text:
Testing CAPM with a Large Number of Assets
AbstractThis paper is concerned with testing the time series implications of the capital asset pricing model (CAPM) due to Sharpe (1964) and Lintner (1965), when the number of securities, N, is large relative to the time dimension, T, of the return series. Two new tests of CAPM are proposed that exploit recent advances on the analysis of large panel data models, and are valid even if N>T. When the errors are Gaussian and cross sectionally independent, a test, denoted by J_{α,1}, is proposed which is N(0,1) as N→∞, with T fixed. Even when the errors are non-Gaussian we are still able to show that J_{α,1} tends to N(0,1) so long as the errors are cross-sectionally independent and N/T³→0, with N and T→∞, jointly. In the case of cross sectionally correlated errors, using a threshold estimator of the average squares of pair-wise error correlations, a modified version of J_{α,1}, denoted by J_{α,2}, is proposed. Small sample properties of the tests are compared using Monte Carlo experiments designed specifically to match the correlations, volatilities, and other distributional features of the residuals of Fama-French three factor regressions of individual securities in the Standard & Poor 500 index. Overall, the proposed tests perform best in terms of power, with empirical sizes very close to the chosen nominal value even in cases where N is much larger than T. The J_{α,2} test (which allows for non-Gaussian and weakly cross correlated errors) is applied to all securities in the S&P 500 index with 60 months of return data at the end of each month over the period September 1989-September 2011. Statistically significant evidence against Sharpe-Lintner CAPM is found mainly during the recent financial crisis. Furthermore, a strong negative correlation is found between a twelve-month moving average p-values of the J_{α,2} test and the returns of long/short equity strategies relative to the return on S&P 500 over the period December 2006 to September 2011, suggesting that abnormal profits are earned during episodes of market inefficiencies.
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Bibliographic InfoPaper provided by Department of Economics, University of York in its series Discussion Papers with number 12/05.
Date of creation: Feb 2012
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:yor:yorken:12/05
Contact details of provider:
Postal: Department of Economics and Related Studies, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
Phone: (0)1904 323776
Fax: (0)1904 323759
Web page: http://www.york.ac.uk/economics/
More information through EDIRC
Related researchKeywords: CAPM; Testing for alpha; Market e¢ ciency; Long/short equity returns; Large panels; Weak and strong cross-sectional dependence.;
Other versions of this item:
- Pesaran, M. Hashem & Yamagata, Takashi, 2012. "Testing CAPM with a Large Number of Assets," IZA Discussion Papers 6469, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA).
- C12 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Hypothesis Testing: General
- C15 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Statistical Simulation Methods: General
- C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
- G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
- G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:
- NEP-ALL-2012-02-20 (All new papers)
- NEP-ECM-2012-02-20 (Econometrics)
ReferencesReferences listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
- Im, Kyung So & Pesaran, M. Hashem & Shin, Yongcheol, 2003.
"Testing for unit roots in heterogeneous panels,"
Journal of Econometrics,
Elsevier, vol. 115(1), pages 53-74, July.
- Tom Doan, . "IPSHIN: RATS procedure to implement Im, Pesaran and Shin panel unit root test," Statistical Software Components RTS00098, Boston College Department of Economics.
- Pasaran, M.H. & Im, K.S. & Shin, Y., 1995. "Testing for Unit Roots in Heterogeneous Panels," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 9526, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
- Peter Bossaerts & Charles Plott & William R. Zame, 2003.
"Prices and Portfolio Choices in Financial Markets: Theory, Econometrics, Experiments,"
Swiss Finance Institute Research Paper Series
07-05, Swiss Finance Institute, revised Mar 2007.
- Peter Bossaerts & Charles Plott & William R. Zame, 2007. "Prices and Portfolio Choices in Financial Markets: Theory, Econometrics, Experiments," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 75(4), pages 993-1038, 07.
- Alexander Chudik & M. Hashem Pesaran & Elisa Tosetti, 2009.
"Weak and Strong Cross Section Dependence and Estimation of Large Panels,"
CESifo Working Paper Series
2689, CESifo Group Munich.
- Alexander Chudik & M. Hashem Pesaran & Elisa Tosetti, 2011. "Weak and strong cross‐section dependence and estimation of large panels," Econometrics Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 14(1), pages C45-C90, February.
- Chudik, A. & Pesaran, M.H. & Tosetti, E., 2009. "Weak and Strong Cross Section Dependence and Estimation of Large Panels," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 0924, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
- Chudik, Alexander & Pesaran, Hashem & Tosetti, Elisa, 2009. "Weak and strong cross section dependence and estimation of large panels," Working Paper Series 1100, European Central Bank.
- Fama, Eugene F & MacBeth, James D, 1973. "Risk, Return, and Equilibrium: Empirical Tests," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 81(3), pages 607-36, May-June.
- Eugene F. Fama & Kenneth R. French, 2004. "The Capital Asset Pricing Model: Theory and Evidence," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 18(3), pages 25-46, Summer.
- Frederick Wong, 2003. "Efficient estimation of covariance selection models," Biometrika, Biometrika Trust, vol. 90(4), pages 809-830, December.
- Ullah, Aman, 1974. "On the sampling distribution of improved estimators for coefficients in linear regression," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 2(2), pages 143-150, July.
- Jianhua Z. Huang & Naiping Liu & Mohsen Pourahmadi & Linxu Liu, 2006. "Covariance matrix selection and estimation via penalised normal likelihood," Biometrika, Biometrika Trust, vol. 93(1), pages 85-98, March.
- C. Vale & Vincent Maurelli, 1983. "Simulating multivariate nonnormal distributions," Psychometrika, Springer, vol. 48(3), pages 465-471, September.
- Ullah, Aman, 2004. "Finite Sample Econometrics," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, edition 1, number 9780198774488, September.
- Fama, Eugene F. & French, Kenneth R., 1993. "Common risk factors in the returns on stocks and bonds," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 3-56, February.
- Beaulieu, Marie-Claude & Dufour, Jean-Marie & Khalaf, Lynda, 2007. "Multivariate Tests of MeanVariance Efficiency With Possibly Non-Gaussian Errors: An Exact Simulation-Based Approach," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, American Statistical Association, vol. 25, pages 398-410, October.
- Gungor, Sermin & Luger, Richard, 2009. "Exact distribution-free tests of mean-variance efficiency," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 816-829, December.
- Todd Headrick & Shlomo Sawilowsky, 1999. "Simulating correlated multivariate nonnormal distributions: Extending the fleishman power method," Psychometrika, Springer, vol. 64(1), pages 25-35, March.
- H. Kelejian, Harry & Prucha, Ingmar R., 2001. "On the asymptotic distribution of the Moran I test statistic with applications," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 104(2), pages 219-257, September.
- Affleck-Graves, John & McDonald, Bill, 1989. " Nonnormalities and Tests of Asset Pricing Theories," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 44(4), pages 889-908, September.
- Todd Headrick & Shlomo Sawilowsky, 1999. "Simulating correlated multivariate nonnormal distributions: Extending the fleishman power method," Psychometrika, Springer, vol. 64(2), pages 251-251, June.
- Affleck-Graves, John & McDonald, Bill, 1990. "Multivariate Tests of Asset Pricing: The Comparative Power of Alternative Statistics," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 25(02), pages 163-185, June.
- Gibbons, Michael R & Ross, Stephen A & Shanken, Jay, 1989. "A Test of the Efficiency of a Given Portfolio," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 57(5), pages 1121-52, September.
- Ledoit, Olivier & Wolf, Michael, 2004. "A well-conditioned estimator for large-dimensional covariance matrices," Journal of Multivariate Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 88(2), pages 365-411, February.
- Sermin Gungor & Richard Luger, 2013. "Testing Linear Factor Pricing Models With Large Cross Sections: A Distribution-Free Approach," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(1), pages 66-77, January.
- Fan, Jianqing & Fan, Yingying & Lv, Jinchi, 2008. "High dimensional covariance matrix estimation using a factor model," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 147(1), pages 186-197, November.
- Allen Fleishman, 1978. "A method for simulating non-normal distributions," Psychometrika, Springer, vol. 43(4), pages 521-532, December.
CitationsCitations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
Cited by:
- Bailey, Natalia & Kapetanios, George & Pesaran, M. Hashem, 2012.
"Exponent of Cross-sectional Dependence: Estimation and Inference,"
IZA Discussion Papers
6318, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA).
- Natalia Bailey & George Kapetanios & M. Hashem Pesaran, 2012. "Exponent of Cross-sectional Dependence: Estimation and Inference," CESifo Working Paper Series 3722, CESifo Group Munich.
- Bailey, N. & Kapetanios, G. & Pesaran, M. H., 2012. "Exponent of Cross-sectional Dependence: Estimation and Inference," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 1206, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
- Marcelo Bianconi & Joe A. Yoshino, 2012. "Empirical Estimation of the Cost of Equity: An Application to Selected Brazilian Utilities Companies," Discussion Papers Series, Department of Economics, Tufts University 0765, Department of Economics, Tufts University.
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text:
The recent kerfuffle over a secret recording of Sen. Mitch McConnellÆs campaign strategy meeting, which focused on opposition research about a likely opponent, actress Ashley Judd, has divided observers into two groups.
One consists of those disturbed by the bugging of a private conversation. The other consists of people who were mostly offended by the content of the conversation, which concerned JuddÆs emotional problems, and laughter about certain odd comments she has made over time.
First, welcome to reality. Nothing about this episode, first exposed by Mother Jones magazine, is novel or especially outrageous, except for the allegedly illegal activity. Many may find the content of Team McConnellÆs discussion unappealing, obnoxious, mean, or ... banal, anyone?
But anyone pretending shock that opposition research includes discussions about a personÆs emotional or mental health has been dwelling in some alternate universe. What people write and say in the public square is fair game, and Judd wrote in her autobiography about her emotional challenges and suicidal thoughts -- a reasonable existential exercise, if you ask me and Albert Camus, who described suicide as the only ōtruly serious philosophical problem.ö
If you want to elect a senator who has never been depressed or contemplated suicide, vote for a dog.
What people say in a private meeting among trusted colleagues, meanwhile, is of a different order. In a wiretap world, where and when does anyone get to be frank? Or, heaven forbid, irreverent? If we have to always worry about someone recording our thoughts, beware the perfect thinker.
It is true that McConnellÆs people were laughing at certain comments Judd has made, including feeling alien in an American airport. (Who doesnÆt?)
Sample: ōI call it the American anesthesia. You know, I come back to this country. I freak out in airports. The colors, the sounds, all those different ways of packaging the same snack but trying to, you know, make it look like itÆs distinct and different and convince consumers that they have to have it. ... The last time I came home from a trip, I absolutely flipped out when I saw pink fuzzy socks on a rack. I mean, I can never anticipate what is going to push me over the edge.ö
Whereupon the meeting leader ominously intoned: ōSo pink fuzzy socks are of concern.ö
Permission to laugh granted.
Later, participants discussed JuddÆs criticism of the patriarchal order of Christianity and the traditional family model. In other words, shocker, Judd is a liberal Democrat. Naturally, her opponent might wish to highlight these philosophical differences.
What sent some commentators lurching for the salts, however, was a comment that Judd is ōemotionally unbalanced,ö the implication being that McConnellÆs minions would publicly question her emotional and psychological stability.
Page 2 of 2 - Whether this would have transpired is irrelevant since Judd decided not to run before the tapes were leaked. But the desired objective was achieved: The specter of men making fun of a woman -- who, letÆs be honest, is most memorable for vastly enhancing the desirability of perspiration -- inspired an emotional/protective response and portrayed McConnell as a bully.
Suddenly, questions of illegal recording were displaced by the continuous looping of mean McConnellÆs strategy of personal destruction. Then again, he might have figured such an approach would be politically imprudent. Few today would approve of the treatment handed Thomas Eagleton, who lost his place as George McGovernÆs vice presidential running mate in 1972 because he had had electroconvulsive therapy during an earlier depressed period.
These days, we are more sensitive to emotional and mental health issues and generally attach no shame or dishonor to counseling, which is simply a sophisticated method of problem-solving. Moreover, do we really want to limit our choices for public servants only to those who have had no challenges (liars), or who think they have no need for greater self-awareness?
This is a worthy question for debate, but meanwhile, a couple of concluding observations:
McConnellÆs team was reviewing what they knew about their opponent, as every politician has done and will do until the end of time. In the immortal words of Robert Penn WarrenÆs fictional Gov. Willie Stark: ōMan is conceived in sin and born in corruption and he passeth from the stink of the didie to the stench of the shroud. There is always something.ö
What Team McConnell might have done with that ōsomething,ö weÆll never know. What we do know is that someone taped a private conversation and should be prosecuted accordingly.
As for Judd, smart girl took a pass.
Kathleen ParkerÆs email address is firstname.lastname@example.com.
Washington Post Writers Group

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Shepherd's Cove
Shepherd's Cove, our 10 bed hospice inpatient facility, is designed to complement the care offered through our home hospice program. Compassionate, emotional and spiritual care that preserves comfort and dignity is provided in a spacious, welcoming, and homelike environment.
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Caregiving is an exhausting job, albeit one that is done out of love. Respite care is provided if the family is tired and needs a break from caring for someone with a life limiting illness. Or, a joyous family event such as a wedding may require that caregivers be out of town for several days. If this is the case, then Shepherd's Cove can assist in providing a safe, comfortable environment for this stay of up to 5 days.
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Shepherd's Cove guests come to us from our home hospice program, from hospitals, skilled nursing facilities or other sources. Once symptoms are managed, or the respite stay is over, they can resume their home hospice care in their place of residence.
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Phone: (256) 891-7724 ~ Toll Free: 1-888-334-9336
Hospice of Marshall County is a regional non-profit hospice.
We proudly
serve an eight county area.


text:
Aug.20, 1924 — Jan.17, 2014
Longtime West Side resident Jeanne Bloom-Zarcone died on the afternoon of Jan. 17, 2014 in the good hands of Community Hospice in Hughson. Her death was the result of a stroke suffered on the morning of January 9. She was in her 90th year.
Mrs. Bloom-Zarcone was born in Sanger in 1924, next-to-youngest child of Russian immigrants David and Marie Barthuli. She attended Fresno High and Fresno State, and afterwards worked in business in Santa Cruz
In 1951, she met and married Gustine farmer Cedric Bloom, who became father of her three children. She was widowed in 1988 and in 1991 she married retired Patterson banker Carl Zarcone, a happy relationship that lasted until his death in 2010.
Daughter, Melissa Bloom of Alameda; son, Peter Bloom of Novato and son Khaled Bloom and stepson Roger Bloom, both of Gustine, survive Mrs. Bloom-Zarcone. All her 11 brothers and sisters preceded her in death.
Nobody with Jeanne's inherent vitality gives up life easily, but few manage the transition with her special manner of courage, patience, humor, and grace, according to her family. May whatever angels there be sprinkle her onward spirit, her sly wit, and her twinkling smile with blessings forever. And may the rest of us keep in heart those qualities of hers.
A viewing will be observed at Hillview Funeral Chapel, Gustine, from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23. A religious service will be held at graveside at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 24 at Hills Ferry Cemetery, Newman.
Memorial contributions in Mrs. Bloom-Zarcone's name may be sent to the Gustine Historical Society, 803 Laurel Ave., Gustine, CA. 95322.
Hillview Funeral Chapels is handling the arrangements.


text:
Monday, September 29, 2008
Do I have this mortgage disaster right?
I just want to see if I can boil this whole thing down to the most basic elements possible.
Due to lessened regulations and requirements of creditworthiness, billions of dollars was loaned to people who couldn't qualify for a debit card much less a mortgage. Those same people re-and tri-financed the same property, often taking ARM loans with large balloon payments down the road.
Meanwhile the banks and mortgage entities packaged up these mortgages, borrowed on them, invested that borrowed money in bad decisions and bad investments and lost it all. They basically went to Vegas with our money and thought they could win enough to pay it back and keep the extra.
Then people's ARM payments came due and they started defaulting, leaving the banks and mortgage houses holding worthless paper on both sides of the equation.
And now we're all paying for it dearly. Do I have it about right? I'm sure it's infinitely more complicated, but is that the gist of things? It's not really the defaulting mortgages, as that is only 5% or so of all mortgages. It's the fact that the banks borrowed against the mortgages, sold and resold the debt and in the end were playing a shell game, except there was no ball under any of the shells. Is that about right?
By the way, the fact that most of the lawmakers that created this mess are Democrats means nothing to me. There were Republicans sitting right next to them in Congress who voted for all of this crap. No one is innocent here.
Posted by JimK at 08:55 PM on September 29, 2008
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Categories: News, Politics, The Federal Government
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Heller smells like victory…partial victory
This is good, but it's only a partial victory.
A divided U.S. Supreme Court ruled for the first time that the Constitution protects individual gun rights, striking down the District of Columbia's handgun ban and raising questions about weapons restrictions elsewhere.
The 5-4 ruling resolves a constitutional question that had lurked for two centuries: whether the Second Amendment covers people who aren't affiliated with a state-run militia.
``The enshrinement of constitutional rights necessarily takes certain policy choices off the table,'' Justice Antonin Scalia wrote for the majority in the final decision of the court's nine-month term. ``These include the absolute prohibition of handguns held and used for self-defense in the home.''
It affirms the individual right to self defense, but the language is narrow, focused on home defense and handguns, and leaves a lot of wiggle room. The limits of today's ruling are explored at Reason. It's worth a read.
For states without a Castle Doctrine, that leaves a lot of places where states and cities can still try to gun grab. It doesn't matter to them how useless these laws are. It doesn't matter how ineffective gun bans are. They won't stop. It's a religion.
Next case please. One that takes this even further and leaves these over-reaching nanny mayors and governors across the land with NO ambiguity; you shall not infringe on the people's right to keep and bear arms.
It must suck to work for the Brady Center today.
Posted by JimK at 09:15 PM on June 26, 2008
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Categories: News, Politics, The Federal Government, Guns - 2nd Amendment
Tags: firearms second amendment heller supreme court
Thursday, May 01, 2008
McPander at it again
Republican John McCain said Wednesday that the bridge collapse in Minnesota that killed 13 people last year would not have happened if Congress had not wasted so much money on pork-barrel spending.
Federal investigators cite undersize steel plates as the "critical factor" in the collapse of the bridge. Heavy loads of construction materials on the bridge also contributed to the disaster that injured 145 people on Aug. 1, according to preliminary findings by the National Transportation Safety Board.
"The bridge in Minneapolis didn't collapse because there wasn't enough money," McCain told reporters while campaigning in Pennsylvania. "The bridge in Minneapolis collapsed because so much money was spent on wasteful, unnecessary pork-barrel projects."
Sounds like a reasonable complaint regarding the government. It certainly resonates as potentially true, and I am sure it got a rousing bit of applause, or at least a bunch of reporters thinking what a maverick he is for saying it.
Only problem is, we know that it simply isn't true. It was a design flaw and the money didn't even enter the equation.
Sixteen fractured gusset plates in the center span on Interstate 35W were a main cause of the deadly bridge collapse in Minneapolis last August, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said on Tuesday. The plates, which connected steel beams in the truss bridge, were roughly half the thickness they should have been because of a design error. How that flaw made it into the bridge is unclear; according to NTSB chairman Mark Rosenker, investigators couldn't find the original design calculations. Extra weight from construction was also a factor in the tragedy
There can be no doubt that we spend too much on pork projects. BUT...at the same time Senator McMaverick is claiming that the government let the bridge fall, he (and the Wicked Witch of Yale) wants to bankrupt the very fund designed to maintain and build infrastructure in this country.
How's that for talking out of both sides of his mouth? White man speak with forked tongue. I know Goose died and everything, but there's no need to take it out on the rest of us, Maverick.
My presidential vote here in Connecticut is utterly worthless. CT will go blue and that's the end of it. That fact may save my sanity this fall, as I will not make one whit of difference to anyone if I refuse to pull the lever (we still have old school levers) for McCain, and I gotta tell you...I just might refuse. I'm so sick and tired of him and his pandering. The three of them are utterly nauseating and totally uninspiring as people and politicians.
I'll never forgive you, Fred Thompson. You raised my hopes and then you came to dash them.
Hat tip; Insty
Posted by JimK at 11:51 AM on May 01, 2008
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Categories: News, Politics, The Federal Government
Tags: Election 2008 Politics McCain
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Obama's tax plan
Yesterday at the gym, one of the TVs was showing one of the talking head "news" channels. They showed a graphic comparing current tax levels against Obama's proposed raising of taxes. I was wearing headphones and standing in the middle of a crowded gym. I am the guy that tries to never, ever disrupt the place. I am considerate, even deferential to others because I hate people, and I hate all the things they do, and yet I don't want them to hate me, so in public I treat people as I wish to be treated. That is to say, left the hell alone and barely cognizant that anyone else is around. :)
Anyway...there I was, standing on a treadmill, mouth agape and I could not stop myself. Out loud, I just said "Holy shit!" I assume it was pretty loud, as I had the music up pretty high.
Here's the problem: I can't find an easily-digestible breakdown of what I saw. It was supposedly from the New York Times, but I can't find anything there. Obama's site buries most of the numbers. Anyone see this? Perhaps someone smarter than I can find this info. What I remember was that he wants to jack the estate tax from zero to 28%, skyrocket payroll taxes to I think 58 or 59% (holy France, Batman!) and raise the income tax, all allegedly on "the rich." There's also a "tax cut" for lower middle class and poor folk, but considering that half of them don't even pay taxes, it's a lot of posturing for votes, and not really economic assistance of any meaningful variety.
God forbid that any money move anywhere and the federal government not get a cut so it can then use the money to "help" you, eh?
I would vote for the first person to sign a pledge to reduce the federal government by 25% over ten years, with the goal of 50% over 20. I would vote for John Edwards if he made that pledge. I'd vote for Michael god-damned Moore if he made that pledge.
Posted by JimK at 02:39 PM on February 12, 2008
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Categories: News, Politics, The Federal Government
Tags: Election 2008 Politics
Friday, December 21, 2007
Post office efficiency
Around Thanksgiving, I called and asked for some special military addressing package the USPS has for sending packages to troops stationed overseas. Customs forms, all the right versions of whatever the frig documentation I needed. "7 days, sir."
Bastards. Christmas rush my ass. This is ridiculous. Fucking government. Even when they privatize they suck. I'll just hit my local branch and ask them to help. Somehow I lucked out and the branch is full of helpful, generally cheerful and friendly people.
I often wonder which one of them will snap first, and will they turn their rage inward at their fellow workers, or will it be us, the public, on whom they unleash their fury?
Posted by JimK at 03:34 PM on December 21, 2007
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Categories: News, The Federal Government
Tags: post office
Friday, August 17, 2007
Fuck. Now I can't vote for Fred Thompson
See? This is why I'm so fucking fed up with politics. Just when you think you might want to vote for a guy, maybe, he opens his mouth and says this:
...and would push for a constitutional amendment that protects states from being forced to honor gay marriages performed in other states.
"I don't think that one state ought to be able to pass a law requiring gay marriage or allowing gay marriage and have another state be required to follow along," Thompson told CNN's John King in an interview Friday.
FUCK YOU. Seriously, just fuck you. Not only am I just so sick to death of jagoffs who think that their marriage would somehow be ruined if two gays were allowed to legally join and *gasp* call it marriage, I'm extra fed up with stupid fucks that think this requires a god-damned constitutional amendment.
I'm even more fed up with dumb fuck federal-government-can-fix-everything types who don't even grasp the god-damned simple fucking concept that each state was designed to pass it's own laws and be essentially soveriegn, with very little influence or input from the central government. Fuck Fred, and fuck Abe Lincoln for smashing the concept of state's rights, and fuck everyone who tries to pretend it's just code for racism or slavery.
We fought a fucking revolution so we wouldn't have a king, and we built a CONFEDERACY (it's not a dirty word) of independent states that should be allowed to govern themselves to a large degree. If Massachusetts or New York or fucking South Carolina want to pass a law saying gay folks are welcome to a marriage license, that;s how the fucking system was designed to work! That's the way it is supposed to be! If Arkansas or Montana want to pass a law saying that their state doesn't recognize gay marriage, then don't live there, be gay and try to get married.
Again; that is how the system was designed from the beginning. The Feds have no business being involved unless the law violates the Constitution, and it's not even close to an issue that requires amending it to make it a violation. How's about you reverse some of that executive power consolidation first? Or maybe you could catch a god-damned motherfucking terrorist or two? Do we really need to amend the Constitution of the United States of America to prevent Bob from taking half of Steve's shit in a divorce?
Some days I mourn the loss of what this country could have been, and I put the blame squarely on the shoulders of Lincoln, who is not the hero my junior high textbook made him out to be.
Hey you know what else? Fuck the Pledge of Allegiance too. No, I'm not talking about the "under God" addition, although that was a slick piece of propaganda. I'm offended by the "indivisible" part. It's just brainwashing to prevent people from thinking of this country as a patchwork of states and to force them to think of it as a homogeneous land with one central authority. We've lost so much of what this country was supposed to be, and we'll never get it back now that we let the federal monster grow so large.
That, and nothing else, will be the ruin of this great nation one day. Our reliance on such a monolithic central power to decide everything for us will bring us down.
I really might not vote next year. I don't know. Someone better impress me, or convince me that they at least have a passing interest in not making things worse.
And that is why I try not to blog about politics all day, every day. Because I would write 300 posts a day saying pretty much that over and over again.
Posted by JimK at 08:38 PM on August 17, 2007
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Categories: News, Politics, The Federal Government
Tags: Election 2008 Politics Fred Thompson
Monday, August 06, 2007
Ron Paul loves pork
I'm not a huge fan of Ron Paul, mainly because I think that aside from a few common-sense, small-government platitudes, the man is untenable as a leader. Turns out he's also a liar and a hypocrite.
400 million dollars in pork requests. I love the line that Erick at Redstate wrote here:
PAGING RON PAUL SUPPORTERS: Please cite the Article, Section, and clause of the Constitution that gives Congress express authority to fund the marketing of wild American shrimp.
Another thing you'll find at the Redstate page: a link to a PDF filled with 65 pages of Ron Paul requesting federal money for things the federal government has no business being involved in. Some libertarian he is.
And people buy his "I'm a purist" crap?
Not all of us, Erick. Liar,
9/11 truther (as per the comments, I'm changing this) 9/11 Truther sympathizer and panderer, hypocrite and faux Big L libertarian. That's the real Ron Paul.
Posted by JimK at 05:59 PM on August 06, 2007
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Categories: News, Politics, The Federal Government
Tags: ron paul pork spending Election 2008 Politics
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Moore, Social Security and patriotism
Originally posted at Moorewatch. Re-posted here for those of you that don't want to visit that joint. :)
In the middle of a conversation we were having with my in-laws about how they receive their SS payments, something occurred to me: Moore has told another little lie, and keeps telling it over and over again.
Fact: 80% of the people who receive Social Security do so via Direct Deposit. 80% of the people that receive Social Security do not receive checks every month, but rather automated wire transfers. Using that example to prove that a single-payer healthcare system is easy to run in America is absolutely ludicrous.
Supplemental Fact: Those same 80% never see a piece of mail that "arrives on the same day every month." Of the 20% who do get a physical check mailed to them, you can find hundreds - if not thousands - of examples of checks arriving late, for the wrong amounts, etc.
Sure, it's a small detail, but one Moore has been relying on heavily to "prove" that Special Free Super Cheap Universal Health Magic For All can be done, done well and done by our federal machine exclusively. He's using a half-truth and a small lie to try to convince America to enact the largest socialist program in the history of the nation.
By the way...the next time you hear Moore say he loves America, here's some proof, by his own words, that he's lying. Mikey took part in a Q&A (heavy on the Q, very very light on the A) over at Crooks & Liars. Here's what he wrote that, in my opinion, proves he has never and will never love the United States of America as it was founded and exists today. First, when asked about his next project, he said:
If you look at the other films in order, you can see a theme and pattern, but much more I can't tell you yet.
Later, in response to someone asking him to clarify, he wrote:
The theme i referred to that exists in all my films is the economic system that we live under. It's unfair, unjust, and not democratic.
And there you have it. Moore believes that our entire economic system is wrong. Of course, it's the reason we exist as a separate nation - we wanted a free market, and we were sick and tired of our market being controlled by one dottering old madman thousands of miles away. We fought a war to establish, among other things, our right to have a free market economy. It's one of the cornerstones of this great country, and Michael abhors it.
His desire has always been to see socialism established in the U.S. in any way possible. It's the central theme to every film and most of his television and written projects as well. It's why he overlooks Castro's horrible abuses and murderous past to champion him as a man of the people. In Moore's mind, human rights can only be abused by those of a right-wing persuasion. Anything to the left is inherently good, and the further left you go the better. Unions should be able to bankrupt a company. Guns belong only in the hands of the state. Government should dole out your healthcare. F911 was the aberration, and that was about capturing lightning in a bottle. The radical hatred of Bush wasn't going to be marketable for very long.
Moore wants to literally destroy one of the cornerstones of the United States of America. It's not just about healthcare. He wants the government - or rather, a far left government - in charge of everything. I do not believe Moore loves the United States of America. I believe he's in love with the idea of turning it into the People's Republic of America.
Posted by JimK at 07:12 PM on July 25, 2007
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Categories: Michael Moore(on), News, The Federal Government, Things To Ponder
Tags: Michael Moore Sicko healthcare America patriotism socialism
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Brownback and Romney fight over who is the bigger jackhole
Not that there was much chance of either Brownback or Romney getting my vote in 2008, but this little dust-up seals it. Romney's new ad:
I'm deeply troubled about the culture that surrounds our kids today… I'd like to see us clean up the water in which our kids are swimming. I'd like to keep pornography from coming up on their computers. I'd like to keep drugs off the street. I'd like to see less violence and sex on TV and in video games and in movies. If we get serious about this we can actually do a great deal to clean up the water in which our kids and grandkids are swimming.
Does the word "parenting," or the concept of responsible parenting show up in this ad anywhere? No? Imagine that. Brownback's idiotic "I can be a bigger nosy Nelly than you" response:
In a move rich with irony, Mitt Romney's presidential campaign released a new television advertisement decrying "the culture that surrounds our kids today," despite the fact that Romney served on the board of Marriott International, which generated tens of millions of dollars in revenue through in-room pornography services at its hotels.
In stark contrast with Romney's role at Marriott, which brought him over $100,000 per year, Senator Sam Brownback lead the fight against indecency and asked the hotel chain to stop offering pornography in its rooms.
Senator Brownback has been a leader on decency and media issues… Despite facing intense industry opposition, Brownback has worked to strengthen video game ratings standards and to study the impact of media on childhood development.
Hey Senator Brownback, would you care to maybe study the impact of involved parenting on childhood development? How about the concept of responsibility? Does that affect childhood development in any way?
God how I loathe the social conservative. It's not like there's a better option on the left though. Democrats are gearing up for another round of "Let's ban the popular media format of the decade" all over the country. Last time it was music, this time it's video games.
If Fred Thompson or Rudy Giuliani come out with this crap too, I might just not vote at all. I've had it. Social conservatives can kiss my ass. Let me say it again, for the morons in the cheap seats:
Posted by JimK at 06:39 PM on July 17, 2007
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Categories: Entertainment, Gaming, News, Politics, The Federal Government, The Stupidity Of Man
Tags: social conservatives video games media politics Mitt Romney Sam Brownback Election 2008
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Water on a plane? Hell no, but that bomb is perfectly fine.
Federal inspectors were able to slip a fake bomb through a checkpoint at Albany International Airport during a test of the facility's Transportation Security Administration screeners, according to individuals familiar with the incident.
The unannounced inspection by TSA officials took place early last week. The airport's security measures failed in five of seven tests, most of the problems occurring at the passenger checkpoint, the sources said.
In one test, TSA inspectors hid the components of a fake bomb in carry-on luggage that also contained a bottle of water. Passengers are prohibited from carrying containers holding more than three ounces of liquids, gels or aerosols through airport checkpoints.
The screeners at Albany International confiscated the water bottle but missed the bomb. In all, the inspectors slipped four banned items through the main checkpoint during the test, sources said.
The TSA, which took over security at the nation's commercial airports after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, conducts random tests of its workforce on a regular basis and failures are common, officials said.
Paul Varville, the TSA's security director at Albany International, could not be reached for comment.
Ann Davis, a TSA spokeswoman, declined to discuss the circumstances of the covert test at Albany International.
"We don't discuss the results because they tend to paint an inaccurate picture of the competency of our work force," she said. "The tests are designed to be incredibly difficult and TSA does anticipate a fair level of failure."
Can you imagine the arrogance and idiocy it must take to deliver that line with a straight face? "TSA does anticipate a fair level of failure. We realize this means that in the end, we're utterly ineffectual and really, all we do is make air travel around a thousand times more stressful for the average person than it need be, but, hey...no liquids on a plane, right? That's gotta count for something."
Is there a more obvious waste of security money than hiring people with the IQ of root vegetables to screen air travelers using methods designed not to catch bad guys, but to avoid race-and-religion-based lawsuits?
Posted by JimK at 02:22 PM on July 11, 2007
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Categories: News, The Federal Government, The Stupidity Of Man
Tags: TSA airlines security
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text:
Product DescriptionElastic wrist band with TPR rubber and Velcro® closure. Spandura® back allows air in to keep your hands cool and dry.
Review Options: Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating
|Reviews 1 - 2 (2 Reviews Total)
User Reviews
Date Reviewed: January 21, 2004
Strengths: comfortable, dual purpose, i use them to play football sometimes!strong, and also very durable
Weaknesses: they seem to be shrinking, because they are getting tighter.
Bottom Line:
Expand full review >>
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid: $35.00
Purchased At: this place in downtown hudson on main st
Similar Products Used: some piece of crap LeMond gloves
Bike Setup: THERE GLOVES YOU STUPID SETUP!
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2002
Strengths: Nice colours. Very sticky on the grips and brake levers. Not too hot. Says "nasty" on them.
Weaknesses: Well, keep reading...
Bottom Line:
They are super tactile for a while, then the palm material gets all worn and fuzzy, and the tactiliness is gone. The rubber grippy bits on the fingers fall off. They have 4 small holes on the palm, one under each finger. The one on the pinky finger seems to be enlarging from use. Maybe from cranking on the bars? This is also where the most wear is. Also, the palms are so thin, my callouses are coming back! :-)
Expand full review >>
Price Paid: $40.00
Purchased At: Sports Depo, Naha, Japan
Similar Products Used: Lots of Fox stuff
Bike Setup: red tricycle
|Reviews 1 - 2 (2 Reviews Total)
Review Options: Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating
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MOBILE, Ala. (AP) - A federal judge will sentence a former Bayou La Batre mayor convicted of corruption over his dealings during the recovery effort from Hurricane Katrina.
Stan Wright was convicted March 1 of conspiracy, theft of government funds and witness intimidation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Murphy has asked for the maximum prison term. She said Wright abused his office by using federal funds to purchase family-owned property for a housing project after Hurricane Katrina.
The Mobile Press-Register (http://bit.ly/12qoa8E ) reports that prosecutors also want Wright punished for seeking revenge against a police captain who reported the crime to the FBI.
Defense attorney Arthur Madden said a one-month prison sentence followed by three years of supervised release would be fair. He said Wright did much to help the local community rebuild.
Information from: Press-Register, http://www.al.com/press-register/
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33 U.S. Code § 425 - Omitted
Section, act June 7, 1924, ch. 316, § 9,43 Stat. 606, directed Secretary of War to investigate depositing of polluting substances into navigable streams and report the results to Congress not later than two years from June 7, 1924.
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Sandpoint Photographers
April 22, 2014
Is Hiring a Sandpoint Photographer That Important?
Are you currently in limbo about hiring a Sandpoint photographer? Do you understand that you have a need for a photographer like this, but you just don't want to pony up the extra cash for the service?
I know you've considered placing disposable cameras on every table and asked the guests to take shots of everyone around them. And this makes the celebration more fun for the guests. But let's face it, the quality of the pictures from those cheap cameras sill not do your wedding justice.
So why should I hire a Sandpoint photographer?
Well, this is a once-in-a-lifetime event. The memories from this day are going to last a lifetime. The photos taken should be of a high enough quality that they'll stand the test of time just like your special day. Choosing the cheap route will guarantee you lackluster photos of kids and family members, poor poses and setting, always people in the picture that shouldn't be there. You need a professional who is going to deliver a photo that you'll be proud to blow up and display at the entrance of your house for a lifetime.
Plus your wedding album should look like the dream you always imagined. If you hired a professional Sandpoint photographer, you won't have to worry about it. Using friends or family to take your pictures will result in a wedding album that just looks like a scrapbook.
I cannot stress this enough. There are certain events in life that only happen once. When it is your turn to experience them for yourself, why would you even consider skimping out on a photographer to immortalize the event forever. Hire a professional photographer in Sandpoint to make the memories of that day last a lifetime.
Benefits of Polarized Sun Glasses
March 25, 2014
Learn more about Vision Home Remedies and ways to Improve Vision Naturally.
Eye Care Health
March 12, 2014
Adult macular degeneration is traditionally described as that form of the disease that affects individuals over the age of 55 years. However, it has been recently discovered that a significant number of these individuals may have a major genetic component that contributes to the disease. Annual eye exams by your optometrist can lead to early detection of the disease and offer better treatment options.
What does macular degeneration do to your vision
Your retina contains an extraordinary photosensitive array of cells that line the back of your eye. The light falling onto these cells in the retina is transformed into electrical signals which are transmitted to the brain centers that process and interpret them.
The most concentrated collection of photosensitive cells in your retina, including those that enable critical color and fine detail vision, are found in the Bulls-Eye center zone in an area called the macula.
Macular degeneration is the name given to that group of diseases that causes sight-sensing cells in the macular zone of the retina to malfunction or lose function and results in debilitating loss of vital central or detail vision.
Thanks to the brain's ability to compensate and fill in the missing part of the picture in early cases with spotty macular cell damage or dysfunction, most people do not realize there is an issue. And only visit their ophthalmologist once the disease is advanced.
What are the Symptoms of Macular Degeneration?
Macular degeneration can cause different symptoms in different people. Sometimes only one eye loses vision while the other eye continues to see well for many years. The condition may be hardly noticeable in its early stages. But when both eyes are affected, reading and close up work can become difficult.
If you have been diagnosed with adult macular degeneration you are not alone. In the United States of America, one in six people between the ages of 55 and 64 will be affected while one in four Americans between 64 and 74 will be smitten. One in three over the age of 75 will be affected. Each year 1.2 million of the estimated 12 million people with macular degeneration will suffer severe central vision loss. Each year 200,000 individuals will lose all central vision in one or both eyes. While the exact causes of macular degeneration are still unknown, research has discovered some correlations in a group of genes termed ABCR.
Possession of these genes may increase the likelihood of an individual developing macular degeneration by approximately 30 percent. However, most macular diseases appear likely due to both environmental and genetic factors that combine to cause damage and disease.
Genetic typing of patients with macular degeneration is likely to assume more and more importance in the future. It will enable ophthalmologists to identify high-risk individuals and to better understand the relationships between genetic defects, the appearance of the macula and how the disease progresses. This information will hopefully provide scientists with some of the tools they need to develop therapies that can prevent, slow and even arrest the progression of macular degeneration.
What can you or your loved one do if diagnosed with macular degeneration?
First it is important to modify those environmental risk factors that we know about.
1. Eat a low-fat, low cholesterol diet.
2. If you are post menopausal, you should consult with your physician concerning estrogen replacement therapy. This may have a favorable impact upon cholesterol lipid levels that play a role in worsening the disease.
3. Wear sunglasses with UV protection.
4. Try to consume at least two servings of leafy dark green vegetables per day.
5. Do not smoke and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.
6. Eat food and or supplements rich in vitamin E,C and Lutein. Lutein is a plant antioxidant found in high quantities in spinach, kale and other dark green, leafy vegetables.
If you are looking for aCoeur d'Alene Eye Doctor, call the professional staff at Centennial Eye Care Center.


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1st and 3rd Sundays of the Month
This meeting has been postponed to September 21st.
$5-$10 Donation Suggested
What is at the heart of meditation practice and how can it reveal a clearer sense of ourselves, our various aspects of identity, and how we relate to and are connected to others? These questions serve as the basis for Who Are We?, a meditation group for both new and more experienced practitioners alike. With the foundation being the formal practice of mindfulness meditation, or shamatha, this group will be an opportunity to explore some of the issues central to Shambhala Buddhist teachings, including the self, egolessness, the nature of suffering, basic goodness, and enlightened society. However, the primary inspiration is to create a space that will allow personal and often challenging issues of identity, diversity, and multiculturalism to emerge and be shared with others. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
Gender Identity
Sexuality/Sexual Identity
Class and Wealth
Race, Ethnicity, and Nationality
Physical/Developmental Disability
Religious/Spiritual Affiliation
Mental Health
Prejudice and Discrimination
Power and Privilege
If you are new to meditation, beginning instruction and formal meditation practice will be offered at the start of each meeting. In addition, each meeting will include a discussion on a pre-selected topic of identity/culture. As these meetings may elicit challenging ideas and powerful emotional reactions, group discussions will be led by a member of the Shambhala community experienced in meditation practice, multicultural issues, and group facilitation. The evening will end with light refreshments and a chance to socialize with others.
For more information, please contact Diversity Committee Chair, Bryan Mendiola, at email@example.com.
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Equipment Ii
Posted on February 9th, 2012
I'm trying to plan my winter wardrobe and I know i've mentioned Equipment shirts a month or so ago, but now the obsession is really flying high. I recently purchased a pair of Zara leather pants and I think a silk Equipment shirt would go perfectly!!
Above are a few images from their latest campaign.Now let your obsession begin!


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LiveLIVE: Croydon Council election 2014
Enable automatic updates every minute? YES NO
- Labour win control of Croydon Council
- Coun Tony Newman's group win key marginal wards New Addington and Waddon
- Conservatives blame Ukip 'protest votes'
Triumphant cheers ring out around this now all-too-familiar sports hall as Labour celebrate a comprehensive victory that hands control of Croydon Council back to Tony Newman and co for the first time since 2008.
As for us, we've been here for TWELVE HOURS and haven't slept in nearly 30 so we're off for a lie down before we throw up.
Thanks for reading!
And that means... WE CAN ALL GO HOME!
Margaret Bird, James Thompson and Chris Wright win Conservative seats in Coulsdon East.
I thought this moment may never come... There's just ONE WARD LEFT!
Jeet Bains, Luke Clancey and Gavin Barwell's BFF Mario Creatura win Conservative seats in Coulsdon West.
Jeet Bains, Luke Clancey and Gavin Barwell's BFF Mario Creatura win Conservative seats in Coulsdon West.
Stuart Collins, Mike Selva and Shajul-Hameed complete Labour's final clean sweep of the night. This 'un is in Broad Green.
Tim Godfrey, Toni Letts and Gerry Ryan retain Labour seats in Selhurst.
They switched off our wi-if but we're BACK! You can't keep a good live blog down.
I've been told the the wi-fi man wants to go home (apparently he's been here a while or something) so the live blog may be cut short before the bitter end. If so, barring any major surprises in safe wards, the final score will be Labour 40 - 30 Conservative. A 14-seat swing for Tony Newman's gang.
Labour's Maggie Mansell, Shafi Khan and Sherwan Chowdhury retain seats in Norbury, obvs.
Oh, Conservatives have of course retained Sanderstead - Lynne Hale, Yvette Hopley and Tim Pollard will return to those plush council chamber seats.
BBBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINGGGGGG! That's the bell for the end of the first class, which just rang out loud and clear. An unwelcome reminder that we are sleepwalking zombies in a functioning school full of bright-eyed children. Learning things and stuff.
Remember when this blog was full of lovely pretty pictures? That was nice. I can't even remember how you add pictures to it anymore.
Labour have now mathematically won the election, but we've still got a few consolation true blue seats to whizz through before I collapse.
Labour have now mathematically won the election, but we've still got a few consolation true blue seats to whizz through before I collapse.
And, as predicted, Labour have swept to victory in Ashburton - one of the key marginals that have won them the election. Maddie Henson, Stephen Mann and Andrew Rendle are win seats.
Another safe ward goes Labour's way - this time West Thornton, where Tony Benn's granddaughter Emily Benn has won election. I've lost both my list of candidates and the majority of my mental faculties so I can't tell you who stood with.
Labour take all three Upper Norwood seats - Pat Ryan, John Wentworth and Alisa Flemming.
This now all has the air of the final day of the Premier League season when the title is already decided. No one is really paying any attention. Nothing much matters. Only everyone looks really, really tired.
Jason Cummings, Margaret Mead and Andy Stranack elected for the Conservatives in Heathfield. Good to see Andy Stranack back in politics after his battle with cancer.
Technology is failing us left, right and centre here at the Croydon count.
The three Thornton Heath seats go exactly where you'd expect - Labour's Pat Clouder, Karen Jewitt and Matthew Kyeremeh.
Sara Bashford, Dudley Mead and Phil Thomas retain Selsdon and Ballards. Coun Mead greets the victory by saying: "Let's just get this over and done with." Suffice to say, this is Labour's election.
Sara Bashford, Dudley Mead and Phil Thomas retain Selsdon and Ballards. Coun Mead greets the victory by saying: "Let's just get this over and done with." Suffice to say, this is Labour's election.
Robert Canning, Andrew Pelling and Joy Price complete a massive swing for Labour in Waddon. And that pretty much seals the election for Coun Tony Newman's gang.
Labour have claimed ALL THREE seats in Waddon, a ward which was entirely Conservative in 2010.
Maria Gatland, Michael Neal and Jason Perry all hold for the Conservatives in Croham.
'Blame Ukip' is party line the Tories are sticking to. Essentially admitting defeat, Coun Mike Fisher said: "I don't think Labour have won control of the council; I think the Ukip vote has denied us control of the council and that is to be regretted."
Sue Bennett, Richard Chatterjee and Conservative leader Mike Fisher seal another clean sweep in Shirley.
On a further sidenote, the Croydon Guardian team have now been awake for well over 24 hours. Except for Andy Bloss, who is snoozing soundly at home in bed. The workshy (literal) layabout.
On a sidenote, kids have begun turning up for school. It's not yet 8am. It wasn't like this in my day...
Another trio of Tory seats - this time for Simon Brew, Badsha Quadir and Donald Speakman for Purley.
Several Labour candidates are hanging around the declaration room even though there is nothing going on at the moment.
It appears they are too tired to move in and out of the room and are just happy waiting for their next set of winners.
They might have a bit to wait though as Purley is on now.
Vidhi Mohan, Helen Pollard and Susan Winborn hold for the Conservatives in Fairfield.
Labour leader Tony Newman has hailed "a historic victory for Labour in Croydon". It's not over yet, but it's hard to imagine he'll be wrong - it looks to be Labour's night.
Another clean sweep for Labour in the safe seat of Woodside - Tony Newman, Hamida Ali and Paul Scott way out in front.
The declarations are coming thicker and fastest than our puny, sleep-deprived fingers can handle, so we'll update you with full vote breakdowns for every ward later. But stay tuned for find out the who claims the seats in the remaining wards.
Sean Fitzsimons, Patricia Hay-Justice and Mark Watson complete an important clean sweep in Addiscombe for Labour.
Addiscombe up next. Another crucial ward.
Winston McKenzie, who polled among the fewest votes in South Norwood, blames "media tyranny" for his failure to win a seat. Undetered, he insists "this is the start of something phenomenal" - by which he means, the rise and rise of Ukip.
He still thinks Croydon is "a dumping ground", by the way but now claims his comments the other day were about fly-tipping. Hmmmm.
All three Labour councillors for South Norwood - Jane Avis, Kathy Bee and wayne Lawlor - have retained their seats.
They thanked the people of the ward for re-electing them and said they were deeply honoured.
All three Labour councillors for South Norwood - Jane Avis, Kathy Bee and wayne Lawlor - have retained their seats.
They thanked the people of the ward for re-electing them and said they were deeply honoured.
Audsley, James (Labour) 2,134
Butler, Alison (Labour) 2,121
Jones, Sam (Green) 379
Kabir, Humayun (Labour) 1,940
Matin, Talukdar (Conservative) 480
Muller, Dirk (Ukip) 378
Samuel, Victoria (Green) 278
Smith, Robert (Conservative) 588
Stevenson, Ben (Communist) 55
Taylor, Roger (Conservative) 579
Viney, Stephen (Liberal Dems) 117
Walsh, Brendan (Green) 302
Jamie Audsley, Alison Butler and Kabir Humayan win a clean sweep for Labour in Bensham Manor.
Declarations moving along apace now, at last. Bensham Manor up next. Labour hold a formality.
Kenley ward results
Abdey, Olive (Lib Dem) 238
Buttinger, Jan (Conservative) 2,272
Catto, Angela (Lib Dem) 271
Croos, Mary-Romaine (Labour) 636
Dixon, Ian (Green) 327
Dixon-King, Anneka (Green) 336
Hollands, Steve (Conservative) 2,123
Hooper, David (Ukip) 803
Knight, James (Lib Dems)217
Manton, Paul (Ukip) 714
O'Connell, Steve (Conservative) 2,111
Robson, Lynnda (Ukip) 728
Voute, Tom (Green) 265
Ward, Sarah (Labour) 678
Williams, Chris (Labour) 675
Steve Hollands, Jan Buttinger and Steve O'Connell all hold their seats in Kenley.
If this was a football match then Labour would still be in the lead - just - as the Conservatives have held their stronghold of Kenley.
So at the moment, with three wards declared, Labour has four councillors and Conservatives have three.
For anyone who has lost count, that is two wards declared in Croydon with Labour winning both New Addington and Fieldway.
Fieldway results in full:
Clarke, David (BNP): 210
Clarke, John (BNP): 212
Castle, Michael (Conservative): 471
Laville, Jayne (Conservative): 314
Gale, Eileen (Green): 102
Groves, Jack (Green): 130
Bonner, Carole (Labour): 1,132
Hall, Simon (Labour): 1,104
Eastoe, Bill (UKIP): 686
Labour has held Fieldway with its councillors Carole Bonner and Simon Hall looking forward to representing the ward for another four years.
"The Ukip voters have handed Labour the council." Those are the words of Chris Philp, the Conservative Party's candidate for Croydon South. Earlier he told us it was "certainly possible" Labour would win the council, but it appears his mood has darkened since.
He told us the Conservatives expect to lose Ashburton, Waddon and Addiscombe by hundreds of votes - having already lost New Addington.
You're not even safe from Winston McKenzie in your sleep.
Just had a vision that Winston McKenzie was the new #Croydon Councillor in charge of Business. Please Twitter tell me I was dreaming.— All about Croydon (@AllaboutCroydon) May 23, 2014
Results for Upper Norwood up next, but nobody knows when.
Good morning to our readers who are rising from their slumber to go to work like normal human beings. What better to read on the commute than a live blog of ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAPPENING written by journalists with slowly disintegrating sanity.
CAFFEINE NEWS: Three coffees, one tea and a Dr Pepper. AND WE'VE NEVER FELT MORE ALIVE.
Pupils are supposed to arrive at school in a few hours. We assume they'll just study around us.
Spare a thought for our friends on the Sutton Guardian, where the count had been scheduled to finish at 4am. They've yet to see a single result.
And this, dear readers, is daylight (and the corner of a portaloo.) It is becoming ever clearly that the promised 7am finish was a pipe dream.
And here's a shot of New Addington's new councillors Louisa Woodley and Oliver Lewis celebrating with Labour leader Tony Newman.
Well that's one down, just the 23 more wards to go...
Oliver Lewis, after winning a seat in New Addington, said: "This campaign has been a long campaign and it's been a hard campaign and we have worked hard in New Addington as these results show.
"It's not about where you live, it's about what your values are and I think the values of the people in New Addington.
"What we have seen here tonight is the start of a good night here for Labour.
I think we have put a lot of hard work into the campaign and we have reflected the issues that people felt were important in New Addington."
New Addington results in full:
Christensen, Clive (Ukip): 714
Clugston, Jim (Green ): 107
Cousins, Martin (Green): 123
Fish, Lara (Conservative): 617
Johnson, Christopher (Ukip): 639
Le May, Clifford (BNP): 168
Lewis, Oliver (Labour): 1,244
Pearson, Anthony (Conservative): 650
Treanor, Donna (BNP): 80
Woodley, Louisa (Labour): 1,094
Labour's Parliamentary candidate for Croydon Central reacts to the New Addington result:
Massive victory for the politics of hope. @oliverjlewis and Louisa win new Addington pic.twitter.com/BtXqFP45lL— Sarah Jones (@LabourSJ) May 23, 2014
Both parties were desperate to win New Addington. Massive blow to the Tories and Labour a significant step towards reclaiming control of the council.
Voter turnout 39 per cent, down from 57 per cent in 2010 - but that vote coincided with the general election.
Conservative Tony Pearson has lost his seat to Labour's Oliver Lewis, 650 votes to 1,244. Louisa Woodley retains her seat with 1,094 votes.
Labour have GAINED a seat in New Addington, where they now have both council seats. Big win.
Forty-five councils across the country have now declared results in their entirety. We're still waiting for a result from our first ward here in Croydon, six hours after polls closed.
Winston is no stranger to the camera, of course. This 'rap' video, shot for his campaign to become Mayor of London in 2008, is surely the highlight of his film career and also approximately 14 times more entertaining than waiting for people to finish counting things.
Winston McKenzie is having no trouble killing time at the count. He's over on Sky News now.
That nut Winston Mckenzie is now on Sky! "You haven't actually won a seat in Croydon, and you don't look like you will!" Nice Adam Boulton!— Richard Mitchell (@mrrichmuk) May 23, 2014
CAFFEINE NEWS: We've consumed two coffees and one bottle of Dr Pepper between us thus far. Modest, all things considered.
Michael Castle, a Conservative candidate for Fieldway, believes "there will definitely be some Ukip councillors on the council after tonight".
Ukip have gained 68 seats nationwide thus far tonight, with big gains in Essex - where clearly people are also better at counting than in Croydon.
Will this map have splashes of purple on it come 7am? (No, it won't, because we'll be far too tired to make colourful maps by then. But you get the point.)
We're told we should have our first results within 30 minutes, with the rest coming "thick and fast" after that. We were told something similar an hour ago though.
Probably best to unbait your breath. Still no sign of any results here. Five hours and counting (geddit?)
Bait your breath, people. We're expecting New Addington to be declared any minute now.
Mischief afoot in the hallways of Trinity School - but it is former Conservative MP Andrew Pelling rankling the authorities tonight, rather than schoolchildren.
The Labour candidate for Waddon, unimpressed with the speed of tonight's count, collared returning officer Nathan Elvery to ask: "Should I go home to get some sleep before the results?"
An evidently unimpressed Elvery simply muttered: "I wouldn't. We'll have some results soon."
We reported earlier that Croydon Central's Conservative MP Garvin Barwell believes Labour will win back control of the council this morning. Now his prospective Parliamentary colleague Chris Philip has said "it is certainly possible".
The Conservative candidate for Croydon South in next year's general election told us: "It is going to be uncomfortably close. The key wards - Ashburton, New Addington, Waddon - are all looking extremely close. It could go either way."
A small crowd gathered around a TV screen here to watch Ukip's South Norwood candidate and walking gaffe-generator Winston McKenzie interviewed by David Dimbleby on the BBC's election coverage.
Winston accused the media of "playing the race card" and using racism as a weapon against Ukip. Asked why he dismissed Croydon as "a dump" at Ukip's abortive 'carnival' on Wednesday, he - after much stuttering and floundering - replied: "because the people here are disenfranched".
He spoke many, many more words but not a great deal of sense before Dimbers finally cut him off.
All votes have been counted for New Addington and we're expecting it to be the first ward declared. The result will be hugely significant for the Conservatives and Labour. Stay tuned for updates.
It ain't just us keeping a close eye on Croydon's election.
BBC London Political Editor (as you can see on BBC1) is in Croydon - which shows you BBC think Croydon is tightest race in London tonight— Omar Oakes (@OmarOakes) May 23, 2014
Rumours abound that Ashburton, currently fully Conservative, will fall into the hands of Labour. It is thought a strong Ukip showing in New Addington - where just 90 votes seperated winner from loser in 2010 - could steal blue votes in another key marginal ward.
All talk until the fat lady stops counting, of course, but there a few grim-faced Tories in the hall.
BREAKING NEWS: Coffee has happened. Finally. Things are looking up. Briefly.
We will find out later whether the election result is as close as Councillor Vidhi Moran thinks it will be
Conservative Vidhi Mohan says it is too early to say whether his party will keep control of the council.
But he is happy with the way the campaign went in Fairfield, where he is hoping to retain his seat.
Coun Mohan said: "I think the result will be very close but whether Labour will take the council or not, it's too early to say.
"I have only been looking at what's happening in my ward so I'm pretty pleased with how it has gone.
"We were out campaigning and found people were very positive about voting for us.
"I think our campaign has been well received."
The cabinet member for communities and economic development added: "I think our record over the past eight years has been well received.
"And I think the deal with Westfield and Hammerson has gone down very well."
Heathfield candidate Andy Stranack is feeling confident of his chances heading into the count.
The Conservative, who has battled cancer over the past year, said: "It is looking very promising in Heathfield. We spent the whole day in New Addington today and I think it is going to be a challenge there.
"It is going to be tight but I suppose we have always known that so we will have to wait and see."
Conservative MP Gavin Barwell thinks Labour will take control of the council
Remarkable words from Conservative MP Gavin Barwell, who at this early stage is pessimistic about his party's chances of extending its eight-year rein of control over Croydon Council.
The Croydon Central MP has been running the campaign for the Conservatives in the marginal ward of Addiscombe but thinks the weeks of walking the streets and knocking on doors still might not be enough.
He said: "I think Labour will take control of the council tonight.
"People that live in the marginal wards see an intensive campaign but those in other areas do not see much at all.
"You get a reasonable number of your party's supporters and you get a number of opposition supporters as well when you are canvassing."
Croydon Conservatives' leader Coun Mike Fisher appears to be bolder, however. Asked if he was feeling confident, he replied: "I'm always feeling confident."
We're two hours in and - remarkably - not a drop of coffee has been consumed yet by the Croydon Guardian team. A state of affairs that surely will not - nay, cannot - last.
Our friends in neighbouring borough Sutton are running a live blog of their own and have picked up what is likely to the be the strangest political scoop of the night.
Laughing-stock Lib Dem Lembit Opik has for some reason turned up at Sutton Council's count and has promised to topple Nick Clegg, the party's leader, if they perform poorly in the European elections.
Electoral fraudsters beware... Chief Superintendent David Musker, Croydon's top cop, is in the house.
Andy Bloss has been playing with the settings on his phone's camera.
Panoramic view of the count hall if you are into that type of thing #croydon2014 pic.twitter.com/6edWYaZVlN— Andrew Bloss (@Andy_Bloss) May 22, 2014
Incidentally, if you didn't vote today, you might get asked why. Worry not! Here's our handy excuse generator.
Who did you vote for today? Did you vote at all? Let us know by posting a comment below or tweet @CroydonGuardian. If nothing else, the interaction might be the only thing that keeps us sane when the sleep deprivation kicks in.
This map shows the current ward-by-ward breakdown of Croydon Council. But how will it look tomorrow morning?
The race to run Croydon Council is likely to go right to the wire with just three seats separating Mike Fisher's Conservatives and Tony Newman's Labour group in 2010's election.
While we're waiting for the count to begin, read Andy Bloss's take on the crucial wards that will decide today's election and Chris Baynes's at-a-glance guide to the issues that have been dominating parties' campaigns.
Good evening, Croydon! The polls have closed and ballot boxes have begun to arrive at Trinity School, where the count is due to get underway shortly. Our reporters will be updating live from the count throughout the night.
The first ward results are expected at around 3.30am with final results announced around 7am.


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Nevertheless, the bill passed 21-7 in the Senate and 51-18 in the House. Both vote totals — if they were to hold — would be sufficient to override the veto if lawmakers decide to challenge it. An override requires at least 50 votes in the House and 20 in the Senate.
Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, said legislative leaders will wait until after April 3 —the deadline for Herbert to sign bills — to see how many other bills could face attempts at a veto override. Then they will poll members about how many want an override session.
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"I know HB76 passed both houses with a two-thirds vote," Niederhauser said. "But I really don't know how hard or how soft that vote is. We won't know until we do our polling."
House Speaker Becky Lockhart, R-Provo, said House members would be "thoughtful and methodical and evaluate whether or not they want to go into override. It's a pretty serious thing."
While Christensen said he and others will push for a veto override, he does not know how strong of an appetite lawmakers have for that.
"When it comes to pushing back that strongly, there are a lot of those votes that were not emphatic. They were 'yes' votes for the bill — but will they hold up? I would certainly like to see the override happen, and I will be pushing for it. I would hesitate to try to guess at the results of an override session," Christensen said.
Lobbying • Aposhian said his shooting sports council board will meet next week to see what steps it may take to seek an override. He adds he will try to schedule meetings with several legislators to talk about how it could help with a push for an override.
With a possible override fight looming, Bellenger said her anti-violence group will continue to encourage people to call legislators to ask them to vote against it.
Similarly, Maryann Martindale, executive director of Alliance for a Better Utah, noted 1,200 people signed a petition against HB76, and said, "It would be contrary to the wishes of the overwhelming majority of Utahns who favor sensible gun rights to override the governor's veto..... We call on the citizens of Utah to tell their legislators not to override the veto."
If Herbert had signed the bill, Utah would have joined about a half dozen other states with constitutional-carry laws on the books, including Vermont, Arizona, Wyoming and Montana.
Utah is the second Republican governor in a week to veto a bill legalizing concealed carry without a permit. South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard vetoed his state Legislature's measure March 15 and lawmakers were unable to muster sufficient votes to override him.
Copyright 2014 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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A YGO dueling academy that seeks to have a nice clean communitywhere all could have fun and compete in same time.
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Agape Front Cottage
Welcome to Agape! Agape is a newly furnished and remodeled bed and breakfast only one short block from Main Street. Complete with a fenced in yard for our 4-legged friends, Agape comes with all the right amenities to truly make your stay more convenient than ever. Rent the front house for a girl's getaway or rent both the Front Cottage and the Rear Cottage for a family reunion. Gather up your bunch and try Agape Guesthouse for your next trip to Fredericksburg!
- 1 block off of Main St., behind Hampton Inn
- Off-street parking
- 2 bedrooms – both have Queen-size beds
- Custom designer linens
- 1 bathroom – single-jetted Jacuzzi tub & shower
- Breakfast vouchers
- Full kitchen with basic utensils
- Coffee and tea bar
- HD TV with built in DVD player
- Wi-Fi
- Living area
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- Ceiling fans
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Rates & Restrictions
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Sports That Are Not Football / Lesser Known Sports & Athletes
WPSU's Cynthia Berger exposes the lesser known sports and athletes of central Pennsylvania.
From sled-dog racing (Pennsylvania is home to a world champ!) to bowling (the state's fastest growing high school sport!), WPSU's Cynthia Berger uncovers Pennsylvania's (ahem) lesser known sports and athletes. Frisbee golf, anyone?
In the 19th century, timber was a source of wealth in Pennsylvania . . . and a source of jobs for lumberjacks. For entertainment, the loggers invented contests of skill that today have become a collegiate sport.
It's the "Superbowl of Trout Fishing!" Anglers gather in State College for the U.S. National Fly Fishing Championship. WPSU's Cynthia Berger follows angler Loren Williams as he trains for the big event.
The Milllheim Fire Company celebrated its 100th anniversary with a run at the Guinness Book of World Records for "world's longest bucket brigade."
The Pennsylvania Lumber Museum hosts an annual "Bark Peeler's Convention," a celebration of the region's lumberjack heritage. One aspect of the convention is a sort of "lumberjack Olympics," including competitive axe throwing, birling and the thrilling cross-cut saw contest, using a specially sharpened saw.
Today's installment of "Sports That Are Not Football" features the amazing jumping frogs of Potter County.
Winter's not over till tomorrow. So there's still time to take a look at a winter sport for our occasional series, "Sports That Are Not Football." It's a sport that's growing in popularity in our state. Just grab a jig, an auger, and a couple of tip-ups, and join WPSU's Cynthia Berger out on the ice.
From the "Sports that are not Football" series, it's competitive bird watching with training, sponsors, team uniforms and prizes that rival the Heisman Trophy! In Central Pa., the big tournament is the Shaver's Creek Birding Cup. Cynthia Berger rode along with team "Bad Optics" for the 24-hour event.
Our occasional WPSU series "Sports That Are Not Bowling" shines a little light on under-appreciated sports. Today, our subject is the nation's fastest-growing high school sport. Central Pennsylvania has a team that's a contender for the state championship. WPSU's Cynthia Berger watched them in action last and she has this report.
We're always looking for interesting story ideas from across central Pennsylvania. Let us know what is happening in your community.


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Basehor Community Library Mission: Wolf program
- When: Wednesday, November 9, 2011, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Where: Basehor-Linwood High School, Basehor
- Cost: Not available
- Age limit: Not available
- Categories: Community
A Colorado wolf sanctuary will bring three live wolves to Basehor-Linwood High School Nov. 9 for an event sponsored by Basehor Community Library.
Mission:Wolf will present an educational and interactional program featuring "wolf ambassadors" from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, in the BLHS gym. Admission is free.
Laura Carroll, adult services librarian at the library, said the first half-hour of the program will educate visitors about wolves and wolf protection efforts, and the second half-hour will allow visitors to see the wolves up close.
The program is recommended for older elementary-aged children through adults, Carroll said.
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.


text:
Written by:
To wander life, an aimless fellow
Under sunlight, bright and yellow,
Walking roads and rough terrain
May seem to settlers quite insane.
To have a home and plot of land,
A friendly neighbors helping hand,
And happy tales of family lore
The wanderer would find a bore.
A settler and a wanderer sit down to have a chat,
Each asking of the other guy, "How could you live like that?"
The settler prays the wanderer will someday realize,
Yet over the horizon, the wanderers heart lies.


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Click here to read the latest issue
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Now browsing: Hometown News > News > Martin County
By Samantha Joseph
Staff writer
MARTIN COUNTY -- The fabled Mayan apocalypse was a no-show, but 2012 was still a big year for news in Martin County.
The area was a political stomping ground for several candidates on the national scene, including former house speaker Newt Gingrich. It also attracted $1.7 million in state funding for projects including support for work by ARC of Martin County, Alzheimer's Community Care, New Horizons of the Treasure Coast, Midwifery Services and the Elliott Museum.
Other funding coups included a $750,000 allocation for the Colorado Avenue business district.
Making the headlines were everything from shark attacks, projects with national implications, heated commission hearings and the death of an international icon.
This year also marked Hometown News' 10th anniversary and its growth in the last decade from a four-edition paper to one that covers about 250 miles on Florida's east coast.
Here's a look back, in no particular order, at some of the biggest Martin County stories of 2012:
Monkees front man dies of heart attack
On the last day of February, Davy Jones, 66, the 1960s teen idol who was lead singer for the Monkees, died from a heart attack suffered in Indiantown.
His publicist Helen Kensick said Mr. Jones kept a stable of horses locally and was involved with several nonprofits, including the Indiantown Education Coalition's annual fundraiser.
Mr. Jones sang with the Monkees from 1965 to 1971. Their hits included "I'm a Believer," "Pleasant Valley Sunday" and "Daydream Believer." He suffered the heart attack at 9955 S.W. Fox Brown Road and later died in hospital at Martin Health System.
Investigators make arrest in 19-year-old cold case
A former Stuart resident is jailed charged in the disappearance of Gail Parsons, a 10-year-old who disappeared on July 11, 1993.
On Nov. 29, detectives arrested Chester Duane Price, a 42-year-old convicted felon, and charged him in connection with the girl's disappearance.
Andrea disappeared after she went to buy candy from the neighborhood convenience store.
Based on a nearly two-decades-long investigation, detectives felt they had enough evidence to present to the state attorney's office for review and prosecution. A grand jury convened, which indicted Mr. Price.
Shark attacks swimmer
Beach goers got a scare when a bull shark attacked a man surfing at Jensen Public Beach in March.
Martin County Ocean Rescue closed the beach several times during the day after multiple shark sightings.
Rescue workers said the man suffered several bites on his left arm. The attack spurred reports of increased shark sightings in the area.
Dredging the St. Lucie Inlet
Commissioners approved a $6.4 million contract with Norfolk Dredging Company of Virginia to remove shoaling, or sand build up, in the inlet. The goal was to restore the natural flow of water moving from north to south.
Engineers said excessive sand accumulation would eventually block the waterway, closing it to boats and hurting the area's fishing and tourist industries.
Norfolk Dredging undertook the project Jan. 24 with a goal to remove 300,000 cubic yards of sand from the inlet.
The firm completed the work ahead of schedule, leading commissioners to approve further dredging to remove an additional 150,000 cubic yards of sand.
o Wedding planner accused of jilting brides
A 52-year-old Palm City businessman gave several area brides an unpleasant surprise when he "disappeared into thin air" with their deposits.
More than a dozen clients accused Marc Bergeron of absconding with their deposits, leaving them facing the prospect of cancelling weddings, birthday parties and other events for which many of them had paid in full.
Law enforcement officers caught up with Mr. Bergeron in Texas. Arlington authorities arrested him following a routine traffic stop that led to the discovery of outstanding warrants in Florida.
The one-time wedding planner faces charges of committing an organized scheme to defraud, as well as an unrelated charge stemming from violation of probation for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Crackdown on pain clinics increases use of homemade drugs
A crackdown on illegal drug dissemination at some regional pain clinics had an unintentional consequence, leading to an increase in the use of methamphetamines.
Law enforcement sources said prescription monitoring is making it difficult for addicts to obtain controlled substances, so some are manufacturing their own drugs.
In Martin County, investigators from the sheriff's office and Drug Enforcement Administration busted their third meth lab on Nov. 29, after executing a search warrant at a Palm City home. Two months earlier, detectives with the special investigations unit arrested two people for manufacturing methamphetamine at a Stuart motel.
General election ushers in several new officials
The 2012 elections brought runaway victories for some candidates and bitter contests for others. In the end, several newcomers ushered out the old guard.
During the Republican primary last August longtime school board member Laurie Gaylord won the race for superintendent over incumbent Nancy Kline.
During the general election, State Rep. William Snyder, R-Stuart, trounced his opponent, write-in candidate Trent Wetherald to capture nearly 96 percent of the vote for Martin County Sheriff.
But in the District 2 school board seat, a runoff election led Marsha Powers to a win over Tony George, who waived his right to a recount.
After more than 79,400 of the county's 101,800 registered voters participated in the election, District 1commission contender Doug Smith, District 83's Gayle Harrell and District 82's MaryLynn Magar all defeated write-in candidates.
In Stuart, longtime community leader Eula Clarke regained her commission seat and fellow commissioners later named her mayor.
o Long-time leaders depart
The year also saw the departure of long-serving law enforcement officials and Stuart's fire chief.
After nearly 14 years in the position, Stuart Police Chief Edward M. Morley retired Sept. 30. Longtime Assistant Chief David Dyess took over the job Oct. 1.
Also departing from the city was its first female fire chief, Lori Sunderman, who retired Nov. 30. Assistant Fire Chief David Dyal stepped into the role of interim chief during a ceremony on Dec. 1.
Also leaving a longtime job was Sheriff Robert Crowder, who was one of the region's longest serving sheriffs. He is set to leave office Jan. 7, after a failed bid for U.S. Congress.
o Boaters uncover huge cocaine stash
One of the biggest drug busts of the year came not for intense investigations but a discovery from unsuspecting boaters.
Three boaters fishing about 8 miles northeast of the St. Lucie Inlet hauled in the nearly 42-pounds of cocaine when they recovered an unattended package they found floating in the water.
Deputies conducted a search of the area and were unable to locate any other vessels. But they did seize the cocaine and scheduled it for destruction.
Commissioners pay tribute to longtime leader
A former state legislator's love of a local landmark led county commissioners to rename it in his honor.
William G. "Doc" Myers, a longtime Hobe Sound resident, was a frequent visitor to the South County Ball Park, and following a vote last July, commissioners renamed the recreational site in his honor.
Now called the William G. "Doc" Myers Park, the site sits on 25 acres, located at 10000 S. Dixie Highway.
Mr. Myers died in 2010 at age 79. He was an area physician, who served as a Martin County commissioner in the 1960s and '70s, in the state house from 1978 to 1982 and in the state senate from 1982 to 2000.
oLong-time plan envisioned
Regional planners are working on a 50-year economic development plan for Martin and six other counties in Southeast Florida.
Several planning groups are working on a plan for Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
They've called the plan Seven50, and say it is a blueprint for prosperous communities, a cleaner environment, improved education systems, more efficient transportation and stronger economies for the participating areas
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Maxwell's Daily Find 04.22.13
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2 Comments
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COPD Health Center
Vitamin E May Lower Women's Lung Disease Risk
May 17, 2010 -- Long-term, regular use of vitamin E supplements appears to reduce the risk of chronic obstructive lung disease or COPD in women, according to a new study.
But men may not get the same benefit, according to another study. Both studies were presented this week at the American Thoracic Society international conference in New Orleans.
The risk reduction for women on vitamin E supplements was equal in people who smoked -- the primary risk factor for getting COPD -- and people who didn't, says Anne Hermetet Agler, a PhD candidate at Cornell University and lead author of the study involving women.
''We saw a 10% reduction in risk," she says. The women took 600 IU of vitamin E every other day. Of the effect, she says, "It is limited to just women."
Vitamin E, an antioxidant, has been looked at as a lung disease preventive because it is thought to protect against free radicals, molecules that damage cells and one of the proposed processes by which lung disease is thought to develop. But previous research has found little or no effects of antioxidants on lung outcomes, Agler says. And other research has found increasing vitamin E may slightly increase lung cancer risk and other ill effects.
More than 16 million Americans have COPD, also known as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, according to the National Lung Health Education Program.
Vitamin E and Women's COPD Risk
Agler and her co-researchers analyzed data that had already been gathered for the Women's Health Study. The long-term research effort ended in 2004 and focused on what effects aspirin and vitamin E had in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer in nearly 40,000 women, age 45 and older.
During that study, women were randomly assigned to groups that took either 600 IU of vitamin E every other day, 100 milligrams of aspirin every other day, or placebo. None of the women had COPD at the start of the study.
During the nearly 10-year follow-up, there were 760 new reports of COPD in the vitamin E group and 846 in the placebo group, translating to a 10% risk reduction for the supplement group.
The effect held when Agler considered a number of other factors, including smoking status, age, and multivitamin use.
Even though the vitamin E reduced the overall risk of COPD in both smokers and nonsmokers, the current smokers were more than four times as likely as never smokers to get COPD, the researchers found.
Agler also looked at the effect of vitamin E on new diagnoses of asthma, but found little or no association.
Vitamin E and Men's COPD Risk
Men don't appear to get the same protection from vitamin E, according to study author Patricia Cassano, PhD, associate professor of nutritional epidemiology at Cornell University.