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In his first sit-down interview since allegations surfaced that he cheated on wife Sandra Bullock, Jesse James tells ABC's Vicki Mabrey that he still loves the Oscar-wining actress and believed that he would get caught.
"When I was doing it, you know, one, I knew it was horrible, it made me feel horrible," James told ABC's "Nightline" in a new clip which surfaced on Monday, of the interview which is set to air on Tuesday. "And two, I knew I would get caught eventually, and I think I wanted to get caught… It was me trying to self-sabotage my life."
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Celebrity Cheaters (Allegedly)
U.S. & World
When Mabrey asked why he would hurt his wife, James said, "It's hard for me to talk about, a little bit, because I still really love her and care about her."
"I've spent my whole life with the kids and with her trying to … protect her from everything," James continued in the clip. "But, the most hurt she's ever been caused is by the person that wanted to protect her."
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Take A Peek At Sandra Bullock's New Orleans Home
On Monday's "Good Morning America," Mabrey said that James believes that Bullock would not take him back and would divorce him.
As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, in a previous clip of the interview released last week, James – who described himself as "most hated man in the world" – said, "I took a pretty amazing life and marriage and threw it away."
James' interview came in the wake of Bullock's People cover story last month, in which she revealed she'd adopted a son, Louis, and was filing for divorce from James.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Divorce! Break-Ups! Hollywood's Most Famous Former Couples
The former couple wed in 2005.
Copyright 2010 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Sandra Bullock: America's Leading Rom-Com Queen
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
PLAY IT NOW: Quinton Aaron: Sandra Bullock's Going To Be A Great Mother
PLAY IT NOW: George Lopez On Arizona's 'Unconstitutional' New Immigration Law & Sandra Bullock's Adopted Baby
More from Access: [ Jesse James Sandra Bullock ABC ]


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Sign petition HERE.
Why you ask? Isn't "Guantanamo" part of Washington's war on terror? Don't its prisons keep us safe?
[Insert here your favorite head-shaking, mouth-agape emoticon with befuddled expression.]
The "War on Terror" is terror. Terror today for innocent people targeted by Washington's blatant violation of due process. Read Jill Lepore's excellent New Yorker article (below), "The Dark Ages," to learn more.
So why should you sign the petition (click HERE) to close Guantanamo? For your kids. The abuses in the so-called war on terror are creating terror and terrorists for future generations. Built into the "war" by its brilliant, wealthy military industrialists is perpetual warfare. Pretty smart, huh?
As is, we will never experience peace.
Please sign. It's a start.
The New Yorker
March 18, 2013
The Dark Ages: Terrorism, counter-terrorism, and the law of torment.
BYLINE: Jill Lepore
SECTION: FACT; A Critic At Large; Pg. 28 Vol. 89 No. 5
On November 13, 2001, George W. Bush, acting as President and Commander-in-Chief, signed a military order concerning the "Detention, Treatment, and Trial of Certain Non-Citizens in the War Against Terrorism." Under its provisions, suspected terrorists who are not citizens of the United States were to be "detained at an appropriate location designated by the Secretary of Defense." If brought to trial, they were to be tried and sentenced by a military commission. No member of the commission need be a lawyer. The ordinary rules of military law would not apply. Nor would the laws of war. Nor, in any conventional sense, would the laws of the United States. In the language of the order, "It is not practicable to apply in military commissions under this order the principles of law and the rules of evidence generally recognized in the trial of criminal cases in the United States district courts."
"You've got to be kidding me," Attorney General John Ashcroft reportedly said when he read an early draft, in which members of the commissions, as well as attorneys for both the prosecution and the defense, were to be selected by the Secretary of Defense. As Jess Bravin, the Wall Street Journal's Supreme Court correspondent, reports in "The Terror Courts: Rough Justice at Guantánamo Bay," Ashcroft expected the prosecution of people involved in 9/11 to be handled criminally, by his department, as had been done, successfully, with earlier terrorism cases. Other senior advisers had not been consulted. Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell learned that Bush had signed the order only when they saw the news reported on television. In the final draft, the Department of Justice was left out altogether. Suspected terrorists could be imprisoned without charge, denied knowledge of the evidence against them, and, if tried, sentenced by courts following no previously established rules.
"Now, some people say, 'Well, gee, that's a dramatic departure from traditional jurisprudence in the United States,' " Vice-President Dick Cheney said the next day, "but there's precedent for it." Furthermore, "We think it guarantees that we'll have the kind of treatment of these individuals that we believe they deserve."
This all happened not very long ago, but it can seem like something from another age. Beginning in the fall of 2001, hundreds of men were taken into custody and interrogated, all around the world, but especially in Afghanistan, where the U.S. military dropped flyers offering, in exchange for information about men with ties to Al Qaeda and the Taliban, bounties of millions of dollars. "This is enough money to take care of your family, your village, your tribe for the rest of your life," one flyer read. Detainees later said that they were sold for between five thousand and twenty-five thousand dollars. (The average annual income in Afghanistan at the time was less than three hundred dollars.) The flyers fell, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said, "like snowflakes in December in Chicago."
Lakhdar Boumediene was arrested in Sarajevo. Boumediene, a thirty-five-year-old native Algerian, had once worked at an orphanage in Pakistan run by an organization whose leader had ties to at least one member of Al Qaeda. In 2001, Boumediene was living in Bosnia with his wife and two young daughters, and working as a director of humanitarian aid for the Red Crescent, a Red Cross affiliate. He was charged with plotting to bomb the U.S. and British Embassies. A Bosnian court, finding no evidence of this, dropped all charges and released him. Boumediene was then taken into American custody. Meanwhile, the Bush Administration prepared a document defining the procedures by which the military commissions would operate. In lieu of rights, the term of art was "Procedures accorded to the Accused."
There remained the question of where to imprison the men. Sending them to Leavenworth and reopening Alcatraz were both considered but were rejected, because holding suspected terrorists on American soil might allow them to appeal to American courts and U.S. law. Diego Garcia, an island in the Indian Ocean, was considered, too, but it is a British territory, and therefore subject to British law. As Jonathan M. Hansen explains in "Guantánamo: An American History," the U.S. naval base, which occupies forty-five square miles on the southeastern end of Cuba, is an imperial leftover, a Cold War discard, a remnant. As a matter of sovereignty, it isn't part of Cuba, and it isn't part of the United States. It's one of the known world's last no man's lands, an island out of time, a place without a state. Haitian refugees held there in the nineteen-nineties, pleading that their forced repatriation would be unlawful, brought their case to the Supreme Court, which ruled, 8-1, that, absent congressional action, people held at Guantánamo had no recourse to U.S. refugee laws. The case influenced John Yoo, the Bush Administration lawyer whose interpretation of American and international law lay behind the Administration's counterterrorism policy. Guantánamo, one Administration official said, was the "legal equivalent of outer space."
The selection of Guantánamo as the place to imprison men captured in the "global war on terror" was announced on December 27, 2001. The Administration's attention then shifted from the prisoners' detention to their treatment. On January 9, 2002, Yoo and a colleague submitted to the general counsel of the Department of Defense one of the first of what came to be called the "torture memos." In the January 9th memo, Yoo concluded that international treaties, such as the Geneva Conventions, "do not apply to the Taliban militia," because, although Afghanistan had been a party to the Geneva Conventions since 1956, it was a "failed state"; moreover, international treaties "do not protect members of the al Qaeda organization, which as a non-State actor cannot be a party to the international agreements governing war."
Two days later, the first twenty prisoners, shackled, hooded, and blindfolded, arrived at Guantánamo. Their names were not released. They were confined in Camp X-Ray, which you could see right through: its eight-by-eight-foot, concrete-floored cages were made of chain-link fence, and the floodlights were never turned off. More camps were soon built to house more prisoners, eventually seven hundred and seventy-nine, from forty-eight countries. They weren't called criminals, because criminals have to be charged with a crime. They weren't called prisoners, because prisoners of war have rights. They were "unlawful combatants," who were being "detained," in what the President called "a new kind of war," although, really, it was very old.
The military order, the location of the prison, and the memos all evaded a variety of legal instruments designed to protect prisoners from torture. But another obstacle remained: the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, a treaty that the United States had signed in 1988 and ratified in 1994. This objection was addressed in August, 2002, in a fifty-page memo to the White House counsel Alberto Gonzales-signed by the Justice Department's Jay S. Bybee but reportedly drafted by Yoo-which attempted to elaborate a distinction between acts that are "cruel, inhuman, or degrading" and acts that constitute torture. "Severe pain," a threshold for torture, was defined as pain like that associated with "death, organ failure, or permanent damage resulting in a loss of significant body function." ("If the detainee dies, you're doing it wrong," Jonathan Fredman, the chief counsel for the C.I.A.'s counterterrorism center, advised, according to meeting minutes later released by the Senate Armed Services Committee.)
Methods described in the torture memos include stripping, exposure to extremes of temperature and light, false threats to family members, and the use of dogs. Lakhdar Boumediene, who arrived in Guantánamo on January 20, 2002, said that, in one sixteen-day period, he was questioned night and day. ("I was kept awake for many days straight," he later wrote. "I was forced to remain in painful positions for hours at a time. These are things I do not want to write about; I want only to forget.") In the memos, these techniques have names like "Fear Up Harsh" and "We Know All," and are daubed with the greasy paint of the bureaucrat. "Sleep Adjustment" is "adjusting the sleeping times of the detainee (e.g., reversing sleep cycles from night to day). This technique is NOT sleep deprivation." Waterboarding: "the individual is bound securely to an inclined bench, which is approximately four feet by seven feet. The individual's feet are gently elevated. A cloth is placed over the forehead and eyes. Water is then applied to the cloth in a controlled manner. As this is done, the cloth is lowered until it covers both the nose and mouth." In this fashion, "water is continuously applied from a height of twelve to twenty-four inches," so that the individual experiences the sensation of drowning. After a break of three or four breaths, "the procedure may then be repeated."
Many of these forms of torment, including subjecting prisoners to stress positions, sleep disruption, semi-starvation, and extreme cold, came from a 1957 study, conducted by the Air Force, called "Communist Attempts to Elicit False Confessions from Air Force Prisoners of War." It was an investigation of interrogation methods used by Chinese Communists, who tortured American prisoners during the Korean War. Bush's top security advisers, including Rice and Powell, were consulted about what the White House called "enhanced interrogation techniques." Powell objected to defying the Geneva Conventions. Ashcroft urged discretion. "Why are we talking about this in the White House?" he is said to have asked at one meeting, warning, "History will not judge this kindly."
The spread of such torture around the world is the subject of "Habeas Corpus After 9/11: Confronting America's New Global Detention System," by Jonathan Hafetz, who teaches at Seton Hall, and of "The Guantánamo Effect," which is based on interviews with sixty-two former detainees, conducted by Laurel E. Fletcher, the director of the International Human Rights Law Clinic, at Berkeley, and Eric Stover, the director of Berkeley's Human Rights Center. In Afghanistan alone, procedures authorized in the torture memos were used by the C.I.A. at several sites, including a facility in Kabul known as the Dark Prison (where prisoners were not allowed to see the light) and Bagram Air Base, where, in 2002, two men were tortured to death: both died while chained to the ceiling of their cells. Eliza Griswold, writing in The New Republic, quoted a former interrogator who described Bagram as echoing with "medieval sounds." The medieval dungeon: the scrape of shackles, the screams of agony, the groans of despair.
For a time, Americans interrogating suspected terrorists were not answerable to any rules, except those made, ad hoc, by the Bush Administration. The White House's answer to terrorism, which is an abandonment of the law of war, was the abandonment of the rule of law.
"There's precedent for it," Cheney had said. In fact, the history of the trial is inseparable from the histories of evidence, torture, and punishment. An ancient form of adjudication known as trial by ordeal became commonplace after 500 A.D.; its heyday lasted from 800 to 1200 A.D. In trial by ordeal, a defendant submits to a gruelling physical test, the outcome of which is taken as a sign from God, an indication of guilt or innocence. In the end, man is judged by God alone. Trial by ordeal was practiced throughout Latin Christendom. It was a favorite device for trying traitors, slaves, and foreigners. In medieval English law, the ordeal was an appropriate trial for "the foreigner or friendless man." It took many forms. A dispute between conflicting testimonies might be resolved by the trial of the cross: two men were ordered to stand with arms raised; he who could hold them up the longest was found to be telling the truth. Trial by fire involved grasping an iron bar. A plea was offered to God: "If this man is innocent of the charge from which he seeks to clear himself, he will take this fiery iron in his hand and appear unharmed; if he is guilty, let your most just power declare that truth in him, so that wickedness may not conquer justice but falsehood always be overcome by the truth."
The Church's sanction for trial by ordeal was withdrawn in 1215, by order of the Fourth Lateran Council. The legal historian John H. Langbein has argued that the abolition of trial by ordeal led to a judicial crisis: placing the fate of men in the hands of other men, rather than in the hands of God, proved to be a difficult adjustment. In Continental Europe, trial by ordeal was replaced by judicial torture: torture authorized by the court for the purpose of gathering evidence that could achieve a state of certainty. The jurisprudence of torture, which derived from Roman-canon law, was essentially a law of proof: a defendant could be convicted of a serious crime only if his guilt was "full proof," which meant either that he had voluntarily confessed or that there were two eyewitnesses to his crime. In cases of "half proof" (for instance, one eyewitness, or two quarter-proof pieces of circumstantial evidence, added together), the defendant would be tortured. Because people who are tortured will confess to anything, many laws required that a confession extracted by torture include details that "no innocent person can know."
In England, trial by ordeal was replaced not by judicial torture but by trial by jury. Why this happened isn't quite clear; possibly, it had something to do with limits placed on English monarchs, especially those relating to what's now called due process. In 1215, the year the Church effectively abolished trial by ordeal, King John signed the Magna Carta, pledging certain liberties to the people, including that "No Freeman shall be taken or imprisoned . . . but by lawful judgment of his Peers, or by the Law of the land." Also codified in thirteenth-century England was the writ of habeas corpus, an order requiring a jailer to bring a prisoner before a court and explain the cause of his imprisonment. (At first, the writ was chiefly used by the king, to establish his jurisdiction, rather than by prisoners.) The first criminal jury trial took place in Westminster, in 1220. It included elements of ordeal. Swearing an oath was a means of bringing God's judgment into the proceedings. And there remained the threat of pain. The accused had to consent to trial by jury. The other choice, according to a thirteenth-century treatise, was prisone forte et dure: "let their penance be this, that they be barefooted, ungirt and bareheaded, in the worst place in the prison, upon the bare ground continually night and day, that they eat only bread made of barley or bran, and that they drink not the day they eat; nor eat the day they drink, nor drink anything but water, and that they be put in irons." Most people chose trial by jury.
The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries witnessed a revolution in punishment: blood sanctions (maiming and execution) began to be replaced by forms of bondage (galley slavery and indentured servitude) and of confinement (short- and long-term imprisonment). The availability of punishments short of corporal and capital punishment gave courts far more discretion in handling evidence. Defendants for whom evidence was something less than full-proof could be given lighter sentences: shorter terms of bondage or imprisonment. Judicial torture was abandoned. Meanwhile, in England, habeas corpus became a remedy for prisoners seeking relief for arbitrary imprisonment, even in times of war. Five noblemen imprisoned by Charles I for refusing to lend the king money to pay for the Thirty Years' War sought writs of habeas corpus; they argued that, without charges, "imprisonment shall not continue for a time, but for ever." The Five Knights case led to the 1628 Petition of Right, which turned habeas corpus from a privilege to a right and then, in 1641, Parliament passed the Habeas Corpus Act, whose power was expanded in 1679 in a piece of legislation that William Blackstone called a "second Magna Carta."
The law of nations is the rule of law over war. Its most influential theorist, the Dutch jurist Hugo Grotius, wrote "On the Law of War and Peace" (1625), during a time of political and legal ferment that saw the end of judicial torture, the yielding of blood sanctions to bondage and imprisonment, and a revolution in the law of evidence. Holy war was said to have ended with the Middle Ages. In time, the rule of law, revulsion at torture, the abolition of blood sanctions, and the law of evidence became the means by which the nations of the West came to distinguish themselves from the rest of the world (including, not least, non-states like the Taliban insurgency and terrorist organizations like Al Qaeda). Nobody, not even a king, could imprison someone without cause. Torture wasn't a form of jurisprudence; torture was a species of obscenity. War could not be justified by mere appeal to God, and waged by any means, but must be justified by law, and waged with restraint. War, like crime and punishment, was to be ruled not by God, not by men, but by law.
Or so the story goes. In seventeenth-century New England, English colonists ruled that "lawful Captives taken in just Wars" could be sold into slavery. In practice, this meant that, so long as you called a war you waged just, you could enslave your enemies at the end of it. At the close of King Philip's War (1675-1676), in which Algonquian Indians had tried to oust the English from New England, governors sent signed certificates on ships that conveyed prisoners of war to islands in the Caribbean, to be sold as slaves, explaining that they had "perpetrated many notorious barbarous and execrable murthers, villanies and outrages . . . without giving any account of their controversys and refusing (according to the manner of civill nations) an open decision of the same." They had been declared, in effect, unlawful combatants. In 1741, when New Yorkers suspected that the city's slaves were plotting to burn the city down, and murder all the free men (at the time, one in five New Yorkers was enslaved), more than a hundred men in the city were arrested and thrown into a dungeon in the basement of City Hall, where they were interrogated, for months. Under duress, most confessed; those who didn't were brought to trial. Nearly all the evidence against the accused came from statements extracted from other slaves, which were admissible in court only because a long-standing ban against "Negro Evidence" had been lifted, to cover just such cases of slave conspiracy. Seventeen men were found guilty, and hanged; thirteen were burned at the stake. Most of the rest were shipped to the Caribbean, to islands known, at the time, as graveyards.
The laws of war can be debased and made, even, into weapons of war. The rule of law can be made a travesty. Still, sometimes laws are all that stands in the way of imprisonment, torture, trials, and executions conducted at the king's pleasure.
In 2001, when the Bush Administration talked about precedent for the military commissions, it meant the Second World War. Yoo, in his memos, cited a case involving a military order signed by F.D.R. in 1942, providing for the establishment of a military commission to try eight Nazi saboteurs who had entered the United States; the order's constitutionality was upheld in a Supreme Court case known as Ex Parte Quirin. Felix Frankfurter called Quirin "not a happy precedent." The reason for the 1942 military tribunal appears to have been that the F.B.I. bungled the prosecution of the sabotage: a military commission was meant to provide the agency with cover. In any case, a number of features distinguish Roosevelt's military order from Bush's. F.D.R.'s was backed by legislative authority, during a declared war, and the prisoners were held and the trial conducted in the United States. None of these conditions applied to the Bush order. And, as Neal Kaytal and Laurence Tribe argued in the Yale Law Journal in 2002, the Bush order "makes the jurisdictional question (whether someone is subject to a military trial at all) the very same one as the question on the merits (whether the person is guilty of a war crime)." The Nazi saboteurs were tried immediately, in a single trial. But, as Bravin writes in "The Terror Courts," "the Bush administration envisioned creating for the first time a permanent legal structure under the president's sole command."
Among the strongest protests lodged against the commissions and the use of torture were those from members of the military. Bravin profiles Stuart Couch, a lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps, who in late 2003 joined the prosecution staff. While preparing cases, Couch grew concerned that most of the evidence in the files he saw was paraphrased from detainees' statements. Many of the prisoners at Guantánamo seemed to be ordinary men caught in a dragnet that trained fighters-Al Qaeda's leaders-had been able to escape. "The joke we used to have at commissions is, we'd call them the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker," one prosecutor, Air Force Major Rob Preston, said. Couch and others worried that men who were guilty and dangerous either had got away or couldn't be convicted, because the evidence against them was limited to confessions and accusations extracted during brutal interrogations. Then there was the matter of the commissions. Military prosecutors began formally stating their objections. "I sincerely believe that this process is wrongly managed, wrongly focused and a blight on the reputation of the armed forces," Preston wrote in an e-mail, in 2004, the year the first military commission met. Couch refused to participate in the prosecution of cases in which, he believed, the evidence had been obtained through torture. "As an ethical matter, I opine that the interrogation techniques utilized with this detainee are discoverable by defense counsel, as they relate to the credibility of any statements given by him," Couch wrote to his superior. "As discoverable material, I have an ethical duty to disclose such material to the defense."
Meanwhile, reporters, lawyers, and human-rights activists had been investigating the conditions under which the prisoners were being held. "The Guantánamo Lawyers: Inside a Prison, Outside the Law," edited by Mark P. Denbeaux and Jonathan Hafetz, is an anthology of reminiscences by more than a hundred lawyers who defended the detainees. "I would have confessed to anything to get my leg back," a prisoner named Abdul Aziz Naji told his attorney, Ellen Lubell, "but I didn't know what they wanted me to say." Naji lost his leg to a land mine, and his prosthetic was broken by U.S. soldiers at Bagram. At Guantánamo, he was given a replacement that didn't fit; he pulled his stump out of it, to show Lubell, leaving the prosthetic, outfitted with a white sneaker, still shackled to the floor. "I knew I had come to the heart of a new kind of irony," Lubell writes.
Stories began to emerge about the abuse of prisoners. Photographs from Abu Ghraib were broadcast on "60 Minutes II" on April 28, 2004, eight days after oral arguments were heard in the Supreme Court in Rasul v. Bush, a case concerning the jurisdiction of the federal courts over the habeas claims of fourteen Guantánamo prisoners. Opposition grew, especially after the Bush Administration memos were published in "The Torture Papers," edited by Karen J. Greenberg and Joshua L. Dratel, and the chilling story behind them was reported by Jane Mayer in her book "The Dark Side." Doubts were raised about whether many of the men sent to Guantánamo should have been arrested at all. In 2006, a team from Seton Hall School of Law released a study of the five hundred and seventeen prisoners then remaining at Guantánamo; according to Department of Defense data, only five per cent of these men had been captured by U.S. troops; at least forty-seven per cent had been arrested by Pakistani or Northern Alliance forces during the months when the U.S. government was offering bounties.
"The military commissions were a crude parody of a justice system," Muneer Ahmad, a defense attorney, wrote. "The rules changed constantly." In June, 2006, in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, the Supreme Court ruled that, without congressional authorization, the President lacked the power to establish the military commissions, which violated both the Geneva Conventions and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Three months later, Congress reauthorized the commissions under the Military Commissions Act of 2006. A habeas petition filed on behalf of Lakhdar Boumediene was rejected by a lower court, a district court, and an appeals court. In 2006, Boumediene began a hunger strike. (By now, prisoners had begun trying to kill themselves. In 2006, three deaths were declared suicides.) Like other hunger strikers, Boumediene was force-fed through the nose, twice daily. His appeal, Boumediene v. Bush, was decided by the Supreme Court in 2008. A 5-4 majority struck down part of the 2006 Military Commissions Act, and ruled that all prisoners confined at Guantánamo had a right to habeas recourse through the U.S. courts.
In 2009, two days after Barack Obama's Inauguration, the President released a directive ordering the closing of Guantánamo and issued executive orders banning torture and mandating adherence to the Geneva Conventions. On May 15th, Lakhdar Boumediene, who had been imprisoned for seven and a half years, was released, and flown to Paris, where he went out for pizza with his wife and two daughters, and cried.
On January 28, 2013, a week after Obama began his second term, the State Department shut down the office of Daniel Fried, whose job had been to close Guantánamo. A hundred and sixty-six men remain imprisoned at Guantánamo, and, until their release into the hands of Afghan authorities during the past year-the last slated for transfer just this month-many more were held, some for years, at Bagram. Meanwhile, the New York Times has reported that the Obama Administration holds "Terror Tuesdays," meetings in which the President and his national-security advisers discuss which suspected terrorists, remaining at large, should be assassinated by drones. In about a third of these cases, the President alone takes responsibility for naming the targets, which have included American citizens.
In February, NBC News released a confidential, undated Justice Department memo, titled "Lawfulness of a Lethal Operation Directed Against a U.S. Citizen Who Is a Senior Operational Leader of Al Qa'ida or an Associated Force." It explains, in sixteen pages, how it is that the President of the United States has the power to order not imprisonment without charge but the killing of men without anyone bringing evidence before any judicial body, not even an unconstitutional military commission.
There were no unmanned aerial vehicles in the Middle Ages; a drone was a honeybee. But there were assassins. "Assassin" is, in fact, a medievalism; the word gained currency during the Crusades; it derives from "hashish." It meant a Muslim sent on a mission to kill.
The past is often figured as dark, a prison, a tomb; the future, bright, blue sky, a spaceship. This is an inheritance of the Enlightenment, with its faith in progress and reason and law. Part of the terror of September 11th was the gleaming skyscraper become a tomb, the seeming backward march of time, the horror of the unreasonable. What, then, of the assassin become an unmanned flying machine?

subset: commoncrawl


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Rwanda holidays
If you want to see mountain gorillas, some of the closest relatives to humans, then choose a Rwanda holiday. There are not many more amazing wildlife experiences than sitting within a group of gorillas.
Rwanda's Gorilla trekking in the Volcanoes National Park usually starts in the early morning. You head off in small parties to one of the known mountain gorilla groups, where the animals are used to the presence of humans. Typically most will just continue their natural interactions, whilst some might watch you with curiosity.
After a few days of Gorilla trekking, most Rwanda holidays will pass Lake Kivu, with its breath taking scenery, and head to the southwest, to Nyungwe Forest – which is home to chimpanzees and a wide range of other primates.
Have a look through our trip ideas and information about Rwanda and give us a call to discuss your Rwanda holiday.


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Aura Sync RGB LED technology, angular heat sink, and patterned matte -black PCB design Double-Decker PCH+M.2 heatsinks for stable performance and optimal heat dissipation 1 x USB 3.1 front panel connector 2 x USB 3.0 ports (1 x Type-A + 1 x Type-C) 4 x USB 2.0 ports Intel® I219-V LANGuard GameFirst 2X2 Dual Band Wi-Fi Bluetooth v4.1 SupremeFX · Impedance sense · High quality output and input · SupremeFX shielding · Dual headphone amplifiers 1xPCIe 3.0x16 Safeslot Aura Sync Intel® Socket 1151 1 x Aura RGB header DDR4 4266MHz (O.C.) 2 x DIMM, dual-channel Support XMP M.2 Socket 3 Type M (2242-2280) SATA & PCIE 3.0 x 4 modes M.2 Socket 3 Type M (2242-2280) PCIe 3.0 x 4 mode Gaming innovation Double-decker heatsink ROG Strix Z270I Gaming has an innovative double-decker heatsink design that allows the M.2 SSD to be stacked atop of the PCH heat sink, which is then topped off with an additional metal heatsink for the M.2 drive. The two heatsinks are thermally isolated to prevent the PCH and M.2 from affecting each other. The double decker design not only cleverly maximizes the board space on miniITX board, but also dramatically improves heat dissipation, cooling the M.2 SSD by up to 20°C for better stability and enhanced gaming performance while featuring a stylish angular design to enhance the look of ROG Strix Z270I Gaming builds. A. M.2 heatsink B. PCIe M.2 SSD C. PCH heatsink D. PCH chip Outshine the competition ASUS Aura Sync RGB LED technology makes ROG Strix Z270I Gaming the control hub for your illumination ambitions — so it's easy to synchronize incredible lighting effects between compatible components, including RGB LED strips, graphics cards, keyboards and even mice! Change all LEDs in unison or employ dynamic modes to flow the illumination effects smoothly across all synchronized devices. *Visit the ASUS Aura microsite to learn more about Aura Sync. Lighting Aura lighting control Create your own custom LED lighting effects with the intuitive Aura software. Cast a stunning multi-color glow across your build with the powerful RGB LEDs built in to ROG Strix Z270I Gaming, or attach separate RGB strips using the two onboard 4-pin header. You can even use both at the same time and enjoy perfect lighting synchronization. Fire up Aura and enjoy the creative freedom of nine different lighting themes. *The Aura RGB-strip header supports standard 5050 RGB LED strips with a maximum power rating of 2A (12V). For maximum brightness, strip length should not exceed 2m. * One extension cable is included. RGB LED strips are sold separately. Lighting Aura lighting control Create your own custom LED lighting effects with the intuitive Aura software. Cast a stunning multi-color glow across your build with the powerful RGB LEDs built in to ROG Strix Z270I Gaming, or attach separate RGB strips using the two onboard 4-pin header. You can even use both at the same time and enjoy perfect lighting synchronization. Fire up Aura and enjoy the creative freedom of nine different lighting themes. Static Always on Breathing Fades in and out Strobing Flashes on and off Color cycle Fades between the colors of the rain-bow Music effect Pulses to the beat of your music CPU Temperature Changes color with CPU load Rainbow A rolling multi-color glow Comet A stream of light with a tail Flash & dash Single/multi-color stepped flashes Wave An undulating display in single or multi-color Glowing Yo Yo A rebounding elastic beam Starry Night A display that mimics the nighttime sky AUDIO SupremeFX Shielded audio, superior sound ROG Strix's SupremeFX audio technology has levelled up, delivering an exceptional 113dB signal-to-noise ratio on the line-in connection for best-ever recording quality — and 120dB on line-out for crystal-clear sound! We've also added a low-dropout regulator for cleaner power delivery to the SupremeFX S1220A codec, plus Texas Instruments® RC4580 and OPA1688 op-amps for high gain with low distortion. It all adds up to audio that envelops you as never before! A. Audio cover Effective shielding preserves the integrity of audio signals for the best quality. B. Dual Op Amplifiers With two op-amps onboard you're able to pump exceptional audio to your favorite cans, with 32-600Ω-headphone impedance for great flexibility. C. Premium Nichicon™ audio capacitors Fine-quality Japanese-made components that produce a warmer, natural sound with exceptional clarity and fidelity. D. Audio line shielding Blocks electromagnetic interference from the motherboard or add-ons to provide cleaner audio. Sonic Studio III ROG Strix's Sonic Studio III audio-effects station has an intelligent routing feature made for streaming. The new routing feature ports streams to different outputs giving you full control over who hears what. With Sonic Studio III, you now can share your exciting in-game moments without worrying about frivolous DCMA takedown requests. In addition to that, Sonic Studio III also comes with app-level preferences for instant audio profiles, and improved noise filtering for conversations with total clarity! Easily assign different audio streams to different outputs, such as browser audio to headphones and game audio to speakers. musicplayers games voipapp videoplayers musicplayers games voipapp videoplayers Easily assign different audio streams to different outputs, such as browser audio to headphones and game audio to speakers. App-specific profiles Apply customized audio settings to different applications, so everything you do is perfectly tuned to the way you want to listen. Noise filter Automatically detects and eliminates unwanted background noises, ensuring that your communications are loud and clear. Scan and detect to dominate Sonic Radar III We've given Sonic Radar III an overhaul, evolving the audio engine to process sounds more accurately than ever, ensuring you're always aware of what's going on around you — and we've even added an onscreen arrow to help you pinpoint the enemy's position instantly! See the origin of key in-game sounds and hone your enemy-pinpointing skills. Plus the new audio boost feature provides filters that let you hear even the faintest sounds, so you can become the hunter, not the hunted! Improved Audio Algorithm The new Sonic Radar III audio algorithm is now even more accurate to allow enemies to be pinpointed with even more accuracy. 3D Engine Sonic Radar III is built around it's all new HUD with an in-game 3 dimensional arrow for a more intuitive experience. Audio Boost The new audio boost feature now allows the boosted audio to be heard directly. Audio Radar Sonic Radar III is effective regardless of surrounding noise and chaos. performance ASUS PRO CLOCK TECHNOLOGY Improved overclocking for faster gaming performance A dedicated base-clock generator designed for 7th Generation Intel® processors allows overclocked base base-clock frequencies up to or beyond 425MHz*. This custom solution works in tandem with the ASUS TurboV processing unit to enhance voltage and base-clock overclocking control, — providing an exciting new way to boost performance to extreme heights. BCLK Range (MHz) CPU Frequency Testing configuration:Intel® LGA 1151 i7-7700K | PRIME Z270-A | Corsair DDR4 3200 4G*4 | Corsair H110i | Windows 10 *BCLK overclocking range will vary according to CPU capabilities, cooling, motherboard support and tuning options. Ranges up to 650MHz are possible under some conditions. Advantages of ASUS Pro Clock: Reduced boot time Lower jitter under extreme conditions for higher overclocks Increased stability under heavy overclocking Third-generationASUS T-Topology DDR4 OVERCLOCKING STRENGTH IN NUMBERS With support for DDR4 memory, ROG Strix Z270I Gaming lets you drive memory frequencies to 4266+MHz and beyond when overclocked! ASUS-exclusive T-Topology circuit design plus OC Socket provides superb memory-overclocking capability to unleash the full power of DDR4 by minimizing coupling noise and signal reflection. With innovative equidistant memory channels, T-Topology delivers balanced control and powerful overclocking compatibility. 5-Way Optimization GET PERFORMANCE, EFFICIENCY, DIGITAL POWER, FAN CONTROL AND EVEN NETWORKINGAND AUDIO TUNING TAILORED FOR YOU — AND THE WAY YOU PLAY! You don't need to be an expert to max out gaming performance on your ROG Strix Z270I Gaming build — because 5-Way Optimization sorts all the complex settings with a click, for instant, highly-controllable performance boosts! Our exclusive technology dynamically optimizes essential aspects of your system based on real-time use, so you get superb CPU performance, everyday energy savings, ultra-stable digital power, cool and quiet fans and even networking and audio settings that are tailored for the apps that you are using. In short, 5-Way Optimization ensures that your PC is perfect for gaming, entertainment, productivity or just about anything else! Games run swiftly and smoothly with high performance, prioritized bandwidth, and vivid sound. Fans stay whisper-quiet for everyday computing and ensure extreme cooling efficiency when gaming. Stutter is eliminated, ensuring smooth-running apps -- even under heavy loading. Energy efficiency is improved, so you'll save money. CPU performnceboost All-roundenergy efficiency Advancedfan controls Precise DigitalPower Control Game fasterrank higher Instant CPU performance boost Crank up your PC instantly with the ASUS AI Suite 3 utility! The TurboV Processing Unit offers precise voltage control and advanced monitoring for the CPU and the graphics card, enabling great freedom to adjust CPU frequencies and ratios for optimized performance and for exploiting the potential out of your graphics card* All-round energy efficiency With the Energy Processing Unit (EPU) you'll enjoy real-time, system-wide power savings — for gaming kicks that won't cost the earth! EPU automatically detects and adjusts power consumption according to your rig's needs, so you save money without compromising on thrills. EPU will also reduce CPU wattage to a set level and deliver even more savings with Away mode, creating an extreme energy-saving scenario that shuts down unused extra I/O controllers and reduces the power level of the graphics card. That means full power for your gameplay — and then total energy efficiency when you step away! Cooler by design Play quieter and cooler with advanced fan and water-pump controls for the ultimate in undisturbed gaming. With onboard thermal sensors and hardware-level 4-pin/3-pin PWM/DC mode detection, Fan Xpert 4 makes sure every fan achieves the best balance of high cooling performance and low noise -- so you enjoy all the performance you demand with none of the racket! next page Fan Xpert 4 With high-end graphics cards being a significant source of heat in any build, the GPU has a bigger impact on case temperatures than any other component. With Fan Xpert 4 you're now able to set the GPU temperature as a fan-tuning source, enabling a dynamic cooling response to system power output! prev page Precise digital power control To go faster than fast you need ultra-accurate power control — so Maximus IX Z270 series motherboards are kitted out with ASUS Digi+ Power Control for maxed-out overclocking potential, enhanced system stability and superb power efficiency. Digi+ Power Control is the industry's leading digital power controller and it's fully compliant with Intel's IMVP8 specifications, for smoother, safer power. Game faster, rank higher ASUS Turbo App is the intuitive tuning panel to boost everything to secure your victory in your favorite titles! Overclock your CPU, prioritize game data across your network and optimize the audio settings for fantastically clear audio and in-game-chat. History is written by the victors, so don't go to war without Turbo App. RAMCACHE II SPEED YOUR GAME LOADS Uniquely intelligent technology that effectively caches an entire storage device so that favorite games and apps launch at breakneck speeds, getting to work the moment it's activated. RAMCache II turns milliseconds into microseconds to boost game-load times -- and of course it's compatible with the latest NVM Express storage options! Automatically caches all your storage devices at the same time for optimal use of your system's caching resources. AWARD-WINNING BIOS DESIGN The smoothest, slickest mouse-controlled graphical BIOS has been improved to make it even more appealing. Whether you're a PC novice or a seasoned overclocker, the EZ and Advanced Modes help you find your way. In EZ Mode you can get set up very quickly, applying the date and time, fan profiles and Intel Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) memory profiles. Switch to Advanced Mode to set up favorites and shortcuts, record and review recent changes with Last Modified or make notes in Quick Notes. CrashFree BIOS 3 Never again worry about corrupted BIOS, as CrashFree BIOS 3 lets you restore a PC to working order — even when it won't boot! EZ Flash 3 Update the latest BIOS via the internet or from within the system BIOS. networking Intel Gigabit Ethernet More throughput and less CPU usage for great gaming experiences ROG Strix Z270I Gaming features the very latest Intel Ethernet (I219-V) for faster, smoother gaming. Intel's LAN has the serious double advantage of reducing CPU overhead while offering exceptionally high TCP and UDP throughput. This significantly reduces the processor's workload, so there's more power for gaming. LOWER CPU WORKLOAD HIGH TCP & UDP THROUGHPUT LANGuard Pumped-up throughput. Best surge protection LANGuard means safer, more reliable connections for your battles! Advanced signal-coupling technology and premium surface-mounting processes join forces to protect your Strix Z270I Gaming's connection and deliver pumped-up throughput, plus electrostatically guarded and surge-protected components (ESD Guards) for 1.9x-greater tolerance to static electricity and 2.5x-greater protection (up to 15KV) against surges! 1.9X HIGHER STACTIC-ELECTRICITY TOLERANCE 2.5X-GREATER SURGE TOLERANCE ESD guards Surge-protected components GAMEFIRST IV TEAM UP TO BANISH LAG GameFirst IV optimizes network traffic for faster, lag-free online gaming — and now we've added Multi-Gate Teaming to team all your networks for maximum bandwidth and the smoothest-ever gameplay. You'll also enjoy all-new Intelligent mode, which automatically compiles a database by parsing new app data to ensure that every game is optimized for the best performance.watch video 2x2 Wi-Fi with MU-MIMO Onboard Wi-Fi with transfer speeds up to 867 Mbps ROG Strix Z270I Gaming has next-level 802.11ac Wi-Fi with 2x2 dual-band 2.4/5GHz antennas for up to 867Mbps* transfer speeds — and the very latest Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO) technology to ensure that every connected user** experiences the best wireless and online speeds! * Actual speed varies, and Wi-Fi hotspot feature operates at 802.11a/b/g/n. Windows 10 does not currently support Wi-Fi hotspot functionality. ** Requires MU-MIMO-ready client. connectivity USB 3.1 front-panel connector Super-speed CONNECTIVITY — RIGHT WHERE YOU NEED IT USB-C is the latest USB connector technology — and ROG Strix Z270I Gaming lets you put it right where you need it! With a ASM 2142 USB 3.1 controller running at PCIe 3.0 x2 and featuring an onboard USB 3.1 front-panel connector, you can now achieve the highest data transferring speeds possible - easily. Dual PCIe Gen3 M.2 Let your SSD scream at speeds of up to 32Gbps Dual PCIe Gen3 x4 M.2 slots (type 2280) provide NVMe SSD RAID support for an incredible performance boost. Create a RAID configuration with up to two PCIe Gen3 storage devices via two M.2 slots and a to enjoy the fastest data-transfer speeds on the 7th Generation Intel Core platform. gamer'sguardian SafeSlot ASUS SafeSlot is the PCIe slot reinvented. Featuring a new single-step, insert-molding manufacturing process that integrates fortifying metal and additional solder points, SafeSlot provides stronger PCIe device retention and greater shearing resistance. Q-LEDs Onboard LEDs to Indicate the power status, and problems with the CPU, memory, graphics card or boot device for quick diagnosis. CPU Installation tool Three-step simplicity and safety—just pop your CPU in the special tool; insert the tool directly into the CPU socket; close the latch; then you're good to go! more Digi+ VRM Digi+ VRM voltage-regulator module (VRM) is one of the finest in the industry, ensuring ultra-smooth and ultra-clean power delivery to the CPU at all times! DRAM Over-current Protection All connection ports and DRAM are protected against overcurrent and short-circuit damage by onboard resettable fuses, extending your motherboard's life. Q-shield 0 pain! Stainless steel back I/O Crafted from chromium-plated, corrosion-resistant stainless steel, the input/output (I/O) panel is three times longer than ordinary panels! Q-DIMM 1 slided ROG StrixGives you more Overwolf Stay in the game Overwolf is a clever, unobtrusive overlay that lets you browse the internet, email, IM, and stream or record gameplay – all while you're in the game. Color-matched ROG skins that display your status as a member of an elite pack are also available for download from the Overwolf App Store. watch video In-game dock- 5 customizable apps In-game calling- 0 missed calls during gaming Multi-IM support- 5+ clients in a single interface 5 customizable apps 0 missed calls during gaming 5+ clients in a single interface ROG Clone Drive Image your drives, the smart way All-new ROG Clone Drive is the smart, convenient cloning solution that quickly and efficiently replicates hard drives or SSDs. Clone Drive is so smart that it can clone one drive to two target drives at the same time, or image any file from your disk at breakneck speeds. 3D-printable accessories As system parts are visible in custom PC builds, make yours stand out from the competition with 3D-printed accessories. 2-Way SLI HB bridge cover Clip the cover onto the PCB SLI HB bridge to add style to your build. Multiple form factors — eATX, ATX and mATX — are available. Fan grill Add a little extra style to your build. Cable Combs Keep cables organized with the multi-connector design. 3D design files are available for 24-pin, 8-pin, 8 + 6-pin, 6-pin and 4-pin PSU connectors. ROG FONTS Use ROG font files to print letters -- then fully customize your build by adding your name or any other word or phrase! ROG KEYCHAIN Print a 3D keychain and show your ROG passion to the world! Guide to Start Printing download Select the 3D source files you want to download. Personalize Adjust size or shape, add text or change other attributes. Watch tutorial Print Use your own printer, or visit a local vendor or ASUS store with Shapeways. Setup Easily assemble and fit your 3D-printed parts using M.2 nuts or existing case mounts. Watch tutorial Beyond VR ready ROG Strix Z270I Gaming isn't just VR Ready — it goes way beyond! The ASUS ROG Beyond VR Ready marque means that ROG Strix Z270I Gaming has been tested with loads of class-leading components to ensure that your productivity, gaming and entertainment needs are tuned for maximum performance after you've taken off the headset. ASUS Beyond VR Ready opens up a new way to configure and build your dream system with total confidence. The power of Intel Intel® Z270 chipset The Intel® Z270 is a single-chipset design that supports 7th Generation and 6th Generation Intel LGA1151 Core™ i7/Core i5/Core i3/Pentium®/Celeron® processors. It provides improved performance by utilizing serial point-to-point links, allowing increased bandwidth and stability. Additionally, the Z270 provides a maximum of 10 USB 3.0 ports, six SATA 6Gbps ports, and 32Gbps M.2 and PCIe 3.0 lane speed support, for faster data retrieval. Intel Z270 also supports integrated graphics, so you'll enjoy the very latest in graphics performance. Ready for 7th Generation and 6th Generation Intel LGA1151 Core i7/Core i5/Core i3/Pentium/Celeron processors The ROG Strix Z270I Gaming motherboard supports 7th Generation and 6th Generation Intel Core™ i7/Core i5/Core i3/Pentium®/Celeron® processors in the LGA1151 package. Integrated graphics, memory and PCI Express controllers support onboard graphics output with dedicated chipsets, two-channel (4-DIMM) DDR4 memory and 16 PCI Express 3.0/2.0 lanes for great performance.


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Jefferson Jimplecute (Jefferson, Tex.), Vol. 22, No. 30, Ed. 1, Wednesday, January 15, 1890
Description: Weekly newspaper from Jefferson, Texas that includes local, state and national news along with extensive advertising.
Date: January 15, 1890
Creator: Taylor, Ward, Sr.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Newspaper
Partner: UNT Libraries


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The Official WWE/AEW Thread, Brother!
Discussion in 'Entertainment' started by tyranitar305, Oct 22, 2009.
Page 508 of 513
Page 508 of 513


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I feel like I'm passing notes in class & I'm going to get caught any minute by a very prim, very stern, & kinda scary teacher who can't wait to throw me into detention.
Or maybe, like, a fiery pit of hell. Or whatever.
This is my first blog post and the first time I'm ever publicly outing myself as a...well, you know. (I'm working up to that word).
Oh, something you should know about me--I'm a bit gutless and VERY FREAKING NERVOUS about talking about losing my religion. I've been mentally pacing in front of this site all day before finally deciding to join.
I'm sure at least some of you can relate to constantly swallowing back the bile of years of religious dogma and programming. Still trying to push through all the garbage that fills my head and the chorus of every Sunday school teacher I've ever had ringing in my ears, singing, "You're being led astray!"
I'm still getting used to a site called "Think Atheist" NOT being the enemy. Because that's what you were.
And I guess now that's what I am.
I have a lot to share & I'm hoping to have many meaningful, insightful conversations with people who have been where I've been, or who're going through something similar now.
This is my first post. I'm not sure how to end it because then I'll have to publish it. Then it's like...out there. But I guess I should just push that button. I'm gonna do it. Okay.
Views: 372
The first time I checked out an atheist book, God is Not Great by the late and great Hitchens, from the library I went to the self check-out, held it cover side down walking out the door so no one would see it, and casually hid it in my car during the ride home. And this was about 3 months after I decided I was an atheist.
Don't worry. Once it finally settles in that you aren't going to be struck by lightning, you start feeling a lot better about your decision!
Many of us are deconverts, which means that there are a lot of us who have lost our religion for one reason or another. That's just kind of how it works in the US at this point. I hope you eventually feel comfortable enough to share your story. Whatever it is that you've been through, I can tell you that you aren't the first and unfortunately won't be the last. You've had the courage enough to take the first step, and it's the first that's the hardest.That's not to say it's down hill from here, just that if you can make it this far, you can keep going.
In the mean time, I hope you find some of our discussions worthwhile and thanks for joining us here!
Thanks, Asciana, but I can hardly take credit for the word.
Hi Kamela, welcome to TA :)
Welcome to TA Kamela. You could consider the deconversion process as being one of self-discovery which you are doing as a "freethinker", a word you might prefer.
You might like this video….click me
Welcome, Kamela!
There are many here who have gone through what you are going through. I am (sadly?) not one of them, I have always been atheist, but from what I know, all the confusion and anxiety is perfectly natural.
If you read through the forum I believe there is a thread about people's journey to unbelief. Hopefully some of those will shed light on anything you might be struggling with.
Feel free to friend any of us if you have any questions along your new path and don't feel comfortable posting publicly on the forum.
Hopefully in time you won't be "a bit gutless and VERY FREAKING NERVOUS" and will participate in discussions and share more of your story.
Once more, welcome to Think... well, you know... that word.
Welcome to TA. If you're not used to people with strong opinions who are skilled in argumentation fighting it out, you may find TA a bit intimidating, but no harm is ever intended.
I used to passionately debate from a theist point of view...but belatedly realized it was total BS. So I welcome people with strong opinions from "the other side." I want to learn.
I just bought my first atheist tee shirt-- and I thought that was a big deal! Nothing compared to what you're going through, though, from what I understand.
I never worried about becoming an atheist myself, because I live amongst many a heathen. My dad is atheist, many of the friends I grew up with are atheists. In fact, when my sister became an all-out Christian, there was much more horror in our ranks than anyone declaring their non-belief. However, it is always frightening to realize that you don't believe the same thing as the majority, especially when you are well aware that this majority could make your life rather miserable for your differences.
You are among friends. No matter what our individual atheism journeys have been, we all ended up in the same place. You're going to be fine.
Welcome to the pits of hell.


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(Pocket-lint) - Motorola has announced a new version of the Droid Razr Maxx on Wednesday in New York City and Pocket-lint was on hand to grab a play. Should you "max out"?
While the Razr HD is for those who want a good screen and a slim design, the Droid Razr Maxx HD is all about getting you enough power, not just to last the day, but to last the weekend.
The number claimed by Motorola is 32 hours - with mixed usage - and that if true is a very nice claim indeed. The main reason for the mammoth battery stamina is that the Maxx HD features a massive 3300mAh battery and, compared to other smartphones on the market, that should fend off any doubts about longevity.
Thankfully all that battery doesn't mean the device is like a brick in your pocket. It measures 67.9 x 131.9 x 9.3mm and in the hand it doesn't feel that thick. We would be lying if we said you won't notice the difference, but it is better than opting for an external battery pack and means you'll still be able to make a call halfway through that dangerous weekend when you've forgotten to charge your phone.
But it's not just about the battery, that would be boring. Like the Razr HD, the new Razr Maxx HD comes with a 4.7-inch 720p Super AMOLED incredibly crisp and sharp display that fits in the same shell size as the previous Razr Maxx even though that screen was smaller and didn't have as good a resolution. Impressive.
To give it protection the back is made up of very smooth to touch Kevlar that not only gives it protection, but will make you want to keep stroking it. We certainly did.
Underneath that shell is a dual-core Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 processor coupled with 1GB of RAM.
While the phone's specs suggest that its a powerful beast and there is even a developer mode that lets you mess around with it even further, there is still plenty for the consumer just looking for something that allows you to access those fast Verizon 4G speeds.
The build we played with was running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, however Motorola has already promised an Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update. Even so the company has done some tinkering on top of the vanilla Android experience you would get on the Galaxy Nexus.
First, and a rather helpful one, is the move to let you swipe left to reveal the settings, then there is the top watch, weather, and battery widget that gives you the core information you need, as well as a help app that guides you through set tasks as if they were quests in a Dungeons and Dragons game. If that's still failed to impress, the Chrome browser is installed as standard.
So why might you want to get a Motorola Droid Razr Maxx HD? It's all about the battery. If you don't need that much staying power you'll opt for the virtually identical Razr HD. It's thinner after all.
The new phone will be available in black or white on the Verizon network in the USA. Motorola has not as yet announced a UK version of the handset. Motorola has called a press conference for the 18 September in London. Pocket-lint will be in attendance.


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Adobe has been caught hosting a web page that redirects unsuspecting visitors to websites that attempt to install malware on vulnerable machines. The company was informed of the problem on Friday, but six days later, it still hasn't been fixed.
The infection, which resides at hxxp://www.seriousmagic.com/help/tuts/tutorials.cfm?p=1, instructs users browsers to silently install a malicious file from a series of domains known to host attack sites. Adobe announced its acquisition of Serious Magic two years ago and whois records indicate the company is the owner of the seriousmagic.com domain.
According to this post from anti-virus provider Sophos, Adobe was notified of the infected page on Friday. The Register visited the link (using a virtual machine, of course) on Thursday and found it was still trying to redirect users to a series of nefarious sites including hxxp://abc.verynx.cn/w.js and hxxp://1.verynx.cn/w.js. While those links no longer appeared to be active, two other sites used in the attack, hxxp://jjmaobuduo.3322.org/csrss/w.js and hxxp://www2.s800qn.cn/csrss/new.htm, were still active at time of writing.
This redirection brought to you by Adobe
The sites are associated with the malware Sophos dubs Mal/Badsrc-C. It spreads by infecting legitimate sites using so-called SQL injections. Such attacks take advantage of web developers who write SQL database applications that accept user-supplied data without inspecting it for malicious characters. They work across a broad array of web applications.
An Adobe spokesman said the company was looking in to the matter.
With Fortune 1000 companies such as Adobe punting malicious links, it's no wonder security experts estimate that more than half of the websites hosting malware were legitimate destinations that had been hacked. Sensitive government websites on both sides of the Atlantic have also been commandeered over the past year.
So next time you discount a vulnerability in your favorite browser or music player because it requires the user to be lured to a website under the control of an attacker, remember the scenario isn't as far-fetched as it seems. With a little help from sites like Adobe, the bad guys just may have their way with you. ®


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Jayme Henderson
I am a sommelier-turned-farmer, who recently moved to Colorado's Western Slope to become a full-time grower of grapes and maker of wine. My husband, Steve, and I own and live on a vineyard, where we craft high-elevation white wine and rosé under our label, The Storm Cellar. I enjoy freelance writing and photography, and I am currently the cocktail columnist for Colorado's Spoke+Blossom magazine. I love playing with our two cats, gardening, mixing drinks, finding (and sipping!) great sparkling wine, cooking, playing the piano, and hiking.
Notify me of new posts by email.


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Saskatoon's Kirk Muyres cut a deep swath across the globe this year, his broom bag and curling shoes flying high and long.
China, Japan, Saskatoon: It's been an eventful year of curling for Muyres and his teams
Saskatoon's Kirk Muyres cut a deep swath across the globe this year, his broom bag and curling shoes flying high and long.
His last game of the 2018-19 curling season? In China. His first match of the current campaign? Japan.
"You know how curling is," Muyres said Monday. "Ten years ago, you never had to leave Saskatchewan to play a full World Curling Tour circuit. Now that's changed. It's a different world than it used to be."
Muyres, who skipped Saskatchewan's entry at last season's Brier, finished with a runner-up showing in mixed doubles (alongside Laura Walker) at a World Cup event in Beijing.
Fast-forward to the beginning of August, when his men's foursome swept up a third-place finish at the Hokkaido Bank Curling Classic in their first action of the new season.
"They're looking to build the sport over there and get more teams to travel over there, so we took the opportunity," Muyres says. "I'm glad we did.
"There's still that allure in the curling world: Canadian curlers. It seems anywhere we go, everyone says, 'Oh, the Canadians are here; the Canadians are here.' It's kind of a novelty when we're there, but I'll tell you — the world teams are getting good. They play year-round, really good coaching, and they've been playing for a lot of years.
"Even 10 years ago, when you'd play a world or Asian team you knew you were going to win, but that's certainly not the case anymore. They're getting so good. The (Oakville, Ont. Fall Classic) spiel we were at last week, 11 of the 12 teams that qualified were world or Asian teams. The curling world's changing, that's for sure."
Muyres' team — which also includes siblings Kevin Marsh and Daniel Marsh at third and second, and Kirk's brother Dallan Muyres at lead — has made the playoff round in two of their first three World Curling Tour events.
Like every other elite Canadian curling squad, they're eying the 2021 Olympic trials, which will be held at home in Saskatoon. The jockeying begins in earnest this season, and it includes little touches like that trek to Japan — getting the quartet accustomed to things like jet-lag and culture changes, should they ever be called upon to represent their country internationally.
Muyres and Walker have acquitted themselves well on the mixed doubles scene, including a bronze medal at the 2018 world championships, so he has two potential Olympic paths. This year, he says, is a big one for his men's team as they try to break into top-billing status.
"The Olympics has gotten to be really high on my priority list," Muyres says. "I'm 29, so I've got a few more years until I hit my theoretical prime in curling. The Olympics are three years away, and there's obviously two avenues for curlers to get there now. We're getting better on the men's side — we certainly aren't favourites, there's so much good competition in the country — and on the mixed doubles side, Laura and I have really been at the top of the game over the last couple of years.
"It's important for us (as a men's team) to make that next step into being top-10 in the world, or top-five in the world this year. If we're serious about representing Canada at the Olympics the next time around, we really need to make that jump. We need to find that little bit more consistency; that's the importance of this season, is to get into that top conversation, and start challenging the Koes and Gushues. That's the goal this season, is to show ourselves we belong."
Muyres is entering his second year as a skip after playing third most of his men's career. He played at four Briers with Steve Laycock.
Making that transition from hard-sweeping third to hollering skip was hard. But he thinks he's getting it figured out.
"I compared myself to Bambi last season out there," he says. "At the start, I didn't know what was going on. It's so weird. The way you see the game from behind the house, versus from the other end, is crazy. And I hadn't seen the game from behind the house before, so I didn't know where to put the broom, I didn't know how the guys were throwing at me, I didn't know what shots to call. I was just trying to stay above water.
"This year, I told the guys after the weekend that I feel way more confident in controlling the game and understanding the game, and understanding where I want to take the play. That's been one of the biggest positives this season, is I have confidence behind the sheet that I can skip and I can call line with some of the top players in the game."
Next up for the Muyres foursome is the $38,000 StuSells Toronto Tankard, which runs Oct. 3-7, followed by the $56,000 Canad Inns Men's Classic Oct. 11-14 in Portage la Prairie.
Muyres' foursome has "nine or 10" WCT stops before Christmas, and he expects to play a couple of mixed doubles events with Walker, as well. It's not easy finding a balance with two teams on the go, he says, but he's enjoying it too much to drop one or the other.
"It's tough to pick between the two teams, because your brain's been hard-wired to always put the team first," he says. "But at some point, one team has to be sacrificed for the other team. I'm lucky that Laura also plays women's, and the Marsh boys and my brother are very understanding, as well. I'm lucky to have a really good supporting group on both sides that allows me to make those decisions, and no one to ostracize me when I have to pick one over the other.
"But it's tough, quite honestly. I've had to give up some opportunities in mixed, and had to give up some opportunities in men's. But as long as I can balance both … they're both so much fun, and I don't want to give either one of them up."


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Award-winning CSU Dominguez Hills Black Theatre Program Opens Jitney
(Carson, CA) – The California State University, Dominguez Hills Department of Theatre and Dance is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its nationally recognized Black Theatre Program with an alumni-based production of August Wilson's Jitney under the direction of Donis Leonard, associate professor of theatre arts. The play runs October 16, 17, 23, 24 at 8 p.m. and October 18 and 25 at 2 p.m. at the University Theatre.
Take a funky 70's ride through the scene set in a ramshackle taxi depot in the Hill District of Pittsburgh. Here, the middle-aged men who drive unlicensed gypsy cabs, or "jitneys," strive to find honor and accomplishment amidst a landscape of diminishing opportunity. The station owner, Booster, struggles with the prospect of being closed down by the city along with the return of his estranged son who has spent 20 years in prison, which unleashes two decades of brutal, raw emotion.
August Wilson stands among other great African-American artists who hail from Pittsburgh's Hill District, such as Lena Horne, Billy Eckstine, Erroll Garner, and Art Blakely.
"Wilson is the greatest black playwright in American history," says Leonard, who has cast eight CSUDH theatre alumni out of the nine cast members for this production of Jitney.
"I brought back alums for Jitney to showcase their talent and to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Black Theatre Program here at CSUDH," says Leonard.
Alumni Jitney cast members are Shonni Albritton (Rena), Phil Bray (Doub), Myron Campbell (Fielding), Vince Conard (Turnbo), Rahmon Ford (Shealy), Darryl Mckellar (Booster), and Robin White (Philmore). Senior theatre major, Skylar Brown, plays Youngblood and guest artist, Greg Thompson, plays Becker.
During the 2009 National Black Theatre Festival, the CSUDH Department of Theatre Arts Black Theatre Program was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award, recognizing it as one of the nation's premiere collegiate theatre arts programs.
For more information about the CSUDH Black Theatre Program and Jitney, e-mail email@example.com or call 310.243.2847.
For ticket information please call the Box Office at 310.243.3589. Tickets are available at the door. General admission tickets are $12 and $10 for students with CSUDH I.D.
The University Theatre complex on the campus of CSU Dominguez Hills is located on Toro Center Drive/Tamcliff Street off Victoria Street in the city of Carson. Metered parking lots are within walking distance. Permits are $4 and can be purchased at yellow kiosk machines near each lot.


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Welcome to week4paug.net 2.0 - same as it ever was! (but a little more gooder ) Keep us posted on ANY issues you may be having HERE: http://week4paug.net/index.php?topic=18331.0
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But, I don't think our fans do happily lap it up, I think they go online and talk about how it was a bad show.
oh shit! Cops!
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balance of trade(redirected from Net exports)
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Legal, Encyclopedia.
Related to Net exports: national income
Balance of trade
Net flow of goods (exports minus imports) between two countries.
Balance of Trade
The difference between the value of a country's exports and the value of its imports. If the value of exports exceeds that of imports, a country is said to have a trade surplus, while the opposite case is called a trade deficit. Analysts disagree on the impact, if any, of the balance of trade on the economy. Some economists believe that an overly large trade deficit causes unemployment and lowers GDP growth. Others believe that the balance of trade has little impact, because the more international trade occurs, the more likely it is that foreign companies will invest in the home country, negating any negative effects.
balance of trade
A net figure calculated by subtracting a country's imports from its exports during a specific period. If a country sells more goods and services than it purchases, its balance of trade is said to be positive, that is, exports exceed imports. Such a balance is generally considered to be favorable. Conversely, a negative balance is said to be unfavorable. A country's balance-of-trade position has great impact on its economic activity and on the profits of companies operating within it. See also trade deficit, trade surplus.
Balance of trade.
The difference between the value of a country's imports and exports during a specific period of time is called the balance of trade.
If a country exports more than it imports, it has a surplus, or favorable balance of trade. A trade deficit, or unfavorable balance, occurs when a country imports more than it exports.


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- This event has passed.
Team Trivia (Woodstock)
December 11, 2019 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
An event every week that begins at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, repeating until December 18, 2019
It's trivia night! Gather your dream team and come compete for first, second and third place prizes awarded each week! As a thank you to our community, we'll take 50% off your first pint for Teachers, Nurses, First Responders, Military with badge or ID. Competition runs from 7-9pm.


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DALTON (AP) — The company that makes the paper used to print U.S. currency has bolstered its stationery division by buying a Maine-based division of Hallmark Cards.
Crane & Co. announced Thursday it has agreed to purchase Kennebunk, Maine-based stationery company William Arthur and consolidate the companies at its North Adams facility late next year.
Crane CEO Stephen DeFalco told The Berkshire Eagle the deal gives his company "flexibility in the marketplace."
The consolidation will result in no job cuts. Crane & Co., which employs about 300 in North Adams, will offer William Arthur's 270 Maine employees jobs in western Massachusetts.
The acquisition is expected to close Nov. 30. The purchase price wasn't disclosed.
Dalton-based Crane was founded in 1801 and has been the U.S. government's sole supplier of paper currency since 1964.


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Chie's goal in designing footwear is to create styles that are femenine, fun, and truly comfortable. Every Chie Mihara shoes features an anatomical footbed that Chie designed specifically to accommodate a woman's foot.
She draws on facets of her multicultural background when creating her collections: Brasil informs the femenine details; Japan influences her design approach; the U.S.A contributes practicality; and Spain is the source for the high quality of construction.
Chie wants women to visually and emotionally connect to her shoes, while she takes care of the practical side with careful attention to arquitecture and craftsmanship.


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Houston greets Paula Deen with cheers at first public appearance
Fallen cooking star Paula Deen fought back tears Saturday as she was greeted by cheers and a standing ovation from a crowd of about 1,500 during her appearance at the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show at Reliant Center.
It was Deen's first public appearance since late June, when news broke that she had used a racial slur.
"These are tears of joy, y'all," Deen told the audience. "I've said all along that the one place I'd want to make my first step back out is Texas. Y'all's hearts are as big as your state."
She admitted using a derogatory racial term in a deposition May 17, bringing a storm of negative publicity that cost Deen her cooking show on Food Network, a cookbook deal and endorsements worth millions of dollars. Last month, a federal judge in Georgia threw out a sexual harassment and racial discrimination lawsuit against Deen, but the damage was done when major companies such as Target, Sears, Walmart, Home Depot, Kmart and JCPenney severed ties with her.
Houston resident Sherry Carter and her daughters, Shana Randle and Michelle Sanders, who were among a few African-American fans in the audience Saturday, said the allegations hadn't turned them against Deen.
"When I first heard about it, my feeling was, she got caught," Carter said. "Just about everyone I know has used the word. At least she was honest about it."
Four friends from the Fulshear-Richmond area wore sashes and carried placards with Deen's photo to show their support.
Stephanie Young said they had the placards from last year's show; the sashes were a last-minute addition that she made Friday night for fellow supporters Kelly Eldridge, Sue Yoder and her daughter-in-law, Alix Yoder.
"We wanted to step it up because she's had a rough year," Young said. "We want her back on TV, and we love her."
Deen put on two cooking demonstrations, appearing with sons Bobby and Jamie Deen, who also have cooking shows, cookbooks and their own followings.
Cynthia Martinez and her son, Thomas, said the show was well worth the $95 or so they paid for their tickets.
Thomas Martinez, a student in hotel and restaurant management at the University of North Texas in Denton, served as a volunteer Friday to help set up other parts of the show.
He said he picked up some cooking tips from the Deens' demonstration, which included how to make chicken pot pie, peanut butter pie and salad.
This is Deen's third year appearing at the Houston show.


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Tech Journal: How to Protect Your Emails
By Amit Agarwal
When you send an email, it goes through your Internet Service Provider and a series of mail servers before reaching the recipient's computer.
Can someone else – such as your network administrator, your ISP, or law-enforcement agencies - intercept and read that confidential message without you knowing?
The odds that someone is snooping on your emails could be low, but even so, the communication may not be as private as you might like. Here are some basic steps you can take to secure your emails:
First, turn on HTTPS Everywhere. When you access your email accounts over a secure HTTP connection (or https), all the traffic flowing between your computer and the mail server will be encrypted, so the bytes, if intercepted, appear as gibberish to any potential snooper.
Second, if you are accessing your email accounts on a public Wi-Fi network – like in a hotel lobby - it might be a good idea to use a VPN service to access the web. Unlike HTTPS, which works only for select websites, a VPN service will encrypt all traffic between your computer and the Internet, protecting your data from the Wi-Fi eavesdroppers. TunnelBear is free VPN software available for PCs and Macs. It doesn't require configuration - all you have to do is turn the knob to "ON" and you are protected.
Next, if you are sending confidential messages via email, you should encrypt them before they leave the computer. Encryption may sound like a complex word to most users, but the concept is easy to understand and implement.
It works something like this: Write an email message in plain text and an encryption program will scramble your words into something incomprehensible. When you send this encrypted email, the intended recipient can apply a secret key to reveal your original message. If the message is intercepted, the text won't make any sense without that secret key.
There are different algorithms to encrypt messages but the most popular and secure of them all is PGP, or Pretty Good Privacy.
To get started, you need to enter your email address and a secret passphrase, which the PGP program will use to generate a unique public key and a private key for you. Share this public key among friends with whom you wish to exchange encrypted messages. They can also generate their own public and private keys using their email addresses (and secret passphrases) and then pass on the public key to you. This is a one-time process.
You can now compose an email message as before, but before hitting the send button, let the PGP program scramble your message using the public key of your friend. When this scrambled message reaches their mailbox, they can easily decrypt it using their private key. If they want to send a reply to you, the process will be similar except they will now use your public key to encrypt the reply message.
That's broadly how PGP works. Implementing it is simple with Mailvelope, a Chrome add-on that integrates encryption and decryption capabilities into your web email program. The add-on will generate your secret keys, store the keys of your friends and, best of all, it will automatically detect incoming messages that contain encrypted text, allowing you to decrypt them with a click.
Amit Agarwal writes a tech blog and is also on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook
You can follow India Real Time on Twitter @indiarealtime.


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Apple released an update to their Windows-booting Boot Camp today, bringing the software version up to 1.1.2 beta . The newest update brings in support for "the newest Intel-based Macintosh computers" (that always seems to be on the list, huh), but also includes this list of changes with the 1.1.2 update:
-Easier partitioning using presets for popular sizes
-Ability to install Windows XP on any internal disk
-Support for built-in iSight cameras
-Support for built-in microphones
-Support for the Apple USB Modem
-Trackpad scrolling and right-click support on Apple Laptops
-Improved Apple keyboard support including Delete, PrintScreen, NumLock, and ScrollLock keys
-Improved International Apple keyboard support
However, many of these items in the list were already part of the last update (and in some cases, the update before last). The ReadMe file has slightly more clues as to what is new:
- The Apple USB Modem now works correctly
- Trackpad scrolling and right-click gestures work correctly
- Fixed idle sleep bugs
- Reduced dialogs during Windows driver installation
- Improved international support
- Improved 802.11 wireless networking support
The download is 143 MB and requires you to burn a new CD of Windows drivers for your Mac, but otherwise is supposed to be pretty painless.


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Hamas leader admits 'Palestinian' identity is invented
Tuesday, April 03, 2012 Ryan Jones
US Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich has come under a lot of fire for saying that the "Palestinians" are an invented people. Most have ridiculed Gingrich by pointing out there are clearly millions of Arabs living in so-called "Palestine."
But Gingrich wasn't talking about the physical presence of those people today, but rather the national identity they have adopted and the fact that most immigrated to the land not so long ago.
In a televised address on Al-Hekma TV last week, Hamas Minister of the Interior and of National Security Fathi Hammad basically backed up Gingrich's assessment, acknowledging that the roots of most "Palestinians" are elsewhere in the Middle East, and that the Palestinian label is only a thin veneer.
Those pushing for a Palestinian state try to paint the Palestinian Arabs as somehow distinct from the Arabs round-about, and therefore in need of their own state. Not so, said Hammad. "Every Palestinian, in Gaza and throughout Palestine, can prove his Arab roots – whether from Saudi Arabia, from Yemen, or anywhere. We have blood ties."
More than that, Hammad stated that the true regional background of most "Palestinians" is not in "Palestine."
"Brothers, half of the Palestinians are Egyptians and the other half are Saudis," exclaimed the Hamas minister.
Hammad's remarks were undoubtedly never intended for a Western audience. Rather, he was pleading with Egypt and other neighboring states to supply Hamas-ruled Gaza with free fuel, which Hammad said Hamas would use "in order to continue to wage Jihad."
[h/t Elder of Ziyon]
Clip Transcript
March 23, 2012 Clip No. 3389
Hamas Minister of the Interior and of National Security Fathi Hammad Slams Egypt over Fuel Shortage in Gaza Strip, and Says: "Half of the Palestinians Are Egyptians and the Other Half Are Saudis."
Middle East Media Sampler for April 6, 2012
The Eternal Liberation Movement – Caroline Glick – Townhall
Caroline Glick
Apr 07, 2012
Hamas terror boss Fathi Hamad is a notable figure. Hamad is both the director of Hamas's al-Aksa television station and the terror group's "minister" of the interior and national security. His double portfolio is a clear expression of the much ignored fact that for terrorists, propaganda is inseparable from violence.
Hamad's key posts make him a man worth listening to. His statements necessarily indicate Hamas's general direction.
On March 23, Hamad was interviewed by Egypt's Al Hekma television station. The interview was translated by MEMRI.
Hamad made two central points. First, he claimed that the Palestinian war against Israel is the keystone of the global jihad. Second, he said the Palestinians are not a distinct people, but transplanted Egyptians and Saudis.
In his words, "At al-Aksa and on the land of Palestine, all the conspiracies, throughout history, have been shattered – the conspiracies of the Crusaders, and the conspiracies of the Tatars. At al- Aksa and on the land of Palestine, the Battle of Hattin was waged. The [West] does not want this noble history to repeat itself, because the Jews and their allies would be annihilated – the Zionists, the Americans and the imperialists.
"Thus, the conspiracy is very clear. Al-Aksa and the land of Palestine represent the spearhead for Islam and for the Muslims. Therefore, when we seek the help of our Arab brothers, we are not seeking their help in order to eat, to live, to drink, to dress, or to live a life of luxury. No. When we seek their help, it is in order to continue to wage Jihad."
Hamad next explained, "Brothers, half of the Palestinians are Egyptians and the other half are Saudis. Who are the Palestinians? We have many families called Al-Masri, [Egyptians] whose roots are Egyptian. Egyptian! They may be from Alexandria, from Cairo, from Dumietta, from the North, from Aswan, from Upper Egypt. We are Egyptians."
What Hamad's interview tells us is that today Hamas – the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood – is more interested in unity with Muslim Brotherhood-dominated Egypt than with Fatah. Whereas in the past it joined Fatah in obscuring the direct link between the jihad against the Jews and the jihad against the non-Muslim world, today it seeks to emphasize the connection. To this end, Hamas is willing to abandon the myth of Palestinian nativism and acknowledge that the Palestinians are an artificial people, invented for the purpose of advancing the global jihad in the key battlefield of Israel.
- As the 'director of the Institute of Women Today and founder and a member of the board of the National Coalition of American Nuns,' wrote in the Chicago Tribune (1983): The massive Arab immigration into Palestine during the Mandate period accounts for roughly 75 percent of the supposedly "Palestinian" population present at the time of the partition in 1948.
- Or as a Professor stated (1973): Obviously the great majority of "Palestinians" were themselves Immigrants or sons or grandsons of immigrants from other Arab lands, that came to partake of the prosperity generated by the Jews. Entire towns and villages in 1948 could trace their origins to other countries…
- Or as a professor/author stated (2004) …the so-called Palestinians, which actually consist of diverse clans from various Arab states.
- Or as others have phrased it (2007): Eighty per cent of current 'Palestinians' are illegal immigrants or the children or grandchildren thereof who were quietly welcomed by the British administrators of the Mandate. Any Arab peasant or job seeker found a ready welcome in unadministered "refugee camps", becoming a 'Palestinian' overnight.
- Or as respected Jurist who lectured at the Academy of International Law in the Hague asserted (1944): the Arabic-speaking inhabitants of Palestine, as we shall see later, are not the descendants of the conquerors. That 75% of the Arab population of Palestine at that time were either immigrants themselves or descendants of immigrants who arrived in Palestine mainly after 1882, coinciding with the development of modern Jewish settlement which made the country more attractive for Moslem and Arabic-speaking newcomers..
- Or as a scientist has put it (2003): The absolute majority of the so-called Palestinians are descendants of the Twentieth Century Arab immigrants who searched for a rewarding chunk of the economical boom engendered by the returning Jews.
- Or in the words of renowned researcher: There is no age-old Palestinian people. Most so-called Palestinians are relative newcomers to The Land of Israel.
- Or, as an author wrote (1992): Most of the Arabs living there are in fact relative newcomers. "Palestine" is the entire area now covered by Israel, including Judea/Samaria (the so-called " West Bank") and what is now the Kingdom of Jordan.
- Or, as former Speaker of the House pointed out (2011): that the Palestinians are a fictional invented people. They are simply Jordanians and Egyptians who fled terror from their fellow Arabs. So do realize many analysts and commentators who have stated there are no Palestinian people and that most of them are of Jordanian and Egyptian decent.
Moreover, the argument that most (if not almost all) of them entail just one, two, or at least no more than a mere few generations in the land, is more historically logic, as the population has been replaced so many times over.


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About Me:
I'm a computer geek by trade. I've been listening to the FAB Four since they 1st played the ED Sullivan show. I've bought every album they put out as a group & as individual artists. Some have been stolen over the years like the Dead Babies, "YESTERDAY",LP., but they all still sound great. I started playing guitar when I was 10 that was due to their terrific sound & harmonies. I miss John & George terribly, just miss hearing their latest tunes. Maybe they'll be playing in that great amphitheater in the heavens when I pass away. I truly hope so!
Favourite Track:
A Day In The Life (Sgt Pepper)
Tell us why:
Cause I was just turning of age when SGT PEPPERS came out. Becoming a teenager. It was a fantastic time for me. Playing their music at school every chance we had out in the fields. Everyone gathering around to listen or sing along!
Favourite Album:
Abbey Road
Tell us why:
It was a magical album and all the songs related to me in one way or another. And all the tunes were relevant to my own hippy days with drugs , sex, and rock & roll!


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The widest choice of LED and Xenon bulbs for Peugeot 100% compatible with the 42 models of cars and vans below.
Get pure white lighting by replacing the halogen bulbs on your Peugeot with our powerful white LED or Xenon bulbs.
The installation of your new LED or Xenon bulbs will be easy, choose the model of your car or van below and let yourself be guided.
Your model does not appear in that list? Contact us by email for personalized advice


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Circle K Employees, Customers, and Vendors Raise Over $5 Million for United Cerebral Palsy
of Central Arizona, United Cerebral Palsy of Southern Arizona and Opportunity Village
Through fundraising efforts at local stores and events throughout the State of Arizona, Circle K employees, customers and vendors generously helped raise over $5 million for UCP of Central and Southern Arizona. The funds donated support the organizations' mission to help children and adults with disabilities including Down syndrome, autism, developmental delays, learning disabilities, and cerebral palsy. Donations are collected every day when Circle K employees ask customers to donate their extra change at the register to benefit families and children with disabilities. And vendors participating in the Aces High and Desert Klassic golf tournaments result in additional funding for UCP of Central Arizona's important mission.
UCP would like to acknowledge Circle K for its extraordinary efforts in supporting UCP and its families. "Circle K promotes a culture that is deeply rooted in corporate responsibility, giving back to the community and making a positive difference in the lives of others," said Armando Contreras, CEO of United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona. "UCP has been working in collaboration with Circle K for over 30 years, and with their help, thousands of children, adults and families have received the essential services they desperately need. Because of the generosity from Circle K employees, customers and vendors, we have children and adults who were given the opportunity to speak their first words, take their first step, and give a loved one a hug for the first time," he added.
"Our record contribution level this past year is testament to the caring and generous community spirit of everyone we have the great privilege to employ and serve," said Paul Rodriguez, Vice President of the Arizona Division of Circle K. "Our 30 year partnership speaks not just to the sincerity of the effort but also to the good and important work being done by UCP. Breakthroughs happen every day at the Dozer Center that our employees have the honor to witness and participate in. It lends greater meaning and higher purpose to each and every workday at Circle K. Everyone benefits," Rodriguez added.
Circle K will be honored at United Cerebral Palsy's annual event, Champions in Life Night Gala, scheduled for the evening of November 15, 2013 at the Ritz Carlton-Phoenix. Circle K will be receiving the Laura Dozer Award, named after the daughter of Rich and Karie Dozer, who had cerebral palsy and passed in 2008.
Founded in 1952, the Central Arizona chapter of the nationally recognized agency has served as a private, non-profit health and human service organization for adults and children with disabilities and their families. UCP of Central Arizona's programming is designed to help children and adults reach their full potential and improve the quality of life of their family members.
UCP is committed to creating possibilities and nurturing opportunities for children and adults with disabilities. To accomplish our vision, we've become a leader in providing therapies, independent living services, inclusive and integrated educational based programs, innovative social opportunities, and basic research. We also bring support to families as they face the daily challenges of raising a child with a disability and hope for a life without limits for their son or daughter.
To learn more, please visit, www.ucpofcentralaz.org.