect themselves and use caution when viewing emails, receiving telephone calls or getting advice on tax issues."
The "Dirty Dozen" scams for 2014:
1. Identity theft
Related Story
Instances of tax fraud through identity theft continues to increase, according to the IRS. Often identity thieves will use someone else's personal information, like their Social Security number, to file a tax return and try to claim a refund in their name.
The IRS website includes tips on how to protect yourself against identity theft. Taxpayers who think they are a victim of identity theft can contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490.
2. Pervasive telephone scams
The IRS has also seen an increase in the number of phone scams where callers pretend to be affiliated with the IRS in an effort to steal money or identities from the people to whom they are talking.
The callers will often say the person is entitled to a large refund, or claim they owe money to the IRS and are in danger of losing their driver's license or going to jail. Sometimes the scammers will even call back pretending to be from the local police or Division of Motor Vehicles to make their claims appear legitimate.
The IRS warned scammers will often provide fake names and IRS badge numbers and that often the caller will be able to provide the last four digits of the person's taxpayer ID. The scammers may also spoof the caller ID to make it look like the call is coming from the IRS and have fake background noises to make it sound like they are in a call center.
People who receive a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS can call 800-829-1040 to speak with a representative and determine their actual payment status.
3. Phishing
With phishing, scammers use fake websites or unsolicited emails to try to obtain personal information and commit identity fraud or financial theft. The IRS does not contact taxpayers by email, text or social media to request financial information, so if you get any communications of that nature from someone claiming to be with the IRS, the message should be forwarded to firstname.lastname@example.com to report the incident.
4. False promises of "free money" from inflated refunds
Offers of large tax refunds that seem too good to be true are probably coming from scammers posing as tax preparers, according to the IRS. The fraudulent tax preparers use the scheme to make a profit by charging for their bad advice. The institution warned that these types of scams can be particularly dangerous because they spread quickly by word of mouth and even if someone else files a claim for a refund for you, you could be stuck with a $5,000 penalty for submitting a fraudulent claim.
5. Return preparer fraud
While most tax preparers are honest, there have been instances of tax professionals taking advantage of their position to commit return fraud or identity theft. The IRS said taxpayers should protect themselves by making sure their preparer has an IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number and signs the returns.
Related Story
6. Hiding income offshore
Taxpayers who have financial accounts abroad are required to complete reporting requirements in the U.S. The IRS has been investigating foreign accounts more aggressively since 2009 and has collected billions of dollars in back taxes, interest and penalties.
7. Impersonation of charitable organizations
Most likely to occur after natural disasters, scammers often try to obtain personal and financial information by posing as a charity. The IRS warned that people on both the giving and receiving end of a deal with an organization should be wary of the legitimacy of who they are working with. The IRS provides a search tool to allow people to find secure organizations to which they can donate.
8. False income, exemptions or expenses
Claiming more income than you actually received to try and get a bigger tax credit from the IRS won't get you very far. Penalties include repaying the funds you received and paying interest on the money you owe. Taxpayers should also avoid listing more expenses than they actually incurred. Specifically, the IRS said some taxpayers have filed for fuel tax credits they don't actually qualify for and can face fines of $5,000.
9. Frivolous arguments
1. Identity theft
2. Pervasive telephone scams
3. Phishing
4. False promises of "free money" from inflated refunds
5. Return preparer fraud
6. Hiding income offshore
7. Impersonation of charitable organizations
8. False income, exemptions or expenses
9. Frivolous arguments
10. Falsely claiming zero wages or using false Form 1099
11. Abusive tax structures
12. Misuse of Trusts
The IRS warns against trying to get out of paying your taxes by making outlandish claims. It has a list of frivolous arguments that includes things like saying your state is not part of the U.S. that has been previously shot down in court. Anyone who tries to use the arguments can end up facing penalties.
10. Falsely claiming zero wages or using false Form 1099
People should be wary of advice when someone is saying he or she can claim deductions they don't qualify for, according to the IRS. There is a $5,000 fee for people who are involved with this scheme.
11. Abusive tax structures
Abusive schemes are usually complex and involve multiple layers of transactions to hide taxable assets and evade taxes, according to the IRS. If someone tries to convince you to use one of these schemes, you can report it to the IRS.
12. Misuse of trusts
The IRS said it continues to see trusts being used inappropriately as a tool to avoid paying taxes. It recommended that anyone setting up a trust consult with a financial professional to ensure all of the requirements are properly followed.


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Having picked up a rolled 1.5kg piece of turkey breast at a bargain price the other week, I went in search of a suitable recipe for how to roast it – it needed to be something not too awfully complicated and that wouldn't mean spending the entire afternoon in the kitchen. After quite some searching around and drawing a blank, M found this recipe (in German) and we decided to follow it. I haven't found a direct equivalent in English so am going to write up my version of it here, including some modifications to the original. It was amazingly tasty, and the best thing about it was that you had the meat, vegetables and a magically generated gravy all in one roasting tin…
Stuffed rolled turkey joint with vegetables
Ingredients2-3 cloves of garlic, cut into slivers 75g fresh spinach (we actually used a bag of baby-leaf salad, containing spinach, chard and rocket)
a medium-sized onion, finely chopped 125g mozzarella, diced (I might try feta next time)
1.3-1.5kg rolled turkey joint (the original recipe suggested the piece should be about 3cm thick) 6 slices Parma ham (or equivalent variety) 2tbsp olive oil 750ml chicken stock 200ml dry white wine 1kg root vegetables, cut into largish bite-sized chunks (I used potatoes, carrots, celeriac) 250g shallots, peeled (halved or quartered if larger ones) several peeled, whole cloves of garlic (optional) fresh thyme
1. Preheat the oven to 175°C or equivalent. Roll out the turkey on a chopping board. Make small incisions in it and push the garlic slivers into these. Then lay the ham slices over the turkey, followed by the spinach leaves (removing any thick stalks beforehand), chopped onion and mozzarella. Season with salt and pepper, and you could also sprinkle over some thyme. Then roll up the turkey as tightly as you can and tie it up securely with kitchen string. Place in the centre of a generously sized roasting tin (any stuffing that fell out during the rolling process can be placed under the joint) and brush with olive oil – you might not need the whole 2tbsp if the turkey still has skin on it. Mix the chicken stock and wine in a jug and ladle some of this over the meat before putting it into the oven for 45 minutes. You will probably need to ladle over some more of the liquid once or twice during this time so that the bottom of the pan doesn't dry out and burn.
2. When the 45 minutes have elapsed, add the vegetables to the tin, along with some fresh thyme and the rest of the reserved liquid. Give the veg a good stir in the juices, then return the pan to the oven for another 45 minutes.
3. Leave the meat to rest briefly when it is done, then cut into thick slices and serve with the vegetables and gravy.


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Gretchen Rubin started a year-long Happiness Project a few years back based solely on the idea of being happier everyday. As simple as that. She wanted to be happier and express more happiness and she wanted to share what she learned along the way. She wrote a book about it called of course, The Happiness Project, that is changing the world one simple happy act at a time.
As she conducted the year-long project that became The Happiness Project, Gretchen realized that her home, in all its aspects, was the most crucial element influencing her happiness.This year her new book came out, Happier at Home, about creating more happiness in the home and finding ways to make it all feel better; from the mundane to the major. Her idea being that we're in it, we have to do it, why not do it happily?
On October 24th Gretchen will be speaking at the Texas Conference for Women, an all day conference of ideas, inspirations, networking, motivation and moving forward as women, in the home and business world. Our own Carrie Contey, PhD will be speaking with Gretchen in a breakout session and I look forward to the amazing ideas that will come out of those two brilliant minds sharing the same stage! Along with the host of other incredible discussions which will be had that day.
Next week Gretchen will be hosting a free teleclass around the ideas shared in her new book. Sign up is easy and if you've never done a teleclass before I am here to tell you they are a great way to go! Just dial in and listen as you move about your life doing whatever needs doing. Or, if you're lucky, you can even listen while curled up somewhere still and quiet with just your headphones as company.


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First Look: Victor Albisu's Taco Bamba Pop-Up, Washington, D.C.
Note: First Looks give previews of new dishes, drinks, and menus we're curious about. Since they are arranged photo shoots and interviews with restaurants, we do not make critical evaluations or recommendations.
Chef Victor Albisu, formerly of BLT Steak, is currently previewing his upcoming taqueria, Taco Bamba (opening later this year in Falls Church, VA), at Jeff Black's Black Jack bar. Albisu took over the RAMMY winning bar with a steady stream of small tacos.
In addition to the Taco Bamba posters plastered over Black Jack's usual decor, the Taco Bamba crew hung a series of Spaghetti Western posters above the bocce court - a pair featuring "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" nemeses, Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef, and then... one of Selma Hayek from the hilariously bad, steampunk western, "Wild Wild West." The servers wore fake moustaches and the movie "Nacho Libre" was projected on the wall above the bar (yes, the one where Jack Black plays a Mexican monk moonlighting as a luchador).
If you're sensing a theme, you're not alone. This mix of influences and playful irreverence runs through Albisu's choices for his new menu as well, not just the fake crumb catchers.
By far the most popular taco of the evening was the eponymous Taco Bamba taco. The bite sized tortillas topped with skirt steak, chorizo, and chicarones barely made it five feet into the crowd before they were snatched up in a frenzy.
One of the more clever offerings was the Crispy Kiss taco. Dubbed the "Kiss, Kiss" by the staff, it contained pork and beef tongue, topped with scallions and a red chili aioli, and was extremely flavorful. The Chipotle Portabella taco was the lone vegetarian option of the night and the spiciest. Portabella mushroom, grilled corn, and cotija with a potent kick.
What's New On Serious Eats
As for cocktails, there are light, easy sipping drinks including a Pineapple Agua Fresca (pineapple, lime juice, simple syrup, and tequila) and Sangrita (jalapeño, lime juice, orange juice, tomato juice, served alongside a shot of tequila), a margarita-sangria hybrid. Taco Bambo won't, however, have a liquor license, so the only time to try these are at one of the Monday night sessions at Black Jack.
Speaking of which, Taco Bambo will continue to occupy Black Jack every Monday night from 6-11 pm through December 17th. You can expect an a la carte menu of full sized tacos that will rotate as Chef Albisu continues to tinker with the menu ahead of the official opening. You can check out what's on the current menu here. And be sure to check out the slideshow for a preview of what Chef Albisu is cooking up for Taco Bamba.
Taco Bamba
2190 Pimmit Drive, Falls Church, VA 22043 (map)
Black Jack 1612 14th St. NW, Washington, DC 2009 (map) 202-986-5225; blackjackdc.com
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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|For an overview of the entire Heist, see Prison Break.
- "Break Rashkovsky out of Bolingbroke. Ground team takes the transport bus, poses as guard and inmate, and goes into the prison to get him out. Demolitions takes care of the inbound transport bus. Pilot collects them in the plane."
- — Instructions
The Prison Break is the final part of Prison Break, the second Heist available in Grand Theft Auto Online; added in the Heists Update.
Agent 14 calls in that the schedule has been "brought forward", stating that the death of Rashkovsky's partners had caused attention and a price has been put on his head. During the mission each member of the crew will assume a different role. The officer and prisoner will both get into the prison using the stolen prison bus; a pilot and the demolition will both provide support to the ground crew in their respective roles. All players except the Prisoner (Prisoner will only get an AP Pistol) will be equipped with an AP Pistol and Special Carbine and the demolitions team will also have a Jerry Can and Sticky Bombs.
The demolition needs to intercept the Prison Bus before he reaches Bolingbroke, while the pilot needs to go to Los Santos International to collect the Velum.
Both the officer and the prisoner need to collect the Prison Bus left in the junkyard near Sandy Shores.
Agent 14's initial description of the demolitions role is simply taking care of the prison bus, however the player will have many more steps required to aid in the completion of the heist.
The prison bus will be near Great Chaparral and is unguarded, kill the driver and take the bus to Sandy Shores Airfield following the GPS route to avoid alerting the authorities. Once at the airfield, destroy the bus using any means available (Molotov Cocktails are provided).
Then head to the new location on the map at the western end of Sandy Shores airfield to steal a Buzzard, which is being guarded by one or two Merryweather guards. The instructions say to protect the Velum, so take out the pursuing Lazer. Then the player can go to the prison to give aerial support to the Officer and Prisoner once the N.O.O.S.E team has been called. Do not get too close, or you will be shot down by an RPG.
Now work with the officer and prisoner to kill all the N.O.O.S.E members so they can make their way out of the prison with Rashkovsky. Once the area has been cleared the pilot is informed that he can land the Velum at Sandy Shores Airfield. Protect the officer, prisoner and Rashkovsky so they can reach the Velum. Once they have lost the cops, and the crew has parachuted from the Velum, regroup with them in a beach in Palomino Highlands to collect them with the Buzzard and then fly the team back into the city.
Officer and Prisoner
After both have entered the bus, go to Bolingbroke Penitentiary to get access to the prison. The officer will be the one driving, so be careful to not attract police attention.
After entering the prison, both players need to make their way to Rashkovsky. Both players immediately take out the four officers that are near them (if they decide to continue walking along, a guard with a shotgun will open fire on them even if they are doing nothing wrong). Now both players will need to fight their way through the prison. Follow where the yellow marker tells you to go and it will lead you to Rashkovsky. Rashkovsky is in a lock down so there is just one way to reach him. The Prisoner must then go to him, while the Officer sticks behind to give support as the N.O.O.S.E reinforcements come. Remember NOT to trigger the cutscene where the player gives the gun to Rashkovsky before the Demolition member is ready to give support from the sky with the Buzzard.
Now work with the Demolition to kill all the N.O.O.S.E members and get out of the prison with Rashkovsky. Near the prison entrance, there will be a Police Riot van ready for them to drive. Get in with Rashkovsky and proceed to the airfield. Now there will be cops spawning on the airfield so have the Demolition clear them out. Once the area has been cleaned inform the pilot that he can land the Velum. Wait for the pilot to land the Velum on the airfield and get in the plane. The pilot must now lose his wanted level. After losing the cops and jumping out of the plane, regroup with the Demolition and enter their Buzzard.
The pilot, after collecting the Velum within the time limit, must take it to Sandy Shores Airfield, but instead of doing this, keep flying around Los Santos and avoid flying into Los Santos County to avoid getting shot down by P-996 Lazers. Wait until the land team have broke Rashkovsky out of the prison and land on Sandy Shores Airfield to collect the Officer, Prisoner and Rashkovsky. Now fly across the map to lose the wanted level and after this, fly in the indicated area to jump out of the plane and land in a beach in Palomino Highlands. Regroup with the Demolition and enter their Buzzard.
Once all members of the team are in the Buzzard, return to the city and the heist is complete.
The crew members are then seen at one's apartment, drinking and celebrating their victory.
Mission Objectives
- Intercept the prison bus
- Take out the corrections officer
- Steal the prison bus
- Take the prison bus to Sandy Shores Airfield
- Destroy the prison bus
- Steal the Buzzard
- Protect the Velum
- Help get Rashkovsky to the Velum
- Protect the Velum
- Regroup on the beach
- Fly the Buzzard back to the city
- Get in the prison bus
- Get access to the prison
- Park inside the prison
- Make your way through the prison to Rashkovsky
- Clear the area of NOOSE
- Get in the Velum
- Regroup on the beach
- Get in the Buzzard
Prison Officer
- Collect the prison bus
- Get access to the prison
- Park inside the prison
- Make your way through the prison to Rashkovsky
- Collect Rashkovsky
- Clear the area of NOOSE
- Get in the Velum
- Regroup on the beach
- Get in the Buzzard
- Get in the Velum
- Take the Velum to Sandy Shores Airfield
- Evade the pursuing jets
- Collect Rashkovsky
- Regroup on the beach
- Get in the Buzzard
Elite Challenge
- Rashkovsky damage 1% or less
- Extraction in under 4:40
- Nobody gets wasted
- After the ground crew gets into the Velum and the pilot is unable to evade the police, it has been reported that players have been trying to evade for up to 2 hours with no success. A potential fix found by one group of players is to fly to the very edge of the ocean, and the pilot should then start to lose the police. One possible explanation is that a radar is in place, even if this is not mentioned. Try to fly low to avoid radar detection. If this doesn't work and the 5-star wanted level remains in place, the player must either get himself killed or leave the session to start the Heist over again.
- Sometimes the first four guards will not spawn when the prisoner and officer get off the bus. If this happens, the alarms will start going off directly after the cutscene ends.
- As of the 1.29 patch, during the cutscene where Rashkovsky is given a pistol by the player disguised as the prisoner, he will not have blood on his face and his glasses are missing. After this scene returns to normal gameplay, the blood and his glasses are present again.
- Sometimes, Rashkovsky will not follow either the Prisoner or Prison Guard and remains in place, rendering the Heist difficult to complete. The only way to fix this issue is by leaving the game or having any players kill themselves. (tested on PC)
- (PS4, Xbox One & PC) Rarely, a glitch can occur that causes Rashkovsky to vanish after the cutscene where he is handed the pistol (though his blip will still appear on the radar, but will not move), resulting in an inability to complete the Heist. Restarting the Heist does not fix the issue, and the host will need to return to Free Mode, find a new session, then restart the Heist in order to resolve it. Similar mission-failing glitches occur on The Fleeca Job (Finale), Prison Break - Wet Work and Humane Raid - Key Codes.
- Additionally, this glitch will cause the corrections officer behind the wheel of the Prison Bus that the Demolition player has to destroy to not move the bus from its initial spawn point unless he is jacked and manages to get back into the bus. If timed correctly, the player can actually enter the Prison Bus as a passenger if the player enters at the same time as the corrections officer as he gets back into the bus after being jacked, and he will then drive the player along the route to the prison. The corrections officer can easily be killed from this position while in first-person view, but because this glitch always coincides with Rashkovsky disappearing, the Heist will be unable to be fully completed.
- This mission could be considered a more advanced version of the GTA Online mission Bust Out.
- As with all heist finales, the elite challenge of "time completed" is signified in-game. In this heist, if Agent 14 tells the players to "hurry up" when completing the extraction process, this elite challenge objective is failed.
- Although Agent 14 says that, according to the inmate transfer schedule, there is a prisoner being transported to the prison in the Prison Bus, when the demolition expert hijacks the bus on its way to the prison there is no prisoner being transported in it.
- The Lazers that later pursue the player have two possible spawning origins: Fort Zancudo and McKenzie Airfield. Note that the pilot or demolition can never actually see the Lazers take off from these locations, however it can be assumed they take off from then since they spawn in the vicinity.
- The pilot can neither leave the Velum nor shelter it in a hangar while Lazers are hunting.
- If the pilot follows the Lazers, the Lazer will continue to go in the same direction, and will gradually get slower, to the point that the Velum can actually catch up, or even beat the Lazer. This tactic is perfect, as the Lazer cannot fire any missiles towards the pilot. Note that turning around will cause the Lazer to return to chasing the pilot. This is inevitable however, as flying too far away while following the Lazer will commence the out of bounds countdown timer, resulting a mission failure.
- The fact that a special Velum with 5 seats is used in the mission is possibly an oversight, as only 4 people board the plane (three players and Rashkovsky) while the fourth player is in a Helicopter instead.
- In the cutscene of the Buzzard going back to the city, one can clearly see that the tail rotor is not spinning, yet the moving blade texture is still seen.


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• Australia, China, India welcomes in the New Year
• Revellers around the world prepare to celebrate 2013
• Venezuela cancels celebrations as Hugo Chavez health flags
• Britain expects washout New Year as flooding countinues
• Record turnout expected for Hogmanay in Edinburgh
00.53 Right, that's all folks. Hope you all had a good one.
00.34 CHRISTOPHER PLEDGER New Year pyrotechnics over the London Eye
00.15 Happy New Year to everyone, from the live bloggers here at the Telegraph.
00.01 Big Ben and the London Eye in London just after midnight
23.52 JONATHAN POW New Year's revellers in York, where the banks of the river Ouse burst after today's heavy rain
23.14 Crowds gather on Westminster Bridge in London
23.10 Our Madrid correspondent Fiona Govan sends this from the Spanish capital: "In Puerta del Sol, the square at the heart of Madrid, crowds have gathered in the rain to celebrate New Year, peering from beneath their umbrellas at the clock tower that will ring in 2013.
"In Spain the tradition is to place a grape in one's month on each of the twelve chimes at midnight to ensure good luck for the New Year. People are clutching their handfuls of grapes and their bottles of Cava in anticipation. It's freezing...and wet."
22.58 Mayor of London gets ready to party.
22.50 Jim Kerr of Simple Minds, who are headlining Edinburgh's Concert in the Gardens, tells BBC Reporting Scotland: "We have played some iconic gigs, like Live Aid, but I think when they built Edinburgh, they built it with Hogmanay in mind, because it's perfect for this kind of event."
22.23 Hogmanay celebrations have kicked off in Edinburgh. Pete Irvine, artistic director, says: "It's really, really busy here tonight - probably busier than we've seen it in some time because the weather is so good.
"There's a moon in the sky, it's actually not cold and it's not raining.
"We've been very lucky with the weather and I think we are going to be very lucky with the crowd and all the performances tonight on many stages."
22.09 A trader on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange
21:45 Italian tourists at Puerta del Sol in Madrid
21.38 Red Square in Moscow
21:33 In downtown Dubai, the fireworks were centred aroung the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world.
The skyscraper is more than 828 metres high.
21.32 Edinburgh Hogmanay celebrations
20.51 This New Year has been much better for Kenya's tourism industry than the last one. A year ago resorts along the country's Indian Ocean were taking a battering after Judith Tebbutt, a British social worker, was kidnapped from a luxury resort by Somali pirates. A Frenchwoman living on Lamu island, 60 miles south of Kenya's border with Somalia, had also been taken hostage.
Our correspondent Mike Pflanz is on Lamu tonight, and reports a very different picture now: "The resort, a playground for European royalty and Hollywood stars, was near empty then. Today, there is not a bed to free in the Swahili village's smart private houses and boutique hotels.
"Locals - mostly Muslims whose wives and mothers are dressed in full hijab - are gathered on the beach alongside Western tourists preparing to pop Champagne corks. Dhow captains, waiters and hotel owners are again preparing to celebrate a bumper festive season."
20.50 NATO troops in Kabul see in the New Year
20.31 Crowds are already building up along the banks of the River Thames in central London for the ever-popular New Year fireworks display organised by Boris Johnson, the Mayor. This will cap off a packed year of celebrations in the capital, including the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations and the Olympic Games.
The Metropolitan Police warns there will be long queues for public transport in parts of central London after midnight as people head home, and revellers are advised to avoid certain stations like Waterloo and Charing Cross if possible.
EPA Fireworks at the Burj Khalifa in Dubai
REUTERS Burmese people celebrate during the first ever public New Year countdown
19.52 North Korea also joined in with the New Year festivities. A year ago the reclusive country was in mourning over the death of its former leader, Kim Jong Il. Today it celebrated the accession of its new leader, Kim Jong Un, and the recent launch of a satellite into space by firing cannons in the capital Pyongyang at midnight and putting on a fireworks display over the Taedong River, the Associated Press reports.
19.23 Distressing news from London though on New Year's Eve. A Spanish tourist has been killed after being hit by a bus in London, according to the BBC.
19.00 Pakistan joins their traditional rivals India in the new year. The One Pound Fish man, whose novelty song nearly hit #1 in the UK Christmas Charts (well not quite), has a message for us all.
And more importantly, perhaps, depending on who you are, our Islamabad correspondent Rob Crilly, also wishes us all a happy new year.
Some people have all the luck.
REUTERS - Sand Sculpture in Puri, India.
18.29 The countdown is on for India, although the festive mood in New Delhi has been somewhat marred by the death of a young gang-rape victim.
Hotels, clubs and residents' associations in the Indian capital decided to cancel planned festivities and asked people to light candles to express their solidarity with the victim whose plight sparked public rallies for women's safety.
"Let there be no New Year celebrations across the country. It will be a major tribute to the departed soul," said Praveen Khandelwal, secretary-general of the Confederation of All India Traders.
This picture from Mumbai, India, shows the lighting of an Old Man effigy which symbolises burning the past and getting ready to start a happy New Year without bad memories of the past:
18.18 Fireworks over the Marina Bay in Singapore
18.18 If you're Tunisian, don't count on celebrating New Year's with the same vigour as others.
Sheikh Beshir Ben Hassine, a hardline preacher from the Salafist movement that has achieved growing prominence since the Arab Spring, warned that the exchange of New Year's greetings is un-Islamic.
Sharing the feast days of the infidel or even sending them greetings to mark them is a big sin.
Wishing someone a Merry Christmas or a Happy New Year is forbidden by Islam.
18.11 Venezuela has called off its public New Year's Eve festivities after the government said cancer-stricken Hugo Chavez had taken a turn for the worse.
The streets of Caracas were quiet as amid news Chavez had developed "new complications" from a respiratory infection after undergoing his fourth cancer-related surgery on December 11 in Havana.
18.09 For a video look at how the Eastern Hemisphere is enjoying New Year's, look no further.
Fireworks went off from the Taipei 101 building early on Tuesday as the island country of Taiwan welcomed the year 2013.
18.05 One person who will not be enjoying New Year's festivities tonight is Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state. She is expected to spend New Year's Eve in hospital after doctors discovered a blood clot linked to a concussion she suffered this month.
As Raf Sanchez, our Washington correspondent, explains, blood clots are sometimes linked to extensive air travel. In her four years as America's top diplomat Mrs Clinton has kept up a punishing schedule, visiting 112 countries and spending the equivalent of 86 days on her Boeing 757.
In 1998, while she was still First Lady, Mrs Clinton was admitted to hospital with a blood clot behind her knee. She was treated with blood thinners but later said the incident "was the most significant health scare I've ever had".
17.57 Revellers in Beijing celebrate
17.10 And celebrations are starting early in Germany, as revellers gather in Stuttgart to see in the new year
17.10 Fireworks are launched from the Taipei 101 building in Taiwan
16.34 Celebrations continue across Asia, with people gathering at Kuala Lumpur's Petronas Towers to see in the new year
16.34 Pictures are starting to come in from Hong Kong, where a huge firework display in Victoria Harbour helped welcome 2013
16.01 It's not all doom and gloom on Wall Street: these traders have donned party glasses for the last day of 2012 trading on the New York Stock Exchange
15.42 Two pupils get ready to celebrate the New Year at a school in Jiangxi Province, China
15.32 As we reach the end of 2012, academics in the United States have come up with their annual list of the year's most annoying words. They suggest that "fiscal cliff", "trending" and "spoiler alert" are among the words and phrases that should be banned from the English language. What do you think? You can read more here.
15.10 In Japan, Shinto priests leave the worship hall of Meji Shrine after a ritual in preparation for the New Year. Some three million people are expected to visit the shrine to pray for their health, happiness and property during the first three days of 2013
15.10 Meanwhile, hundreds of people celebrate the traditional San Silvestre Swim at the Mlagros beach in Tarragona, northeastern Spain
14.30 Over on the other side of the Atlantic, there may be little for American politicians to celebrate this year. Our correspondent Raf Sanchez reports: "Washington DC is not famous for its night life at the best of times but this year the city is in the shadow of the $600 billion fiscal cliff. As the rest of the world is ringing in 2013, many on Capitol Hill will still be frantically working to reach a deal. If we get a breakthrough then it's time to party like it's 1999 (when Bill Clinton and the Republican Congress balanced the budget - keep up). If there's no deal, then there's only time for a couple of grim beers before we all go back to our desks in the morning."
13.30 Spectacular scenes across Sydney's famous Harbour
13.29 2013 will ring in the changes in very different ways around the world. Hung-over Russians will wake up to a "new and troubling reality" on New Year's Day, when beer becomes classified as an alcoholic drink for the very first time, reports Tom Parfitt in Moscow. Read the full story here.
13.19 Fireworks explode over Sydney Harbour as it turns midnight
13.05 Lasers light up the sky above Victoria harbour in Hong Kong
13.04 Our Moscow correspondent, Tom Parftt, reports that Russian revellers are expected to gather in Red Square, where there will be a firework display over the Kremlin later. He writes: "In Moscow, where snow is falling as the temperature hovers around -7C, shoppers are making their last desperate purchases before rushing home to their families. New Year is a more important event for Russians than Christmas – a low-key event marked on January 7 according to the pre-revolutionary Julian calendar – and gifts are put under a tree on December 31st, just as they are in the West on December 25th."
12.49 Kylie Minogue was clearly getting into the New Year spirit when she tweeted this photo of her in Sydney earlier:
12.48 Take a brolly if you are seeing in the New Year outdoors in Britain tonight. Forecasters are warning that the UK's celebrations will be dampened by a continuation of the downpours that have soaked the country over the festive season. Many parts of England, Wales and Scotland remain under flood alerts, and some areas are expected to see as much as 33mm (1.3ins) of rain falling today. However, the start of 2013 is set to bring better news, as the weeks of heavy rain give way to cloud, dull skies and light showers.
12.40 Dancers take part in parade in Bali, Indonesia
12.31 Indian revellers celebrate in Amritsar
12.20 In Sydney crowds are gathering for traditionally one of the most spectacular New Year's Eve fireworks displays anywhere in the world. Lord Mayor Clover Moore said about 1.5 million spectators are expected. Those in place already include Melissa Sjostedt who has made the journey from Florida to see the festivities which she first read about a decade ago in National Geographic magazine.
12.05 Meanwhile Malcolm Moore, our Beijing correspondent, reminds us that the Chinese New Year - when the Year of the Dragon gives way to the Year of the Snake - takes place on February 9. Those who want to celebrate the western calendar are having to dig deep with the city's finest restaurants offering special menus at up to £150 a head.
12.00 Special cause for celebration at Myanmar - or Burma to you and me - where the country will see in the New Year with a grand fireworks display in a celebration unprecedented in the former military-ruled country.
Thousands were expected to attend the celebration at a large field in Yangon against the backdrop of the city's famed Shwedagon Pagoda, where the Myanmar public will get its chance to do what much of the world does every New Year's Eve.
Preparations for Myanmar's New Year celebrations (Reuters)
11.56 People take part in the celebrations under the Harbour Bridge
11.50 Celebrations are already underway in Sydney, where fireworks are lighting up the city's skyline for the 9pm family show
11.30 In Pakistan Rob Crilly, our correspondent reports, the celebrations are being held amid tight security.
Pakistanis are sending their 2013 text message greetings several hours early in case the country's mobile phone networks are turned off later to prevent mobile phones being used to detonate bombs.
11.15 The Indian armed forces on Monday cancelled their New Year celebrations while many hotels and bars scaled back parties in the wake of the gang-rape which has shocked the nation.
The Indian army, air force and navy have decided to cancel all the parties planned to welcome the new year. They want to dedicate the last day of the year to the gang-rape victim," a senior defence ministry official told AFP.
In the capital, where the horrific crime took place on December 16, leading private members' club Gymkhana, where top officials and ministers are often seen, cancelled its party as did the Press Club in the capital.
The five-star Ashoka hotel in New Delhi also closed its popular nightclub, while other bar owners were quoted in the media as saying they were scaling back festivities.
A student prays during a vigil in Ahmedabad (Reuters)
11.10 In Auckland the celebrations are well underway with Kiwis being serenaded by "Legendary New Zealand funk rockers Supergroove" - no I haven't heard of them either.
11.00 Welcome to the Telegraph's Live Blog as we brace ourselves for 2013.


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Weekend Recap
Finished knitting my pullover!!!
Don't think I can debut it until winter which is kind of a shame but it's my own fault for taking so long.
The blocking process went a lot faster this time around. I could have used better schematics (only had length from shoulder to hem, width of sleeve, and width of body at underarms) but there hasn't been a project where I didn't feel this way.
On Saturday I had dim sum (or yum cha) with the family.
For those that don't know what it's like, the food sits in a cart and gets pushed around all the tables. If you spot something you want you wave the cart down and the food is brought to you.
Below are some of the things we ordered–chicken feet, fried squid, and various dumplings. With chicken feet you're constantly spitting out cartilage and bone. Most don't mind but when I ate meat it was too much of a pain.
Another two dishes worth mentioning are pig blood and pig rectum. The blood is coagulated and served in cube form while the rectum is sliced and served with veggies (below). From what I hear both have a very strong taste.
If you ever get the chance to have dim sum, go! They do have more normal things like shrimp, veggies, egg rolls, or noodles. I just picked the weirder things to share.
Happy Sunday!
April 15, 2012 8:07 pm
i said it before and i'll say it again, you are a knitting goddess.
katlane12 permalinkApril 16, 2012 3:06 am
Hmmm pig rectum. I don't think I could actually bring myself to eat that. I have a really bad mind over matter issue. If I think somethings weird I can barely bring it to my mouth without gagging. Love the sweater. I agree with everyone else, you are a knitting goddess!
April 16, 2012 9:25 pm
Ohhh my lord. Pig rectum and congealed blood? That's a little much for me and I'm relatively adventurous food-wise. Hoo boy.
In other news, that knitting project looks amazing! I'm in awe. I've never knitted and if I did I think it would come out looking like some shapeless yarn-monster. Frankly the ball of yarn would look better-knit than anything I could create.
April 16, 2012 9:27 pm
I realized that I told you I was in awe of the capelet in your last post. Boo for repeat comments, but I stand by it both times. 🙂
April 17, 2012 9:53 am
Dim Sum sounds amazing, minus the pig blood and pig rectum. Your sweater also looks amazing. Can't wait to see it, even if it will be in awhile
Trude permalinkApril 17, 2012 4:10 pm
Love the lines on the pullover! It's gonna be super cute, if it ever cools off again before October to wear it. I'm jealous of all that dim sum, do you go somewhere local? I haven't been able to find anything closer than LA that I liked. Mmmm buns…


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This is a month for painful anniversaries. It is 10 years since the start of the benighted war in Iraq. It is also one year since March 11, 2012, the day Staff Sergeant Robert Bales allegedly massacred 16 civilians in the Panjwai district of Afghanistan. But I'm more concerned about a silent anniversary: the next day, March 12, 2012. It was an absolutely terrible day for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, especially those looking for jobs. It was a day--yet another day--when the headlines were about a trooper gone berserk. This is true far too often: veterans involved in gun violence, suicide or domestic abuse, homeless veterans, addicted veterans. The woes are endless. The problems are real. But the vast majority of veterans don't suffer from them. And there were no high-profile public figures to stand up and speak for the majority in the days after the Bales massacre, especially for the thousands who were thanked for their service--and then quietly turned down for work because employers, well, they didn't want to take any chances.
Eric Shinseki, the secretary of veterans Affairs, should be the leading advocate for these troops. He should have been everywhere in the days after the massacre, promoting those veterans--and they exist all over in this country--who are fabulous employees, fabulous first responders, brilliant entrepreneurs in both the public and private sectors. But here's a question: When was the last time you saw Shinseki say or do anything in public? He is universally regarded as an exemplary man. But even his supporters say he's old-school military, stoic, wary of the press. And his detractors, who are legion among the generation of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, say he lacks the creativity and leadership skills to deal with Veterans Affairs' mind-boggling problems, like the 900,000 unprocessed disability cases. In any event, he has been in office for four years, and the problems our veterans face are worse than ever--and about to get still worse as the military demobilizes tens of thousands of additional troops in the next few years. It is time for him to step down.
To be sure, the problems are not all Shinseki's fault. There's been a lot of flag-waving and patriotic blather from politicians, but there's also been a scandalous absence of action. The First Lady has been a valuable spokesperson for military families, but the President's record has been less than mediocre. Take, for instance, the absolutely ridiculous scandal involving the inability of the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to come up with a united system for electronic medical records that would allow troops to move seamlessly from the military to the VA. Barack Obama has been het up about electronic record keeping since the day he was elected. In 2009 he announced a plan to create a seamless system for the military.
We have now spent $1 billion on developing such a system, and in February the two departments announced that they had failed to come up with one. This was not Shinseki's fault. The VA has an excellent record-keeping system called Vista. The Defense Department wasn't sold, however. It hasn't decided what sort of system it wants. If the President were on top of things--if he were as good as his word about taking care of the troops--he would step in and force the decision to be made. Yesterday.


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HALIFAX – Alberta Premier Alison Redford said Saturday that Canada is facing new energy opportunities, citing the importance of exploring new markets in the United States and Asia.
Redford told the Halifax International Security Forum that her province's oilsands need to access new markets, pointing to the Keystone XL pipeline to Texas and the Northern Gateway Pipeline to British Columbia as potential opportunities.
She said that would allow countries to divert their dollars from potentially volatile countries.
Although British Columbia Premier Christy Clark has expressed environmental concerns about the pipeline and is demanding a bigger share of the revenues for her province, Redford said a nearing provincial election could change the mood towards the project.
"What we're starting to see is a willingness to talk about what arrangements might be able to be put in place to allow for access to Asia," said Redford during a panel discussion about international energy security. "We know that we need to have access to Asia, and there are some very good pipelines structures already in British Columbia that allow for some of that access.
"Things like this lead to economic growth, so one of the questions that I think is starting to be asked in British Columbia (is), 'Do we want this economic growth, and how are we going to balance that?'"
Redford also cited ongoing discussions about moving resources from Western to Eastern Canada. She even went so far as to suggest eventually exporting those resources off the East Coast.
"My understanding is that at a commercial level, there's been very good discussions going on and that there's even been some work done with respect to… test samples, so we'll see just how quickly this could get ramped up," said Redford.
"We have the ability to work with pipeline infrastructure that is already in place just about across most of the country and I think it is important to talk about the economic benefits."
U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, who was also a part of Saturday's panel, told the conference that his office recently sent a letter to President Barack Obama to urge action over TransCanada's Keystone XL Pipeline.
Obama rejected TransCanada's application 10 months ago, citing concerns about the risks posed to an environmentally sensitive area in Nebraska by the pipeline's original route.
But the president invited TransCanada to submit another application after rerouting the pipeline around Nebraska's Sandhills, necessitating another State Department environmental review of the US$7 billion project.
Earlier this week, the International Energy Agency said in its World Energy Outlook that the United States would be capable of meeting its own energy needs by 2035.
Redford said that's good news, pointing to a shift in the "global balance of power."
"We are energy rich in an increasingly thirsty world," said Redford. "As producers, and not just consumers of energy here in North America, we can reassess the global balance of power and, I believe, tilt it in new and unexpected ways."
Earlier in the day, more than 200 people staged a protest outside the hotel where the forum was held to show their disapproval.
Isaac Saney said many in the group were also marching in solidarity with the Palestinian people in light of the ongoing bombardment of the Gaza Strip.


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I Said Follow Me
Originally preached September 29, 2019
Scripture Reference: Luke 5:1-11
Download this sermon!
Pastor Jeff Scheibenpflug and his wife Sharon both grew up and met in southern Rhode Island. Shortly after they were married, Pastor Jeff attended and graduated from Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC earning a BA in Biblical Studies. They then moved to Landsdale, PA where he received his seminary training and earned a Master of Divinity, at Calvary Baptist Theological Seminary. He later returned to the seminary earning a Doctor of Ministry degree.
It was always their intention to return to New England and start a church but God had other plans and called them to full time ministry in Ramsey, New Jersey – where Pastor Jeff has been the Sr. Pastor of Grace Baptist Church for the past 22 years.
Pastor Jeff has a heart for studying and preaching the word of God and for seeing souls come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. He and Sharon have been married for 29 years and have three children- Nicholas, Emily and Jonathan.


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It must have been a heartbreaking moment for Tom Petty as five of his band's guitars were stolen from a studio in Culver City.
The guitars were stolen Thursday afternoon from Culver Studios, 9336 W. Washington Blvd., where the band was rehearsing for an upcoming tour, police said.
The band posted detailed descriptions with pictures and serial numbers, as well as a $7,500 ''no questions asked'' reward, on its website.
Local news from across Southern California
The stolen instruments include Petty's blond 1967 12-string Rickenbacker and his Gibson SGTVJunior, Mike Campbell's blue Dusenberg Mike Campbell model, Ron Blair's Fender Broadcaster and Scott Thurston's 1967 Epiphone Sheridan.
A quote from Petty's website confirmed the theft.
"Five guitars belonging to Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers have been stolen from the Soundstage in Culver City where they have been rehearsing for their US tour which will start next week," the website read.
A Tweet from @TomPetty said, "Need these back, please help ... we are offering a reward. NO questions asked."
The band set up a Facebook page as well.
The band asked anyone with information about the guitar heist to firstname.lastname@example.com or call Culver City police detectives at (310) 253- 6305.
Follow NBCLA for the latest LA news, events and entertainment: iPhone/iPad App | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Instagram | RSS | Text Alerts | Email Alerts


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David W. Findlay (Dave)
Pugh Family Professor of Economics
5233 Mayflower Hill
Waterville, Maine 04901-8852
Areas of Expertise
- Maine economic conditions
- Federal Reserve policy
- Political influence on economic policy
- Monetary policy and financial markets, specifically interest rates
Courses Currently Teaching
|Course Title
|Principles of Macroeconomics
|Macroeconomic Theory
|Presidential Economics
|Money, Banking, and Monetary Policy
Other Courses Taught
|Course Title
|Macroeconomic Principles
Current Research
Political Business Cycles and Monetary Policy
Economics of Discrimination
Macroeconomic Effects of Indexation
Current Projects
"The Federal Reserve's Preferences for Inflation and Unemployment: An Analysis of Fed Chairmen."
"Do Presidential Administrations Have Preferred Rates of Unemployment?"
"The Baseball Writer and The National Baseball Hall of Fame: Are Election Outcomes Affected by Race or Ethnicity?," (with Cliff Reid).
"Race, Ethnicity and The National Baseball Hall of Fame: Is There Discrimination in the Nomination Process?," (with Cliff Reid and John Santos).
"Discrimination, Voting Behavior and the National Baseball Hall of Fame: The Case of Pitchers," (with Cliff Reid).
"A Comparison of Two Models to Forecast Voting for Membership into the National Baseball Hall of Fame," (with Cliff Reid).
"Jackie Robinson and The National Baseball Hall of Fame," (with Cliff Reid).
"Race, Ethnicity and the Market(s) for Baseball Cards," (with Jim Meehan and Cliff Reid).
"Further Analysis of the Determinants of Sovereign Credit Ratings," (with Shannon Landauer, '99).
"An Empirical Analysis of the Relationship between the Yield Spread and the Probability of Recessions," (with Sunil Thakor, '99).
M.S., Purdue University (Economics) 1984
B.A., Acadia University, Canada (Economics) 1981
The directory information is for individual use only, it may not be retransmitted or published for any reason. It is not to be used for mass solicitations by email, mail, phone, or other means. Sale or other distribution of this document is prohibited by College policy.


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Wildlife & Landscape Photography, Travel experiences, Webdesign, CSS, Social Media Stories Home
Tag: encounter
Rare encounter: mating leopard sharks
During a morning dive we stumbled over two leopard sharks deeply engaged in their flirtation.
The male shark had snapped the tail fin of his loved one – I am sure he did that as tender as he could! Read More …


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The Twi-hards turned out in record numbers early Friday morning to catch the first showings of "The Twilight Saga: New Moon," outperforming boy wizard "Harry Potter" who previously held the title of midnight box office king.
According to box office numbers released by Summit Entertainment, "New Moon" pulled in an astounding estimated gross of $26.27 million, while playing at 3,514 theaters.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'New Moon' Tour Takes The World By Storm
Fans showed up to theaters across the country in their best Edward, Bella and Jacob costumes. They were also not shy about screaming and hollering with giddy joy at the appearance of a shirtless Taylor Lautner and the first sight of Robert Pattinson on the big screen.
"New Moon" surpassed the previous midnight box office champ, "Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince," by for than $4 million.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' LA Premiere
Rounding out the top five biggest midnight openers of all-time are "The Dark Knight" with $18.5 million, "Star Wars: Epsiode III – Revenge of the Sith" with $16.9 million and "Transformer: Revenge of the Fallen" with $16 million.
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Hot Shots Of The 'New Moon' Werewolves
PLAY IT NOW: Robert, Taylor & Kristen Hit The New York 'New Moon' Premiere (Part I)
PLAY IT NOW: Taylor Lautner Hits The 'New Moon' LA Premiere (November 16, 2009)
MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: New Moon - The Twilight Saga - Robert Pattinson - Taylor Lautner - Kristen Stewart


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Alonso a linebacker Bolts may entertain
Kiko Alonso fell asleep in the wrong house.
It took the snooze, he says, to wake him up.
The former Oregon inside linebacker received a wake-up call on May of 2011 when he was arrested for the second time in 15 months. His first incident was a DUI that drew a 2010 season-long suspension.
Whether it's Alonso, there is no telling, but the
As long as they re-sign
If San Diego wanted to find a stop-gap starter, there are options in free agency, too. The team is more likely to go that route if its need is not filled in the draft.
NFL Draft Related
One question has followed Alonso during the pre-draft evaluation process: "Can he be trusted?" The 22-year-old has tried to answer it, traveling around the
The Chargers are among those to do their homework. Linebackers coach Joe Berry met him at the combine. Earlier this month, Alonso visited the facility and gave his side of the story.
In a recent phone interview from his Los Gatos hometown, he gave a shorter version.
"I had a little too much to drink," Alonso said. "I went outside, and thinking I was going back into the house, I went into the wrong house and fell asleep. That's it. It's embarrassing, but you know, (stuff) happens."
He pleaded guilty to criminal mischief and, back on campus, had a conversation with an Oregon coach. Alonso was told enough was enough. This couldn't continue. He'd run out of second chances. Now or never.
"I decided to make a change and move on," he said.
Alonso went on to have his best collegiate season, totaling 81 tackles, 14 for a loss, with one sack and two forced fumbles. The ex-high school tight end added four interceptions and six passes defensed, showing a coverage ability that could keep him on the field in the NFL during passing downs.
He says his goal is to play immediately as a rookie, at the very least to be active on all four special teams but with the hope of making an impact on defense.
"I think the way I play, the way I practice is going to put me in a really good position," said Alonso, who is 6-foot-3 and 238 pounds. "I have nothing but excitement. I can't wait to go to camp and show people what I can do. … I want to reach my full potential and work as hard as I can. At the end of the day, if I put in everything I can, I can't be disappointed, no matter what the outcome is."


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Orlando Interviewing Day
Friday, January 24th 2014
This is an efficient way to interview candidates from multiple central Florida law schools for entry level or summer associate positions from the convenience of your own office! Orlando Interviewing Day has the benefit of providing you with students most interested in the Orlando market in a single day without travel costs to you.
Participating employers will have the ability to outline hiring criteria, pre-screen applicants, and select which students they would like to invite to their office for interviews. Our offices will help advertise the position, collect and deliver application materials, and assist with interview scheduling.
Participating law schools include: Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law; Florida Coastal School of Law; Florida A & M College of Law; and University of Florida Levin College of Law.


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So I don't have much use for any of the legos I own anymore, unfortunately, as interests have shifted elsewhere.
The miscellaneous lot includes parts from sets:
10193 Medieval Market Village
7029 Skeleton Ship Attack
7036 Dwarves' Mine
7037 Tower Raid
7038 Troll Assault Wagon
7041 Troll Battle Wheel x 2
7048 Troll Warship
7091 Knights' Catapult Defense
7092 Skeletons' Prison Carriage
7093 Skeleton Tower
7094 King's Castle Siege
7979 Castle Advent Calendar
7009 The Final Joust
as well as other miscellaneous Legos one may find useful, also has a few of the castle themed old megablox set pieces, if you're interested.
If there is any interest, let me know and I can probably get some pictures up


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Our relationship to content has been transformed. So many aspects of our lives, big and small, are lived online. From education to recreation, one is hard-pressed to identify aspects of modern life not changed by digital content. This second annual study from Accenture Interactive surveyed over 1,000 executives from 14 countries and 18 industries to understand this shifting paradigm, and to help organizations respond.
Content must be a vital expression of an organization's purpose, and true to its lifeblood. Content is how the organization expresses itself. In this hyper-connected age, You Are Your Content, it is the voice of your organization. And so, it is no surprise that organizations are beginning to want to own that voice, building new in-house capabilities, innovating in distribution channels, focusing on quality and establishing stewardship at the most senior levels of the organization in order to be everywhere for their audience.
Download the full report:
You Are Your Content


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Mausoleum and funerary gardens of the Second Mughai Emperor Humayun, Delhi, in 1820. Watercolour in Agra style by Delhi artist. Inscribed on front in English: 'Tomb of Hoomauyoon Bad Shah';' Tomb of Koaka'; in Persian characters: Maqbarah i Kokah -- Maqbarah i Humayun badshah i ghazi (Tomb of Kokah -- Tomb of the Emperor Humayun): artist unknown, 1820 (British Library)
la dialéctica de los monos
gorjeos de las estadísticas
........(alta llama rosa
hecha de piedra y aire y pájaros
tiempo en reposo sobre el agua)
Humayun's tomb, Delhi. Chamferred edges add to the over all symmetrical design of the mausoleum: photo by Michael Clarke, 21 February 2008
Inside view of the entrance chamber dome, Mausoleum of Humayun, Delhi: photo by Samir Luther, 28 August 2008
Humayun's cenotaph, standing alone within the central chamber of the Mausoleum of Humayun, Delhi. (The real grave lies in the basement below): photo by Ekabhishek, 25 December 2011
Jaali or marble lattice screen showing a mihrab, Mausoleum of Humayun, Delhi. The symbolically cut out mihrab facing west or toward Mecca, over the marble lattice screen: photo by Deepanjali, 16 September 2006
Details of Mihrab over the jaali, marble lattice screen in Humayun's Tomb, Delhi: photoo by Tanaka Juuyoh, 11 January 2004
Humayun sitting beneath a tree in his garden in India: Payag (active c.1591-c.1658), opaque watercolor, ink and gold on paper mounted on paperboard, 18.8 x 12.3 cm, c. 1650, from an album commissioned by Shah Jahan (r. 1628–55) (Freer/Sackler: The Smithsonian's Museums of Asian Art)
Shah Tahmasp I and Mughai emperor Humayan in Isfahan. From Chehel Sotoun Palace, Isfahan: photo by Xiquinho Silva, 28 April 2011 (Isfahan Museum)
Humayun's garden party: Mir Sayyid cAli [?], Mughal dynasty, c. AD 1550-55, gouache and gold on cotton; painted for the Second Mughal emperor Humayun (reigned 1542-46 and 1555-56). From Kabul, modern Afghanistan (British Museum)
Cenotaph of Humayun: photo by Soham Banerjee, 17 March 2011


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Snowstorm hits South Shore
Mother Nature delivered some much-needed snow in South Lake Tahoe on Thursday, blanketing most roofs, ridges and roads with 8 to 12 inches of powder.
The wet weather is needed if the region hopes to pull itself out of what experts at the U.S. Department of Agriculture were calling an extreme drought earlier this month.
It may take a few more storms before snowfall gets closer to hitting its season average — if it does at all — but the snow South Shore did receive was a welcome sight for many locals.
"This is the break we've been looking for," Carol Chaplin, executive director of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, said in a statement.
Snow depth at Phillips Station near Echo Summit reached 12.4 inches by about 11 a.m. Thursday, according to a survey by the Department of Water Resources.
Snowplows were out in full force around town, and people could be seen clearing their driveways for the first time in weeks.
Around the area, the National Weather Service reported 8 inches of heavy snow at Incline Village, 7 inches of snow at King Beach and 3.5 inches of snow at Tahoe City by noon.
Heavenly Mountain Resort announced that it received 10 to 12 inches of new snow as of 8 a.m.
More than 8 inches had fallen at Sierra-at-Tahoe Ski Resort by 4 p.m., spokesman Steve Hemphill said in an email.
The snow might have been good for the resorts, but it kept emergency crews and utility companies busy as they responded to a number of weather-related problems.
About 3,200 people near the "Y" lost power for at least 30 minutes, said Randy Kelly, business manager at Liberty Utilities. Initial reports of the outage came in about 1:30 p.m., and power was restored by 2:30 p.m.
Kelly said he didn't know what caused the outage, but suspected it was from snow damage or fallen branches.
He was also uncertain what caused an outage in the Camp Richardson, Fallen Leaf Lake and Cascade Lake areas, he said. About 560 customers use power in those areas during the summer, but it wasn't clear how many experienced power loss Thursday.
"It's been busy," Kelly said, "but it could have been a lot worse."
Emergency services seemed to keep busy, too, as they responded to several vehicle-related incidents during the storm.
One was a school bus loaded with Zephyr Cove Elementary School students that slid into a small snow bank on the side of Kingsbury Grade. No children were injured in the incident, and Principal Nancy Cauley said the students were delivered safely to school.
On Highway 50 near Meyers, traffic was being stopped about 11 a.m. because of vehicle spinouts close to Echo Summit.
With snow now on the ground — and with all the activity resulting from the storm — it may seem like Lake Tahoe is coming out of its major drought, but DWR official's said that's not the case.
Survey readings from Thursday showed the snowpack's statewide water content at 12 percent of average for this time of year. That's the lowest snowpack water content reading since the statewide records began in 1960.
The key moving forward will be water conservation, DWR Director Mark Cowin said.
"This winter remains dry, making it very unlikely our record drought will be broken this year," he said in a statement. "Now more than ever, we all need to save every drop we can in our homes and places of work."
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text:
Woman, husband among victims of New Castle shooting
Gunfire reported on quiet section of East Hillcrest Avenue
Three people were shot inside a New Castle home early Friday morning, and city police say they are still deciding the appropriate charges to file.
"I was surprised," says a nearby resident, Marc Yoursh. "It's quiet up here normally. It's really just a relaxed neighborhood. There's really not much problems or anything."
New Castle police say the trouble began after 2:30 a.m., when 44-year-old Michael Foster came to the house on East Hillcrest Avenue where married couple Shawntelle and Montral Johnson live. Just minutes after Foster arrived, the gunfire started.
Foster was shot in the neck, and the Johnsons suffered less serious injuries. Police are still sorting out the circumstances, but they believe Foster and one of the Johnsons fired at each other. Drug paraphernalia was allegedly found in the home.
VIDEO: Watch the report
SLIDESHOW: Photos of the victims and the crime scene
"We don't know if it was homeowners defending their residence or something else unrelated to that," Sgt. Kevin Seelbaugh said. "It might have been related to the drugs, but we don't know yet."
The couple's children were also in the home, but apparently stayed in their rooms and were not hurt.
A dog that was at the home and ran after first responders who were trying to help the victims was shot to death by officers.
The Johnsons are expected to be released from the hospital soon. Foster is reported to be in critical but stable condition.


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has an incredible cache of games but it seems to be
running out of steam in this, the third compilation
of arcade treasures. To that end the company has decided
to make this a theme compilation of some of its best
racing games. It's certainly worth a spin around the
block but I wouldn't be so quick to take a two-week
road trip with it.
are some hit and miss titles here that drag the overall
score down. The physics and control vary wildly and
no more is the lack of consistency apparent than when
compared to other racing games in this anthology.
Some games are so different you would think they were
developed by different companies.
this is a collection of nothing but racing games,
certain ones such as Stun Runner look awful when compared
to Rush 2049. And I'm not just talking about graphics.
The gameplay, the control system, the mechanics are
sloppy and dated. Some of these older games should
have been sandwiched in with other compilations that
are more general in scope.
San Francisco Rush series steals the show. The other
games are just filler compared to it. Although I did
spend a lot of time playing Race Drivin' in the bar
that I frequented for a number of years, it just couldn't
hold my interest. The trip down memory lane was short
and sweet but this is costing me money so I need a
lot more out of it than just a nostalgia trip. The
excitement just wasn't there.
arcade experience isn't easy to re-create. Sometimes
it's more than just the perfect emulation of a game.
There's the psychological aspect of being in a place
other than your home, possibly with friends or interacting
with strangers. The fact that you only have a dollar
and you have to make it last might generate more excitement
than unlimited continues. Maybe there's the prospect
of talking to some hot girls or getting into trouble
with a few of your buddies at the movie later that
evening. These are feelings and emotions that can
be associated with some of your favorite games. Playing
them out of context can sometimes result in disappointment
because they can't convey those experiences as deeply.
When you strip all of that away you might find that
you just don't care for the game.
Francisco: The Rock is an updated version of the original
game. It's good enough to make some memories of its
own. In it you drive like a maniac through the crowded
and hilly street of San Francisco launching yourself
off of ramps hundreds of feet into the air. With a
cartoonish look and pure arcade physics it's reminiscent
of Crazy Taxi. It's faster than the original and contains
new shortcuts but it doesn't have a multi-player mode
the other hand, Rush 2049 is loaded with a variety
of modes including Stunt Mode, Ghost Mode and a four-player
deathmatch in Battle Mode which is played in split
screen. It's a mechanically solid game that runs at
a smooth and consistent framerate of 60 fps.
Thunder has its moments but there are so many other
off-road racing games out there that you'll feel like
you're on the appetizer impatiently waiting for the
main course. For a slight diversion, Hydro Thunder
takes you off the road completely and lets you skim
the surface as you race your craft on the open water.
The physics is very one-dimensional. It may have been
innovative in its day but it's too dated now to make
a good impression.
those trying to elicit an emotional attachment to
these games are likely to get anything out of all
them. The rest of us will just have a mediocre time
and will have to hunt down a few cases of Pepsi and
chips to fill that emotional void.


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Body of man found inside Pelican Drive home surrounded earlier today by law enforcement units after report of gunshot
Sarasota police SWAT officers evacuated a Ringling Park neighborhood and surrounded a home Monday morning after a resident fired a gunshot inside the home amid an ongoing domestic dispute.
It was the third time in two days police had been called to the home, which is located in the 2500 block of Pelican Drive.
They were called to the home at 2:52 a.m. Sunday after reports that the 46-year-old male resident had fled the home armed with a gun. Officers, assisted by the Sheriff's Office helicopter, searched for hours but he was not located.
Around 10 a.m. Sunday, officers met the female resident at the home, so she could remove some property safely. No one else was found inside.
Monday morning at 8:37 a.m. officers accompanied the female resident back to the home so she could remove more property, according to police spokesman Capt. Paul Sutton.
"When the officers, with keys, made entry to the home, they heard a gunshot," Sutton said.
Police suspected the man in the home may have killed himself, but for safety reasons they established a perimeter, called out the department's SWAT team and began evacuating homes in the area.
The male resident, whose criminal history includes only two traffic tickets in Florida, was found dead inside the home around 11:08 a.m. Monday.
Police shut down Pelican Drive for hours during the standoff, as about a dozen SWAT team members wearing green uniforms, ballistic vests and helmets moved into the area, carrying M4 carbines and a tactical shield known as a "Body Bunker." A sniper team deployed across the street.
Before making entry, police sent a robot, which is equipped with a camera, to look in the windows. The resident was seen. He was not moving. SWAT officers entered minutes later and confirmed he had killed himself.
"It appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound," Sutton said afterward. "We had been attempting to locate him previously. He made threats to commit suicide."
Neighbors were stunned.
"We've never had anything like this before," Ryan Almand, a 40-year-old neighbor, said. "This is a very quiet neighborhood; I never understood why someone would do something like this."
Neighbor Scott Rimmer said the man had recently remodeled much of the home, a one-story wooden home with attached carport located at the intersection of East Milmar Drive.
"They were a normal couple," he said. "We never heard any arguments. They were very quiet people."
The body of a man has been found inside a home surrounded earlier today by police and SWAT teams in a Sarasota neighborhood.
Agents entered the home in the 2500 block of Pelican Drive around 11 a.m., after earlier surrounding it when they heard a gunshot from inside the residence.
There is no official information at this time as to the identity of the man found in the home.
By CARRIE WELLS, Staff writer
Police and SWAT teams have surrounded a home in the 2500 block of Pelican Drive this morning and evacuated the surrounding houses after hearing a gunshot inside the home.
Capt. Paul Sutton, a Sarasota Police Department spokesman, said an officer was escorting a woman to the home at about 8:30 a.m. today to retrieve some personal belongings amid a domestic dispute when a shot was heard inside.
"Our concern at this point is that he might have committed suicide, but for safety reasons they evacuated the homes and set up a perimeter," Sutton said.
Officials did not immediately have any identifying information about the man.
At about 10 a.m., about a dozen officers with ballistic vests and rifles were monitoring the house, and a sniper team was deployed. A robot was available to enter the home, but had not been used for that purpose yet.
A woman was seen being led from the home looking distraught.
"We've never had anything like this before," Ryan Almand, a 40-year-old neighbor, said. "This is a very quiet neighborhood; I never understood why someone would do something like this."
Officers had been called to the home previously, Sutton said. At about 3 p.m. on Sunday, police were called and told that the man had fled the house and was armed with a pistol. Police were unable to find the man even with a surveillance helicopter. That evening, a woman contacted police again to retrieve some items from the home.
When the woman went with an officer to the home again this morning to get more of her belongings, and an officer attempted to unlock the door, the shot was heard, Sutton said.
"They're still trying to make contact with him and have gotten no response; they'll try multiple ways to make contact," Sutton said. "After all of these fail, then they'll make entry."
EDITOR'S NOTE: Check back for details on this developing story.