text:
Staff writers
RICHMOND — In the latest in a series of brazen, daylight shootings to rock the city, a 19-year-old man was shot and killed at point-blank range in front of more than 20 people, including his father and brother, Tuesday as they attended a city-funded vocational course aimed at reducing violence.
About 25 enrollees in the RichmondBUILD construction course went out for a run about 11 a.m. in the 300 block of South 28th Street, said Ken Sayang, 33, a member of the class. A white SUV sped up and skidded to a stop next to the group, and a man got out of the vehicle and began shooting.
"We all scattered," Sayang said. "I couldn't believe what was happening."
The shooter seemed to home in on one victim, shooting him multiple times even after he was on the ground, Sayang said. Two other men were shot in the legs.
The slain man's father and brother were not injured, police said.
The victim was identified by the Contra Costa Coroner's Office as Richmond resident Dimarea Young. His Facebook page listed him as a 2011 El Cerrito High School graduate.
The spate of violence in recent days has public safety leaders and the community on edge, particularly in light of the steep decline in Richmond homicides in recent years.
Three shootings — all in broad daylight — have left six wounded and one dead in central and south Richmond neighborhoods since Saturday.
A 33-year-old Sacramento man remains in critical condition after being shot in the ankle, buttocks and chest on Sunday afternoon. The man was shot while standing in front of his grandmother's single-story home in the 100 block of South 20th Street about 1:30 p.m., police said.
Three other men were shot in front of Uncle Sam's Liquors at 3322 Cutting Blvd., at 6:10 p.m. Saturday, police said. No arrests have been made in any of the recent shootings.
"The brazenness of these shootings, and the sustained nature of the violence in recent days, is a cause for concern," said Felix Hunziker, chairman of the city's Police Commission. "Violence is escalating."
The latest violence also follows two high-profile shootings last month. On March 28, a daytime shooting strafed an apartment building, wounding a 1-year-old baby in the neck as the boy sat with his grandparents. On March 14, a 33-year-old man was shot and killed in front of dozens of passengers on the front steps of the Richmond BART station.
But despite the seemingly indiscriminate gunplay, the city's homicide numbers remain below average. Richmond has recorded four homicides so far this year, below the seven that were recorded by this date in 2012, a year that ended with 18 homicides, among the lowest totals in decades. While strained resources have hampered public safety in other Bay Area cities, Richmond has bulked up its police force from 150 sworn officers in 2006 to 190 today, implemented modern community-policing models and funded a novel violence-prevention office.
On Tuesday, Det. Nicole Abetkov said a stolen white SUV was recovered in the 3400 block of Ohio Avenue minutes after police found the three shooting victims at Virginia and 28th Street.
The slain man's body remained on the northwest corner of South 28th Street and Virginia Street for hours as detectives combed the scene.
Sal Vaca, director of the RichmondBUILD program, said the construction class was having its first meeting Tuesday.
"It was orientation day," Vaca said. "The students had made choices to better themselves."
Vaca said the deceased man had enrolled in the class with his father and brother.
"They were there when their son and brother was shot," Vaca said.
Vaca said RichmondBUILD has graduated more than 600 students in six years in vocational trades. Most of the students in the classes come from working-class Richmond neighborhoods and housing projects, he said.
"The program aims at reducing violence by building skills and employment," Vaca said. "We have operated for six years without incident until today."
Vaca said the RichmondBUILD site, occupied by seven staff and about 30 students daily, will be closed for the rest of the week. A grief counselor will work with staff and be on hand when students return next week, Vaca said.
Tensions remained high through the rest of the day, and less than three hours after the fatal shooting, gang unit officers patrolling near Chanslor Avenue and 20th Street fired a shot at a suspected gang member after he pointed a weapon at them, Abetkov said. An officer fired one shot at the man, but missed, then the officers took the man into custody about 1:44 p.m.
"We need more police or more cameras or more something," said 51-year-old Kyle Patton, a Richmond resident and bystander on the scene of Tuesday's shooting. "The streets are hot out here."
Staff writer Rick Hurd contributed to this story. Contact Erin Ivie at firstname.lastname@example.com. Contact Robert Rogers at email@example.com.


text:
Democrats, Republicans set meetings
LeFlore County Demcrats and Republicans will hold grass roots organizationsl meetings next weekThe LeFlore County Democratic Party will hold precinct meetings at 7 p.m. Thursday. Precinct meetings will be held at voting places in which each person votes. For more information, contact Reba Amend at (918) 647-3250 or email@example.com Republicans will hold their annual precinct meeting and county convention at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 16, at Western Sizzlin in Poteau.Business will include election of precinct officials, convention delegates and officers.The state convention will be held Saturday, April 20, in Oklahoma City. For more information, call Deann Williams at (918) 658-9139 or visit www.okgop.com.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
New version of the popular turntable, the portable, Battery-Powered PT-01USB Turntable System Includes EZ Vinyl Converter 2 Software.
Numark, the world's leading manufacturer of products for the DJ market, announces the release of PT-01USB, the company's portable vinyl archiving system.
PT-01USB permits users to listen to and transfer their vinyl records to digital MP3 files anywhere and anytime thanks to its convenient, rugged design and ability to run on either wall or battery power. An RCA line output is provided for simple connection to any DJ, PA, or stereo system. An auxiliary input allows conversion of audio from any cassette deck or other audio source. A monitoring speaker is built-in for standalone listening.
Numark's powerful EZ Vinyl Converter 2 software is included, and is the simplest way to get audio from records into a PC-based iTunes music library. EZ Vinyl Converter 2 automatically separates individual tracks and comes with a free download of features Gracenote® MusicID technology which names tracks automatically. EZ Audio Creator 2 is also included for Mac users. PT-01USB also comes with Audacity software for assisting users with reduction of clicks, pops and other noises in tracks.
The EZ Vinyl Converter 2 now ships with all Numark USB turntables including TTUSB, TTXUSB, TTi, LP 2 CD and PT-01USB. Current owners of these turntables can download the new version of the software for free at www.numark.com.
Key features of PT-01USB include:
- Plug and play USB connection to Mac or PC
- Protective dustcover and integrated carrying handle
- Fits inside a standard 12-inch record case
- Wall-powered with included AC adapter or battery-powered (six "D" cells, not included)
- Built-in monitoring speaker
- Belt-drive motor with 33, 45 and 78 RPM settings
- +/-10% pitch control
- Converts all records up to 12-inches
- RCA line and headphone outputs
- 45 RPM adapter included
- Cartridge included
- USB cable included
PT-01USB is the most convenient tool for converting vinyl records to digital WAV or MP3 files for use on CD, iPod, hard disk player, or computer. It is due at retailers in Q3-2008.


text:
Research Opportunities
Russell Ranch has many opportunities for collaborations with researchers: archives of soil and crop samples for 14 years, database with 14 years of data, and 57 research plots where tomatoes and wheat are planted (see the 10 different cropping systems here). Each plot contains 40 microplots, where research parameters can be varied without changing the yield-measuring area for the long-term experiment. Each microplot is 15 by 15 feet and the documentation of the precise treatment for each microplot over the last 14 years can be provided to you. In addition to the main plots, small plots for short-term research questions are also available.
If you are interested in working at Russell Ranch, contact Kate Scow with your project details. Please follow the research guidelines to help identify the constraints of your research project.


text:
This leaflet is written for:
This leaflet will help you learn about:
Postpartum psychosis (or puerperal psychosis) affects thousands
of women in the UK each year. It is a severe episode of mental
illness which begins suddenly in the days or weeks after having a
baby. Symptoms vary and can change rapidly. They can include high
mood (mania), depression, confusion, hallucinations and delusions.
Postpartum psychosis is a psychiatric emergency. You should seek
help as quickly as possible.
Postpartum psychosis can happen to any woman. It often occurs
'out of the blue' to women who have not been ill before. It can be
a frightening experience for women, their partners, friends and
family. Women usually recover fully after an episode of postpartum
It is much less common than Baby Blues or Postnatal Depression.
It occurs in about 1 in every 1000 women (0.1%) who have a
Many women experience mild mood changes after having a baby. It
is common to feel many different emotions.
Over half of new mothers will have the 'Baby Blues'. This
usually starts 3 to 4 days after birth. You may have mood swings.
You may burst into tears easily. You can feel irritable, low and
anxious at times. You may also over-react to things. It usually
stops by the time your baby is about 10 days old. You don't need
treatment for Baby Blues.
Postnatal depression affects 10
to 15 in every 100 women after childbirth. The symptoms are similar
to those in depression at other times. These include low mood and
other symptoms lasting at least two weeks.
Postpartum psychosis is different from postnatal depression. It
is a more severe illness. There are many different ways the illness
can start. Women often have symptoms of depression or mania (see
our leaflet on Bipolar Disorder) or a mixture of these. Symptoms
can change very quickly from hour to hour and from one day to the
There are many symptoms that occur in postpartum psychosis.
These may include: ·
You may not be able to look after yourself as well as you would
when you are well. Your symptoms may make it very difficult for you
to look after your baby. If you have postpartum psychosis you may
not realise you are ill. Your partner, family or friends may
recognise that something is wrong and need to ask for help.
Most commonly these episodes begin in the first two weeks after
birth. Often symptoms begin in the first few days after having a
baby. More rarely, the illness starts later – several weeks after
the baby is born.
Postpartum psychosis is not your fault. It is not caused by
anything you or your partner have thought or done. Relationship
problems, stress or the baby being unwanted do not cause postpartum
There are likely to be many factors that lead to an episode of
postpartum psychosis. We know that genetic factors are important.
You are more likely to have postpartum psychosis if a close
relative has had it. Changes in hormone levels and disrupted sleep
patterns may also be involved. More research is needed. To find out
more about helping with research on postpartum psychosis visit
Action Postpartum
For many women with postpartum psychosis there may be no
warning. For other women it is clear that they have a high risk. If
you have ever had a diagnosis of bipolar disorder or
schizoaffective disorder, your risk of postpartum psychosis is
high. You may also be in this high risk group if you have had a
diagnosis of schizophrenia or another psychotic illness.
If you also have a mother or sister who has had postpartum
psychosis, your risk may be even higher. Women who have had
postpartum psychosis before are also at very high risk. If you are
in one of these high risk groups your chance of having postpartum
psychosis is between 1 in 4 and 1 in 2 (25% to 50%). You should
discuss your individual risk with a psychiatrist.
You may be worried about your risk if a close relative has had
postpartum psychosis. If your mother or sister had postpartum
psychosis but you have not had any mental illness, your risk is
around 3 in 100 (3%). This is higher than the risk in the general
population. It is still much lower than for the very high risk
Ideally let your psychiatrist and GP know that you want to get
pregnant before you start trying for a baby. You can discuss with
them any medications you are taking. They can advise you what you
can do to ensure you are as well as possible before becoming
pregnant. Many pregnancies are not planned. In that case, let
people know as soon as possible.
If you are pregnant it is important to tell everyone involved in
your care about your previous illness. This includes your midwife,
obstetrician, GP and health visitor. Your mental health team and GP
need to know you are pregnant. They all need to know you have a
high risk of postpartum psychosis to make sure you get the care you
need. They should help you to make a plan for your care (see
Paying attention to other factors known to increase the risk of
becoming ill may be important. These could include trying to reduce
other stressful things going on in your life. Try to get as much
sleep and rest as you can in late pregnancy and after the birth.
With a new baby this may difficult. Ask your partner or family to
take on some of the night time feeds if possible. Think about any
factors which usually trigger your episodes of illness. Try to do
whatever you can to reduce the chance of these happening.
Will medication stop me getting ill after the baby is born?
For women taking medication to help keep them well, the decision
to continue or stop medication in pregnancy is very difficult.
There are no right and wrong answers. There are risks involved with
all possible options. The options you can consider include:
It is important to discuss these with your psychiatrist. This
will help you decide what is best for you and your baby.
Some women at high risk of postpartum psychosis may decide to
start medication in late pregnancy or after delivery. This may
reduce the risk of becoming ill. There is not enough research
evidence to be sure about this. A number of medications are
sometimes used in this way. These include antipsychotics and
lithium. You should discuss this with your psychiatrist.
Preconception (when you are planning a
If possible you should seek specialist advice when you are
planning a pregnancy. Your GP can refer you. You should see a
perinatal psychiatrist if there is one in your area. This is a
doctor who specialises in the care of pregnant and postnatal women
with current or previous mental health problems. If there is no
local perinatal psychiatrist you should see a general psychiatrist
for advice. You will be able to discuss:
If you have a high risk of postpartum psychosis you should have
specialist care in pregnancy. If there is a perinatal psychiatrist
in your area you should be referred when you find out you are
pregnant. Otherwise you should be seen by a general psychiatrist.
Your psychiatrist should discuss with you:
Ideally you should have a pre-birth planning meeting at around
32 weeks of pregnancy. This is a meeting involving you and everyone
involved in your care. This includes, your partner, family or
friends you choose to bring. It also includes mental health
professionals, your midwife, obstetrician, health visitor and GP.
The aim is to make sure that everyone involved in your care knows
about your risk of postpartum psychosis. You should all agree on a
plan for your care.
You should get a copy of your written care plan. This should
include early warning symptoms and a plan for your care. There
should also be details of how you and your family can get help
quickly if you do become unwell.
Your maternity care in labour will depend on what you and your
baby need. The midwives will support you with feeding and caring
for your baby.
If you have any symptoms of mental illness, a psychiatrist will
see you when you are in hospital. The care you have will depend on
how unwell you are.
In some maternity units, you may see a psychiatrist or mental
health nurse before you leave hospital, even if you are well. This
is to check that you are well at the time you go home. They should
also check the plan made at your pre-birth planning meeting. They
can make sure you have any medication you need.
Your mental health should be closely monitored. Your midwives,
health visitor and mental health nurse should visit you regularly
in the first few weeks after your baby is born. If you become
unwell, this can be picked up quickly so you get treatment
You and your family should have emergency contact numbers for
local crisis services. You can use these, see your GP or go to
A&E if you, or your partner or family, think you are becoming
If you think you are becoming unwell don't wait. It is better to
be seen quickly as symptoms can worsen rapidly.
If you, your partner or family think that you have symptoms of
postpartum psychosis, you need to be seen urgently. If you have
been told during pregnancy that you have a high risk of postpartum
psychosis, you may have a care plan. This should include emergency
contact numbers for your mental health team or local crisis
You may not have this type of plan, or you may not have had any
mental illness before. In that case you should see your GP urgently
(the same day) or attend your local A&E department. If you are
told you do not have postpartum psychosis but your symptoms worsen,
you should make sure you are seen again.
Most women with postpartum psychosis need to be treated in
hospital. Ideally you should be offered a bed in a Mother &
Baby Unit (MBU). This is a specialist psychiatric unit where
mothers with mental illness are admitted with their babies. You
will be supported in caring for your baby whilst you have the care
and treatment you need.
There are many parts of the country with no Mother and Baby
Unit. Even where there are MBUs, there may not be a bed available.
You may be admitted to a general psychiatric ward. If that happens,
your partner or family will need to care for your baby. If you have
nobody else who can look after your baby, social workers can find a
temporary carer. This will only be until an MBU bed is available,
or until you are well enough to care for your baby yourself. You
may choose to be admitted to a general ward if the nearest
specialist MBU is far from your home.
Most women with postpartum psychosis need treatment with
medication. This is usually an antipsychotic, a mood stabiliser or both.
It is possible to breastfeed whilst taking some medications.
Your psychiatrist can discuss the risks and benefits of medications
in breastfeeding with you. You may be unable to breastfeed. There
are several reasons for this. You may be too unwell, or you may be
admitted to hospital without your baby. You may need a medication
which is not safe in breastfeeding. Some women feel guilty about
being unable to breastfeed, but you should not feel this way. If
you have postpartum psychosis, it is not your fault. It is
important for your baby that you have the treatment you need so
that you get better.
During the severe part of the illness you will probably need
help caring for your baby. You are likely to need practical help.
You may also need help to bond with your baby. Mother and Baby Unit
(MBU) staff are trained to support you with all aspects of caring
for your baby. If you do not go to an MBU, there are people who can
help and support you once you go home. These include health
visitors and mental health professionals. There may be a local
perinatal or parent-infant mental health service. In some areas,
Children's Centre staff and/or voluntary organisations can also
It is normal to lack confidence with mothering after postpartum
psychosis. Remember that most new mothers, who have not had an
illness, also feel like this. You may find it hard to attend mother
and baby groups when recovering from postpartum psychosis. Health
visitors and community psychiatric nurses can give you one-to-one
advice until you feel up to attending groups with other
Some mothers have difficulty bonding with their babies after an
episode of postpartum psychosis. This can be very distressing.
Usually these problems don't last long. Most women who have had
postpartum psychosis go on to have very good relationships with
their babies. Talk to your health visitor or other professionals
involved in your care. They can tell you what help is available in
your area. Health professionals can support you in learning how to
interact with and respond to your baby. You may find baby massage
and other groups for new parents helpful.
Allow your partner, family or friends to help and support you
while you get better (see section on partners below).
Usually you will need to have care from a mental health service
until you fully recover. This team can advise you about treatment.
They can support you and your family. You may have care from a
perinatal or parent-infant mental health service.
These specialist teams do not exist in all areas. In that case
your local mental health team, health
visitor and GP will continue to support you whilst you recover.
It is important to ask for advice about contraception. It is a
good idea to avoid getting pregnant again too soon after an episode
of postpartum psychosis.
Some women will be referred to Children & Families Social
Services. You may be referred in pregnancy, because of your high
risk of postpartum psychosis. You may be referred if you develop
postpartum psychosis. Sometimes women worry that this means that
people think they cannot care for their baby. This is not usually
the case. The reason for assessment is to check the support you
have from family, friends and professionals. It is also to make
sure there is safe plan for your baby if you are too unwell to care
for him/her. If referral is needed, this should be discussed with
you (unless you are too unwell).
Some women and their partners worry that if they seek help for
symptoms of mental illness, people may think they can't care for
their baby. On the contrary, seeking help and having treatment
means you are doing the best for your baby. This will be seen as
You may need extra help from family members during illness and
recovery. If you have no support from family or friends, social
services may be able to help. Social workers can find a temporary
carer for your baby if there is no MBU bed.
Although it might take a while, most women recover fully and
become good mothers. It is very rare for babies to be removed from
women with postpartum psychosis.
If your partner has postpartum psychosis, it can be very
distressing for you. At first you may be frightened or shocked. It
is important that you ask for help when your partner first has
symptoms. This is particularly important if she does not recognise
that she is ill. If your partner is hospitalised with the baby, you
may feel very alone and isolated. You may feel frustrated that
there is little you can do to help. It is important that you seek
help too, if you feel you need it. There are organisations you can
talk to. They can support you through this very worrying time (see
list at the end of this leaflet).
It is important that your life is as stable as possible. Take
time for yourself and prepare for when mum and baby return home.
Once your partner and baby are home try to:
It can be difficult living with someone recovering from
postpartum psychosis. Ensure you remain healthy by exercising,
eating well and getting enough rest. Don't use drugs or alcohol to
Ask to speak to the Perinatal Psychiatrist or the other staff
involved in your partner's care if you have any concerns or
questions. They are usually very supportive.
Be patient. It takes time for women to recover from an episode
of postpartum psychosis.
In the long term being willing to talk about your experiences
may aid recovery. Counselling or couple therapy may be helpful for
some couples.
It can take 6 -12 months or more to recover from postpartum
psychosis. The most severe symptoms tend to last 2 to12 weeks. The
vast majority of women will recover fully. You may have further
episodes of illness at a later time.
Postpartum psychosis is often followed by a period of
depression, anxiety, and low social confidence. It can take time to
come to terms with what has happened to you. It's normal to feel
some sadness for missing out on early motherhood. It can take time
to rebuild confidence in relationships and friendships. Most women
get back to feeling like their usual selves again.
Talking emotions through with family and friends can help. Seek
advice about getting expert help from a psychologist,
psychotherapist or counsellor. For advice on practical steps that
can be taken during recovery, see the recovery guide produced by
APP network.
Many women who have had postpartum psychosis go on to have more
children. There is a high risk of having another episode. About 1
in 2 (50%) women who have had postpartum psychosis will have this
again after the birth of another baby. With the right care, if you
have another episode, you should be able to get help quickly.
Over half of women with postpartum psychosis will have a further
episode of illness not related to childbirth. Avoiding having
further babies is not a guarantee of remaining well.
Action Postpartum
Psychosis Network
A network of women across the UK who have experienced postpartum
psychosis. They aim to increase public awareness and promote
research into the condition. Run by a team made up of academics,
health professionals and women who have recovered from postpartum
psychosis. Tel: 020 3322 900; email: email@example.com
The Association for Postnatal
Illness (APNI)
Tel: 020 7386 0868 Telephone helpline and information leaflets
for women with postnatal mental illness. Also a network of
volunteers (telephone and postal) who have experienced postnatal
mental illness. Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
An organisation that helps individuals and their families with
pre- and postnatal depression advice and support. They also
offer support to families in the antenatal period. Helpline
(open 9am to 8pm) 0843 2898401.
Widely read blog about postnatal mental illness. Email: email@example.com
Bipolar Education Programme
Information about pregnancy and childbirth for women with
bipolar disorder, including an online interactive module. Email:
The following are personal accounts of postpartum psychosis
which some women may find helpful:
Eyes without Sparkle by Elaine Hanzak
Saving Grace: My journey & survival through postnatal
depression by Grace Sharrock
Out of me: the story of a Postnatal Breakdown by Fiona
Understanding Postpartum Psychosis: A Temporary Madness
by Teresa Twomey
Hillbilly Gothic: A Memoir of Madness and Motherhood by
Adrienne Martini
and postnatal mental health: clinical management and service
guidance. NICE Clinical Guideline 45. (2012) National Institute for
Health and Clinical Excellence: London.
Doucet S, Jones I, Letourneau N et al. (2011). Interventions for
the prevention and treatment of postpartum psychosis: a systematic
review. Archives of Women's Mental Health. 14(2): 89-98.
Jones I and Smith S (2009) Puerperal Psychosis: Identifying and
caring for women at risk. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment. 15:
Sit D, Rothschild AJ and Wisner KL (2006). A Review of
Postpartum Psychosis. Journal of Women's Health. 15(4):
Series Editor: Dr Philip Timms
Expert review: Lucinda Green, Jess Heron and Ian Jones.
User and Carer input: Nicola Muckelroy, the APP network
Ilustration by Lo Cole: www.locole.co.uk
This leaflet reflects the best
available evidence at the time of writing.
For a catalogue of public education materials or copies of our
leaflets please contact:
The Royal College of Psychiatrists,
21 Prescot Street, London E1 8BB. Tel: 020 3701
Charity registration number (England and Wales) 228636 and in
Scotland SC038369.
Was this information useful? We'd love your feedback


text:
Changes related to "Discoveries and Challenges"
From UA Libraries Digital Services Planning and Documentation
This is a list of changes made recently to pages linked from a specified page (or to members of a specified category). Pages on your watchlist are bold.
No changes on linked pages during the given period.


text:
Nava, Buchholz help BoSox beat Orioles
Boston, MA – Daniel Nava's three-run homer in the seventh inning backed seven scoreless frames by Clay Buchholz, as Boston downed Baltimore, 3-1, in the opener of a three-game set from Fenway Park.
Buchholz (2-0) allowed three hits and walked four with eight strikeouts for the Red Sox, who were coming off a series win in Toronto over the weekend.
"He had very good stuff today," Red Sox manager John Farrell said of Buchholz. "He threw seven solid innings."
Joel Hanrahan earned his third save, but served up an Adam Jones homer in the ninth.
Wei-Yin Chen (0-1) yielded five hits and three runs over 6 1/3 innings for the Orioles, who have lost three in a row since starting the year with three wins in four outings.
"It's seven games into the season," Jones said. "It's not like we just got blown out. We got beat."
Dustin Pedroia began the seventh with an infield hit, then Mike Napoli's double put two in scoring position. Two batters later, Nava launched a ball over the Green Monster for a 3-0 game and to send Chen to the bench.
Andrew Bailey then turned in a scoreless eighth for the hosts.
Jones began the ninth with a blast to left, then Hanrahan retired the next two batters before a J.J. Hardy double prolonged the contest. Ryan Flaherty, however, fouled out to third to end the contest.
The O's put two on with two down in the third and couldn't score, then saw Matt Wieters work a leadoff walk in the seventh and move up on a groundout before being silenced once more.
The Sox didn't see a runner advance past first base in their first six turns at the plate.
Game Notes
Baltimore won 13 of 18 games in the season series last year, including seven of nine in Boston ... The Red Sox are one of only four MLB teams not to commit an error thus far, and their seven errorless games to start the season set a new record which had not been eclipsed since they went six straight in 1957 without a blunder ... Boston announced that John Lackey will not make his next scheduled start due to inflammation in his right biceps, which forced him out of last Saturday's start in Toronto.


text:
TEHRAN — Iran plans to start a major military exercise later this month to test its air defence systems, a top Revolutionary Guards commander said in comments published on Sunday.
The exercise was announced by Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili, who heads the elite force's air defence command, amid rising speculation that Israel is weighing the option of a pre-emptive military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities.
"All of the air defence systems of the Guards as well as those of the army will be used in the drill," which is planned to run from September 21 to October 21, Esmaili was quoted as telling the official IRNA news agency.
He told the Young Journalists Club, a group affiliated to Iranian state television, that his unit's priority was protecting nuclear facilities.
"The nuclear sites are our priority and most of the (air defence) systems, as well as covert defence units, have been set up around them," he said.
In addition to the air defence systems, fighter and bomber jets will be used in the exercise, which Esmaili said will simulate "unexpected scenarios" to test the forces' crisis management.
The Mehr news agency quoted another commander as saying that Iran had set up radar, missile and electronic warfare units near its northwestern border.
"This equipment has been installed in more than 300 locations," Rasoul Rezvani-Kia, head of the northwestern air defence command, was quoted as saying.
As its standoff with the West over its controversial nuclear programme has dragged on, Iran has held such exercises two or three times a year, with the most recent staged in July.


text:
Former AT&T Workers Denied Reemployment Because They Retired, Agency Charges
NEW YORK – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed an age discrimination lawsuit against AT&T, Inc. and a number of its subsidiaries, the agency announced today. The EEOC charged that AT&T discriminated against a class of retired AT&T workers by denying them the ability for reemployment solely because they retired under early retirement plans including the Voluntary Retirement Incentive Program (VRIP), the Enhanced Pension and Retirement Program (EPR) or other retirement plan. The effect of this denial of reemployment results in a disproportionate number of older workers not having the same opportunity to apply for reemployment, in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA).
According to the EEOC's lawsuit, Case No. 09 Civ 7323, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, John Yates, who filed the discrimination charge with the EEOC, and a class of other retired AT&T workers, are denied reemployment because they had participated in the VRIP, EPR or other retirement program. Yates and all other retirees who are age 40 or older are protected by law from discrimination because of their age. The result of AT&T's policy is to exclude this class of older workers because of their age from being reemployed by AT&T regardless of their qualifications. This violation has been ongoing since at least October 1, 2006, the EEOC said.
"We've been taking a new and hard look at age discrimination recently, and we're intent on enforcing the ADEA strategically and vigorously," said EEOC Acting Chairman Stuart J. Ishimaru. "This particular case highlights the Commission's commitment to combating age-based disparate impact discrimination."
EEOC Trial Attorney Louis Graziano said, "Federal law prohibits employers from instituting policies that adversely affect workers because of their age. AT&T's policy has that effect."
EEOC New York District Director Spencer H. Lewis added, "All employees, regardless of their age, should be permitted to complete for jobs equally. That is the fundamental right that the ADEA grants to older workers. We hope this lawsuit sends a message to such employers that the EEOC will seek relief when it finds the law has been violated."
According to company information, Dallas-based AT&T is the largest telecommunications company in the world by revenue, with more than $124 billion in 2008.
In July of this year the EEOC held a public hearing on recent developments in age discrimination, including the effect on older workers of widespread layoffs, threats to employee benefits and controversial recent court decisions. The Commission also issued a technical assistance document on waivers of discrimination claims as part of severance agreements. Further information is available at http://www.eeoc.gov/press/7-15-09.html and http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/qanda_severance-agreements.html.
The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Further information about the EEOC is available on its web site at www.eeoc.gov.
This page was last modified on August 20, 2009.
Return to Home Page


text:
Patriots free agents: Keep him or let him go?
With their 26-16 loss to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game, the Patriots now head into the offseason looking to retool for 2014. Many of the core players who helped the Patriots reach their third straight AFC title game will be returning, but there are some tough decisions that Bill Belichick will have to make regarding personnel that will hit the free agent market in March. Here is a look at all of the Patriots' free agents, and your chance to vote on whether they should be re-signed.
Julian Edelman
The former college quarterback at Kent State was mostly forgotten during his first four seasons in New England, catching 69 passes for a total of 714 yards and four touchdowns. He served as a backup to Wes Welker, also seeing time on special teams and even some as a defensive back. The Patriots re-signed Edelman to a one-year deal for 2013, but not much was expected from him, as the majority of targets were supposed to go to Rob Gronkowski and Danny Amendola.
Gronkowski's delayed start and Amendola's groin injury in Week 1 changed all of that, and Edelman went on to have the best year of his career. He caught two touchdown passes in Week 1 against the Bills, and for the entire season he was Tom Brady's go-to receiver, make short and long plays all over the field and carrying the depleted receiving corps.
Edelman ended the regular season with 105 catches for 1,056 yards and six touchdowns, career highs in all categories. In the two playoff games, Edelman hauled in 16 catches for 173 yards and a touchdown. He is seen by many as this year's Wes Welker, and the Patriots would be wise to go the other route this time around and lock up Brady's favorite target.
Aqib Talib
Acquired from the Buccaneers in 2012 for a fourth-round draft pick, the disgruntled Tampa Bay cornerback became a force in the Patriots secondary, recording a sack and having an interception return for a touchdown in his six games with New England that season. He was injured in the 2012 AFC Championship against the Ravens, and his absence contributed to Joe Flacco and Anquan Boldin lighting up the Patriots in the second half of that game.
Talib was signed to a one-year deal before 2013, and it began to pay off right away, as he proved to be one of the best shutdown corners in the NFL over the first half of the season. He had four interceptions in the first four weeks and came up with a key defended pass to secure a win against the Falcons in Week 4.
However, Talib injured his hip in Week 6 against the Saints and didn't return until Nov. 18 against the Panthers. Talib was quieter over the last few weeks, but did provide good coverage against Andrew Luck and the Colts in the divisional round of the playoffs. He was injured again on a controversial pick play by Wes Welker in the AFC title game, forced to leave the game for the second year in a row.
LeGarrette Blount
Another acquisition from Tampa Bay, Blount was sent to the Patriots in exchange for Jeff Demps, a former sprinter who was uncommitted about playing in the NFL. Blount was projected to be a power back on the depth chart behind starter Stevan Ridley, third-down specialist Shane Vereen, and sophomore Brandon Bolden. He was consistent through most of the 2013 season, never getting more than 14 carries through Week 15 for 507 total yards and three touchdowns.
But Blount came on as a major force down the stretch. He gained 76 yards on 16 carries with two touchdowns in a Week 16 win in Baltimore. Then he amassed 189 yards and two touchdowns against the Bills in Week 17 to help the Patriots clinch the No. 2 spot in the AFC. He continued his surge in the divisional round against the Colts, rushing for 166 yards and a team-record four touchdowns in a 43-22 win.
But the ground game never got going against the Broncos in the AFC title game, and Blount tallied just 6 yards on five carries as the Patriots fell behind early and were forced to throw the ball.
Brandon Spikes
One of the most vocal Patriots over the past four seasons, the linebacker has played 51 games since being drafted in 2010 out of Florida. Spikes had his best season in 2012, making 92 tackles and forcing four fumbles, while also adding a sack. He made 86 tackles this past season with an interception but did not have any sacks. Spikes played the year with an injured knee and was placed on injured reserve prior to the playoffs. He was a strong run stopper but was rarely utilized on pass coverage packages.
The circumstances of his placement on IR were cloudy: Initial reports said it was a mutual decision by him and the team, but other reports came out later saying that missing a team meeting in early January was the "last straw'' for Spikes with Bill Belichick. Either way, it doesn't appear likely that the Patriots will re-sign the 26-year-old linebacker.
Austin Collie
Once a budding star for the Indianapolis Colts, Austin Collie was forced into unemployment with injuries until the Patriots scooped him up early in the 2013 season. He played in four games in his first stint in New England, catching three passes for 34 yards, before being released Nov. 5. Collie was re-signed just one month later and played three mere games, catching three passes for 29 yards, before being cut again before Week 17.
Collie was again re-signed by the Patriots prior to their divisional matchup with the Colts, in which he made one catch for 15 yards. He was used relatively frequently in the AFC Championship in Denver, catching four passes on six targets for 57 yards.
Michael Hoomanawanui
The tight end with the last name no national analyst can pronounce, the "Hoo-Man'' made the Patriots as a third-year player in 2012, playing 14 games and catching five passes on seven targets for 109 yards, mostly serving as a run blocker and filling in after Rob Gronkowski broke his arm.
Along with Daniel Fells, he was the Patriots' most tenured healthy tight end entering training camp for 2013, a distinction he could claim all his own after Fells was cut before the season.
Hoomanawanui played in 13 games in 2013, catching 12 passes on 19 targets for 136 yards, including a remarkable one-handed touchdown grab against the Dolphins in Week 15. He caught three passes in the playoffs for 39 yards.
Matthew Mulligan
Whether or not he returns to the team in 2014, Mulligan will be remembered by Patriots fans for bringing in one interesting fan down the stretch: former WWE star and reality TV actor Hulk Hogan. In videos he made before the team's playoff run, Hogan referenced Mulligan and said that if the Patriots got tired during the playoffs, they could "take one of the largest arms in the world, Hulk Hogan's arm, you can strap it to your hips, and you can score as many touchdowns as you want, brother.''
Unfortunately, the Patriots did not make it to the Super Bowl, which would have undoubtedly produced another Hogan pump-up video for all to see.
Back to Mulligan: The Bangor, Maine, native played in 15 games and caught two passes for 16 yards, including a touchdown in Week 4 against the Falcons.
Ryan Wendell
Wendell has been the starting center the past two seasons, playing on a line that allowed Tom Brady to be sacked 40 times this season, tied for the 10th fewest in the NFL. The five-year veteran out of Fresno State has played every down of his career with the Patriots. He played in 21 games in his first three seasons, starting five games.
In 2012, Wendell competed for the starting center job and beat out longtime Patriot Dan Koppen. He has been very consistent over the past two seasons, and it would be surprising if the Patriots were to disrupt the chemistry between Wendell and Brady heading into 2014.
Will Svitek
Svitek is an eight-year NFL veteran, playing 61 games with the Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons from 2005-12 before joining the Patriots last offseason. Svitek made the team out of training camp and played tackle behind Sebastian Vollmer and Marcus Cannon. When Vollmer was lost for the season with a broken leg, Svitek moved up to the second spot behind Cannon, and ended up starting two games after Cannon sustained an injury. Svitek saw only three offensive snaps in the final three games of the regular season and did not play in either of the playoff games.
Andre Carter
Defensive end Andre Carter had his first stint with the Patriots back in 2011, playing 14 games and recording 10 sacks with two forced fumbles, and was named to the Pro Bowl. He played 12 games with the Oakland Raiders in 2012, but recorded just 2.5 sacks with one forced fumble, and was cut at the end of this past preseason. Carter was re-signed by the Patriots Oct. 23 to shore up a defensive line that had lost Vince Wilfork and Tommy Kelly. Carter played nine games for the Patriots and had two sacks, but was not a factor in either of the playoff games.
Dane Fletcher
Fletcher has played all four of his NFL seasons with the Patriots, totaling 38 games at linebacker. He missed all of the 2012 season with a torn ACL, but came back in 2013 and made the team out of training camp. On top of his time at linebacker, Fletcher was a constant on special teams. Fletcher's snap count went up dramatically when Jerod Mayo was lost for the season with an injury, and Fletcher was more effective in pass coverage, being smaller and faster than Brandon Spikes.
Fletcher played a career-high 15 games, totaling 26 tackles with two sacks and a forced fumble. Fletcher played sparingly on defense in the playoffs, however, as the emergence of rookie Jamie Collins cut into his snap total; he played just 22 of 140.
Danny Aiken
As the long snapper, Danny Aiken has been remarkably consistent over the past three seasons. He is a player who comes to work every day and does his job right.
He had one notable slipup, however, in this year's divisional-round matchup against the Colts. Aiken launched a high snap over punter Ryan Allen's head and back toward the end zone, leading to a scramble that resulted in a safety and Allen being tackled hard by Indianapolis players. Allen was forced to leave the game with a shoulder injury, leaving Stephen Gostkowski to handle punting duties and Tom Brady to hold on kicks. Aiken did not make another error for the rest of the playoffs, and that one against the Colts may have been his only bad snap during his tenure in New England.


text:
Diane Lane signed divorce doc on Valentine's Day
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Court records show Diane Lane signed her filing to divorce Josh Brolin on Valentine's Day.
Lane's petition to end the actors' marriage after eight and a half years was filed on Feb. 15.
Her filing, released Friday, lists irreconcilable differences for the couple's breakup and lists Feb. 13 as their separation date. It does not indicate they have a prenuptial agreement.
The actors have no children together. It was a second marriage for both when they tied the knot in August 2004.
Lane received an Oscar nomination for her performance in the 2002 film "Unfaithful" and co-stars in the upcoming Superman film "Man of Steel."
Brolin was Oscar-nominated for his performance in 2008′s "Milk" and recently starred in "Gangster Squad."
A representative for the couple confirmed the divorce on Thursday.


text:
Sports Briefs
Buccaneer Basketball registration has begun. Registration forms can be picked up at Poteau City Hall from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.Cost to register is $25 per player and deadline to enter is Oct. 25.Anyone interested in coaching a team needs to contact Billy Bond at (918) 647-1939.The first coaches meeting will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Poteau City Hall. The draft will be Oct. 23.• • •The 2013 Eagle Crest 4-Ball Golf Tournament will be Oct. 19-20 at Eagle Crest Golf Course in Fort Smith, Ark.Tee-time on Oct. 19 will be 8 a.m. Entry fee is $450 per two-man team.Proceeds will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of the Alma (Ark.) Area.For additional information, call Ryan Nye at (479) 883-0221.• • •The Stars Basketball Tournament will take place Nov. 2-3 at the Spiro High School Multipurpose Gym.Entry fee is $125 per team, and there is a three-game guarantee.The tournament is for boys and girls in grades three through eight.For additional information, call Tiera Cartwright at (479)-252-1810.• • •The Spiro Bulldogs Basketball team is having a fundraiser to pay for warm up suits for the upcoming season.The sale will end Oct. 25.For additional information or how to go about getting a catalog, call coach Dustin Gist at (918) 605-1840 or by e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com or email@example.com.• • •The Poteau Literacy Council is having a drawing at 4 p.m. Nov. 1 for two tickets to the Oklahoma City Thunder's game Nov. 10 against the Washington Wizards at Chesapeake Energy Arena.The prize package also includes two team T-shirts, $50 in gas and a night's stay at the Colcord Hotel a block from the arena.Tickets for the drawing cost $10 and six tickets for $50. There is no need to be present for the drawing.Tickets may be purchased at the Poteau Literacy Council's offices on Dewey Avenue in Poteau, Patrick Lynch Library, The Community State Bank, at next week's Balloonfest and from any board member.For additional information, call Doreen Doyle at (918) 839-1498.


text:
Sorry, but specific product you requested is not currently available. Hopefully you can find another option below.
A Merino, Cashmere, Microfibre blend that is ridiculously soft and machine washable yet reasonably priced. The PERFECT yarn for Knitting Pure & Simple Patterns, as well as lots of Debbie Bliss creations.
What about yarn that have the same look and feel? Find more yarn with a smooth / uniform texture, a medium twist, and is machine dyed.
We provide endless possibilities for you including yarn, knitting gifts, needles, kits, sale yarn, free knitting patterns, and more!Jimmy Beans Wool is Your Local Yarn Store... Online!


text:
Use the map to find out more about UCL's health links with London
UCL's considerable success in health research creates a virtuous circle that drives forward discovery, innovation and improvements in patient care.
1. Improving public health
Training 2,100 doctors at any one time is just the start:
Medical students at UCL spend more than 10% of their training in the community. Much of this learning takes place in GP surgeries across London where they meet large numbers of patients and learn about healthcare outside the traditional hospital setting. This constitutes one of the largest programmes of community-based undergraduate teaching in the UK.
Dr Joe Rosenthal - Senior Lecturer in General Practice and Sub-Dean for Community Based Teaching in UCL Research Department of Primary Care and Population Health
UCL Partners is the largest academic health science partnership in Europe, pulling together the resources and expertise of 20 National Health Service (NHS) Trusts and their constituent hospitals.
UCL has dedicated research institutes working hand-in-hand with prestigious partner hospitals in London. Some example include:
UCL partner hospital
UCL research institute
|Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children
|UCL Institute of Child Health
|Moorfields Eye Hospital
|UCL Institute of Ophthalmology
|National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
|UCL Institute of Neurology
University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
|UCL Cancer Institute
University College Hospital
UCL Institute for Women's Health
Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital
UCL Ear Institute
|Heart Hospital
|UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science
|Eastman Dental Hospital
|UCL Eastman Dental Institute


text:
'Unbreakable' 6in bendy e-paper designed
To launch next year
Taiwanese manufacturer AU Optronics (AUO) has designed a supposedly unbreakable 6in e-paper screen that could go on sale next year.
AUO's bendy and unbreakable 6in e-paper screen
AUO's flexible e-ink can display 16 levels of grey, has a 9:1 contrast ratio and a 33 per cent reflectance level, the firm claimed. The screen also only consumes power when the screen is refreshed.
Despite AUO describing the screen as "unbreakable", the firm made a said the screen's "curved radius" reaching 100mm. What happens if you push it further? AUO didn't say.
Larger models of the 6mm bendy could also be developed, AUO said, because its measurements can apparently be tailor-made according to customer needs. Though we assume that means retailers and distributors, rather than you or I.
AUO's bendy is by no means the first of its type. Plastic Logic, HP and US firm Universal Display Corporation have all shown off working prototypes before, although none has yet nailed down firm launch dates.
The first AUO bendy 6in e-paper screens will be distributed as samples next year, with the firm planning to start mass-production at some point afterwards. ®


text:
JOLIET, Ill. (AP) - With winter weather around the corner, Illinois State Police are asking drivers to take extra precautions on the roadways.
Illinois State Police Director Hiram Grau urged motorists to slow down when roads are icy or snowy, allow extra travel time and not follow other cars too closely.
He said drivers should travel with a cell phone and an emergency kit that includes jumper cables, flares or reflectors, windshield washer fluid, an ice scraper, traction material, blankets, non-perishable food and a first aid kit.
Motorists may check road conditions by calling the Illinois Department of Transportation or online at www.gettingaroundillinois.com .
If crashes occur in extreme weather conditions and medical attention isn't needed, the state police ask drivers to exchange insurance information and report the incident within 10 days.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
TOKYO (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan will consider easing monetary policy again this month while also mulling a doubling of its inflation target to 2 percent, sources say, as the economy's weakness threatens to delay its escape from two decades of deflation.
Any easing will likely take the form of another increase in the BOJ's 101 trillion yen $1.2 trillion (747.4 billion pounds) asset buying and lending programme, mostly for purchases of government bonds and treasury discount bills, sources familiar with its thinking say.
Under intense pressure from new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the BOJ will likely adopt a 2 percent inflation target at its January 21-22 rate review, double its current goal, and issue a statement with the government pledging to pursue bold monetary easing steps, the sources say.
By accompanying the new target with more stimulus, the BOJ hopes to show its determination to get the country out of deflation and fend off more radical demands from politicians, such as a revision to the BOJ Law guaranteeing its independence in guiding monetary policy.
"The trend for prices is weak and that's a concern. The outlook for overseas economies is also highly uncertain," said one of the sources who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
Markets have not been expecting the BOJ to follow up December's stimulus so quickly, and instead had been speculating on what new policy steps it might take. The 2 percent inflation target has been largely priced in after the BOJ pledged last month to review its current price goal.
After the December easing, Governor Masaaki Shirakawa stressed how much money the BOJ was already pumping into the economy via asset purchases, which was seen as a sign of his reluctance to boost stimulus further.
If the BOJ does ease in January, it would be the first time it has expanded stimulus at successive meetings since 2003, when it was battling a banking crisis amid a five-year experiment with quantitative easing that lasted until 2006.
However, an increase in asset purchases would still disappoint those investors expecting the BOJ to try bolder action in response to Abe's calls for radical steps.
Some BOJ board members have floated other options, such as committing to buy assets open-endedly or cutting the 0.1 percent interest the BOJ pays on excess reserves that financial institutions park with the central bank.
But those ideas have not made much headway and may be put on hold until the conservative Shirakawa's term ends in April. A lack of new steps could disappoint markets and trigger a rebound in the yen, analysts say.
Abe will revive on Wednesday a top government panel with legal authority to map out economic policy guidelines, and invite the BOJ chief to attend it regularly, giving more opportunity to put pressure on the central bank.
Central bankers are divided over the necessity for further action. Some officials feel the bank has offered enough stimulus for now, having set a 1 percent inflation target last February and eased policy via an increase in asset purchases five times in 2012.
But a growing number of pessimists fret over persistent price declines and risks for the export-reliant economy, such as the continued slowdown in global growth and slumping sales to China following last year's territorial dispute.
"I think the BOJ will ease policy this month. Sustainable economic growth with price stability is already part of the BOJ's mandate," said Atsushi Mizuno, a former central bank board member who is now vice chairman at Credit Suisse.
"If the BOJ thinks the economy is weakening or straying from the recovery path, then they should ease," he told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday.
In a quarterly review of its long-term forecasts, also scheduled at this month's meeting, the BOJ is likely to cut its forecast for economic growth in the fiscal year ending in March from a 1.5 percent expansion projected in October, the sources said.
While it may slightly revise up its forecast for the next year, the feeble growth projections suggest Japan's exit from deflation remains some way off, which could help the central bank justify loosening policy again.
Government officials are also turning up the heat, demanding further stimulus as well as a higher inflation target.
Core consumer prices, Japan's key gauge of inflation, were down 0.1 percent in November from a year earlier.
Pressure on the BOJ intensified after Abe's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won December's lower house election by a landslide, calling on the central bank to set a 2 percent inflation target and ease policy "unlimitedly" to achieve it.
While the central bank is likely to meet Abe's calls for a 2 percent inflation target and issue a joint statement with the government, sources said it will not set a deadline for achieving the target, stressing that that 2 percent inflation is a long-term goal that won't be achieved unless its easing is accompanied by government efforts to revive growth, such as deregulation.
Though the statement will not be legally binding, it will put the BOJ's target in the public spotlight and give the government a reason to demand further easing if the goal is not met.
Additional reporting by Sumio Ito, Yoshifumi Takemoto, Stanley White and Izumi Nakagawa; Editing by Hugh Lawson, John Mair and Simon Cameron-Moore


text:
Marketing Insights
Marketing: The Basics
- Marketing Analytics
- Digital Marketing
- Customer Experience
- Big Data in Marketing
- Multichannel Marketing
- Customer Analytics
Marketing Analytics
Gut-feel marketing won't get the results you're after. You need to make smarter, fact-based decisions based on reliable, relevant data and powerful analytics. Learn how to plan and manage your marketing programs more efficiently and effectively than ever before. Streamline your marketing operations. Get more value from your digital assets. Link marketing performance to real revenue. And find out which marketing activities are working, which ones aren't – and why.
Learn more about marketing analytics
Digital Marketing
Consumers have access to information any time and any place they want it. If you want their business, you have to deliver personalized offers tailored to their needs. You have to manage customer relationships across all channels, initiate dynamic customer interactions, and extract value from big data to make better decisions faster. That's digital marketing done right. And you can't do it without analytics.
Customer Experience
Customer experience management is about knowing your customers so completely that you can create personalized experiences that win their loyalty and entice them to evangelize to others about you. That's the most valuable advertising there is. To deliver, you need analytics. With analytics you can create and maintain complete customer profiles. You can personalize all customer interactions. And you can get the right message to the right place at the right time – every time.
Big Data in Marketing
Having big data doesn't automatically lead to better marketing. It's the insights derived from big data, the decisions you make and the actions you take that make the difference. With high-performance analytics, marketers can use big data to develop more relevant, personalized communications. Plan, prioritize and optimize their marketing. Test, execute and improve marketing automation to improve efficiency and ROI.
Multichannel Marketing
Multichannel customers zoom between channels, spending three to four times more than single-channel customers. And if your brand isn't there to greet them wherever they pop up, you'll lose them. To engage these consumers, you need an effective multichannel strategy. And for that, you need analytics. With analytics you can get a single view of the customer across all channels. You can establish a multichannel marketing platform -- and create a consistent customer experience at every touch point.
Learn about multichannel marketing
Customer Analytics
It's a customer's world, and marketers just live in it. If you want to do more than exist in survival mode, you've got to embrace that fact. There comes a time when common sense marketing must intersect with the science of analytics if you want to turn data about your customers into something you can actually use to deliver timely, relevant offers that delight customers, rather than annoy them.


text:
- AltCar Auto Show
- Beijing Auto Show
- CES Auto Show
- Chicago Auto Show
- DC Auto Show
- Detroit Auto Show
- Frankfurt Auto Show
- Geneva Auto Show
- LA Auto Show
- NAIAS Auto Show
- New York Auto Show
- Paris Auto Show
- Philadelphia Auto Show
- SEMA Auto Show
- San Diego Auto Show
- Shanghai Auto Show
- St. Louis Auto Show
- Tokyo Auto Show
Auto Show: 2012 La Auto Show
MINI Paceman & John Cooper Works GP: LA Auto Show
- MINI Paceman is a sporty 2-door Countryman.
- MINI also revealed John Cooper Works GP.
- Both models go on sale next year.
MINI showed two new models in LA. The first, a new 2-door model called the Paceman, made its North American debut there. MINI also revealed the high-performance John Cooper Works GP model.
We first saw the production Paceman at the Paris Auto Show in September. MINI also showed a concept at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show. As a sporty, 2-door version of the MINI Countryman crossover, it's brand's smallest niche yet.
On the outside, the Paceman's styling roughly mirrors the Countryman's. That's mostly true in front, as the Paceman wears the same headlights and bumper as the 4-door Countryman. In back, the Paceman features a sporty look with wider fenders, updated taillights, and a steeply raked rear window. Interior changes are minimal compared to the Countryman, with rear legroom staying the same and headroom dropping slightly.
Under the hood, the MINI Paceman keeps the same engines as the Countryman. That means a standard 121-horsepower 1.6-liter 4-cylinder. A 181-hp turbo version is optional. Like the Countryman, the Paceman also offers MINI's "All4" all-wheel drive. The only unknown is pricing, though we expect the Paceman to start around $29,000 when it arrives in dealers early next year.
In addition to the Paceman, MINI also showed a performance-oriented version of its Cooper hatchback. Just 2,000 units of the John Cooper Works GP model will be built, and only a fraction of those will come to the U.S. Despite its hefty price tag of $40,000, its 211-hp 4-cylinder boosts power by just three horses over the regular John Cooper Works model.
But the GP is about more than just power. It boasts a weight savings of more than 160 lbs. It also includes adjustable "competition grade" suspension. Rear seats are removed in favor of a rigid cross brace, while high-performance tires are mounted on lightweight alloy wheels. A 6-speed manual is the only transmission.
According to MINI, the John Cooper Works GP goes on sale next March. Interested shoppers should line up quickly, as the unique hot hatch likely won't have trouble finding buyers.
What it means to you: With the Paceman and John Cooper Works GP, MINI continues expanding its lineup.
See more LA Auto Show news.


text:
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — It was a reversal of trends Saturday night at Dick's Sporting Goods Park as the Colorado Rapids used four second-half goals to grab a 4-0 win over Chivas USA and snap a three-game losing streak while halting the Goats' own three-game road-win streak.
Rookie Tony Cascio opened the scoring, second-half sub Kamani Hill added two goals in the final 10 minutes, Jeff Larentowicz drew and buried a penalty kick, and goalkeeper Matt Pickens made a number of key interventions to give the Rapids the important victory.
Chivas, on the other hand, will surely rue a series of missed opportunities after being shut out for the fifth time in eight games thus far this season.
The Rapids controlled the early proceedings, generating the majority of the serious chances in the match's opening minutes by dictating possession — a vital staple of head coach Oscar Pareja's 4-3-3 attack. Midfielder Martin Rivero, who missed last week's loss to the Galaxy with a quad injury, created the first significant opportunity of the match in the sixth minute with a booming shot that narrowly whizzed by Chivas 'keeper Dan Kennedy's far post.
In the 18th minute, Omar Cummings' centering feed found Cascio just three yards from goal, but Kennedy was perfectly stationed to calmly collect the rookie's effort.
After the slow start, Chivas began to get a foot in the match, resulting in the visiting squad earning the best opportunity of the first half for either side in the 30th minute, when deflected shot resulted in Chivas' Laurent Courtois' well-timed side-footed volley from just inside the penalty box that required Colorado 'keeper Matt Pickens to leap full-stretch to deny the Frenchman the opening goal.
WATCH: Casey talks about his first game back in 10 months
Chivas continued to pressure and look the better side as the halftime whistle approached. In the 38th, Chivas' Miller Bolaños fought off Kosuke Kimura for a sharp-angled one-on-one with Pickens, only for the Ecuadorian to disappointingly fire wide of Pickens' goal.
The teams headed to the lockers tied scoreless at halftime, but in the 50th minute, on the Rapids' first corner of the match, Cascio made sure to break the stalemate. The 22-year-old calmly chested the ball away from his defender and fired an unstoppable shot far corner, leaving Kennedy helpless and giving Cascio his second goal of the season — both of them game-winners.
Following Cascio's opening goal, Chivas nearly scored off a corner themselves, as Courtois' header hit the underside of the crossbar. Then, in the 58th minute, ex-Rapid Nick LaBrocca's effort missed by perhaps a foot, barely clearing Pickens' far post.
Cascio nearly doubled his count a few minutes later, but Kennedy answered the call to action and stopped Cascio's long-range effort at the hour mark.
Then the Rapids' onslaught of goals began.
Cummings found himself with space and calmly delivered a ball to Hill in the 82nd minute that resulted in the all-important insurance goal. It was Hill's second goal of the season.
Soon after, in the 84th minute, Larentowicz broke through on the right side of Chivas' 18-yard-box, only to be brought down by Ante Jazic for a penalty kick. The midfielder stepped up to the spot and found nothing but net to ice the match for good and allow Rapids skipper Oscar Pareja to breathe easy.
Hill added his second goal of the match in the 92nd following a late onslaught of shots on the Chivas goal.
Conor Casey's 92nd minute cameo appearance — his first since rupturing his Achilles last July — capped a night of second-half cheers from the home fans.
The 4-4-0 Rapids face a short week, as they'll head to New England for a Wednesday clash against the Revolution (8 pm ET, MLS Live). The 3-5-0 Rojiblancos return home to face the Chicago Fire on Friday night at the Home Depot Center (8 pm ET, ESPN Deportes).
Scoring Summary:
COL – Tony Cascio 2 (Martin Rivero 2) 50'
COL - Kamani Hill 2 (Cascio 1, Cummings 1) 82'
COL - Jeff Larentowicz 1 (penalty kick) 84'
COL - Kamani Hill 3 (unassisted) 93+
Disciplinary Summary:
COL – Jeff Larentowicz (caution) 59'
COL - Hunter Freeman (caution) 75'
Colorado Rapids – Matt Pickens, Kosuke Kimura (Hunter Freeman 46'), Marvell Wynne, Drew Moor, Luis Zapata, Jeff Larentowicz, Jaime Castrillon, Martin Rivero (Kamani Hill 70'), Brian Mullan, Omar Cummings (Conor Casey 92+)
Subs not used: Stew Ceus, Tyrone Marshall, Wells Thompson, Andre Akpan
Chivas USA – Dan Kennedy, James Riley, Ante Jazic (Blair Gavin 85'), Rauwshan McKenzie, Heath Pearce, Oswaldo Minda, Nick LaBrocca, Miller Bolaños, Laurent Courtois (Ryan Smith 59'), Paolo Cardozo (Casey Townsend 73'), Juan Pablo Angel


text:
Barbecue Magic Sour Cream Dip
Makes 1 cup
Simple and Delicious Dip! Serve it at your next party and listen to your guests rave! Goes great with tortilla chips.
2½ teaspoons Chef Paul Prudhomme's Barbecue Magic®
1 cup sour cream
how to prepare
Combine the ingredients in a small bowl. Stir well until fully combined. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
Note: The flavor of this dip gets better as it sits in the refrigerator. So make it ahead, up to one day, if possible.
Copyright © 2001 by Paul Prudhomme


text:
They have deep pockets and aren't afraid to dig into them.
Seemingly out of nowhere, a trio of wealthy political neophytes has roiled Republican Senate primary races taking place this month, dipping into their personal fortunes to highlight their business backgrounds, cast their opponents as career politicians and draw within striking distance of a victory few saw coming just a few weeks ago.
In Arizona, real estate mogul Wil Cardon is still viewed as having work to do if he's going to catch the prohibitive favorite in the race — six-term Rep. Jeff Flake.


text:
General Motors and PSA/Peugeot-Citroen are mulling combining their toxic assets -- Opel/Vauxhall and PSA's core auto manufacturing arm -- into a joint venture, according to media reports. If the plan goes ahead, it could have big implications for Europe's ailing auto industry.
Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas says a "bad company" comprising the Opel, Vauxhall, Peugeot and Citroen brands could be a catalyst for structural reform in the industry. "Combining the common interests of large mass market European auto firms with limited financial resources spanning multiple countries could provide the trigger for the type of capacity exit that saved the U.S. auto industry in 2009," Jonas wrote in a note to investors. "Properly structured, ring-fencing the Opel liability could be an attractive result for GM stakeholders," he said.
Jonas also said there may be room for more members to join.
A combined Opel/PSA would create a European heavyweight second only to Volkswagen Group, Europe's biggest automaker. Opel-PSA would have an 18.6 percent market regional share, compared with VW Group's 25 percent. The joint venture would be well ahead of fourth-placed Renault Group's 8.5 percent share and fifth-placed Ford's 7.5 percent.
The plan would come under scrutiny of antitrust authorities both at a European level and a national level on fears it could reduce competition. Plans by GM and PSA to create a purchasing joint venture -- a crucial part of their alliance -- were expected to be cleared by antitrust authorities by the end of September. PSA Chief Operating Officer Frederic Saint Geours told me at the Paris auto show last month that the two automakers now expect the purchasing venture to be cleared soon and begin operations by year end.
One option for GM and PSA that would face easier antitrust scrutiny would be to consolidate their production plants into a joint venture. Production and purchasing would be kept separate from marketing and pricing organizations, so there would be no risk of price cartels.
Such a scheme is not completely new to GM. When the company entered in a short-lived cross shareholding alliance with Fiat in 2000, it created two joint ventures, one for purchasing and another for powertrains. At that time, GM and Fiat said they were "allied on costs, rivals in the market place."
Source : http://www.autonews.com/article/20121015/BLOG06/310159891/a-merged-opel-psa-could-be-a-catalyst-for-reform-of-europes-autoTerima Kasih for visit my website


text:
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Andres Mendoza scored a pair of goals – sandwiched around the first career tally for Dilly Duka – as the Columbus Crew rolled to a 3-0 win over the New England Revolution on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium.
The Crew (13-12-8, 47 pts.) clinched a spot in the 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs with the victory, while the Revs (5-16-12, 27 pts.) suffered their fifth straight loss in what was their home finale.
Mendoza scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 31st minute to give the visitors a halftime lead, while a Duka goal and a second strike from Mendoza added to the Crew's advantage in the second half.
Goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth earned his second straight start between the pipes with Matt Reis still nursing a right hamstring strain, while Franco Coria replaced Ryan Cochrane in central defense to mark the only change from the Revolution lineup which suffered a 2-1 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes last weekend.
Both sides created a series of half chances in the early stages, but the Crew came closest to opening the scoring in the 27th minute. Mendoza used a clever pullback to create space for himself in the box before firing just wide of the left post with a quickly-executed toe poke.
Mendoza found more success four minutes later, making the breakthrough in the 31st minute to give the Crew a 1-0 lead. Emilio Renteria rose to flick a long pass into the path of Mendoza, who eluded the challenge of Darrius Barnes before blasting a left-footed drive past the right hand of Shuttleworth.
The Revs responded well and almost equalized immediately, but Columbus goalkeeper William Hesmer did well to react quickly and kick away Milton Caraglio's deflected long-range effort.
Columbus doubled its advantage to 2-0 in the 59th minute when Duka notched his first career goal. Duka corralled a half clearance 25 yards out before dribbling into the left side of the box and finishing low back across the face of goal and inside the right post.
It took just four more minutes for the Crew to extend its lead to 3-0 as Mendoza grabbed his second goal in the 63rd minute. Sebastian Miranda began the scoring sequence with a long pass down the right wing for Renteria, who delivered a cross to Mendoza at the back post. Mendoza made no mistake with his first-time effort, blasting a left-footed shot into the near upper corner.
New England responded by making a pair of substitutions in the 68th minute, bringing on forwards Rajko Lekic and Zack Schilawski in place of Monsef Zerka and Caraglio, but the Revolution's best chance – an 85th-minute free kick from Chris Tierney – was easily saved by Hesmer.
The Revs will close out the 2011 season next weekend when they travel north of the border for an Eastern Conference clash with Toronto FC on Saturday, Oct. 22. An afternoon kickoff from BMO Field is set for 12:30 p.m. ET.
New England Revolution vs. Columbus Crew
October 15, 2011 – Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.)
Columbus Crew 3, New England Revolution 0
Scoring Summary:
CLB: Andres Mendoza (Emilio Renteria) 31
CLB: Dilly Duka (unassisted) 59
CLB: Andres Mendoza (Emilio Renteria, Sebastian Miranda) 63
New England Revolution: Bobby Shuttleworth, Chris Tierney, Franco Coria, Darrius Barnes, Kevin Alston, Monsef Zerka (Zack Schilawski 68), Shalrie Joseph ©, Benny Feilhaber, Ryan Guy, Diego Fagundez (Kheli Dube 80), Milton Caraglio (Rajko Lekic 68)
Substitutes Not Used: Tim Murray, Ryan Cochrane, Otto Loewy, Pat Phelan
STATS*: Shots: 9; Shots on Goal: 3; Saves: 1; Corner Kicks: 2; Offside: 0; Fouls Committed: 9
Columbus Crew: William Hesmer, Josh Gardner, Sebastian Miranda, Julius James, Chad Marshall, Emmanuel Ekpo, Eddie Gaven, Danny O'Rourke, Andres Mendoza (Bernardo Anor 80), Emilio Renteria (Tommy Heinemann 78), Dilly Duka (Jeff Cunningham 89)
Substitutes Not Used: Andy Grunebaum, Rich Balchan, Kevin Burns, Shaun Francis
STATS*: Shots: 9; Shots on Goal: 4; Saves: 3; Corner Kicks: 1; Offside: 14; Fouls Committed: 20
* Note that all statistics are unofficial
Misconduct Summary:
CLB: Andres Mendoza (caution) 41
CLB: Emmanuel Ekpo (caution) 57
NE: Shalrie Joseph (caution) 90
Referee: Mark Geiger
Assistant Referees: Anthony Vasoli, Chris Strickland
Fourth Official: Abiodun Okulaja
Weather: Partly cloudy and 58 degrees
Attendance: 16,285
Team Records
New England Revolution: 5-16-12 (27 pts.)
Columbus Crew 13-12-8 (47 pts.)
- Columbus leads the all-time regular-season series between the two teams, 28-16-10 … the Revs are 10-13-4 at home against Columbus, including a 6-7-3 mark at Gillette Stadium since its opening in 2002
- Saturday's match was 54th all-time regular season meeting and completed the season series between the Revs and Crew this season
The loss for the Revs gives Columbus a season series win for the second consecutive season … earlier this season Columbus earned a 3-1 win on August 13 at Crew Stadium … in 2010, Columbus defeated New England at Crew Stadium, 3-2, on May 8 and the two teams played to a 2-2 draw on September 25 at Gillette Stadium … the Revs' last season-series victory over the Crew came in 2006, when the Revolution went 2-1-1 against Columbus
- With the loss, the last home win for the Revs against Columbus remains a 1-0 win Oct 14, 2006 at Gillette Stadium … since their last home win in 2006, the Revs have gone 0-4-2 at home in six meetings against Columbus
New England has won just twice in its last 12 meetings with Columbus dating back to the 2007 season … the Revs are 2-7-3 in that stretch
- Outside of MLS competition, the Revs are 3-0-3 against the Crew, including MLS Cup Playoff (2-0-3) and U.S. Open Cup (1-0-0) matches
Shalrie Joseph's start tonight ties Jay Heaps' clubs starts record at 238 … Joseph, the nine-year veteran – all with New England – could also potentially tie Heaps for games played next weekend in Toronto as Joseph sits one behind Heaps' record of 243 appearances for the Revs
- Tonight marked Steve Nicol's 300th regular-season game in his career and stands in second place on the MLS games coached list … all of his games coached have come with the Revolution (1999, 2002-present) … the league's all-time games coached leader is Seattle head coach Sigi Schmid, who has – coming into tonight – coached 348 MLS games, spanning 12 different seasons
Bobby Shuttleworth made consecutive starts tonight in place of the injured Matt Reis … the start for Shuttleworth was his sixth of the season and has posted a 0-4-2 record in 2011
- The Revs began the match in a 4-4-2 formation for the ninth consecutive game (since Aug. 17 against Houston) and featured a two man forward line of Caraglio and Fagundez for the third straight game … Chris Tierney started at left back for the fourth straight game alongside Darrius Barnes, Franco Coria and Kevin Alston on the back line … midfielders Monsef Zerka and Ryan Guy featured on the wings with Shalrie Joseph and Benny Feilhaber in the middle
The Revs made a pair of 68th-minute substitutions as Rajko Lekic replaced Milton Caraglio and Zack Schilawski entered for Monsef Zerka … the Revs remained in a 4-4-2 formation as Diego Fagundez went from forward to right wing and Ryan Guy moved from right wing to left wing, with Lekic and Schilawski moving to the forward line.
- The 3-0 loss tonight matches the largest margin of defeat in a MLS game this season … the Revs fell to Philadelphia, 3-0, on July 17 at Gillette Stadium
The Revs have now lost five consecutive games since their 2-0 win over FC Dallas on September 10 … in the five game span – beginning with a 3-0 loss at Portland on September 16 – the Revs have been outscored 13-4
- Tonight's game concluded the 17-game home schedule for the Revs this season … the Revs finished the season with a record of 4-7-6, a .411 winning percentage … the previous low for a winning percentage in a season at home came the year before moving into Gillette Stadium when the team posted a 6-5-2 mark (.562) at Foxboro Stadium in 2001
With only five wins in the 2011 campaign, the loss tonight will solidify the club record for fewest wins in a season … the 2001 Revolution squad won only seven matches in a shortened 27-game season … since 2000, the Revs have failed to reach 10 wins on the season just three times: 2001 (7 wins), 2004 (8 wins) and 2010 (9 wins)
- The Revs did not score tonight, finishing their home schedule with 17 goals in 17 matches at Gillette Stadium this season, the fewest in both club and Gillette Stadium history … entering the 2011 season at Gillette Stadium, the Revs had averaged 25.7 goals a season at Gillette Stadium, since it opened in 2002
With three goals allowed tonight, the Revs officially conceded 24 goals at Gillette Stadium this season, the most in Gillette Stadium history
- Prior to the game tonight, team awards were announced: Zak Boggs and Matt Reis were named co-Humanitarian of the Year, A.J. Soares was named Defender of the Year, and Matt Reis took home team Most Valuable Player
The Revs hosted Fan Appreciation Night in the home-schedule finale … the Revs conducted their annual "Shirts off their Backs" promotion at the end of the game where lucky Season Ticket Holders came down to the field to get the 18 dressed players' shirts straight off their backs ... after the game, the entire team appeared in Autograph Alley, which was set up at the north end of the stadium, under the bridge and lighthouse


text:
All items > Knives > Folding Knives > Viper (Folding) > Viper Dan1 / Dan2
- Overall Length:7.125"
- Blade Length:2.875"
- Blade Thickness:0.12"
- Blade Material:Bohler N690
- Hardness:57-59 RC
- Blade Style:Drop Point
- Finish:Satin
- Edge Type:Plain
- Handle Length:4.25"
- Handle Thickness:0.51"
- Handle Material:G-10, Silver Twill
- Color:Black, Gray
- Frame/Liner:Stainless Steel
- Weight:3.45 oz.
- User:Right Hand, Left Hand
- Pocket Clip:Tip-Up
- Knife Type:Manual
- Opener:Tang
- Lock Type:Slip Joint
- Brand:Viper
- Model:Dan1
- Model Number:V5928STW
- Designer:Tommaso Rumici
- Country of Origin:Italy
- Best Use:Everyday Carry
- Product Type:Knife
Designed by Tommaso Rumici, the DAN model from Viper Knives is a sleek folding knife for everyday use. The model name DAN is an acronym for "Daily Assorted Needs" and is followed by a number that identifies the blade shape; 1 is the drop point blade and 2 is the wharncliffe blade. It is equipped with the Action Stopper® slip joint mechanism to comply with restrictive laws in urban areas, yet provides the essential edge for your daily chores.
The DAN1 has a drop point blade and this model features a layered silver twill/G-10 handle with a titanium spacer and stainless steel pocket clip.


text:
By ,
Published November 20, 2014
Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith and Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Dekoda Watson have been named NFC offensive, defensive and special teams players of the month for November.
Johnson had 32 receptions for a league-best 619 yards and three touchdowns in the month. His 154.8 yards per game average led the NFL and was the highest in November since Hall of Famer Lance Alworth's 156.3 mark in 1963.
Johnson posted 12 catches for 207 yards and a touchdown in Week 10 to record his third career 200-yard receiving game, tying him for fifth in NFL history.
Smith led the NFL with nine sacks in November despite only playing three games in the month. He also had 18 tackles and two forced fumbles. The second-year pro has now amassed 30 1/2 sacks in his career, making him the fastest player to ever reach 30 sacks since the sack became an official stat in 1982.
Watson blocked a punt which was returned for a touchdown and also recovered a special teams fumble that led to a touchdown during the month to capture the special teams award. He also had two special teams tackles.


text:
"Take on the World" is an inspiring and motivational track that will fit any corporate video or presentation perfectly! This infectious and joyful song begins with a simple and catchy piano rhythm, accompanied by the sounds of percussion and shakers. With the building of intensity, "Take on the World" erupts into an incredibly uplifting chorus that will sure to inspire all clients! "Take on the World" includes other great instruments such as the ukulele, acoustic guitar, tambourine, accordion, and much more!
This .zip file includes 4 different versions:
- Take on the World (Full Version): 1:40
- Take on the World (No Drums): 1:40
- Take on the World (No Drums, Bass, Perc, Accordion) 1:40
- Take on the World (Shorter Version): 0:47(
Can also provide higher quality .WAV files and other stems if needed upon request.
Please remember to rate after the purchase!
VideoHive Collaborations using "Take on the World"
Check out Brandon Matias' Profile for more great music!


text:
Join the Nation's Conversation
To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs
Super PACs gear up for individual Senate battles
Rules require that super PACs operate independently of their favored politicians, but a growing numbers of new candidate-aligned super PACS are run by their allies.
WASHINGTON — A growing number of politicians facing tough battles in November's congressional elections will reap the benefits of unlimited political spending by super PACs dedicated solely to their campaigns.
Many of these amped-up PACs have been established by the candidates' allies or their former aides.
Federal law prevents an individual from donating more than $2,600 to a congressional candidate for a primary or general election and prohibits candidates from accepting corporate or union money. Federal super PACs can accept unlimited amounts of corporate, union and individual donations but are required to operate independently of candidates.
Even so, many of the new PACs have close ties to their favored candidates.
For instance, GOP lawyer Charlie Spies this year established the Fund for Louisiana's Future, to aid Sen. David Vitter, R-La. His wife, Lisa Spies, who runs a political fundraising firm, counts Vitter among her clients. In addition, the senator made an appearance at an "alligator hunt" fundraiser for the super PAC in September. (Charlie Spies also registered the super PAC at the state level to aid a possible Vitter gubernatorial bid in 2015 and is challenging state rules that cap donations at $100,000.)
STORY: Sen. Vitter would be frontrunner in La. governor's race
Spies, who helped found a super PAC that backed Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential bid, said the super PAC is a "vehicle for supporters for Sen. Vitter and his conservative leadership" to back his political future whether he decides to seek a third Senate term in 2016 or run for Louisiana governor.
Spies said the super PAC will help combat Democratic Party officials intent on doing "everything they can to stop" Vitter.
The Spies' family involvement on both sides of the Vitter campaign is perfectly legal, he said. "We both are professionals with our own businesses and multiple clients, and they are kept separate," he said.
Experts say the federal rules regarding coordination are so narrowly defined that as long as the candidates and super PACs don't collaborate on specifics, such as where political commercials will air, most super PACs meet the legal definition of independence.
The politicians can attend super PAC fundraisers but cannot solicit donations of more than $5,000.
"The idea that somehow by writing the check to a super PAC, it isn't going to affect the candidate is ridiculous," said Bill Allison of the Sunlight Foundation, which tracks political money.
Spies said he and his firm are helping to set up at least 10 candidate-aligned political groups this year. He declined to name the politicians the new groups would benefit.
Super PACs aligned with individual presidential candidates pumped more than $238 million into the 2012 White House contest. The rapid expansion of candidate-specific super PACs in congressional races comes as both parties gear up for a fierce battle for control of the Senate. Many of the new PACs benefit Republicans, who need a net gain of just six seats to take control of the chamber.
Senate Republicans face additional pressure. Seven of 12 GOP incumbents up for re-election in November also face primary challenges from the right, and an array of Tea Party-aligned groups have pledged grass-roots and financial support to their opponents.
Among the candidate-specific super PACs launched in the past year:
• Texans for a Conservative Majority, which is helping Texas Sen. John Cornyn, the No. 2 Republican in the U.S. Senate. The super PAC's president is Randy Cubriel, a former Cornyn aide. It has spent $70,000 so far slamming Cornyn's primary challenger Rep. Steve Stockman, a conservative firebrand who trails Cornyn in polls and campaign money.
• Kentuckians for Strong Leadership, which raised nearly $1.2 million through June 30, to aid Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's re-election. The group already has spent heavily to attack Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes.
Its donors "are giving to a firewall against" the "national liberal onslaught" aiding Grimes, said Scott Jennings, the super PAC's spokesman.
• In South Carolina, Katon Dawson, a former chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party, and political consultant Walter Whetsell started West Main Street Values PAC to support Sen. Lindsey Graham, another Republican up for re-election and facing a primary challenge.
• In Alaska's red-hot Senate race, at least three super PACs have emerged. Put Alaska First reported spending more than $133,000 in December on behalf of Sen. Mark Begich, one of the Democrat's most vulnerable 2014 incumbents. (In interviews, its treasurer has left open the possibility of working with other candidates, including Republicans.) Freedom's Frontier super PAC is backing the Senate candidacy of Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell, a Republican. Political consultant Art Hackney, meanwhile, has launched Alaska's Energy/America's Values super PAC, to aid another Republican, Dan Sullivan.
• Josh Robinson, a former chief of staff to Louisiana Rep. Bill Cassidy, is forming a super PAC to aid Cassidy's challenge to Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La. Landrieu, up for re-election in a state President Obama lost by more than 17 percentage points in 2012, is a top Republican target.
The Senate Majority PAC, a Democratic super PAC, already has spent more than $270,000 against Cassidy.
"We've already seen a lot of third-party groups on the other side trying to influence the Senate race for Sen. Landrieu," Robinson said. "It's incumbent upon us to put every resource we can on the field."
Robinson said he already has the trust of Cassidy's donors and supporters. There's no improper coordination, however, he said.
While Cassidy remains a close friend, Robinson said: "We stopped working together years ago in an official or political capacity."
Experts expect to see more super PACs emerging in more House races, too.
South Florida homebuilder Anthony Farhat said Thursday that he had raised $1 million for the Values are Vital super PAC he created in November to support a Republican challenge to Rep. Trey Radel, R-Fla., who pleaded guilty in November to misdemeanor cocaine possession.
His top choice: Paige Kreegel, a medical doctor who lost to Radel in the 2012 primary.
"I created the super PAC around the premise of not making the same mistake of sending the same person to Congress twice," Farhat said.
Follow @fschouten on Twitter.


text:
Music to Your Ears
The Hot Spot—Have you noticed a white plastic banner that says "The Hot Spot" draped over the Ned's Downtown sign? As of yet, it's pretty much the only indication that the bar has changed hands to new owners, but I've been told that some other (and more noticeable) changes are in the works. I spoke with the Hot Spot's VIP services director last week, and he assured me that "The Ned's spirit isn't gone, it's just changed." He said the bar's focus will shift to an ultra-lounge club with a mix of live and deejayed music, VIP seating and European bottle service (you get a full bottle of booze, plus a selection of mixers for one flat fee). He also said that he wants to do "label scouting nights," where local bands can arrange to perform in front of record label executives from some big-name companies. But maybe he was just blowing smoke up my ass on that one ... it's hard to tell. More on that later.
Show Up!
Tanuki CD Release Party
Serious tunes to make you laugh
Bassist Chris Frain says a Tanuki is a type of "raccoon-dog" found in Japan and in parts of Northeast Asia. Frain's band Tanuki is an instrumental, psuedo-improv power trio with no interest in writing pop songs. "If we tried to write instrumental pop we'd probably be horrible at it," Frain explains. What they are good at, however, is making music that's a little odd, somewhat mischievous and, at times, pretty darn hilarious.
Flyer on the Wall
Warm Up the Deathray, Agnes
Help Tanuki release their debut CD on Oct. 14 along with The Bellmont, Captain Standish, and Acids & Bases. 9 p.m. at the Launchpad. $5. Legal adults only. (LM)
Music Magnified
The Gore Gore Girls
Thursday, Oct. 13; Burt's Tiki Lounge (21-and-over): Detroit doesn't really exist any more. It's a ghost town. Go Downtown sometime and you'll see what I mean. There are no people—just row after row of decaying tract housing, auto part graveyards and factories that produce, well, nothing. But as the American auto industry sputters, shudders and shimmies into a coma, it childrens are emerging out of the vapors at night; taking that same, sad dance and making it their own. Making it alive.
Music Magnified
Low Skies
with Bob Collum and The Welfare Mothers, and Captain Bringdown and the Buzzkillers
Wednesday, Oct. 19; Atomic Cantina (21-and-over): The last time Low Skies (not Los Guys) played in Albuquerque, the show was a solitary performance by singer/guitarist Chris Salveter. It is rumored that the band fell apart on the road, leaving Salveter to finish the tour alone. Whether or not this is true, and perhaps it was just a metaphor for the weary bleakness of Low Skies, they/he was excellent as a one-man band.
Sonic Reducer
Former American Music Club front man releases his first new album in four years: I call it "creepy" and "amazing." Others call it "sadcore." The album was created mostly by electronic apparati, and results in strange music beds and soundscapes (though Eitzel was able to collaborate with Calexico on one of the tracks). Strange and successful combinations like this one (singer/songwriter and electronica here) are hard to come by. Plus, how can you argue with songs titled "My Pet Rat St. Michael" and lines like "I play him Mariah Carey so there's butterflies and rainbows in the air?"


text:
FEDERAL CARTRIDGE CO Gold Medal Centerfire Match Cartridges
Federal 45 ACP Gold Medal 230 Grain Full Metal Jacket Match
World class centerfire shooters, military and Law Enforcement officials use the match rifle cartridges. Gold medal centerfire rifle cartridges are legendary for extreme accuracy and has become the choice of competition shooters and law enforcement sharpshooters alike. The aerodynamic design of the Sierra matchking bullet helps overcome wind resistance, resulting in flatter trajectory, consistent accuracy and higher retained energy.
SPECIFICATIONS:Mfg Item Num: GM45A Category: AMMO CENTERFIRE Caliber :45 Automatic Colt Pistol (ACP)Bullet Type :Full Metal JacketBullet Weight :230 GRMuzzle Energy :380 ft lbsMuzzle Velocity :860 fpsRounds/box :50 Rounds Per Box, 20 Boxes Per CaseGame Category :Fragmentation :Casing Material :Penetration Factor :