text:
Mexico: Examining Cartel War Violence Through a Protective Intelligence Lens
By Fred Burton and Scott Stewart
Mexico's long and violent drug cartel war has recently intensified. The past week witnessed the killings of no fewer than six senior police officials. One of those killed was Edgar Millan Gomez, acting head of the Mexican federal police and the highest-ranking federal cop in Mexico. Millan Gomez was shot to death May 8 just after entering his home in Mexico City.
Within the past few days, six suspects have been arrested in connection with his murder. One of the ringleaders is said to be a former federal highway police officer. The suspects appear to have ties to the Sinaloa cartel. In fact, Millan Gomez was responsible for a police operation in January that led to the arrest of Alfredo Beltran Leyva, the cartel's second-in-command. Mexican police believe Beltran Leyva's brother Arturo (who is also a significant player in the Sinaloa cartel structure) commissioned the hit.
During the same time period, violence from the cartel war has visited the family of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera, the Sinaloa cartel leader who has the distinction of being Mexico's most-wanted drug kingpin. On May 8, Guzman Loera's son Edgar Guzman Beltran and two companions were killed by a large-scale ambush as they left a shopping mall in Culiacan, Sinaloa.
In addition to discussing the geopolitical implications of this escalation in the violence, we thought it would be instructive to look at the recent wave of violence through the lens of protective intelligence. Such an effort can allow us not only to see what lessons can be learned from the attacks, but also provide insight on how similar attacks can be avoided in the future, which is the real aim of protective intelligence.
Tactical Details of the Recent Attacks
On the evening of May 1, Roberto Velasco Bravo, director of investigations against organized crime for Mexico's state public security police (SSP), was gunned down as he returned to his Mexico City home. Two assailants reportedly approached Velasco Bravo as he parked his sport utility vehicle and shot him in the head at close range before fleeing the scene. Although the incident initially was believed to have been a robbery attempt gone bad, the discovery of a .380 caliber handgun fitted with a suppressor near the crime scene suggests the shooting was actually a professionally targeted assassination. Local press also reported that Velasco Bravo died on his day off and that his bodyguard had been ordered to stand down because he was planning to travel outside the city.
On May 2, less than 24 hours after the Velasco Bravo shooting, inspector Jose Aristeo Gomez Martinez, the administrative director of the Federal Preventative Police (PFP), was gunned down in front of his home in the wealthy Coyoacan neighborhood of Mexico City. Gomez Martinez and a woman were talking in front of the house around midnight when two armed men surprised them and reportedly attempted to force Gomez Martinez into the back seat of his own car. Gomez Martinez struggled with the men and was shot in the arm and chest. Mexican authorities say the motive for the Gomez Martinez killing remains murky. However, the circumstances surrounding the case –- he was shot with a suppressed .380 pistol outside of his residence — are certainly very similar to the Velasco Bravo and Millan Gomez killings.
In the Millan Gomez attack, alleged members of a murder-for-hire gang shot and killed the federal police chief as he returned to his home in the early hours of the morning. Millan Gomez was reportedly shot eight times at close range by a gunman armed with two handguns — one of which was a .380 with a suppressor. The gunman was reportedly waiting inside Millan Gomez's apartment building. The victim apparently struggled with his assailant and attempted to grab the suppressed weapon from the gunman. During the struggle, the gunman reportedly shot Millan Gomez in the hand once with the suppressed weapon and then several times in the torso with his back-up weapon, which was not suppressed. Millan Gomez's two-man protection team, who had just dropped him off at the door, heard the nonsuppressed shots and returned to the apartment building to investigate. One member of the protection team was wounded in the chest by the fleeing gunman, but the team was able to wound and apprehend him alive. The interrogation of the gunman and the investigation of the equipment and other items found in his possession led to the recent arrest of the five other suspects allegedly tied to the assassination gang.
Also on May 8, Edgar Guzman Beltran, the son of Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera, was killed at 8:50 p.m. local time in Culiacan, Sinaloa state. Guzman Beltran was leaving a local shopping mall with two friends — one of whom was Arturo Meza Cazares, the son of Blanca Margarita Cazares Salazar, reputed to be the cartel's top money launderer — when the three were caught in a heavy hail of gunfire. Reports from the scene indicate that the team that attacked Guzman Beltran may have involved as many as 40 gunmen from a rival cartel who opened up on the three men with AK-47 rifles and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Other reports put the number of ambushers at around 20. In any event, even 20 men armed with AKs and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher is a significant force, and something one would expect to see in a war zone such as Iraq or Afghanistan rather than in Mexico.
On May 9, Esteban Robles Espinosa, commander of Mexico City's investigative police force, was attacked by a group of armed men shortly after he left his house at about 8:30 a.m. Four gunmen traveling in a truck and another in a compact car opened fire on him at an intersection near his home. The attack appears to be a classic vehicular ambush involving a blocking vehicle and an assault team. Robles Espinosa apparently attempted to avoid the attacks and flee the site, but his escape attempt ended when his vehicle struck a tree. Robles Espinosa was shot seven times — four times in the throat, once in the neck, and twice in the head. He died shortly after arriving at a hospital. Authorities reportedly found 20 casings from 9mm and .40 caliber cartridges at the scene of the attack. The placement of the shots in this case appears to be uncharacteristically controlled for Mexico, where victims are normally wounded in various parts of their bodies. The concentration of wounds in the head and neck would appear to indicate that at least one of the shooters was an accomplished marksman. The shot placement might also indicate that Robles Espinosa was wearing a protective vest, and the assailants, being aware of the vest, directed their fire toward his head.
Common Themes
The Millan Gomez, Velasco Bravo and Gomez Martinez shootings were all similar in that they involved suppressed .380 handguns and were intended to be clean and discreetly conducted events. They stand in stark contrast to many of the cartel killings in Mexico, which tend to be more like the killings of Beltran Guzman and involve massive firepower and very little precision or discretion. Even though the Millan Gomez killing got messy, and the shooter was caught, it was intended to be a very quiet, surgical hit — until Murphy's law kicked in for the assassin.
It is notable that the killing of the four police officials all occurred in proximity to their homes, and that all four attacks were conducted during an arrival or departure at the home. It has long been common for terrorists and criminal kidnappers or assassins to focus on the home or office of their prospective target, because these are known locations that the potential victim frequently visits with some regularity. Also, homes are often preferable to offices, because they usually have less security, and criminals or terrorists can operate around them more easily and with less chance of being caught. Arrivals and departures are prime times for attacks, because the target is generally easier to locate and quickly acquire when on foot or in a car than when in a building.
Furthermore, the objective of preoperational surveillance is to detect the target's patterns and vulnerabilities so that an attack can be planned. Historically, one of the most likely times for an attack to occur is when a potential victim is leaving from or returning to a known location. The most predictable move traditionally is the home-to-office move; however, the team that conducted the surveillance on Velasco Bravo, Gomez Martinez and Millan Gomez apparently found them to be predictable in their evening moves and planned the attacks accordingly. Robles Espinosa was attacked during the more-stereotypical morning move. Attacking in the evening could also give the assailants the cover of darkness. The low-key assassination cell behind the Velasco Bravo, Gomez Martinez and Millan Gomez attacks seemed to prefer that kind of cover. It is also possible that in the Guzman Beltran case, the shopping mall was a known place for him to frequent and that he had established a pattern of visiting there in the evening.
All five of the attacks also occurred in close proximity to vehicles. Millan Gomez, Gomez Martinez and Guzman Beltran were attacked while outside their vehicles; Robles Espinosa and Vellasco Bravo were attacked while in theirs, though neither of the men had an armored vehicle.
Protective Intelligence Lessons
A former federal police officer was arrested in connection with the Millan Gomez case, and he was found to have a list of license plates and home addresses; but such information alone is not enough to plan an assassination. Extensive preoperational surveillance is also required. From the careful planning of the Velasco Bravo, Gomez Martinez and Millan Gomez hits, it is apparent that the targets were under surveillance for a prolonged period of time. The fact that Robles Espinosa was hit during his morning move from home to work also tends to indicate that he had an established pattern that had been picked up by surveillance. Even in the Guzman Beltran killing, one does not amass a team of 20 or 40 assassins at the drop of a hat. Clearly, the operation was planned and the target had been watched.
The fact that surveillance was conducted in each of these cases means that the people conducting that surveillance were forced to expose themselves to detection. Furthermore, preoperational surveillance is normally not that sophisticated, since people rarely look for it. This means that had countersurveillance efforts been used these efforts likely would have been detected, especially since countersurveillance efforts often focus on known, predictable locations such as the home and office.
Another important lesson is that bodyguards and armored cars are no guarantee of protection in and of themselves. Assailants can look for and exploit vulnerabilities — as they did in the Velasco Bravo and Millan Gomez cases — if they are allowed to conduct surveillance at will and are given the opportunity to thoroughly assess the protective security program. Even if there are security measures in place, malefactors may choose to attack in spite of security and, in such a case, will do so with adequate resources to overcome those security measures. If there are protective agents, the attackers will plan to neutralize them first. If there is an armored vehicle, they will find ways to defeat the armor — something easily accomplished with the rocket-propelled grenades, LAW rockets and .50 caliber sniper rifles found in the arsenals of Mexican cartels.
Unfortunately, many people believe that the presence of armed bodyguards — or armed guards combined with armored vehicles — provides absolute security. This macho misconception is not confined to Latin America, but is pervasive there. Frankly, when we consider the size of the assault team employed in the Guzman Beltran hit (even if it consisted of only 20 men) and their armaments, there are very few protective details in the world sufficiently trained and equipped to deal with that level of threat. Executive protection teams and armored cars provide very little protection against dozens of attackers armed with AK rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, especially if the attackers are given free rein to conduct surveillance and plan their attack.
Indeed, many people — including police and executive protection personnel — either lack or fail to employ good observation skills. These skills are every bit as important as marksmanship — if not more — but are rarely taught or practiced. Additionally, even if a protection agent observes something unusual, in many cases there is no system in place to record these observations and no efficient way to communicate them or to compare them to the observations of others. There is often no process to investigate such observations in attempt to determine if they are indicators of something untoward.
The real counter to such a threat is heightened security awareness and a robust countersurveillance program, coupled with careful route and schedule analysis. Routes and traveling times must be varied, surveillance must be looked for and those conducting surveillance must not be afforded the opportunity to operate at will and with impunity. Suspicious events must be catalogued and investigated. Emphasis must also be placed on attack recognition and driver training to provide every possibility of spotting a pending attack and avoiding it before it can be successfully launched. Action is always faster than reaction. And even a highly-skilled protection team can be defeated if the attacker gains the tactical element of surprise — especially if coupled with overwhelming firepower.
Ideally, those conducting surveillance must be made uncomfortable or even manipulated into revealing their position when it proves advantageous to countersurveillance teams. Dummy motorcade moves are a fine tool to add into the mix, as is the use of safe houses for alternate residences and offices. Any ploy to confuse, deceive or deter potential scouts that ultimately make them tip their hand are valuable tricks of the trade employed by protective intelligence practitioners — professionals tasked with the difficult mission of deterring the type of assassinations we have recently seen in Mexico.


text:
Thought last weekend, when the comedy Think Like A Man took first place from the heavily-favored The Lucky One, was a surprise? Then check out this weekend's estimates. Not only has Think Like A Man defied all expectations by holding the top spot for a second week; it did so by beating the heavily-favored rom-com The Five-Year Engagement from super-producer Judd Apatow. Could it be that post-racial America has finally arrived? Or is everyone just saving their money to see The Avengers? You be the judge.
Title | Weekend | Total | |
1 | Think Like A Man | $18,400,000 | $60.8 |
2 | Pirates! Band of Misfits | $11,400,000 | $11.4 |
3 | The Lucky One | $11,325,000 | $39.9 |
4 | The Hunger Games | $11,250,000 | $372.4 |
5 | The Five-Year Engagement | $11,156,800 | $11.1 |
6 | Safe | $7,720,000 | $7.7 |
7 | The Raven | $7,250,000 | $7.2 |
8 | Chimpanzee | $5,460,000 | $19.1 |
9 | The Three Stooges | $5,400,000 | $37.1 |
10 | Cabin in the Woods | $4,500,000 | $34.6 |
This weekend, the Sony/Screen Gems comedy Think Like A Man earned an estimated $18 million in just 2,015 locations – fewer venues than any other film in the top ten aside from DisneyNature's Chimpanzee. So, no one can diminish the success of this film based solely on the fact that it won on an otherwise deadly slow weekend.
In ten days Think Like A Man has earned $60.8 million and was down just 46% from last weekend. Incidentally, this is the first time since Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail, from February 2009, that an African-American comedy has spent two weeks at number one. Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Reunion (2006) and Barber Shop (2002) were also two-time box office champs; but, outside of the straight-comedy or men-dressed-like-women genres, however, the stats are a little harder to track…
One week ago it looked like The Five-Year Engagement would grab this morning's lead. The romantic-comedy was projected to open between $15 and $20 million – in the range of co-writer/star Jason Segel's Forgetting Sarah Marshall from 2006. Instead, it made a disappointing $11.1 million from 2,936 locations. Word is that the film wasn't too pricey, however, which is about the best Universal can boast this morning.
After opening in fifth on Friday, Aardman Animation's Pirates! Band of Misfits edged out The Lucky One to grab second place for the weekend. With an estimated $11.4 million from 3,358 locations, the PG-rated feature from the team that brought you Arthur Christmas and Flushed Away probably won't leave much of an impression here in the states. Overseas, however, Pirates! has already earned a more-encouraging $56 million.
If I haven't been able to drum up much enthusiasm for The Five-Year Engagement and Pirates! Band of Misfits – the two new releases that actually made it into this weekend's top five – the potential to lavish praise on the two that missed that mark are exceedingly slim.
Safe, the latest action movie from Jason Statham, earned an estimated $7.7 million from 2,266 locations. That is not a low for the action hero, whose 2008 In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale saw a lifetime gross of $4.7 million. But with The Avengers coming on fast, it seems like Safe will have to rely on international earnings to make back its reported $30 million budget.
Bringing up the rear (in terms of new releases) is the Relativity release The Raven. The period drama, starring John Cusack as Edgar Allan Poe, earned just $7.2 million from 2,203 locations. Relativity acquired the feature (with a reported $26 million budget) from Intrepid films, so it's probable that their exposure here is low. Still, no one wants to put "Come See America's Seventh-favorite Film" on the side of a bus.
There was almost no chance that this weekend would top 2011, when Fast Five broke big – but who cares? We are ALL about The Avengers starting… now! So, will the summer's first blockbuster break records? Will it make The Hunger Games look like, um, The Five-Year Engagement? If you recall, $152.5 million is the number The Avengers has to top to starve-out The Hunger Games. The latter now ranks 17th on the all-time domestic chart and third for opening weekends. Think The Avengers can do better? Assemble opinions below.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Journal Chacham's Journal: Puzzle: Longest word by adding letters to existing words 8
Quick question I've been toying with. Starting with one letter, make a word. Then add a letter to make another word, and continue until there are no more words to make. What is the longest word you can make through this method?
For example. Start with "A".
Alternatively, start with a word.
UPDATE: When starting with a word, it is to find the longest chain of words. Not the longest word.


text: Calamity JaneSadie Stein12/17/08 6:15pmFiled to: jane austenJane Austen Society of North AmericaBooksLiteratureEnthusiastsreenactment23EditPromoteShare to KinjaToggle Conversation toolsGo to permalinkThe Jane Austen Society of North America celebrated its 30th anniversary recently with a Regency Ball at Chicago's Westin Hotel.AdvertisementIn addition, the Janeites paraded (in costume) down the Magnificent Mile, banqueted, and attended seminars with names like "Jane Austen and Global Warming" and " "Blogging Jane; or, Blog Snarkily and Carry a Big a Big Cluebat." Unsurprisingly, the event swings distaff: At the ball, "women are partnering women for the most part, though here and there one sees a male specimen in knee breeches, long coat, and curled wig sashaying happily amid the beribboned throng." And although the serious-minded event is far from a mere reenactment, one can't image that at just any academic conference you'd hear a woman murmur, "'She would do well to sew a little lace over the bodice'" of a colleague's decolletage. [The Smart Set]Reply23 repliesLeave a reply


text:
Over the past two days the Exeter Phoenix have shown international shorts, documentaries and even award winning contemporary short films. … [Read more...]
Two Short Nights International Shorts (review)
Each year the team behind Exeter Phoenix's Two Short Nights film festival go out of their way to put together an eclectic mix of contemporary cinema's finest shorts. … [Read more...]
GoldenEye turns 20
17 facts about the 17th Bond film on its 20th Anniversary People like to argue about who the best Bond is but I don't care. You can keep your Daniel Craigs, Sean Connerys, Roger Moores and the other two. My favourite incarnation of 007 is Pierce Brosnan. GoldenEye (Campbell, 1995) was Brosnan's debut, released in November 1995, which means it's 20-years old! To mark its … [Read more...]
The Lobster: Misery loves company
In the last 24 hours I've been staring into the abyss, reflecting on life's many quandaries but specifically about being single. Sat in my singleton squalor, I carelessly shovel Turkish delight into my mouth-hole while watching Céline Dion music videos from the '90s. She warbles on about her achy-breaky heart and her misfortunate nautical adventures. There were tears aplenty. … [Read more...]
James Bond: The Misogynist Dinosaur
The formula: Shaken but not stirred The formula for a James Bond film is a simple cocktail of action, explosions, globetrotting and beautiful women. Despite the age of the series it lacks any real maturity and like the MARVEL superhero films, it's a series – despite the range of its fans – that is primarily aimed at impressionable young men. The franchise's biggest problem is … [Read more...]


text:
Latest Headlines
Green Eggs, Ham & "Sam-I-Am"
Posted on 23 Mar 2014 by Steven Keys.
Celebrity, celebrity, celebrity. It's the media version of your friendly neighborhood realtor's mantra, 'location, location, location,' Scotch® taped across the mind of every editor, on-line content manager, writer & intern in the greater 'town & country.' It's a tenet they swear by. It even beats out the always popular & next best filler, listing, i.e., mock drafts, ...
Continue Reading
Flying high…The Hawks defeat the Magic 103-93
Posted on 16 Apr 2011 by Warren Shaw.
The Orlando Magic quest for a championship began on Saturday night and left the team searching for answer to some familiar questions. Who will help Dwight Howard? What is it going to take for this team to play defense consistently? The Atlanta Hawks continue to confound the Magic opening up the series with a 103-93 victory. The Hawks overcame a historic night from Dwight Howard who finished ...
Continue Reading
Foul Play…Hawks outlast Magic 85-82
Posted on 30 Mar 2011 by Warren Shaw.
In what is almost certain to be a first round playoff match up, the Orlando Magic faced the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night. The Hawks survived another manic Magic comeback to win 85-82. After tonight's affair Orlando might need to make adjustments to its offensive scheme against Atlanta. It was the third straight game in which Atlanta secured a victory against Orlando holding the Magic to 8...


text:
Want Cable TV? Get XFINITY TV in Millis, MA
If you want affordable programming, XFINITY TV from Comcast has several packages in Millis, MA designed to meet your needs. XFINITY TV delivers the goods with all-digital channels, DVR options so you'll never miss your favorite shows, and the best in On Demand entertainment with thousands of choices each month.
If you watch more than 35 hours of television each week you're part of the majority of Americans. Why not get the best premium home television programming available in Millis? XFINITY TV is the choice of customers in Millis, MA. The XFINITY lineup includes local Millis channels, a must-have for sports fans and community-minded viewers. XFINITY TV specials deliver all your favorite movies and TV shows right to your living room.


text:
Topic Review (Newest First) |
chomps1211 |
Spirit AL? Detroit-Denver, Opinions? This was sort of a hail Mary, for shits and giggles, "if I lived in a perfect world," airfare search I did this morning!! After rescheduling my vacation to the end of Feb, the weather & snowfall outlook is not looking all that great for my usual N. MI. destination, So,.. I found a non-stop, round trip flight from Detroit to Denver for under $200 on Spirit! While I haven't done any of the other "Vacation math" yet to see if a Colorado SB trip is even remotely do-able for me,.. I seem to recall hearing some real horror stories about flying Spirit from other boarders on SBF. Things like ridiculous oversized/extra baggage fees, lost/damaged boards/gear, etc. I was wondering if I could maybe get a few quick opinions about this airline from others here that have flown with them! It really would be a dream come true if I could manage a CO boarding trip, but even with a super cheap flight,... after car rentals, lodging, Hugely expensive lift tickets, etc? I'm not sure there's any chance of pulling this off, but I'd still like to hear any first hand experience members have had flying with Spirit! Thanks! |
Posting Rules | |


text: Namco Bandai Bringing Magna Carta II StatesideAJ Glasser4/29/09 8:40pmFiled to: Xbox 360Namco Bandai Editors DayMagnacarta 2Magna carta iiNamco BandaiSoftmaxGallery28EditPromoteShare to KinjaToggle Conversation toolsGo to permalink Sequel to the PlayStation 2 role-playing game—and not related to the historical document created in 1215—Magna Carta II is an Xbox 360 exclusive that seems to have much in common with Lost Odyssey. Advertisement The game features a new-ish storyline about an amnesiac boy and two warring countries and is built with the Unreal 3 engine. But the Lost Odyssey parallels don't stop there.According to the press release, the combat in Magna Carta II "combines real-time action, timing-based attacks, over-drive combinations, and the strategic use of skills, magical power and critical attacks." Sounds kind of familiar for the 360; but hopefully it will be an improvement over the combat system reviewers weren't too fond of in Tears of Blood. Advertisement Korean artist Hyung-Tae Kim also returns to give the characters their 12-year-old girl unique style and provide a connection to between Tears of Blood, the Korean-only The Phantom of Avalanche and this new edition to the Magna Carta family. Look for it later this year.Here, have some screens: Reply28 repliesLeave a reply


text:
Is Social Media Destroying Teens' Interpersonal Skills? Experts Say It May
By Sekinah Brodie
Over the past five to eight years, we have witnessed a phenomenon begin and flourish like never before. This phenomenon is the entity that is, social media. Social media refers to web-based and mobile-based technologies which are used to turn communication into interactive dialogue between organizations, communities and individuals. One branch of social media that has undeniably taken on a life of its own is social networking.
From MySpace to Facebook and now the more popular Twitter, these social networking websites have introduced ways to communicate that was not present 10 to 20 years ago. Social media has many advantages to those who utilize it properly—advertising opportunities, avenues to display talents and a way to communicate with people you cannot physically talk to. At the same time, social media has brought about many critical changes to the everyday person. One major change has been a breakdown of interpersonal communication skills, mainly in the upcoming youth demographic, ages 13 to 24 and younger, of course.
Social Media and the Breakdown of Interpersonal Skills in Teenagers
Teenagers, today especially, are growing up and developing their social skills online. It is to the point now, where most youth prefer meeting people over a virtual world, instead of speaking face-to-face. Therefore, interpersonal communication skills that used to be a necessity are no longer learned or stressed at a young age.
According to a study conducted by Courtney Turnbull of Elon University, Generation Y and the Baby Boomer generation are affected differently by computer-mediated communication. In the 2010 study, "Mom Just Facebooked Me and Dad Knows How to Text," Turnbull conducted a 223 person study and 10 in-depth interviews that display how face-to-face communication is the ideal form of communicating but is not always possible with the hectic schedules that people have day to day.
The study finds there is an increase in the quantity of interpersonal communication due to the ease of getting in touch via the Internet, but this increase comes at the cost of quality. Turnbull states that this is the result of text messaging and email. By using short, ambiguous messages Generation Y is missing out on quality conversation.
To help make up for lackluster conversation, both generations agreed that the best of both worlds was communicating via video chat programs, such as Skype and "iChat." In addition, Turnbull concluded the study by stating that though there is a generational gap, it is diminishing. "Although the Baby Boomers have not caught up entirely with the tech savvy Generation Y, they are an upcoming force in the world of computer-mediated communication," according to Turnbull's study.
Online Communication can be Beneficial—in Moderation
According to licensed professional counselor Jared Pizzitola, "very important social skills develop from difficult face-to-face conversations." With 85 percent of 13 year olds on Facebook, according to ChildrenOnline.org, it is important for parents to teach their children from an early age how to use online communication so it is not detrimental to their communication skills, especially with face-to-face interactions.
Pizzitola suggests parents learn how to use Facebook so they can monitor their teen's presence online. Teens should be limited to having friends on Facebook that are people they know, that are their teen's age and they are friends with offline. Parents should also talk to their teens about what happens online because "conversations are the most important aspect to understand behavior," according to Pizzitola.
Shy Teens Can Practice Their Social Skills Online Before Interacting Face-to-Face
Although it has been shown that communicating online can diminish interpersonal skills or deter the building of face-to-face interactions, there are some benefits of communicating via social media. Pizzitola states that communicating online is an effective way for kids to get into contact with one another—so long as there is no bullying involved. Shy or more isolated kids will have a chance to open up and practice their social skills while interacting with others online, according to Pizzitola.
A 2006 study conducted at the University of Sydney, Australia, suggests that the "Internet may be used as a forum for expanding social networks and consequently enhancing the change of meaningful relationships, self-confidence, social abilities and social support," so long as a person is not online for extended periods of time. Moreover the study stated that "'chat' users who are socially fearful may be using the Internet as a form of low-risk social approach and an opportunity to rehearse social behavior and communication skills, which, may help them improve interaction with offline, face-to-face, social environments."
The Internet and social media have reached a point of no return and will only become more intricate as the years go on. The days of face-to-face communication being the sole means of interaction are long gone, but social media has proven to be beneficial to an exponentially large audience, and will continue to grow due to new innovations. If used in excess, communicating via cyberspace can inhibit teens' communication skills, but if used in moderation, can help them become more comfortable communicating with their peers if they are too shy to do so in person. More importantly, "the key is to make sure your kids know that real living takes place offline," according to Pizzitola.


text:
It's properly CHILLY and grey today - have my lightbox on as I write - if you suffer from SAD (seasonal affective disorder) I recommend you use one too.
Simon Cowell knew exactly what he was doing with Jedward and Lucy last night - just as he did a week before with Lloyd and Rachel. It's a travesty losing real talent the last couple weeks but that doesn't concern a man who wants to squeeze the most possible financial/commercial success out of The X Factor. The twins get the show too much publicity!
York is a wonderful a city - just as I was told. After a 2:30 AM finish to our friend's birthday celebrations on Friday night we took a long walk on Saturday inside the walled city and along the wall itself - all beautifully maintained. Having just read Shakespeare's Richard III (don't ask!) it was fantastic to see all the historical references to the houses of Lancaster and York.
TODAY'S THOUGHT: forget 'girls talk' what about men and talking? I have a feature in today's Express newspaper about getting men to communicate and one thing's for sure you can't pester a man into opening up about something that's troubling him. Although many would hate the fact I've highlighted this difference between men and women it's absolutely true for many men. We are simply NOT the same - and many men won't open the way your girlfriends will. As with all the differences between men and women I see 'viva la difference'!
Was invited to see the new Vivienne Westwood collection at Selfridge's this evening by a friend but sadly work meetings are taking me through early evening - not that I could afford even a handier by Viv.
Love as always, Pam X p.s. just heard that my slot tomorrow on Dublin Newstalk radio 106-108 FM is going to be at 10 AM rather than 11 AM just for this week - catch it on the Net if you can - you could even send in a problem!
I'm excited that my new book 'THE LAWS OF SISTERHOOD - The girlfriends' guide to successful dating and finding the one' is available to preorder on Amazon.
I hope you find it a unique guide that emphasises how single friends can help each other make the most of the dating scene. As well as containing a vast array of tips and techniques to help you to dating success - everything from the first date, online dating, the signals he gives out through different behaviours, and how to improve your own signals are included.
"Pam's dating book is inspired and will make you a much more attractive and confident date" Jo Hemmings, Behavioural psychologist and author
My new book The Emotional Eater's Diet is published in the UK on May 15 - I'm very excited as I hope emotional eaters - women or men will find it helpful. Each year 2/3s of people start a diet and 20% start a new diet each month. Yet 95% of diets aren't successful.
I firmly believe that emotional eating to soothe difficult feelings is the culprit behind most of this failure. My book has a huge range of practical tips/strategies to help understand your emotions and manage your appetite. There are mini-quizes and real case studies.
It's available to preorder on Amazon. Please remember that food can fuel your energy needs but not your emotional needs. Take care!
I'm delighted that my latest book Sex Academy was endorsed by my fellow self-help author Siski Green who said: "Sex Academy really is THE Bible of sex books. The lessons and lectures cover the A-Z of everything you want to know - from Anal sex to getting Zero sex." I hope you enjoy it!
I was so excited and HAPPY to write this book on happiness covering my 10 unique Happiness Principles. I hope it helps increase your well-being, contentment, and happiness. I've packed it with dozens and dozens of easy-to-use strategies, plus life-changing insights. Based on about five years of collecting case studies and research I hope you'll find it helpful.
My latest sex guide's out - I've gone through thousands of questions people ask me about sex - from why they don't feel desire to how to handle a partner's kinky fetish. Here are the answers plus loads of tricks and techniques. Enjoy!
Discover the relationship between your dreams and your sex- and love-life! Go on a journey of self-discovery in this unique dream book. Case studies, a dream directory, and 'dreamersises' help you interpret your dreams.
My research found if a couple's been together more than one year it's unlikely you've tried any new sex tip, trick or technique for at least four months! Rescue's at hand with my 250 hottest sex tips for every aspect of your sex life.
No couple or single can be without this unique, best-selling book containing a vast range of techniques, tricks and tips to turn your lover on. From attracting someone new to recharging your old relationship, Fabulous, explores each of the sexual senses in turn!
No. 1 selling book offering you tons of fantastic sex tips PLUS a new and revolutionary ways of looking at sexual pleasure and 'problems' and how they fit into a person's whole life and relationships.
No. 1 selling sex book covering everything from how your body works to infinite sex tips. The Daily Star said: 'Sinful Sex has something for everyone'
A unique parenting book giving you creative techniques to understand your child better through their dreams and nightmares. These reveal so much about a child that most parents miss out on. Strengthen your parent-child relationship, their confidence and well-being!


text:
The Animal Stackers Noah's Ark can be used as a figurine play set or an educational shape sorter puzzle. Each of the 12 layers contains fitted slots for each animal to sleep in. Solve the puzzle and the animals are tucked neatly in their own storage compartment.
- Noah's Ark is a multi-purpose play environment – shape sorter, puzzle and storage case
- There are 12 layers of storage with 44 detailed animal figures 2 of each animal from Elephants to Giraffe, snakes to chickens along with Noah and his wife
- Includes bonus online download of games and story
- Noah's ark is stacks of fun, fully patented with incredible play value
- The bottom of the ark has wheels for easy mobility
Condition: New
- New


text:
Posted on May 7, 2012 in Miscellaneous
As far back as I can remember, it seems like technology and sports have gone hand and hand. Gatorade helped us hydrate properly. Radar guns helped us quantify our shots. Instant replay helped us make the correct calls. Heart rate monitors helped us track our health. Short of becoming an actual bionic person, people will continually innovate and do whatever it takes to be better, faster, stronger.
But what about a technology that was designed to help out tennis players? This is where adidas comes in. With their innovative miCoach Speed Cell, we now have ways to track our performance out on a tennis court. Things like max speed, average speed and total distance traveled. You might ask, "But don't we already have GPS watches that do the same thing?" Good question. The Speed Cell does all those things, but then it leaves those GPS devices in its dust. It can track things such as: total rallies, max rally length, distance traveled during a rally and max rally speed.* And that's just scratching the surface. This small device attaches to any shoe and wirelessly transmits your information to your iphone/ipod or computer.
*A rally is started every time you move from a stationary position.
I've had a chance to try out this device and I immediately noticed how easy it was to use and setup. My adidas Barricade 7's already had a built in area for the Speed Cell just underneath the insole of the left shoe. Once I had it in there, there was no button for me to turn on or off. I simply just had to go out and play; it would do the rest automatically. Once back for my hit or workout, I went to the adidas MiCoach Manager program on my computer or iPod I downloaded earlier and it was able to wirelessly sync up and pull the information from my Speed Cell. Once it synched up, I was able to see my results. And with the micoach website, I can even pick a training plan where I can work on my cardio or on strength and conditioning.
With this new training device, I can not only track my workouts off the court but for the first time, on the court as well.
Jason, TW


text:
Hopper Dubs Boston Seventh Best Pizza City in U.S.
Hopper, a relatively new travel start-up, is dishing out rankings for the best of the best across the U.S. and surprise: Boston made the list of the site's seven best pizza cities in the country.
Don't get too excited, though. Hopper dubbed our fair city seventh out of seven. Really.
It's worth mentioning that the list's author, Toby Hill, has a bio that reads "Toby is a writer and journalist with an interest in travel and adventure. His work takes him across the UK and Europe, but he lives in London." A London-based, European-traveling journalist writing about American pizza? Something seems amiss here.
Philadelphia (No. 6) and Providence (No. 5) are ranked ahead of Boston in Hill's round-up, followed by Chicago (No. 4), New Haven, Conn. (No. 3), Trenton, N.J. (No. 2), and the big cheese goes to the Big Apple.
We'd love to ask Hill how he came up with his rankings, which were originally published on Jan. 2, because really, can anything honestly compete with the likes of Santarpio's, Pizzeria Regina, and Galleria Umberto?
If Hill's work ever takes him to the U.S., send him our way. We're sure a few Boston restaurants will have pies with his name on them.
h/t BostInno


text:
2012-08-03, 01:06 | Link #22921 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
we need translation to get it what that flower panel was about... did tsukune see a memory or he created this image in his mind based on akuas words 1 page back and why akua wants power for... is it to feel better then anyone else.. or maybe its a promise to her mother that got eaten by alucard... like "get stronger and live" or if she is strong no one will leave her again (she could threaten that person to stay and not leave her.... just like she did with moka) well I wouldnt like if akua joined the harem at all... she is another siscon or more like ultimate siscon to the point of absurd... but maybe after she gets saved by tsukune...loses her power somehow will make her see something in tsukune that other girls see but what I cant get is why akua cant use her power to enter alucards body...take out from the inside her mother or akasha xD phase in and phase out of him... |
2012-08-03, 01:18 | Link #22922 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Poland
Age: 31
1.) It's quite obvious that Akua doesn't have any drop of Shinso blood, which might be necessary to avoid being digested by Alucard, once you enter his body. 2.) Her mother might have already been digested by Alucard, and simply became a part of his body, with no consciousness left within her. 3.) Kind of similar to the first one, but if the Shinso blood isn't necessary to avoid being "digested" by Alucard, you obviously need to be powerful enough, to survive in such a hostile environment, as the insides of Alucard's body, which is most likely as tough to break, as his outside exterior is - and if you aren't careful, you could be quickly digested by it, which would be the end for you. In other words, even with the abilities that Akua has, she's not tough enough to survive within Alucard body and be capable of leaving it, in one piece. |
2012-08-03, 01:25 | Link #22923 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
I doubt Akuha wants to be saved, if anything she'd try to "save" Tsukune at the end, wondering why he doesn't use his power to rule the world. Thankfully he's not as ambitious as Akuha, and would learn from her how absolute power corrupts absolutely, and turn from her path forever. Unlikely, the Jigentou is only effective for forty seconds. After that, she materializes, and then would be devoured. Besides, it seems she wants Alucard to revive, in order to make her own dreams come true. I'm not expecting a Heel Turn Face here, I'd be peeved if she did. But either way, we'll find out soon enough. Until then... |
2012-08-05, 22:31 | Link #22926 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Poland
Age: 31
All of those circumstances, might have slowed down the work, a little bit - at least that's my assumption, on why the translated chapter, hasn't appeared yet. |
2012-08-06, 09:19 | Link #22927 |
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Noctis Labyrinthus
Age: 25
Thanks to some random translations by R+V fans, Tsukune's new technique is called "Tonfa Of Light" or "Tonfa Of The Light", I still don't know the japanese name of it, but we will see when the translated version comes out.
2012-08-06, 19:01 | Link #22932 |
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Noctis Labyrinthus
Age: 25
Tsukune's "Tonfa Of Light" technique is that of a bladed tonfa. Rotating the shaft of the tonfa to where the long end faces the opponent, it can be used for an offensive weapon. Bladed tonfas as one would guess are far more deadly.
2012-08-06, 20:08 | Link #22940 | |
Join Date: Jul 2012
And yes, it seems Akuha shall be redeemed. Ach well. I don't mind that, but no joining the harem for her :I And yes, the translations is very very amusing indeed. xD
Tags |
action, comedy, ecchi, harem, monogamy, romance, shounen, supernatural, tsumoka romance, vampire |
Thread Tools | |


text:
Hey Folks.
Glad to be aboard. Thanks for the awesome website and forums.
I am looking to purchase a new pair of headphones, and I'm looking for some advice and recommendations.
My budget for headphones is in the area of $250 dollars, give or take a little.
My specific usage would entail two areas. The first is PC gaming, which would make up about 80% of my usage. The second area of use would be listening to my library of almost 1000 hours of live Grateful Dead digital audio tapes, which would make up about 15% of my usage. I have two consumer DAT decks that I use for taping and a studio DAT deck that I use for playback. There might be a little bit of general musical usage as well through my PC or stereo. After I get my tax return I'll be looking to buy a PC sound card and a headphone amp. Right now I'm just looking for a new pair of headphones.
I am replacing a pair of Sennheiser full size over the ear headphones that got destroyed during a move I made last month into a new house. They were basic and cost under $170. I also had a Sennheiser headset, an ear pad cheapo, the PC166. Due to my budget, I want to get one pair of headphones that I can use for both PC gaming and DAT listening duties. I'm not sure if a good ear pad headphone is preferred for my usage, or if a full size over the ear headphone would be preferable. I've listed a few of both types after reading reviews and would appreciate any advice you could give me.
For the ear pad headphones that fit my budget, I've read good reviews on these:
1) Sennheiser Amperior
2) Sennheiser Momentum
3) Sennheiser HD 25-1 II
(Each would require a mic for PC gaming use.)
The list of full size over the ear headphones that I made based on reviews:
1) Sennheiser PC360 Gaming Headset.(includes a mic.)
2) AKG Q701 Headphones.(I'd have to add a mic.)
3) Philips Fidelio X1.(I'd have to add a mic.)
4) Sony MA900.(I'd have to add a mic.)
I noted that the Sony MA900's were listed in the review at $180. but they have apparently been discontinued and are now going for about $240. I don't know if they warrant the new higher price, but I listed them since they were a favorite within my budget. I left out the Beyer DT990 Pro 250ohm as I'd need an amp (and a mic) just to use them and I believe that would place them over my current budget.
I would also be open to other suggestions, and any advice would be greatly appreciated.


text:
Gas Guzzler saves Chelsea star's life
Joe Cole glad he ignored Al Gore when choosing motor
Big Phil Scolari officially started work at Chelsea's Cobham training ground yesterday, and he almost did so a man down. On the way to training, Joe Cole's Range Rover became rather too well acquainted with a 40-ton lorry:
"[Cole] dashed to the aid of another driver trapped in his Vauxhall Signum.
"The Chelsea winger's £50,000 4×4 took the full impact of the Scania lorry – and careered into the Vauxhall.
"Driver John Jury was knocked unconscious – and came to with Cole banging on his window."
The dent in the plush Chelsea tractor doesn't look particularly life threatening, but the other driver claims Cole would not have survived if he had been driving a sports car, or one of those hybrid efforts that obnoxious people drive to let people know they are better than everyone else. Absolutely no one who lives in or around London needs a 4×4, yet it seems the winger and his bride-to-be Carly Zucker have done the right thing in completely disregarding their carbon footprint.
Spoiler bonus: it looks like someone has been playing tricks with Joe Cole's Wikipedia entry…
[click image to enlarge]


text:
» Drug, Devices, and Supplements
» Physician Accountability
» Consumer Product Safety
» Worker Safety
» Health Care Delivery
» Auto and Truck Safety
» Global Access to Medicines
» Infant Formula Marketing
This Letter to the Editor Peter Lurie, M.D., M.P.H., appeared in the August 13, 2002 edition of the Washington Post
Tuesday, August 13, 2002; Page A12
Patrick J. Byrne revises history in his Aug. 3 letter about the July 11 "Botox Night" at Johns Hopkins when he claims that "the organization of the seminar was never altered."
Dr. Byrne's announcement for the event stated, "Anyone interested in receiving Botox treatments may do so on the spot!" But Johns Hopkins Dean and CEO Edward Miller wrote to Dr. Byrne's department stating that "he is not authorized to offer on-the-spot treatment." Thus, no treatment was provided. As the on-the-spot treatment was the aspect of the event most likely to attract an audience, Dr. Byrne's claim is unsustainable.
Deputy Director Public Citizen's Health Research Group Washington
Copyright © 2017 Public Citizen. Some rights reserved. Non-commercial use of text and images in which Public Citizen holds the copyright is permitted, with attribution, under the terms and conditions of a Creative Commons License. This Web site is shared by Public Citizen Inc. and Public Citizen Foundation. Learn More about the distinction between these two components of Public Citizen.
You can support the fight for greater government and corporate accountability through a donation to either Public Citizen, Inc., or Public Citizen Foundation, Inc.
Public Citizen lobbies Congress and federal agencies to advance Public Citizen's mission of advancing government and corporate accountability. When you make a contribution to Public Citizen, you become a member of Public Citizen, showing your support and entitling you to benefits such as Public Citizen News. Contributions to Public Citizen are not tax-deductible.
Public Citizen Foundation focuses on research, public education, and litigation in support of our mission. By law, the Foundation can engage in only very limited lobbying. Contributions to Public Citizen Foundation are tax-deductible.


text:
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Through the first four races of the 2014 Pro All Stars Series South Super Late Model season, fender-to-fender battles and close finishes have been the order of the day.
Daniel Hemric, Roger Lee Newton, and DJ Shaw have all tasted the spoils of victory so far this season, while PASS South contenders like Cole Timm, Tyler Church, and Jared Irvan have just fallen short of taking their first checkered flags of the year. That could change with Friday night's Ace's Wild 150 at Ace (N.C.) Speedway.
The Ace's Wild 150 marks a return for the PASS South Super Late Models to the Ace Speedway for the first time since 2011. A strong field of contenders will be vying to become the fourth different PASS South winner at Ace Speedway in as many races and join Andy Loden, Ryan Blaney, and Clay Rogers as one of a select few who have managed to tame one of North Carolina's toughest short tracks.
Irvan ranks Ace Speedway as one of his favorite tracks on the circuit. Even though this Friday night's Ace's Wild 150 will be the first time the third-generation racer has ever competed in a PASS South Super Late Model at Ace, it is not the first time he has ever raced there. Irvan raced several times at Ace in recent years in the USAC HPD Midget Series, a division that will ironically be competing on the undercard to the Ace's Wild 150.
"Ace Speedway is probably my favorite track in all the different types of cars I've driven," said Irvan, after scoring a season-high fourth place finish in the Easter Bunny 150 at Hickory. "That track is just so fun to go around in everything I've ever been in and I've always ran really, really well there. Hopefully we can go there and get our first win in a PASS Super Late Model."


text:
Track List
Album Notes
Personnel: Rafael P. Ortiz Rodriguez (vocals, guitar, percussion); Orlando Bolaño (vocals, guitar); Isaac Oviedo (vocals, electric guitar, maracas); Agustin Diaz (vocals, electric guitar); Florencia Hernandez Cuesta (vocals, maracas); Oscar Valdez (vocals, percussion); Ricardo Cané, Diego Rodriguez, Julia Oviedo, Rafael Navarro, Luis M. Calzado Suarez, Ester Piedra, Esteban Carlos Embale, Elio Sanchez, Rolando Cartaya, Alina Echavarria Rodriguez, Sarah Villamill, Sergio Calzado Montoya, Bertina Aranda Villamill, Gil Morales, Israel Berriel Jimenez, Ernesto Oviedo, Ernesto Nayte, Regla Mas, David Martinez , Alberto Romero, Moraima Lauzurica, Laudelina Herrera Villamill, Barbara Jiminez Pardo, Adolfo Mas, Barbara Urrutia, Dagoberto Junco, Orestes "Macho" Lopez (vocals); Carlos Emilio, Pedro Hernandez (guitar); Israel Gonzalez, Papi Oviedo (electric guitar); Vitoriano Espinosa (quinto); Felix Reyna, Lazaro Sanchez Veitia, Carlos Matos Diaz, Delfin Blanco, Vicente Varona, Jose Manuel Vargas Blanco, Savador "Bebo" Munoz, Raul Plana (violin); Jose Luis Cortez (flute, baritone saxophone); Selso Cabrera, Armando Echevarría, Ulderico Varocea (flute); Carlos Averhoff (soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); German Velasco (baritone saxophone); Lazaro Herrera Diaz, Jose Miguel Grezo, Juan Mungin (trumpet); Frank Droeshout, Chucho Valdés (piano); Carlos Chatalain, Elpidio Garcia, Enrique Meza, Enrique Plá, Angel García, Francisco Garcia, Barbaro Mas, Luis Mas Ramar, Moises Urrutia, Gaston Garcia, Esteban Domingo "Cha Cha" Vega Bacallao, Reinol Urrutia, Jorge Garcia (drums); Ubaldo Morales, Gregorio Diaz, Jorge Alfonso, Carlos Godinez (congas); Rogelio Castellano, Andres Sotolongo (bongos); Mario Dia, Silvio Hernandez, Jorge Luis Guittieriz (guiro); Osvaldo Ruiz, Evaristo Martiniz (timbales).
Liner Note Authors: Natasha Rosow; Gene Rosow.
Recording information: Cuba.
Director: Felix Reyna.
Editor: Jon Fausty.
Photographer: Tate Pasternak.
Whether it bursts onto the sidewalk from a bustling café or wafts over high-stone walls from a carnival parade blocks away, music in Cuba is omnipresent and multi-faceted. Cubalive!: Recorded Live in Cuba culls its 13 tracks from the three previously released volumes of Rounder's Routes of Rhythm series. So, while it's technically volume four, it's actually a comprehensive introduction to the series as it stands. Developed in conjunction with the PBS production Routes of Rhythm With Harry Belafonte, the series presents live recordings of Cuban music as it happens. The set includes gentle acoustic ballads, street jams, religious celebrations, and the sultry sounds of carnival. Guitar virtuoso Isaac Oveido's "Mi Botijia and "El Buen Camino" capture the intimate quality of watching a master perform up close, while insistent congas and flawless harmonies drive los Munequitos de Matanzas' "El Tocoloro." There is an unwritten law that all Cuban music collections must include at least one version of "Guantanemera"; fortunately, Duo del Bodeguita del Medio's take on the signature tune captures the lively spirit of the Bodeguita del Medio, where it was recorded. Linking the collection's disparate sounds are three versions of the Septeto Nacional de Ignacio Pinero's distinctive son, the traditional Cuban song form incorporating the country's entire musical history. But what truly make this collection entertaining are the incidental moments of these live recordings -- clapping, yelling, people having a good time. And that sounds good in any language. ~ Johnny Loftus


text:
The Buffalo Zoo welcomes Jester the California Sea Lion.
was born at SeaWorld in Orlando ,
FL in May of 2002. He was a part
of the United States '
marine mammal Navy program until December of 2006, when was transferred to the
Aquarium of Niagara.
collaboration between the neighboring institutions, officials from the Aquarium
and the Zoo arranged for Jester to be transported from Niagara
Falls to Buffalo
in December. The sea lion was accompanied by animal care and veterinary staff
from both organizations during the short journey to his new home in Buffalo .
Jester seems to like his new home! |
The Zoo's
sea lion keepers have already begun training Jester. "He has a sweet
disposition, and loves to give kisses," says sea lion keeper Melissa King.
has joined Dallas ,
the Zoo's 14-year-old male, in the Zoo's Sea Lion Cove exhibit. While the two
animals get to know each other, they will take turns in the exhibit.
between zoos and aquariums at a regional level facilitate a shared commitment
to excellence in animal care and husbandry,
The Zoo's
Sea Lion Cove exhibit is sponsored by NOCO.


text:
CAL SOUTH TEAMS CLAIM 7 OF 10 TITLES AT 2012 US YOUTH SOCCER REGION IV PRESIDENTS CUPJune 17, 2012
June 17, 2012 (Arvada, CO) - Live scoring updates from the finals round for the 2012 US Youth Soccer Region IV Presidents Cup. Cal South 9 has teams playing in 8 of the 10 finals matches being played this morning. Keep checking for the latest updates... Cal South has seventeen teams - nine Cal South State Cup champions, one alternate and seven wild cards - in the Region IV Presidents Cup. The Presidents Division champions in the 2012 Sports Authority State Cup in the U13 through U17 age groups will represent Cal South in this event. Cal South teams U14 through U17 who win the Region IV Presidents Cup will then represent Cal South and Region IV in the US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup in Sacramento, California from July 11-15. Be sure to keep checking back here throughout the tournament to keep up with your favorite teams. You can also go to regioniv.com for a full flight breakdown and schedule overview. ... ... ... ... ... |


text:
After a slight bit of turmoil earlier in the year when Matt Damon dropped out of the director's chair, and Warner Bros. bailed on backing the picture (Focus Features and Participant are now teaming to produce), everything is back on track for "The Promised Land." Gus Van Sant will direct and John Krasinski, who penned the script with Damon based off an idea by Dave Eggers, will also star. And now they've got another great addition.
Rosemarie DeWitt ("Rachel Getting Married," "Your Sister's Sister") has landed the female lead in the upcoming film. Plot details are being kept under wraps, but the Capra-esque story will center on two rival executives, with Damon arriving in a small town and having his life turned upside down. And well, that's all we got. But DeWitt is sharp and talented, can handle both comedy and drama with aplomb and is certainly an asset to have here. No word yet on her role.
Production is slated to start in April, but no release date has been set. [Deadline]


text:
December 25, 2012 12:59:56 AM
Mary Parker
6th Avenue looking north from lower Twenties toward 26th Street where the lights stayed on during the blackout caused by Superstorm Sandy.
I like the light on the clouds from the full moon and uptown silhouetting the darkened buildings lit only by the passing traffic. (Very well disciplined traffic at that. It was amazing how "normal" traffic seemed at night.)
Leave a Comment
Email addresses are required but never displayed.


text:
Another Website about Everyday Dining » Food Stuff » What the *?!@#&! is for dinner?
What the *?!@#&! is for dinner?
A sign I saw near Dupont Circle today for a Chicken Kabob Salad – is it supposed to be a Chicken Head Kabob Salad ("severed over crisp lettuce")? Everyday Dining really can be fun and educational!
Filed under: Food Stuff · Tags: chicken


text:
The walk began beside the A345 in Wiltshire, a mile or so outside Salisbury, in a field of pigs rummaging methodically around a cannon sunk deep into the ground. In front of us, a faux-antique standing stone proclaimed that "in 1794 a line from this site to Beacon Hill was measured by Capt W Mudge of the Ordnance Survey as a base for the triangulation of Great Britain".
Today, the Ordnance Survey, Britain's national mapping agency, has acquired the status of national treasure. I never embark on a hike without one of its folded maps lodged safely in my jacket pocket. But during this walk, the OS was to dictate my route more profoundly than usual.
The Ordnance Survey was founded in 1791, in the aftermath of the French Revolution. It was intended to produce a military map of Britain's south coast, to help defend against a Gallic invasion. Just like today, the first OS maps were distinguished by the sophistication of the instruments and methods used in their construction. The early maps were based on a technique called triangulation. Surveyors identified thousands of elevated or prominent landmarks across the nation, such as hills or church spires, known as "trig points". With fiendishly heavy, intricate instruments, poised at a trig point's summit, a mapmaker was able to observe sightlines radiating towards other visible stations. He would note the angles between these sightlines and then use trigonometry to deduce the distance between the trig points.
Occasionally the mapmakers had to check their observations by measuring a straight distance on the ground itself – a "baseline" – and comparing that result with the one produced through trigonometry. In the summer of 1793, the OS's director, William Mudge, started looking for a suitable baseline to check the triangles he'd already measured. Salisbury Plain, a chalk plateau covering 300 square miles of Wiltshire and Hampshire, was a perfect site.
"We found that a base line of nearly seven miles might be measured without much difficulty between Beacon Hill, near Amesbury, and the Castle of Old Sarum", Mudge wrote. So between late June and mid-August 1794, a team of Ordnance Surveyors painstakingly laid measuring chains and rods end to end along that stretch. Two hundred and seventeen years later, I decided to retrace their steps. While researching my book on the OS's history, Map of a Nation, I'd tried to visit as many meaningful sites as possible. But I hadn't managed to make it to the Salisbury Plain baseline, and this was an omission I was keen to rectify.
The base, and my walk, began in the shadow of Old Sarum, the Iron Age hill fort that marks the earliest settlement of Salisbury. In the 1790s, the mapmakers buried iron cannon at each end of the base as permanent markers of the achievement. Today the southernmost cannon is in a pig farm, and from there, the baseline extends north-north-east through private agricultural land. The closest public route to this now-invisible line lies along the busy A345 road towards Amesbury. But rather than stomp beside lorries, my partner and I detoured to visit Old Sarum, and then followed a footpath north-west through fields of corn, poppies and woodland harbouring deer. After a couple of miles, the path disappeared into a thicket and re-emerged beside a tiny reservoir, shortly after which we began heading back east, towards the route of the baseline.
Reaching a busy crossroads, we took the Old Amesbury Road footpath, which diverges to the east of the modern Amesbury Road, the A345. In the 18th century, this path was the main road north – not the highway that now bustles alongside – and it runs very close, and almost parallel, to the OS's baseline. Just over a mile along this well-trodden route, barbed-wire fences appeared to the east, outlining Boscombe Down Airfield. Salisbury Plain has been used for army training since 1898. Today the Ministry of Defence owns 150 square miles – around half of the old Plain – and around 39 square miles of the Plain are permanently closed to the public.
The restricted nature of Salisbury Plain is not ideal for walkers, but it has made the area remarkable for wildlife. Its grassland has not been lost to agricultural cultivation, and the Plain boasts the largest expanse of unimproved chalk downs in north-west Europe. It supports around 80 species of rare plants and invertebrates. Almost the whole course of the walk abounded with butterflies, meadow grasses, wild flowers and thriving hedgerows.
Briefly ducking into the town of Amesbury, the path surfaced beside four Bronze Age burial mounds, the Ratfyn Barrows: examples of the extraordinary remains of extreme antiquity that characterise the entire Plain. These made a profound impression upon a man who visited Salisbury Plain at the same time that the Ordnance Survey were first identifying their baseline: William Wordsworth. Returning from Portsmouth, where Britain's naval fleets were preparing for battle with Revolutionary France, Wordsworth described himself as full of "melancholy forebodings". Such seemingly incomprehensible remnants of history reinforced Wordsworth's sense of the land's secretive, indifferent nature, and his own temporary alienation from his nation.
Shortly after these tumuli, we emerged – with a jolt – on to the hurtling A303. The end of the baseline is located at the summit of Beacon Hill, on the outskirts of Bulford military camp, which we reached via an uncomfortable scuttle along the dual carriageway. The OS's trig points have no functional use today, but they do usually indicate the most panoramic spots of the surrounding landscape. And Beacon Hill was no disappointment: we could make out Old Sarum to the south-west, Stonehenge to the west and even Highclere Castle – where the television period drama Downton Abbey is filmed – 25 miles away, to the north-east.
This stunning visual display made Mudge particularly fond of the Salisbury Plain measurement: he realised that this final spot provided "a commanding view of almost the whole" of the base. In one gaze, he was able to visualise all the territory that his surveyors had covered over the meticulous seven-week measurement. And, he was pleased to discover, the painstaking measurement from Old Sarum to Beacon Hill almost exactly corresponded with the distance produced through trigonometry: measuring chains revealed it extended over 36575.401 feet, or 6.927 miles. The Salisbury Plain baseline confirmed the superlative accuracy of the Ordnance Survey, and was a crucial landmark on the agency's journey to becoming a national treasure.
Rachel Hewitt is author of 'Map of a Nation: A Biography of the Ordnance Survey' (Granta)


text:
No not the father and daughter hunting team, real whales, slaughtering yummy seals:
Argentina's Peninsula Valdes is renowned as one of the world's finest whale-watching destinations. For about six months of each year – from June to December – southern right whales crowd its protected bays, providing local tour boats with guaranteed sightings.
But outside the whale-watching season, an even grander ocean spectacle takes place around this pimple of barren land, midway between Buenos Aires and the southern tip of South America. As South American sea lions give birth along the peninsula's coast each February, pods of orcas arrive offshore, poised for one of nature's most dramatic hunting rituals. Riding waves onto the beach at Peninsula Valdes' northern tip, the orcas beach themselves to snatch at sea lion pups, dragging them out to sea, often in full view of gathered spectators.


text:
Roundtable: Filner In Trouble, Says He Needs Help
Friday, July 12, 2013
Aired 7/12/13 on KPBS Midday Edition.
Mark Sauer
Amita Sharma, KPBS News
David Rolland, Editor, San Diego CityBeat
Carl Luna, Political Scientist, San Diego Mesa College
A week after the Fourth of July, the bombs are still bursting over city hall.
On Monday, San Diego Mayor Bob Filner's fiancee, Bronwyn Ingram, announced the end of their engagement, giving no reason.
On Wednesday, KPBS broke the story that three long-time allies of the mayor had each given him a letter asking for his resignation because of multiple allegations of sexual harassment.
On Thursday morning, the three — former San Diego City Councilwoman Donna Frye and attorneys Marco Gonzalez and Cory Briggs — held a press conference to reiterate their call for Filner's resignation.
On Thursday afternoon, the mayor apologized acknowledged via video statement that he had done wrong, said he was seeking help and asked for a chance to change.
While we await what will surely be further developments, there are many more questions than answers. Here are a few:
If Filner doesn't resign, can he recover?
If he does resign, who steps in?
If there's an interim mayor, when must an election be scheduled?
How many women were allegedly harassed?
Can a 70-year-old leopard change its spots?
Is the Mayor aware of what decade we live in?
To view PDF documents, Download Acrobat Reader.
HarryStreet | July 13, 2013 at 1:50 p.m. ― 3 years, 8 months ago
All good questions Bob Filner will undoubtedly be asked in the coming days. However, until the accusers, or alleged victims (nothing has been proven yet), come forward with credible evidence, Bob Filner will be innocent until proven guilty. At least in the eyes of the law. The public has obviously made up their mind.
I admit with so many calling on Filner to resign things do not look good for him. It appears his lack of people skills, team-building skills, communication skills, and leadership have caught up with him. I find it interesting how people are now questioning those close to him for not coming forward sooner about Filner's alleged harassment. I, on the other hand, know why.
No one has yet come forward with a credible complaint. Everything is hearsay. Who are the accused? What are they afraid of? How do they believe they can be retaliated against? How do they believe they were sexually harassed? Did they report this before? If not, why not?
I don't want to appear cynical. I actually believe he's guilty. When so many people line up against you for an issue such as this, the chances are Filner is guilty. However, due process must take its course.
Can a 70 year old change? All of us can change, but at this stage in Filner's life it isn't likely. He'll have to fight these accusations or risk having his political legacy tarnished as a convicted sex offender.
How many women were harassed? None yet! None have come forward.


text:
Did you know?ChinaBio® Group is an investment, consulting and media firm helping western life science companies achieve success in China. ChinaBio works with U.S., European and APAC companies seeking partnerships, acquisitions, novel technologies and funding in China.
Site SearchFree NewsletterFree White Paper |
Week in Review: Sanofi in the Hunt for China M&A
publication date: Apr 6, 2013
author/source: Richard Daverman, PhD
Deals and Financings Sanofi SA (NYSE: SNY) is actively seeking China M&A opportunities in the consumer healthcare and veterinary products sectors, according to the company's CEO, Christopher Viehbacher, who was quoted in a Wall Street Journal article (see story). The French big pharma wants to produce double-digit revenue growth in China during each of the next five years. Its China revenues were $1.3 billion in 2012, a 15% increase over the previous year. Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine (SHA: 600276) has in-licensed China rights to a novel antibody from X-Body Biosciences of Waltham, MA (see story). Hengrui made an unspecified upfront payment, which is part of a "multi-million dollar" agreement. The antibody was generated by X-Body's platform for Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi (NYSE: SNY), will fund research at China's Xiamen University with the goal of developing a universal flu vaccine (see story). The joint effort, which will focus on broad-spectrum neutralization monoclonal antibodies, is already underway at Xiamen University's National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases (NIDVD). If successful, the project would end the practice of producing a new vaccine for each year's flu season. Baxter's (NYSE: BAX) China division announced a program to bring home-based kidney dialysis to China's rural areas, using the company's peritoneal dialysis device (see story). The program, called Flying Angel, is a partnership between Baxter and the Chinese National Institute of Hospital Administration, and endorsed by the Ministry of Health. Without a home-based therapy, many of these rural patients would not have access to dialysis. China NT Pharma Group (HK: 01011), a mainland China company that distributes and promotes pharmaceuticals, signed a memorandum of understanding with Sinopharm Group (HK: 01099) to form a "special purpose entity" that will market and sell vaccines and cold-chain pharmaceutical products (see story). The new JV will be located in Shanghai with capital of $32 million. China NT Pharma will contribute 30% of the total. Featured Company Hangzhou Nurotron Biotechnology has developed a more affordable cochlear implant, a medical device that allows severely deaf people to hear again (see story). In China, the company offers a $16,000 implant, half the cost of the market-leading Australian import, a $32,000 device from Cochlear Ltd. (ASX: COH). Nurotron is headquartered in Hangzhou, where it also has a manufacturing facility. But its R&D operation is in Irvine, California, close to the home of its founder, Fan-Gang Zeng, PhD, the Director of the Center for Hearing Research at University of California at Irvine. Government and Regulatory A strain of bird flu, H7N9, which was never previously diagnosed in humans, has surfaced in China (see story). The number of infections and the deaths are increasing daily. So far, none of the victims had contact with each other, which could indicate person-to-person transmission, and there is no discernible pattern that would explain how these particular people have caught the disease. H7N9 is thought to be a less virulent flu strain than the H5N1 virus that has caused 300 deaths since its initial 2003 outbreak. Disclosure: none. |
LoginChinaBio® EventsChinaBio® in the News |


text:
NY Mirror
Oy, what a year! Dana Giacchetto did my taxes, Peter Bacanovic my stock-broking, Arthur Andersen my accounting, Rosie O'Donnell my editing, Winona Ryder my shopping, David Gest my producing, Michael Jackson my babysittingand now I'm hoping Martha Stewart will do my jail cell! But until lockup happens, there's still time to reveal the winners of this year's Felix Awardsthe Death Row answer to the Oscars.
WORST MOVIES: Human Nature, The Santa Clause 2, Bad Company (starring that enchanting new Tracy and Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins and Chris Rock), Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (I left before that horse could do one more noble thing), The Truth About Charlie (I left before learning the truth about Charlie)
WORST PERFORMANCES: Daniel Day-Lewis, Gangs of New York (shoot mebut at least I'm aware that the worst things often border on genius), Jimmy Smits in Star Wars, the horse in Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
WORST TRENDS IN MOVIES: Digital filmmaking (Full Frontal, The Chateau), cute sayings at the beginning of each scene (Tadpole), smirky chats to the camera (24 Hour Party People), horse cartoons!
Upcoming Events
New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat
TicketsWed., Mar. 29, 7:30pm
Dick's Sporting Goods High School Nationals
TicketsThu., Mar. 30, 12:00pm
80th Annual NIT Championship Game
TicketsThu., Mar. 30, 8:00pm
New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
TicketsFri., Mar. 31, 7:00pm
SURPRISE PHENOMENON: My Big Fat Greek Wedding was like an old Love, American Style and even featured some of the same actors! The pacing was off, the leads had less than divine chemistry, and the gags (the Windex joke, the crack about how all words are derived from Greek) were repeated till the baklava came home. Still, the flick radiated likability as both a Cinderella story and a peek at Greek American culture, which came off the same as Italian American, Jewish, or any other ethnic group. What the fucklet's go see it again (or maybe we can just wait till the new sitcom it's spawning).
BEST DIS TO FLING AT A FASHIONISTA: "That outfit is so September 10." (Thank you, John Waters.)
EXCUSE ME?: Mayor Bloomberg pulled out of the Columbus Day Parade when organizers wouldn't welcome two Sopranos cast members he'd invited. But he stuck with the Saint Patrick's Day Parade even though they still gleefully ban gay contingents. "I think they are very different issues," he explained. Yeahthe Italians have a right to be mad about The Sopranos.
HUH?: Martha Stewart got in heaps of trouble for allegedly using insider information that led to her dumping spiraling stocks. But what good is getting insider information unless you use it? Huh? Huh?
A READER'S WELL-REASONED ASSESSMENT OF JIMMY FALLON: "As long as I've got a face, he's got a place to sit."
SOUR GRAPES: Bill Cosby said the Osbournes are "a sad, sad family." Come on, sadder than the Cosbys? The same month, non-Oscar-winner Angela Bassett revealed that she turned down Halle Berry's Academy Award-winning role in Monster's Ball because it was a "demeaning stereotype about black women and sexuality" and she won't play "prostitutes." That's funnymost people saw the movie as one of the most blistering condemnations of racism ever filmed. Plug it up, be-otch!
ROTTEN TOMATOES: Michael Jackson whined that Sony head Tommy Mottola is a racist and didn't promote his bomb album enough. Funny, Jacko didn't promote it at all! Get a nose! And take that towel off your kid's head!
SPEAKING OF WHICH, HERE ARE SOME PRESSING QUESTIONS ABOUT JACKO'S FASCINATING PATERNAL BEHAVIOR: Why did he shroud his dangling son's head in that thingto protect him from germs, hide the fact that he's white, or keep his nose on? And in another insane PR move, why did he drag two of his kids to the zoo swathed in headwraps the very next day? Was it an act of fashion, spirituality, or punishmentand by the way, doesn't he have a zoo at home? And, most importantly, shouldn't these kids be instantly snatched away and given to someone normal, like Liza Minnelli?
PANIC IN THE YEAR '02: After attempts at pre-9-11 intelligence failed, the government became determined to tell us every terrorist tip that crossed their desk, whether real or imagined, specific or vague. Over the Memorial Day weekend, we were alternately advised to avoid restaurants, banks, malls, and Europe (though Dubya was there), and to even look out for shady scuba divers. We didand ended up slipping on bars of soap at home!
GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE DROUGHT: At least the terrorists couldn't poison our water system.
SPAM DILEMMA: I've finally made peace with all the mortgage, Viagra, printer cartridge, septic tank, and "Wanna work at home?" e-mails, but who the fuck sold my name to the company that sends out the ones about a girl screwing her daddy and a goat? I am so not interested, I swear.
I ALSO HATE: Pop-up messages that say, "Put an end to pop-up messages."
AND IF E-MAIL IS SUCH A GREAT TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCE: Why does it take an extra hour out of my day just to rummage through the crap and delete them all?
WEIRDEST GIMMICK: Broadway musicals (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Amour) and movies (an upcoming one I won't name) ending with a quick, out-of-nowhere same-sex coupling, usually for the giddy, shticky curtain call. This is very cute and gets an easy rise out of the audience, though it's generally a way of saying, "We're so coolbut not cool enough to actually incorporate anything substantially gay into the main plot."
MISS CLEO PREDICTS THE FUTURE IN 'GYPSY': Bernadette Peterswho really should be playing Baby Junewill redefine the monstrous Mama Rose as someone kinda adorable, and critics will wet themselves. Then Reba McEntire will take over, playing Rose as kinda adorable but full of down-home spunk and sass. Critics will double-orgasm. After that, Crystal Bernard?
TONY AWARDS TRAGEDY: Urinetown lost for Best Musical, despite winning score, book, and director, mainly because a lot of the stodgy voters felt, "I couldn't get past the title." They're so full of shit.
CHURCH OF THE POISONED BEHIND: Shock jocks Opie and Anthony were pulled off the air after featuring a blow-by-blow account of a couple having sex at Saint Patrick's. The church was expectedly outragedprobably because it was two adults engaging in a consensual act. Ba-dum-pum.
UMA-OPRAH: Enron. ImClone. Iman. Enya. Oman. Oh, wow.
In Case You Missed It
Upcoming Events
New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons
TicketsMon., Mar. 27, 7:30pm
80th Annual NIT Semifinal Doubleheader
TicketsTue., Mar. 28, 7:00pm
New Jersey Devils vs. Winnipeg Jets
TicketsTue., Mar. 28, 7:00pm
Brooklyn Nets vs. Philadelphia 76ers
TicketsTue., Mar. 28, 7:30pm
Sponsor Content


text: I have an RC car, but am looking to get into rc planes. I know that I should join the AMA and a flying club, but am confused on what plane to buy. I'd like to keep it around $200 total, TX and engine included. I have no preference between nitro or electric, and I would take either kit or RTF. I was looking at the "Smoothie" from Balsa USA. From what I can tell, all I would need is a TX/RX, and an engine, or is there more?


text: Weapons Negotiation Deal Turns Into The Biggest Roller Coaster Of EmotionsTina Amini9/28/12 3:15pmFiled to: watch thisWartweet17EditPromoteShare to KinjaToggle Conversation toolsGo to permalink You might say it's more of a roller coaster of... personalities? Identity confusion? Episodes of schizophrenia?AdvertisementWhatever the hell is going on in the video above, Warialasky sure does hit that weird space of reality-bending that they always do.Reply17 repliesLeave a reply


text:
SonReal – Luck (Prod. Alex Lustig) [Audio] #SOTD
Vancouver, BC – This week will be a big one for the Vancouver scene as SonReal releases his latest project, One Long Day, for free download on Jan. 21. In support of the release, HipHopCanada's Song of the Day is the project's second single, "Luck," produced by Alex Lustig.
Previous Post
Strombo Holiday Special: "Christmas In Hollis" with an all-star cast [Video]
Twitter: @TheRealSonReal | @iamAlexLustig
Tags: Alex Lustig, Goodlife Music, SonReal, The Closers


text:
Full profile →'">
The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer.
If you are an athlete and want to kill your brand, hook up with a Kardashian. At least that seems to to be the case if three makes a trend.
First there was Kris Humphries marrying Kim Kardashian in 2011. The marriage lasted 72 days and the divorce was finalized this past June. In between tying and untying to knot with Kim, the NBA forward was ridiculed by fans at Madison Square Garden poking fun at the publicity he had been bombarded with due to the separation from his ex. His play suffered and Humphries was traded to the Boston Celtics with the hope that his career would have a resurgence. Didn't happen, and now Boston wants to trade him.
Then there's Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardasian. The two were wed in 2009 but were separated this August reportedly over the basketball player's substance abuse problems. Odom won two rings with the Los Angeles Lakers (2009, 2010) and the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Award for the 2010-11 season. Now the Los Angeles Clippers, for whom Odom played last season, are reportedly not interested in bringing him back after the forward had his worst season ever.
The most painful to watch for sports fans of my generation, perhaps, has been the demise of Bruce Jenner, who won the gold medal in the decathlon at the 1976 Olympics. Bruce and Kris Jenner announced their separation this week after 22 years of marriage. But what's two decades in reality television time? Jenner was made to look the fool after 6,000 plastic surgeries and made to sit in a corner apart from the rest of the family at a Clipper games. You think you will ever hear of Bruce again?
Some say Jenner is worth $100 million. But that seems like chump change for killing his image. Maybe he can discuss it with Humphries and Odom?
Also on Forbes:


text:
This fantastic pan set from Casdon features a whole range of kitchen pots and pans for the little ones to play with. Kids love role play and the brilliant lifelike detail with which Casdon craft their toys means that the children wont know the difference.. ; Pressure cooker, wok and frying pan, roasting dish, colander and five utensils. ; For ages 3 to 8
Check stock and price


text:
Cohen 8-Ball: Magic's Transformations Through the Years
February 3, 2013
Loading recommendations
Share Gallery:
Josh Cohen's Analysis: As I wrote about recently, every NBA team cycles. In some eras, a team is in the preliminary stages of a rebuild (like the Magic are presently). In other periods, a team is a middle-of-the-pack playoff chaser. And in other phases, a team is positioned to challenge for a championship. CLICK NEXT to learn about the seven different eras that Orlando has gone through since its inauguration in 1989.
1989-1992: Cohen's Analysis - After Pat Williams, now the team's Senior Vice President, spearheaded the movement to deliver an NBA franchise to Orlando in the late 80's, the Magic were off and running in 1989. Like all expansion teams, the Magic were comprised of a blend of young promising talent and established veterans. While structuring for the future, Orlando landed some gems in the draft, including Nick Anderson and Dennis Scott.
1992-1996: Cohen's Analysis - Still the only franchise to win two consecutive NBA draft lotteries, the Magic rapidly evolved into a championship contender when they secured Shaquille O'Neal in 1992 and Penny Hardaway – via a trade with the Warriors involving Chris Webber – in 1993. Along with the groomed talent from the foundational years, like Anderson and Scott, and the addition of a championship-proven veteran in Horace Grant, Orlando earned a trip to the NBA Finals in 1995 and returned to the conference finals the subsequent season.
1996-1999: Cohen's Analysis - After Shaq's decision to bolt Orlando for Hollywood in 1996, the Magic had no choice but to try and progress without him. Chuck Daly replaced Brian Hill in 1997 as head coach, but the more intriguing storyline involved Penny and his sudden decline as a result of a devastating knee injury. Despite this setback, Orlando managed to advance to the playoffs in two of the three seasons between O'Neal's departure and Hardaway's preference to be traded.
1999-2000: Cohen's Analysis - It was supposed to be a more conventional renovation to start the century after sending Penny to Phoenix and Anderson to Sacramento. However, with an assemblage of determined and courageous, yet concealed talent and a rising coach, Doc Rivers, the Magic enjoyed an extraordinary season in 1999-00. Nicknamed "Heart & Hustle" for their relentless effort, the Magic stunned the masses by nearly qualifying for the postseason.
2000-2004: Cohen's Analysis - While "Heart & Hustle" was enchanting, it was obvious that in order for the Magic to evolve into a title contender, they needed to utilize the millions in salary cap space they had. Exactly 10 years before the Heat formed a star-studded trio – LeBron, Wade, Bosh – it was Orlando that nearly accomplished the same thing. After acquiring Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill in two separate sign-and-trades, the Magic nearly sequestered Tim Duncan away from the Spurs. While T-Mac transformed into the league's best scorer, ruinous injuries denied Hill from sustaining the reputation he had created during his All-Star years in Detroit.
2004-2012: Cohen's Analysis - Once it was realized that Hill would never get back to full strength and that McGrady's personality was perhaps too detrimental to the team's growth, the Magic turned the ship over to an 18-year-old phenom in 2004. Choosing the relatively veiled Dwight Howard instead of the renowned Emeka Okafor proved to be the most brilliant draft decision arguably in NBA history. Though the supporting cast changed from year-to-year, Howard and Jameer Nelson were the leaders of a team that advanced to the NBA Finals in 2009 and a return to the conference finals in 2010.
2012-Present: Cohen's Analysis - The back-and-forth ambiguity with Howard and his indecision eventually forced the Magic to trade him away in 2012. With a new general manager, Rob Hennigan, and head coach, Jacque Vaughn, Orlando is presently in the infantile stages of a renovation. With young talent currently developing, plenty of salary cap space ahead and high draft picks likely for the next couple of years, it's probable that this era will not be a long-lasting one.


text:
There he goes again.
Recently, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that the United States Tennis Association is planning a massive overhaul of its facilities in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. This might have been good news if it didn't come as a surprise to the people of Queens and the officials who represent them.
The plan includes the demolition of the Louis Armstrong Stadium, which seats 10,000 people, replacing it with a stadium that will seat 15,000.
In making the announcement, the mayor said, "The US Open is one of the city's greatest sporting events, and it generates more than $750 million a year in economic activity. The city recognizes the crucial need to improve the USTA facility and supports this vision so that the center remains a top-ranked tennis venue capable of hosting the US Open and thereby allowing the tournament to remain in New York City for many decades."
But it apparently has never occurred to anyone to discuss the plans with the local community board. For the record, we would like to remind the USTA and the mayor that Flushing Meadows Corona Park belongs to the people of Queens.
It is a park with a rich history that includes two World's Fairs. In fact, the stadium they are planning to replace was built for the 1964 World's Fair. It is not just another building.
Gene Kelty, chairman of CB 7, said, "I was kind of taken aback. For them to say, 'By the way, we're doing this and we want your support,' that is not a good starting point."
We welcome the jobs that will be created by this overhaul and, like the mayor, we want to keep the US Open in Queens.
But we agree with Kelty that the USTA's decision to host auditions for the person who will sing the national anthem at the Open is at the least annoying. This is a Queens event, so the auditions should be held in Queens.
The USTA should be working with CB 7 to make sure its events, and especially its reconstruction, have the community's support. For example, the building of a new parking garage at the stadium is something that should have been discussed. Parking and traffic in this park are a concern.
Once again the mayor has shown that he knows what's good for Queens without asking.
©2012 Community News Group
By submitting this comment, you agree to the following terms: You agree that you, and not TimesLedger.com or its affiliates, are fully responsible for the content that you post. You agree not to post any abusive, obscene, vulgar, slanderous, hateful, threatening or sexually-oriented material or any material that may violate applicable law; doing so may lead to the removal of your post and to your being permanently banned from posting to the site. You grant to TimesLedger.com the royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual and fully sublicensable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, perform and display such content in whole or in part world-wide and to incorporate it in other works in any form, media or technology now known or later developed. |


text:
Twitter Link Facebook link
Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Willams has expressed great distress at the extreme violence being used between Hindus and Christians in Orissa, India, following the murder of Hindu leader, Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati, recently.
Leaders of the Anglican Communion left for home from the Lambeth Conference earlier this month having heard the Archbishop of Canterbury say there is "wide support" for measures to resolve disputes.
Following comments from a cardinal that have caused controversy, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has welcomed the presence of a delegation from the Roman Catholic Church at the 2008 Lambeth Conference.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, will today lead a high-profile march through London to highlight the need for governments to take firm action on the eradication of poverty worldwide.
Amid much media speculation, Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams has encouraged Anglican bishops on retreat in preparation for the full proceedings of the Lambeth Conference next week to look for common ground.
Participants in the Lambeth Conference are being invited to theatre show from a leading performance artist who offers to take them on a spiritual journey with lesbian and gay people.
Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu has defended Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams from attacks by Anglican hardliners and has urged the Church of England to reach out to young people involved in knife crime.
Echoing remarks made early this year by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chief Justice has said that there is no conflict between Sharia principles for conflict resolution and civil law.
The Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem, Suheil Dawani, has called on participants in the conservative Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) to approach their summit in a spirit of "peace, reconciliation and goodwill."
become anEkklesia Partner
Select the newsletter(s) to which you want to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Five UK Churches have issued a statement to support and encourage those meeting in New York to negotiate a treaty banning nuclear weapons....
No upcoming events available
Tweets by @Ekklesia_co_uk


text:
07:01 AM Saturday 9/1/12 | | Tweet
The New York City medical examiner's office has ruled the death of hip-hop mogul Chris Lighty a suicide.
The 44-year-old manager of Mariah Carey, Sean "Diddy" Combs and 50 Cent was found dead in his Bronx apartment Thursday with a gunshot wound to the head. A 9 mm handgun was found in the apartment.
The medical examiner's office said Friday that Lighty died from a self-inflicted wound.
Lighty had been a major player in the industry for decades, working with pioneers like LL Cool J before starting his own management company, Violator.
File photo depicting the hip-hop mogul in his New York City office.February 28, 2007
(AP Photo)
Lighty and his wife, Veronica, had been in the process of divorcing and he was also having financial trouble, according to court records.
--Associated Press
© Copyright 2015 Pollstar. All Rights Reserved.
Use of information on this website is subject to License Agreement. Tickets for dates listed may not yet be on sale. Dates may change without notice.


text:
404 File Not Found
Host by NetBox Version 2.8 Build 4128
Set of 8 bobby pins, enameled with a flower print. Approximately 2 1/2" long.
Product Notes
List: $12.50
Bobby Pin Set, C |
Limit Reached |
Please choose which cart you want to add the item.
By choosing one of the above, you are able to shop for both yourself and a registrant at the same time. Once you are ready to checkout your items will be waiting for you in both your personal and registry shopping carts.
Still need assistance?
Please contact us at (1-888-696-0423)
Reviewed by 3 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1-3
Best Uses
Comments about Bobby Pin Set, C:
I gave the SampleSociety sample of two pins to my daughter. She told me she really liked them because they stayed in! She used both the bobby pin and the clip with same comment about staying in. She has long smooth thick hair. She picked out two sets for me to order for her. I think they would make excellent gifts too. They seem pricey but when you think about what you pay in departments stores, they are suddenly reasonable.
Best Uses
Comments about Bobby Pin Set, C:
This is a really great bobby pin that holds thick hair really well if you put one on each side of the hair you're pulling back. If you use only one on thick hair, like mine, the hair will fall out at the open end. The thing that isn't so great is that the open ends of the pin snag in my hair when I remove it so that I cringe.
Best Uses
Comments about Bobby Pin Set, C:
I have very very thick wavy hair and have always had trouble keeping any kind of hair clip in it. In my April Sample Society Box there was two different hair clips by Jane Tran. A bobby pin and a clip style, both were very nice colors and good quality metal. I tried them out two different days and I was pleased with how they held my hair. I used the clip in my daughters who has very silky hair and things tend to slide out of it. It stayed all day. I plan on purchasing more of these products.
Displaying reviews 1-3


text:
Product #: DO-731101SCIENCE SET ELECTRIC MOTOR GENERATOR - AGE 10+ |
Science Fair Projects
Explore the wonders of electricity by building a motor/generator that actually powers a light bulb. Kit includes: disc, latch and neodymium magnets, compass, wire, sand paper, spring, paper clips, pre-drilled wood block, iron cores, nuts, nails, screws, bolts, light emitting diode (LED), plastic plates and tubes and experiment and project book.
Customer Reviews:
Submit a review