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Interim Mayor Todd Gloria promised to break a logjam of public records requests that developed during the nine months that Bob Filner ran the city, and it appears progress has begun.
Gloria's chief of staff, Jamie Fox, and communications chief Katie Keach met on Monday afternoon with city staffers who handle document requests and found that responding to the public under Filner was "cumbersome to say least," Keach said.
Keach said that there were times under Filner when city officials had a contract sitting on their desk but were not allowed to hand over a copy to a member of the public when asked.
The rules under Filner: A formal request under the California Public Records Act had to be filled out, starting a process that regularly took 10 days or more even though the law requires a prompt response.
In addition, all such PRA requests across the city's workforce of 10,000 were funneled through the Mayor's Office.
"It was very clear that the previous administration required extensive daily clerical work that limited the amount of time available to actually process and respond to the requests," Keach said. "This was compounded by what seems to be a directive to city staff to not respond to many media requests for information, which resulted in increased PRA requests as the sole means of obtaining information."
The new directive from Gloria's office is to have city officials answer basic requests for information from the public without requiring a written request under the state's public records act.
In addition, Gloria's staff is in the midst of crafting new rules to underscore that city employees can answer questions from the public without, in most cases, getting clearance from the mayor's office.
There are 50 to 60 backlogged records requests that should soon be answered, Keach said. Of those, nine are larger, more detailed requests she said that will take more time and Gloria will likely assign additional city staff to complete them.
Two reporters attested to the apparent new openness.
Liam Dillon of the Voice of San Diego asked for information in connection with fire emergency response times.
"They were amazingly responsive," Dillon said.
Contrast that to the Filner era, when Dillon said it took around two months for the mayor's office to agree to allow Dillon to have an informal interview with the fire chief about emergency response times.
"It's been night and day," Dillon said.
Roger Showley, who covers growth and development for the U-T, had a similar experience. He asked Gloria's office for information about the old Central Library on E Street.
"They got back to me within two hours," Showley said. "It was lightning fast."
That's certainly a contrast to reporter experiences during the Filner administration.
Lee Burdick meeting notes
U-T Watchdog last week obtained meeting notes taken by the former chief of staff, Lee Burdick. According to the notes, Filner aides were given this advice: "Do I have a duty to answer a question if I know it? No. Only entitled to docs."
The staff was given also a stock phrase to tell reporters: "I'm not authorized to speak on behalf of the mayor on this topic."
Burdick also wrote, "No one talks to the news media without clearance." The words "no one" were in all capital letters and underlined twice.
Filner left office Aug. 30 after weeks of scandal related to sexual harassment allegations. He was accused of breast-groping, tongue-thrusting and other unwelcome advances.Copyright © 2018, The San Diego Union-Tribune


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This web page supports the Church Internet policy found in Handbook 2: Administering the Church (2010), 21.1.22, and is a companion to the Internet Usage Helps for Members web page.
Social media can be a powerful influence in the lives of those who use it. It can provide ways to express our faith in Jesus Christ and strengthen relationships. The Church encourages the use of social media so long as it supports the mission of the Church, improves relationships, and facilitates revelation among children of our Heavenly Father. Church members are encouraged to be examples of their faith at all times and in all places, including when participating in the global conversations available through social media.
Opportunities and Guidelines for Using Social Media
The following are suggestions for using social media in our personal lives:
- If you use social media, use it to enhance and deepen relationships and to express your faith and testimony in the Savior and the gospel.
- Through social media, you can find opportunities to befriend and follow those who may be struggling or less active in your wards and stakes.
- Strive to have your online presence reflect your values and standards. Connect to official Church sites, and share content from these sites that touches your heart and reflects your values.
- Be civil in your online interactions with others. Latter-day Saint teachings require members to treat others with respect, regardless of the situation.
- Express your personal witness of the restored gospel, as guided by the Spirit. Such messages should be personal; do not leave people with the impression that you speak for the Church, and do not form groups that give the impression that they officially represent or are sponsored by the Church.
- Always be an example of a follower of Christ in your interactions with others in social media. Your positive example can influence those with whom you associate. It's wise to cease associating with those who consistently seek to drag others down and particularly those who post inappropriate material.
Use of Social Media in Church Callings
When used appropriately, social media can help Church members share the gospel, strengthen faith, and minister to the needs of others. Remember that electronic communication should not replace opportunities for in-person contact, such as interviews and stewardship reports.
Please refer to the "Personal Internet Use in Church Callings" section of Internet Usage Helps for Members, and apply the same considerations when using social media in your callings.
Avoid the Potential Dangers of Social Media
When using social media, it is important to understand the potential risks involved. Protect yourself and your family by learning about these risks.
In addition to the general Internet dangers outlined in Internet Usage Helps for Members, consider the following suggestions:
- Remember that social media is a public forum. Messages and posts are not private and should not be used to share confidential or delicate information.
- Strive to maintain open communication with family members regarding their use of social media. Spouses, parents, and children who participate in social media should all be "connected" and should be willing to allow family members to see anything they post, including images. Family members can support each other in maintaining their standards.
- Be aware of the security settings for social media sites you may use. Make sure they reflect your family standards for privacy on the Internet.
- Many social media sites have a high risk of "drive by" exposure to content that may not meet your family standards. Discuss as a family what you will do when you see advertisements and other links that do not meet your family standards.
- Exercise good judgment when posting to a social media site. There is no "delete" button on the Internet. Images and posts can remain for many years and can be detrimental when you are seeking employment or admission to college, as well as other occasions in which your public Internet record may be reviewed. Ensure that your communications align with your commitment to take upon yourself the name of the Savior.
- Some applications and games on social media sites can gain access to your personal information, which can be used to steal your money and your identity. Be careful of the data you store on your social media site, and be aware of the applications that have access to that data.
- Be aware of how much time you and your family spend on social media sites participating in activities such as playing games, posting meaningless updates, or holding inappropriate conversations. If you are not careful, it is easy to spend too much time on these sites, causing other important aspects of life to be ignored. If needed, consider setting time limits as part of your family's Internet usage standards. Be sure that you are not "damag[ing] authentic relationships by obsessing over contrived ones" (David A. Bednar, "Things as They Really Are," Ensign, June 2010, 22).
Talk to your stake technology specialist for other suggestions and advice.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Dolphins are off to a fast start at the Senior Bowl this week, filling their lone open coaching position by hiring Mark Duffner as the new linebacker coach, according to a report by the Florida Times-Union.
Duffner, 60, has been the Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker coach under three different head coaches -- Jack Del Rio, Mike Mularkey and Gus Bradley. He's been with the Jaguars since 2006.
He worked for the Packers in the mid 2000s when Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin was on that same staff thus the familiarity.
Duffner has 17 seasons of NFL experience thus making him the Dolphins coach with the most NFL experience.
Duffner is formerly the head coach at the University of Maryland. He coached the Terps from 1992-96. Prior to that he was the head coach at Holy Cross.
As Duffner was also the linebacker coach for the Jaguars, this suggests he was either out of contract or the Dolphins will make him an assistant head coach as well.


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Opportunities for Participation: Service
True to its Anabaptist heritage, Bethel College emphasizes service to others as evidence and fruit of our faith. When students give of themselves to serve others, they find that their spiritual life is deepened, stretched and challenged. Service is a tangible expression of faith. The Bethel community encourages, fosters and provides regular opportunities for students of all religious backgrounds to practice service on campus, in the community, and around the globe.
Service – on campus
Living on a small campus with about 420 residential students offers great opportunities to serve one another. In fact, from day one, residence hall directors, faculty and staff help you move in. Bethel's impressive 9:1 student-faculty ratio encourages undivided attention from professors. And living in a small community means that Bethel students take ownership in caring about their community. Students take care of one another and their surroundings because they care.
Service – in the community
Some students voluntarily serve throughout the school year with organizations such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters; local homes for troubled youth, disabled people or retired folks; and at the local homeless shelter. Others volunteer in periodic service initiatives led by Service Corps, the student organization dedicated to volunteer work. Many students, staff and faculty members participate in Bethel's annual Service Day each spring or fall. After the earthquake hit Haiti in 2010, the Bethel community spent eight hours packaging meals for earthquake relief, sponsored by the local charity Numana Inc.
Service – around the globe
At Bethel College, you'll frequently hear the term "VS," or voluntary service, which historically is a common post-graduation activity for Mennonites. Voluntary service assignments can range from teaching at inner-city schools to helping farmers find markets for their crops, and from working in health care in communities of need to providing office and other support for any number of agencies. Volunteer assignments are just that – unpaid – but typically include a living stipend and the opportunity to live in a community house with other volunteers.
Within the Mennonite community, a number of organizations offer service opportunities in the region, across the United States and abroad to Mennonites and non-Mennonites alike:
Our students also have worked in other service agencies, such as AmeriCorps, the Peace Corps, Habitat for Humanity and World Vision.
Service – after Bethel
Bethel College prepares its students to embrace an attitude of service in whatever role they take after graduation, be it traditional voluntary service or a career. Our alumni can be found serving others at work – in schools, hospitals, nonprofit agencies, research labs, churches – as well as in their everyday lives.


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Former Bossier City Mayor George Dement Passes Away
Former Bossier City Mayor George Dement died Sunday morning at his DeSoto Parish farm where he and his late wife Sunshine lived since he left the mayor's office back in 2005.
Truly loved by the citizens of Bossier City, Dement served as mayor for four terms and during that time was instrumental for incredible growth to Bossier City including the construction of the Arthur Ray Teague Parkway, three different casinos and the construction of the Centurylink Center.
He would have been 92 later this month.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church in Bossier. Visitation will be two hours prior to the funeral.


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Consumer Signal Booster: An Electronic Gadget Grows Up
Feb 26, 2013 5:00 AM PT
There's a little-known electronic gadget -- one that's generally not available alongside the colorful big-screen TVs and bass-pounding sound systems in seductive, sparkly urban consumer-electronics mega-stores -- that can be a life-changing device, nonetheless.
For some people, it's much more important than the latest 4.7-inch smartphone.
You'll sometimes see this device on sale, squirreled away on the metaphorical top shelf of a truck stop's electronics counter among the other renegade image-conjuring nomadic tools, like CB antennas and in-truck fridges. Or you can order it online and have it delivered in a plain cardboard box.
Shady Reputation
Up to now, this product has been shrouded in a peculiar gray-ish, non-government-sanctioned, somewhat questionable image. It's a product with connotations of an unconventional road life. It's an unregulated radio-driven invention often used by long-distance brigands, bad-boy roaming truck drivers or off-the-grid rebel hippies building earthen ecohomes on the mesas of the West, miles from the nearest phone-carrying utility line.
The device is the consumer signal booster. Typically, it's a router-sized box that hooks up to an external antenna and power supply to amplify cellular signals between a device like a phone or modem and a wireless network. This device has just come of age, winning Washington's formal recognition.
For years, FCC-unregulated signal boosters have been used extensively by many types of consumers -- not just pirates -- to amplify signals in boats and vehicles, as well as homes and small businesses in rural areas like the Intermountain West, for example.
These geographically challenged regions are underserved by wireless cellular carriers for economic reasons.
TechNewsWorld has published articles on using boosters for personal communications in natural disasters. Non-consumer versions of the device are used industrially or in dense buildings like hospitals.
Problems Present Themselves
However, some poorly designed boosters have been interfering with cell sites by blasting them with powerful radio signals and oscillation. This has been a problem.
Big changes may be in the pipeline for the estimated 2 million users of boosters. The Federal Communications Commission recently voted in favor of regulating the devices so that they don't blast signals unnecessarily and disrupt service for others.
"This FCC vote was about protecting the wireless providers' networks," Sharon D. Cuppett, vice president of marketing and product management at booster-maker Wi-Ex told TechNewsWorld.
Booster makers like Wi-Ex and Wilson Electronics are in favor of regulation because they think their products already protect the networks.
The vote is aimed at a small group of boosters that cause interference, they claim -- not at theirs.
"The FCC recognized that 72 percent of the population has cellphone signal issues, and that the booster is important for public safety and also business productivity, Cuppett noted.
The Carriers
Under the FCC plans, wireless carriers won't be able to charge consumers for device use or registration.
Although they might like to, they can't really object to the concept of consumer signal boosters, because the devices can deliver potentially life-saving 911 calling capabilities where carriers haven't provided functioning wireless networks.
Plus, public safety agencies like police use the devices in fringe areas.
The New Approach
The regulation, expected to take effect in March 2014, will require subscribers to obtain authorization for every booster device from a wireless carrier. FCC registration will be required for devices that meet new technical standards called "Network Protection Standards."
Network Protection Standards will force the boosters to reduce unnecessary power when they are close to cell sites.
Major carriers like Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint and AT&T have already agreed to approve devices that meet Network Protection Standards, according to the FCC's ruling docket.
As long as signal-boosting devices are approved, AT&T, for one, is OK with the concept. .
"AT&T is pleased that the FCC has adopted technical standards designed to protect our customers from interference caused by signal boosters while allowing well- designed boosters to remain in the marketplace," spokesperson Mark Siegel told TechNewsWorld.
Sprint declined to comment on the FCC signal booster decision because it hadn't reviewed the final ruling, said spokesperson John B. Taylor.
However, Taylor pointed to Sprint's favorable comments in the FCC docket.
Existing Users
One fly-in-the-ointment for the estimated 2 million current booster users and anyone who wants to buy a device today is that the new specifications haven't been published yet.
The final FCC specs will not be published for about six weeks, according to Joe Banos, COO of Wilson Electronics.
"It's premature for anyone to say their boosters comply since no one has seen the final specs," he told TechNewsWorld.
Wi-ex's products, sold under the zBoost brand, don't produce interference, and in any case will be compliant, maintained Cuppett.
"We already design the zBoost product line for consumers using patented technology that already protects the carrier network," she said. "In addition, Wi-Ex has already designed these technical specs into future products, and since the FCC order gives us a year to sell our current products which do not interfere with the network, the effect of this order on our zBoost Consumer/SOHO product line is minimal."
Booster heavyweight Wilson Electronics, a leading maker, is pleased with the outcome, in part because it legitimizes the industry.
"Our position has always been that well designed signal boosters can improve the consumer cellular experience in gaps and on the fringes of coverage without harming the network," said Banos.
"The FCC's adoption of specific technical standards for boosters legitimizes our industry, which has operated in a regulatory gray area for a long time. Consumers can be sure boosters are legal and are built to meet government standards," he pointed out.
"The cellular carriers are assured that they maintain control of their wireless spectrum, and that networks will be protected from interference caused by poorly engineered boosters," Banos noted.
"Wilson is pleased with the outcome of the FCC vote," he concluded, "because we see it as a win for everyone involved."
Welcome to the establishment.


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product description
Related Products:
Asai PM (SG2)
O'Malley, Daniel
Artisan Made
Blade Style - San Mai
Distal Taper
Full Tang
Japanese/Asian Knives
Mosaic Pins
Paring, Petty and Garnish
Stainless - Damascus
Maker: Asai & O'Malley (collaboration) (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 91793
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***Blade length: 3.25 in.Total length: 7.50 in.Blade height (at heel): 1.00 in.Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.06 in.Item weight: 2.30 oz.Shipment weight: 3.3 oz.Blade: Deeply etched stainless nickel Damascus san mai with SG2 powdered metallurgical stainless steel, Rc 64-65Bolster: Satin finished pinned steel bolsterHandle: Russian walnut burl
Description: This one-of-a-kind knife is a collaboration between bladesmiths Asai and Daniel O'Malley. During one of his visits in Japan, Mr. O'Malley met with Asai to discuss the possibility of working on a series of collaborative knives. Asai would forge and finish the blade. Mr. O'Malley would finish the knife with deluxe handles better fit for the Western market.
Paring knives are exceptional for detail tasks - from taking the eyes out of potatoes to removing the tops from strawberries.
The blade is individually hand-forged beginning with an SG powdered metallurgical (PM) stainless steel core (hagane). The smaller crystalline size of this PM steel results in superior edge holding when compared to nearly any stainless steel. The central core is surrounded by many layers of deeply etched nickel Damascus. These many layers of steel result in a surface that helps food release from the knife's side when cut. This time consuming process creates a stunning blade with outstanding edge holding. The blade and tang are distal tapered for optimal balance and has an extremely thin, keen edge for superlative performance. Both the spine and choil are nicely rounded for comfort.
The handle was formed from stabilized Russian walnut burl. The dark wood has a lovely grain pattern that nicely complements the suminagashi pattern of the blade. The handle was formed from a single piece of wood, ensuring the grain pattern continues across the tang. The handle is profiled so as to be very comfortable and provide a secure hold. Two brass hidden bolt rivets and a complex mosaic pin secure the scales to the full tang. The have been profiled to match the wood. The mosaic pin combines copper with brass. This knife feels as good as it looks.
Availability: Not currently available


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Order one of everything
Deli cookies to inspire a sweet tooth
Ian Anderson 1:30 p.m., Nov. 20
The Tijuana cartel as we know it today has its roots in the Mexican states of Sinaloa on the southeast side of the Gulf of California and Jalisco in central Mexico. A former Mexican Judicial Federal Police officer and bodyguard to Sinaloan governor Leopoldo Sánchez, Miguel Félix was among the first Mexican drug lords to make connections with Colombian cartels in the mid-'70s thanks to his Honduran liaison Juan Matta. The U.S. government's Operation Hat Tricks succeeded in cutting off Colombia's cocaine supply route to south Florida in the mid-1980s, resulting in the fortification of relationships between Colombia's Medellin and Cali cartels and Mexican trafficking organizations.
Also known as El Padrino, or "The Godfather," Félix learned the ins of the drug trade from Pedro Avilés, who in the early 1970s dominated the territory from Chihuahua to Sinaloa. According to the DEA, Félix became the number-one cocaine trafficker in Mexico starting in the mid-'70s, thanks in part to the political and business connections facilitated by ex-Governor Sánchez. In 1976, an arrest order was issued for Félix in Tijuana for heroin and cocaine trafficking, but nothing further was done. According to the DEA, Félix was protected by an important narcotics official.
After Avilés was shot by federal police in September 1978, Félix formed the Guadalajara cartel with seasoned capos Rafael "El Número Uno" Caro and Ernesto "Don Neto" Fonseca. All three had learned the drug business in Sinaloa, a state with a history of opium and marijuana production dating back to the 1920s. They relocated to Guadalajara in order to elude 10,000 Mexican soldiers roaming the hills and multiple American aircraft that, under the auspices of Operation Condor, sprayed the crop-destroying herbicide paraquat in the mountains of Sinaloa, Durango, and Chihuahua.
At the peak of their operation in the early to mid-'80s, the Guadalajara cartel was believed by American officials to have orchestrated the smuggling of up to two tons of cocaine a month into the United States to feed what historian Héctor Aguilar termed "the insatiable North American nose." Félix laundered his immense income, upwards of $30 million a month, in part by investing in tourism projects in Hermosillo and Puerto Vallarta.
The centralized political structure at the time, under the singular rule of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), invited the opportunity for corruption of high-level government officials. Drug-trafficking organizations fostered strong ties in particular with the Federal Security Directorate, which went largely unchecked in its domestic security operations until it was dismantled in 1985.
In November 1984, the Mexican Federal Police raided Caro's property in El Búfalo, Chihuahua, and destroyed over 10,000 tons of marijuana, valued at nearly $2 billion. U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency Special Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena headed the investigation, called Operation Godfather, a victory that he would pay for with his life a few months later. Thirty-seven-year-old Camarena, a Calexico, California native, and his pilot Alfredo Zavala were kidnapped by five armed men in broad daylight on the streets of Guadalajara on February 7, 1985, subsequently tortured for information about DEA operations, and then bludgeoned to death and buried in shallow graves 70 miles south of the city.
The incident effectively elevated narcotics smuggling from a law-enforcement issue to a matter of national security and spurred Calexico residents to erect signs on the highway reading, "Warning: Not Safe To Travel To Guadalajara, Mexico." Parent-teacher organization members in California, Illinois, and Virginia wore red ribbons as a symbol of intolerance toward drug use, and in 1988 Congress announced the first National Red Ribbon Week, chaired by Nancy Reagan.
"Kiki's killing symbolized corruption at its worst in Mexico," said retired DEA special agent Phil Jordan. "We know why Kiki was taken from us — because the [Mexican] government was working in complicity with the godfathers of the drug trade…"
Caro fled Guadalajara two days after the kidnapping with his girlfriend and associates. Armando Pavón, the commander of the Mexican Federal Police heading the Camarena investigation, captured Caro shortly thereafter but allowed him to flee to Costa Rica, presumably on a bribe. The U.S. government launched an exhaustive investigation into Camarena's murder. The lack of cooperation from the Mexican government led Commissioner of Customs William von Raab to order a six-day lockdown on the border. Camarena's body was found within a week of the border closing.
Owing to the difficulty of extraditing Mexican citizens at the time, the DEA had two suspects secretly kidnapped and taken into the U.S. They were Humberto Álvarez, a physician who allegedly prolonged Camarena's life so the torture could continue, and Javier Vásquez. Despite stern disapproval from the Mexican government, who felt their sovereignty was being violated (the president went so far as to threaten a halt to cooperation in antidrug efforts), Álvarez was tried and acquitted in United States District Court in Los Angeles. After a two-month trial, Vásquez was convicted of beating to death two tourists who accidentally entered a restaurant where cartel leaders were celebrating a marriage. The tourists were allegedly mistaken for DEA agents. Three other suspects — Honduran drug lord Juan Matta, Juan Bernabé, and Rubén Zuno — were found guilty of Camarena's kidnapping.
Caro was arrested in Costa Rica on April 4, 1985, and extradited to Mexico City to be tried for the Camarena murder. Fonseca was captured by the Mexican Army at his villa in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, a few days later. Fonseca did not confess to participating in the abduction of Camarena and even expressed outrage at the torture of the DEA agent. Regardless, both were sentenced to 40 years for drug trafficking and the murder of Camarena and Zavala. It was estimated that Caro's fortune was in excess of U.S. $650 million at the time of his capture.
Félix continued to reign as the premier kingpin of Mexico until President Carlos Salinas de Gortari, seeking to fortify relations with the U.S. government, issued the order for Félix's arrest for complicity in the murder of agent Camarena. On April 8, 1989, the notorious capo was taken into custody by a 12-man police task force fronted by federal police commander Guillermo González. Félix offered the men $5 million in exchange for his freedom, to no avail. Hours after his arrest, the entire Culiacán police force (about 300 men) was rounded up for interrogation about possible connection to Félix. About 90 deserted in the days following. Félix, whom Attorney General Enrique Alvarez del Castillo described as the "number-one narcotics trafficker in Mexico,'' was charged with drug trafficking, bribery, and illegal possession of weapons and was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Oh man, I don't even know where to begin picking this apart. Chad, you've missed what I think are about four or five angles on this that would've been much more engaging. For example, you open with some statement about the "Tijuana cartel". There isn't one.
In many examples where one wants to discover the source of something illicit, where the cause is otherwise unknown, they say one must "follow the money". While that might be true even in this case, a better way to find where there is no real control by any one source when it comes to smuggling in Mexico, is to follow the body count. Over twenty billion dollars worth of drugs per year (probably much more, I'm quoting the U.S. source here) cross the border. Where control of that is taken away, a vacuum develops immediately. Where no cartel is present, the vacuum is fought over by smaller factions.
I have no idea if you read Spanish, but I recommend looking into violence in Reynosa, Juarez, and Monterrey. These are locations that have historically been controlled by one cartel - like Tijuana once was - and are now involved in turf wars. The idea that the Sinaloa cartel has a strong hold on anything is ridiculous. If it did, then Los Zetas would still be working for them. If it did, Mexico would not be seeing these turf battles.
These so called experts, could no be more wrong, as in the options to deal with the problem.
First - Astorga, the so called expert, it is not that they are hard to buy them now, the Plata or Plomo (which literally translate is Silver or Led, Plata ought to be interpreted as another way to say "Money", therefore is: Pay up or Led. That formula is a lot cheaper.
There will never be a solution to the problem, unless you will have a total extermination of everyone involved, at any price, at any cost. It has to be a Dictatorship. A shoot and kill first, and then ask questions if any survivors left alive. That is how they do it. That is why they are so successful.
Even the closest solution mentioned, which will be a pact, can not be possible. These criminals multiply, the growth is compounded, and they do value a dog, a cat, even roach life, than that of a Human being, So is Mexico makes a pact with them, the ones below will not sit still. They will say that is not my pact!
Mexico is done. The Southwestern states of the U.S. are next, if not dealt with an iron fist.
I was anticipating some critical feedback from you, Refried! I agree that the notion of a Tijuana cartel does not mean as much as it did five or ten years ago, and I stressed the current state of disarray under "The New Breed" heading. I do read Spanish and will check out the suggested reading. Thanks for the input!
DonCarlos, yes, the phrase basically means take money or a bullet. The extermination approach which you are vouching for seems to be more or less the policy instated by Calderon in 2006. Nearly 25,000 people (soldiers, police, thugs, and civilians) have died in drug-related violence since. And while a stimulating thought, I don't see how Astorga's work would benefit anybody with the "plata o plomo" ethic. Thanks for reading!
It's a very difficult thing to keep on top of. There is no shortage of newspapers in Mexico; unlike in the U.S., they seem to be thriving here. The problem is that you track these stories all over the place, but there's rarely any follow-up. You'll read about, say, a gun battle that leaves a certain number dead and even though the press won't publish the note that was left behind (mostly because the authorities wont release the content), the press might even speculate on which factions were battling. But there's never any follow-up, except when they capture a high-profile cartel member. While the press is busy with that person, there is a power grab going on and no one pays attention to it.
Sidenote: Small amounts of drugs have already been decriminalized in Mexico.
So far as the solutions, there is one glaring aspect that is mostly missed by anyone writing on drug smuggling in Mexico: Drugs are being smuggled into the U.S. Seems to me that the big ol' elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about is that the U.S. fails to stop people from smuggling drugs into the U.S. This means one of two things: Either the possibility exists for terrorists to smuggle nuclear bombs into the U.S. because the U.S. cannot control the situation, or the U.S. is allowing over twenty billion dollars each year of drugs to be smuggled in because - for whatever reason one wishes to consider - they simply permit it.
That's what scares me, as an expat. For the record (hopefully qualifying that my opinion isn't based on ideology), I believe that all drugs should be legalized. That would certainly solve this particular problem.
And to balance out any perceived criticisms, your research was excellent and presented very well.
This was a well-researched and interesting read. Regrettably, journalists south of the border are censored by the lawless. Not that we don't have censorship in the U.S., we definitely do. Unfortunately, on the U.S. side we take journalism for granted. What I would suggest for a future effort is to examine the powder trade (cocaine, crystal meth) and it's effects on those who use and used. Interviews with the families friends, employers, law enforcement and social service agencies who have had to endure those who use and abuse "the powders" may be informative and instructive. While some will fight tooth(less) and nail to protect their buzz, it would be interesting to examine just what each of the powders are cut with so people can decide for themselves if the buzz is really worth the negatives for one and all. Ruthless and greedy types in all levels of the powder supply chain make their cuts and could care less about what the end user puts in their body. The buzz is not worth the negatives that come after the sniff. We need to think about it.
As always, a great read. I read every issue of The Reader or it sits in a pile until I get to it!
Check out this website - lots of news that won't make the papers - note: graphic images
Blogdelnarco is often a tool of the smugglers, they receive a lot of video from them. Is it useful? Perhaps, in that you won't see the reality of this from most other sources. Curiously, some good neutral sources in Mexico that existed on Facebook have been suspended, without explanation. It is widely believed that the Mexican government is responsible, that in attempting to limit the information available to the smugglers is also accomplished through social networking control.
I would expect that blogdenarco will also be shut down at some point, if the videos from the narcos themselves continue to appear. Whatever anonymity this blogger ostensibly has, well, one would be surprised at the resources here.
But the main thing to take note of, is that the locations of the blog entries are not centered on one particular cartel or specifically in one area, although there is often repetition in the locations.


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About CdrInfo
Our team consists of groups of highly motivated professionals, as well as individuals, enthusiastically devoted to CD, DVD and other related optical media technologies.
Our Editorial Staff includes journalists A. Macris, J. Haris,
Tony Veglis,
David Williams, George Fumos and
S. Costantov.
Most programming and other IT related work is performed by S. Volos
and is a carry on from work originally developed by S. Volos and A. Doros.
Our group has significant expertise in all areas of optical and magnetic storage technologies. New areas of interest cover digital imaging, video and audio.
You can send us your comments and suggestions by filling in the form on this page.


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Gov. Tom Wolf is naming his embattled former state police commissioner to become director of the Governor's Office of Homeland Security, his administration said Thursday.
Marcus Brown was appointed as acting commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police in January. But after his nomination was rejected by the state Senate in June, Brown said he would step aside once a replacement was named.
Brown's appointment to the homeland security post does not require state Senate confirmation.
On Monday, Wolf nominated retired state police major Tyree C. Blocker to lead the agency. Blocker has 30 years of experience with the Pennsylvania State Police.
Brown, 50, a...
Maryland State Police arrive at the church in Mitchellville for Morris' funeral.


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Two snowboarders have been rescued after they spent two nights trapped at 7,500 feet on Washington's Mount Rainier.
Derek Tyndall, 21, and Thomas Dale, 20, both from Indiana, were found alive, but their condition was not immediately known. It is expected to be several hours before the rescue teams reach a command post where the two men can be evaluated.
Rescue teams braved the dangers of avalanches as they waded through chest-high snow on Mount Rainier today to rescue the two men, who became trapped in a snowstorm Sunday.
The friends, who had no overnight gear, were able to dig a snow cave and call for help on their cell phones, which are now believed to be dead, said Lee Smook, a spokesperson for Mount Rainier National Park.
Visual contact was believed to have been made with the men on Monday, Smook said, but rescue teams could not reach them before darkness.
"It was extreme weather yesterday," Smook told ABCNews.com Tuesday morning. "And today, the conditions are ripe for avalanche, so that is another concern with [the stranded men] not having a map and not knowing the terrain."


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"The Marktplatz (Market square) is dominated by the opulent façade of the Town Hall. The building was erected between 1405 and 1410 in Gothic style, but the façade was built two centuries later (1609–12) in Renaissance style. Today, it hosts a restaurant in original decor with gigantic wine barrels, the Ratskeller in Bremen, and the wine lists boasts more than 600 — exclusively German — wines. It is also home of the twelve oldest wines in the world, stored in their original barrels in the Apostel chamber.
Two statues stand to the west side of the Town Hall: one is the statue (1404) of the city's protector, Roland, with his view against the Cathedral and bearing Durendart, the "sword of justice" and a shield decorated with an imperial eagle. The other near the entrance to the Ratskeller is Gerhard Marcks's bronze sculpture (1953) Die Stadtmusikanten (Town Musicians) which portrays the donkey, dog, cat and rooster of the Grimm Brothers' fairy tale.
Other interesting buildings in the vicinity of the Marktplatz are the Schütting, a 16th-century Flemish-inspired guild hall, and the Stadtwaage, the former weigh house (built in 1588), with an ornate Renaissance façade. The façades and houses surrounding the market square were the first buildings in Bremen to be restored after World War II, by the citizens of Bremen themselves.
The impressive Cathedral St. Petri (13th century), to the east of the Marktplatz, with sculptures of Moses and David, Peter and Paul, Charlemagne and Christopher Maki.
The Liebfrauenkirche (Our Lady's Church) is the oldest church of the town (11th century). Its crypt features several impressive murals from the 14th century."
In summer 2009 a lot of building repairs around the market square is ongoing.
Bremen Market Square is regarded as one of the most beautiful Market Squares in Germany. Roland and Town hall are belonging to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.


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Dave White Profile
Dave White
Your Movies.com Man at the Multiplex
Dave White's first movie review was of the animated feature Snoopy Come Home. He was seven years old...Read full profile
Your Movies.com Man at the Multiplex
Dave White's first movie review was of the animated feature Snoopy Come Home. He was seven years old...Read full profile
Softball Read full review
Critics scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.
out of 100
Metascore®Mixed or average reviewsbased on a weighted average of allcritic review scores.
Even those who don't know a foul tip from a chicken wing will be able to spot the desperate plays.
Read Full Review
Its title notwithstanding, there's nothing that remotely approaches a narrative curve ball in this tired saga of an aging baseball scout.
Trouble With the Curve finally finds its zone when Gus and Mickey find the young baseball prodigy they've been looking for. That doesn't happen until the narrative's last inning, though, too late to save the movie. I'd call it "Neanderthalball."
Eastwood is vastly entertaining as an old-fashioned scout who disdains computers and fancy statistical charts in favor of his own time-tested instincts.
See all Trouble With the Curve reviews at Metacritic.com
OK for kids 13+
Teen-friendly baseball drama raises father-daughter issues.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Trouble with the Curve -- a carefully rendered portrait of a baseball scout (Clint Eastwood) facing the possible end of his career -- pulls no punches in portraying what life on the road can do to a father and his daughter. Expect some intense conversation about past disappointments and tragedies, as well as lots of beer drinking, some profanity (including one "f--k," "s--t," and "bitch"), kissing/flirting, and one intense fight. Teen baseball fans may enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at talent scouting, but the themes are likely to resonate most with adults.
Messages: Several worthwhile messages. For example: You can rely all you want on gadgets and technology, but nothing can replace wisdom acquired with experience and acumen. Also, parent-child relationships can be a minefield of disappointments and triumphs, but forgiveness and communication can help you create a new bond in adulthood. Also, find work you love, and passion will always be a part of your work.
Role models: Gus is crotchety and difficult, but he's dedicated to his craft and loves his daughter fiercely, even if he doesn't often show it in ways she can decipher. Mickey can be withholding and impatient, but she's also smart and successful, and she perseveres and rises above her resentments when her father's welfare is on the line. While she's portrayed as "emotionally unavailable" it's not because she's successful but more because of the abandonment issues she has from her father. Despite their dysfunctional relationship, Gus believes in her and is supportive of her ability to succeed in more "male" pursuits, whether it's becoming a partner in her law firm or becoming a sports agent.
Violence: A man breaks a beer bottle and uses it as a weapon against another patron at a bar; also, earlier in his life, he beat up another man due to a potential assault on a child, strangling him until he passed out.
Sex: Kissing and flirting; two adults take a dip in a lake in their skivvies. An early scene goes into detail of the effects of aging on a man's ability to pee.
Language: One "f--k," plus fairly infrequent use of words including "s--t," "ass," "bitch," "crap," "douchebag," "hell," "damn," "crap," "goddamn," "oh my God," "suck," and "piss."
Consumerism: Products/labels shown include Schlitz, Pabst, Budweiser, Spam, Buick, Ford, Jack Daniels, Coca-Cola, Apple, Dell, Toshiba, and more.
Drinking, drugs and smoking: Many scenes show adults drinking -- beer, whiskey, tequila -- sometimes to numb their pain. One character smokes a cigar.
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology.
© Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.
Movies.com, the ultimate source for everything movies, is your destination for new movie trailers, reviews, photos, times, tickets + more! Stay in the know with the latest movie news and cast interviews at Movies.com.
Copyright © 2018 FANDANGO MOVIES.


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2005 Processor of the Year: Tyson Foods
Despite the pitfalls of the animal protein market, North Americas biggest food processor for years has been adding value to meats, tightly running its plants and staying close to its Arkansas values.
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|Chairman and CEO John Tyson (center) is flanked by Richard Bond (left), president and chief operating officer, and Greg Lee, chief administrative officer and international president.
Yet Tyson Foods Inc. makes millions of them. While it has been climbing the charts for some time, Tyson's 8 percent growth in its fiscal 2004 to $26.4 billion made it the biggest food processor in the U.S. and Canada, according to the Top 100 list we unveiled this past August (Tyson sales were $24.8 billion, according to our criteria). For the first time in the 30 years of our annual ranking, Kraft Foods or a predecessor company is not No. 1 on our list.
Tyson, still based in Springdale, Ark., did it the old-fashioned way, by launching 420 new products and recording double-digit increases in its chicken and pork segments. And, uncharacteristically, all that without an acquisition. While the numbers are impressive, there are numerous intangibles that make Tyson an industry-leading company: A set of core values that everyone seems to carry in their wallets. Manufacturing technology that leads the industry. A $52 million product development center nearing completion. A "chaplaincy program" that involves chaplains - from Baptists ministers to a Muslim imam - to provide care and counseling to workers. And a response to victims of Hurricane Katrina that put government agencies to shame.
For these and a host of other reasons that should become apparent in the next few pages and across three different stories, Food Processing is proud to name Tyson Foods our very first Processor of the Year.
An acquisitive history
While Tyson can trace its history back to 1935 and an earlier John Tyson, who sold truckloads of Arkansas chickens in Kansas City, St. Louis and Chicago, its industry-leading story starts just in 2001. The current John Tyson, grandson of the founder, engineered the most audacious acquisition in a company history dotted with buying and selling. IBP Inc., the country's largest processor of beef and No. 2 in pork, was bought for $4.7 billion, instantly doubling Tyson's size and catapulting it into the top ranks of American food processors.
"We had a vision to combine these companies and create the world's leading protein provider," says John Tyson, chairman and CEO. "Thanks to the hard work of our people, that vision is now a reality.
"Actually, the companies came together very well," he continues. "There were lots of similarities and synergies. Both companies knew how to run their plants well. They're willing to invest in technology, even to experiment. Then there are the individuals. They had some very good people, and we were able to put together the best of the best, really."
As he spoke, at his side was Richard Bond, the former chief operating officer of IBP, who now is president and chief operating officer of Tyson. "We did end up with a lot more products than we realized," Bond interjected. "One of the key things the combined company had to do was take beef and pork up the value chain as Tyson was doing with poultry. In the past four years, we've added $2 billion of value to our product portfolio. But that remains the goal: to increase the value of all our animal proteins that once were commodities."
What Tyson hasn't done is add to its debt. While the IBP purchase left Tyson $4.9 billion in debt, or 58 percent of capital, the company is ahead of its self-imposed schedule of reducing debt, and should come in below 40 percent when the 2005 fiscal year figures are released this month (Tyson's fiscal year ended Sept. 30). Note: To access infographics on Tyson's sales and overall financial picture, click the Download Now button at the end of this article.
One unusual philosophy is that Tyson has added value and increased penetration through primarily one brand: Tyson. Some regional brands have been retained - Weaver, Russer, Wilson, Corn King, Jordan's, Wright and Thorn Apple Valley among them - and others have been eliminated, but the strategy is to put the Tyson name on the newest products and the ones with national distribution, and that goes for all three animal proteins.
Drilling down within those three animal protein segments, Tyson has leading positions in retail and foodservice beef, chicken and pork, as well as prepared foods such as bacon, ham, pizza toppings and deli meats.
A growing international force
It's been a difficult couple of years to move animal protein around the globe. Although Tyson has begun investing in overseas companies and countries, most of its assets are U.S.-based. Still, international sales account for nearly 12 percent of company revenues. Tyson generates $3 billion in international sales. Approximately 30 percent of the company's international chicken sales come from overseas operations.
International sales clearly are a key component of the company's future. The goal is for 20-25 percent of corporate revenues to come from international sales, perhaps within 10 years, according to Greg Lee, chief administrative officer and international president. Lee shares an "office of the CEO" with Bond and John Tyson. That is, when he's in this country, which is becoming increasingly rare.
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This product is no longer able to be ordered by us. Once we sell the last ones, they're gone! Check out the related products on the right side of this page for similar items you may be interested in.SIDI Sport began in the 1960's manufacturing mountain sports footwear. It wasn't too long until SIDI began specializing in cycling footwear and boots for off-road and on-road motorcycling. Dino Signori has combined a passion for cycling with more than 50 years of experience manufacturing innovative sporting footwear. Thanks to this passion and a deep, intuitive knowledge of the business SIDI have become the market leader in cycling and motorcycle shoes. SIDI's unique balance of tradition and innovation, style and comfort, make SIDI sporting footwear exceptional in the industry, and now the folks at Twisted Throttle bring these exceptional boots to you!
SIDI Technology:
Shifter Pad
SIDI boots have a shifter pad molded from DuPont Techno-polymers which ensure that the plastics qualities will not change in high or low temperatures.
Inner Sole
The composite inner sole of SIDI boots resists side to side compression, offering greater protection than leather inner soles. The insole features a removable arch support which will never lose its dynamic characteristics. It is also water resistant and designed to withstand high footpeg pressures.
Every bolt on component is available separately, which means that if it's a part you can remove, it's a part you can replace. This increases the life of your boots after crashes or years of riding use.
SIDI Adventure Gore-Tex® motorcycle boot features:
- Top grain leather and split grain leather upper
- Gore-Tex® waterproof / breathable liner
- Non slip rubber sole
- PU shin plate
- Velcro® strap closure and two buckles
- Inner gaiter
- Plastic support on the ankle area
- Flex system
- Elastic panel on the calf area
- Back reflective inserts
- Nylon inner sole with removable arch support
- Review by Jay


text: Ok, here it is, just a few days before Roborama, and I've been dragging my feet getting something together. So over the past few days I've been putting a NEW robot together, instead of improving the old ones. The whole idea behind building a power booster was to give Robosnail a kick in the pants, a little more speed with a little less weight. But that's been sort of abandoned in favor of building a new one with (drumroll) Billy Bass motors! The platform is there (small sheet of plastic), battery is on the underside, motors with wheels mounted, little rear castor mounted, Homebrew Basic Stamp 2 mounted, IR sensor mounted. It feels pretty fragile, but it should work. Don't ya just love super glue, velcro, a few small bolts, and PC mounting standoffs? Need to solder leads to the motors to connect to the h-bridge (754410) to be mounted, get the cheap sonar circuit together (a few transistors and parts to drive a camera pull sonar board), check out the line sensors. And write a little code. How will left/right IR proximity detectors, left/right line sensors, and the not yet finished sonar work together? (may skip the sonar) How to make it look pretty instead of a mass of wires? (may just decide to frighten small children) Think I'll call it B-B- Bot maybe, at least until a better name comes to mind.


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COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina's unemployment rate dropped to 9.5 percent last month, the lowest rate in three years.
The Department of Employment and Workforce said Tuesday the rate dropped 0.4 percentage points from November.
It's the fourth month the rate has declined.
December's rate is the lowest since December 2008, when it stood at 9.2 percent.
The national unemployment rate in December was 8.5 percent.
Marion County had the highest unemployment rate at 17.9 percent. Lexington County had the lowest rate at 7 percent.


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Holiday Cards with a Contemporary Twist
The nostalgia of the holiday season helps keep alive a tradition that is all but lost throughout the rest of the year: the sending of greeting cards. The holidays inspire us to express our love and well wishes beyond the limitations of social media, but with correspondence more unique and playful than the cards of holidays past. These modern holiday cards are artful, thoughtful, and loveable—and include a twist on the traditional.
1. Buying from individual artists not only supports the arts but also ensures that you are sending unique cards. With this card, designer Sydney's Studio255 gets right to the heart of a holiday favorite: the food! Fun, graphic cards like this can also be turned into artwork with nothing more than a simple frame.
2. Paper Culture embodies the holiday spirit year-round by printing on 100% recycled paper and by planting one tree for every order placed. This playful card can be personalized with a family photo of your choice, and your order can help them reach their goal of planting one million trees.
3. This colorful card set from Botanical Paperworks is plantable! (That's right—you put them in the dirt.) Printed on eco-friendly paper and embedded with Cinnamon Basil seeds, these cards reduce waste and ensure that your holiday greetings will be remembered even after the new year.
4. Paper Source's flat holiday cards offer a more contemporary feel than a folded card and can still be customized with an image of your choice. And what's not to love about an octopus bearing gifts?
5. This simple yet elegant card from the husband and wife team at Ink Meets Paper is the perfect marriage of vintage and modern. It includes a QR code on the back that, when scanned, leads readers to a video of the card being hand printed on an antique letterpress. It also includes confetti for an especially festive card opening experience.
• Top 10 Traditional Holiday Cards
• Holiday Letterpress Card Companies
(Images: As linked above)


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Several people have asked me about the Traveler deployment that I've done with a 10 server Traveler HA pool.
This is a large global customer, but we are only rolling Traveler out to the US users (about 40K devices).
The plan is to start with a roll out of about 10K users - one Traveler pool.
We will be using Lotus Mobile Connect 6.1.4 initially as sort of a pass through. When LMC 6.1.5 becomes available, we'll be upgrading over the top and activating the Single URL feature. This is a new feature of LMC that makes LMC "Traveler aware" and will do user assignment and routing from a single URL.
In the past versions of Traveler, users have to know their Traveler URL. The HA version, there is a single hostname (such as a load balancer or Virtual IP) that sits in front of each Traveler pool. The users would need to know their URL for that pool. If you only have up to 10K devices, that is not a problem, but in the case of this customer, we have 40K devices and thus 4 Traveler pools of 10 Traveler servers. That means 4 possible Traveler URLs and the users have to know which one. Now this is where LMC comes into the picture. The new version (eta is October 1ish) will handle routing. LMC learns where the existing users belong and will route them accordingly. As new users come to the LMC that are not yet assigned, LMC will route them to a pool that has capacity.
The beta for LMC 6.1.5 should be available this week, however it is only on Linux and with an Oracle back-end database. The Windows version will be available by the end of July and should support MSSQL. We'll be deploying that as a proof of concept when it becomes available.
My customer is using a MDM provider that will be in front of the LMC. The MDM provider will handle the authentication of the user against a Sun One Enterprise Directory. We have authentication configured to pass the tokens from the MDM provider to LMC and then SSO between LMC and Traveler. You export the LTPA tokens from the LMC and into Domino to get that working.
OK so that's a glimpse of the project so far. Here is a list of some of the things that I have learned:
Requirements: http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg27027499&myns=swglotus&mynp=OCSSYRPW&mync=R
Infocenter for Admins: http://www-10.lotus.com/ldd/dominowiki.nsf/xpViewCategories.xsp?lookupName=Administering%20Lotus%20Notes%20Traveler%208.5.3%20Upgrade%20Pack%201
Infocenter for users: http://www-10.lotus.com/ldd/dominowiki.nsf/xpViewCategories.xsp?lookupName=Using%20Lotus%20Notes%20Traveler%208.5.3%20Upgrade%20Pack%201
Known Issues: http://www-01.ibm.com/support/search.wss?lang=en&loc=en_US&r=10&cs=utf-8&rankfile=0&cc=&spc=&stc=&apar=include&atrn1=SWVersion&atrv1=8.5.2&sort=rk&tc=SSYRPW&go.x=13&go.y=13&dc=DB520%20D800%20D900%20DA900%20DA800%20D600%20DB530%20DA600%20D700%20DB500%20DB400%20D100%20DB540%20DB510%20DB55&dtm
Use Domino Enterprise server. We don't support the other types (messaging, utility, etc)
The main thing is sizing. We are planning on about 1000 users per traveler server. 10 Traveler servers per pool. Each Traveler HA pool can only support about 10,000 devices. If you have more than 10K devices, you should start a new pool.
We went 8CPU, 16GB RAM with 64bit OS for each Traveler server to support this many users. You do not want to use a 32bit OS.
Your Traveler servers should be co-located with the Mail servers for performance sake. We highly recommend that the database server (db2 or sql) has physical hardware with a RAID 0/1 array. The bottleneck will be in the disk i/o.
For best performance on the database server, you should separate the
transactional logs from the data and system drives. We also dedicated a
logical disk to temporary files. Example
c:\ - system files
d:\ - data files
e:\ - temporary files
f:\ - transaction logs
g:\ - backup files
The Database server on the back end (DB2 or SQL) should have redundancy otherwise you have a single point of failure. If the database becomes unavailable for any reason, users will not have any service.
Also the database gets created with a full text index by default. They
should maintain the database as they would any other SQL or DB2
We no longer use the /servlet/traveler path to get to the servlet. It is now moved to /traveler. Also we don't use the Domino Web Engine for a servlet engine, its some kind of osgi servlet engine outside of Domino.
If you are going to use a MDM provider or LMC for clientless authentication, be sure to use Verisign 3rd party SSL certificates. Otherwise the mobile devices won't have the certificates on them.
Apple devices when used with a VPN will not receive notifications when they get new mail/calendar items. This is a limitation of the Apple protocols that we use. A clientless solution like LMC or MDM (such as Mobile Iron) will workaround this limitation.
Encrypted emails cannot be read from Traveler. You will need to use the Traveler Companion app for that. Users will get a message saying that their message is encrypted and they have to read it from Notes, iNotes or the Traveler Companion app.You should tune the servers like you would in the Traveler Performance cookbook. http://www-10.lotus.com/ldd/dominowiki.nsf/dx/Tuning_performance_of_the_server_LNT853
The High Availability version of Traveler uses a shared relational database on the backend. Previous versions of Traveler had their own Derby database on each individual server. You can still run standalone Traveler servers in that fashion, but they aren't considered high availability.
When you set up a Traveler HA server, one of the steps is to create the database manually - basically a blank shell. Then you run a script that sets the schema and adds a FTI, etc..
Once that step is done, you then just connect each Traveler pool member to the same database backend.
If you are using SQL server as the backend, you need to apply an important update http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg24019529 which is available on Fix Central.
just added some more resources:Release Listing: http://www.lotus.com/ldd/dominowiki.nsf/dx/Lotus_Notes_Traveler_APAR_listing
Caution with HTC devices and Complex Passwords: http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21597728
Skills Transfer Slides and Recorded Session: https://w3-connections.ibm.com/communities/service/html/communityview?communityUuid=6cdeca04-36b9-441b-a27a-a82c1eb05a4a


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BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - Tropical Storm Karen continues to barely hang on to tropical storm strength has once again started to slowly make its way toward the Louisiana coast.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Karen's maximum sustained winds were still near 40 mph and it was moving north at 2 mph at the 4 p.m. advisory. It was located at 28.1 North and 91.7 West, or about 115 miles south of Morgan City.
Despite the storm's weakening, officials all along the northern Gulf Coast still urged vigilance, as heavy rains and high winds remained a possibility.
Forecasters said Karen has been nearly stationary for the past couple of hours, but it is expected to resume its trek to the north later in the afternoon. A turn toward the northeast is expected by Saturday night. This is in response to an approaching cold front from the northwest. You can track Tropical Storm Karen and get other tropical weather related information using the WAFB Tracking Center.
Dry air infiltration and moderate wind shear helped to push the storms associated with the system farther from the center of circulation Friday evening and it has not been able to reorganize or strengthen any further. Karen is expected to make a turn to the northeast sometime later in the day as it approaches the Louisiana coast. Baton Rouge is not expected to feel any significant impact from the storm. Click here for more stories about the storm
Tropical Storm Karen is still projected to make a possible landfall along the extreme southeast Louisiana coast late Saturday night into early Sunday. The storm is expected to make a second landfall along the central Gulf Coast and then dissipate.
Attorney General Buddy Caldwell issued a statement reminding citizens and businesses that Louisiana price gouging laws are in effect upon the state of emergency declaration by Gov. Bobby Jindal in anticipation of Tropical Storm Karen. Click here for more
In a sign that concerns in Louisiana are easing over Tropical Storm Karen, officials in Plaquemines Parish downgraded an evacuation order from mandatory to voluntary. The change took effect at noon Saturday. Click here for more
Grand Isle called for a mandatory evacuation Friday morning. A mandatory evacuation was called for Lafourche Parish south of the Leon Theriot Floodgates in Golden Meadow, including Port Fourchon. Terrebonne Parish issued a voluntary evacuation for lower areas of the parish which are more likely to be affected by the potential storm.
As a precautionary measure, Ascension Parish President Tommy Martinez declared a State of Emergency Friday because of the approach of Tropical Storm Karen in the Gulf of Mexico. He said sandbags have been filled and stockpiled, and points of distribution will be advertised through the local media if the need arises. Click here for more
St. John the Baptist Parish President Natalie Robottom also declared a state of emergency Friday morning. He said sandbag locations have been positioned throughout the parish, but residents are limited to 10 bags per person. He added bags are on site, but please remember to bring a shovel and do not take additional empty bags. Click here for locations
St. Charles Parish President V.J. St. Pierre Jr. has declared a state of emergency as the Emergency Operations Center continues to monitor and respond to Tropical Storm Karen as she nears the coast. Based on the forecast, there are currently no plans to open an emergency shelter within St. Charles Parish. Click here for more information and updated announcements
Other parishes that made state of emergency declarations include: Assumption, Lafourche, Orleans, St. Helena, St. Tammany and Tangipahoa.
President Barack Obama recalled some furloughed FEMA workers to make sure resources are available for those who will be affected by the late-season storm. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant declared states of emergency for areas that could feel the impact of Karen. Click here for more on this story
Baton Rouge Airport officials say flights in and out of Baton Rouge are scheduled to operate as usual this weekend. Click here for more
The tropical storm warning has been discontinued west of Grand Isle. A tropical storm warning remains in effect for Grand Isle to the mouth of the Pearl River. All tropical storm watches have been discontinued.
If you are viewing this story through our news app, click this link to get access to the full features offered within the story - http://bit.ly/1ccgr4k
To get the latest news, along with breaking news and weather information from WAFB, download the WAFB News App and the WAFB Titan 9 Weather App by searching for WAFB wherever you get your apps, or by clicking a link below.
WAFB News App:
WAFB Titan 9 Weather App:
Copyright 2013 WAFB. All rights reserved.


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law_1-compressorPacific Workplaces2015-07-08T19:47:12+00:00
""For us, Enerspace was an experiment," says Dhollande. "It was something we could watch and learn from." Read more to learn how Pacific Workplaces and Enerspace Coworking learned from each other." #enerspace #pacificworkplaces #coworkingspace bit.ly/2qVCiZF pic.twitter.com/xRRB3Kck4O
Last week @PacSacWatt enjoyed pizza as a prize for winning our world mental health day IG challenge. Remember to #checkyomate, even if there's no pizza involved! 🍕❤ pic.twitter.com/6qPUJtXRVy
We are proud to be a host #workspace for the All Good Work Foundation! RT @PACkeith: Attending the launch of @AGWglobal foundation tonight at Common Grounds. #nonprofit #nextspace #pacificworkplaces #dtsj pic.twitter.com/yjvsJunEhE
Eat, Drink, & Be Thankful! 🧡 @Sunnyvalepacwk's PAC-Luck Togetherness was a wonderful success as amazing members came together and contributed to the feast! #pacificworkplaces #sunnyvale #grateful #potluck #wemakeworkbetter pic.twitter.com/p6Bn6JOmfs
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New evidence indicates Australia's interior cooled by more than 16 degrees Fahrenheit during the last ice age, hinting that dramatic temperature drops associated with glaciations at the poles and in the Northern Hemisphere reached around the globe.
The surprising evidence comes from fossil eggshells of large, flightless birds known as emus, said University of Colorado at Boulder Professor Gifford Miller, chief author of the study. The chemical structures of amino acids in the eggshells change into mirror images of themselves at a rate that is directly dependent on air temperatures, allowing the shells to act as "paleo-thermometers," he said.
The research team first collected hundreds of fossil emu shell fragments and radiocarbon-dated them at the University of Arizona. The thumbnail-sized shells used in the study dated from about 45,000 years ago to about 16,000 years ago during the last glacial epoch. They then analyzed changes in the amino acids in Miller's CU-Boulder lab to estimate changes in air temperatures over that period.
Tests were conducted on two independent groups of shell fragments collected from two regions in Australia's sub-tropical interior, said Miller, a fellow at CU-Boulder's Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research. The researchers concluded that the mean annual air temperature in the interior was about 54 F between 45,000 and 16,000 years ago, compared to about 70 F from 16,000 years ago to the present.
"This immense temperature shift was very surprising to us," said Miller, who said the team did not expect to find significant temperature changes from Australia during the last ice age. "The fact that Australia was so much colder during that period was an indication that we were seeing some sort of a global signal. We believe Australia acts as a passive recorder of global-scale climate events."
A paper on the subject by CU-Boulder's Miller, John Magee of Australian National University and A.J.T. Jull of the University of Arizona was published in the Jan. 16 issue of Nature, one of the world's leading weekly science journals.
Although there are mounds of evidence of ice-age cooling from Earth's polar and temperate regions, cooling in tropical regions during those periods has been the subject of much debate, said Miller. Because of increased solar radiation striking the Southern Hemisphere due to a cyclic wobble in Earth's axis during the last ice age, many scientists discounted the possibility of significant cooling there, he said.
In recent years, however, researchers have found isolated evidence of tropical cooling during the last ice age in coral from Barbados, noble gases in Brazilian and African ground water and snail shells from Jamaica. "Combining these lines of evidence with our findings, which are the first quantitative temperature measurements from low elevations in a subtropical region, indicates the cooling trend during the last ice age was likely a global phenomenon," said Miller.
The study results also show that the onset of post-glacial warming in Australia and probably elsewhere around the globe began about 16,000 years ago, said Miller, who also chairs CU's geological sciences department.
The climate mechanisms that cooled Australia during the last ice age remain somewhat of a mystery, he said. Australia's sub-tropical location and relatively flat topography preclude the presence of common climate-forcing mechanisms like ice sheets, glaciers, sea-ice and permafrost believed to have acted as triggers for massive cooling episodes in the Northern Hemisphere and polar regions.
"Our feeling now is that this cooling in Australia may have been related to a reduction of water vapor in the atmosphere," he said. Less water vapor in the atmosphere would have meant the tropical oceans were significantly colder than many climate modelers have assumed.
During the ice age, ocean currents probably moved warm tropical water to the polar regions, where it cooled, he said. Cooler water returning back to the equator then helped to chill the tropical oceans.
Less water would have evaporated from the cooler tropical oceans, decreasing the amount of water vapor in the air over both hemispheres, Miller said. This would have "effectively spread the cooling throughout the planet."
"Events at the poles apparently can trigger much larger temperature changes around the globe than previously thought," he said. "If we ever are going to be able to predict future changes in Earth's climate, we need to understand how the circulation processes in the world's oceans and atmosphere are linked."


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Automakers Drive toward Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles
February 4, 2013
A recent Science Friday segment on National Public Radio (NPR) featured Jen Kurtz of the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) discussing the current state of fuel cell electric vehicles. The interview followed announcements by major automakers about alliances to work together to develop common fuel cell technologies.
What has NREL been doing with these cars?
"We've analyzed fuel cell vehicles ranging from compact sedans all the way up to SUVs," Kurtz said. "Hydrogen stations and vehicle deployments are very targeted right now, so that investments aren't spread too thin. For instance California, Hawaii, and the Northeast all have focused activities in fuel cell vehicle and infrastructure deployments."
"There are a number of ways to produce hydrogen. We have four fuel cell vehicles on loan from Toyota. Our hydrogen is actually produced through electrolysis that's powered by wind and solar. So a colleague has stated that our fuel cell vehicles are driving around today based on hydrogen produced from wind that blew last week."
Is driving a fuel cell car a different kind of experience?
"The car has some unique characteristics, one of which is zero tailpipe emissions. It's also quite quiet," Kurtz added. "But once you start driving it, it's really easy to forget that you're driving a fuel cell vehicle. It's just like a standard, traditional driving experience."
Science Friday is a weekly science news show heard on about 300 NPR stations around the country. It attracts 1.4 million listeners with the live broadcast, 600,000 podcast downloads, and another 60,000 unique website visitors every week.
Learn more about NREL's fuel cell and hydrogen technology validation projects.
—Julia Thomas


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Billy Anderson leaves fire department
The Mammoth Lakes Fire Department lost one of its finest this past week when Billy Anderson, 65, announced his retirement.
"He's been a really good asset to the department for 40 years," said Fire Chief Brent Harper.
Anderson, a native Southern Californian from Laguna Beach and Arcadia, spent 34 years working at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area as a health and safety director, but all along served as a volunteer with the Fire Department.
For the last seven years he was a full-time staffer, working as a division chief.
"It's a budgetary kind of thing," Anderson said. "They were going to have to lay off some people or cut 10 percent in wages, or maybe lay off part-time paid firefighters in the shoulder season.
"I just turned 65 and I was close to retirement. I thought I'd work until I was 68.
"I've given everything I have to the Fire Department, and they've been good to me, but at some point I figured I was going to have to retire."
With Anderson gone, the fire crew is fundamentally changed. First, it will have to make do with three division chiefs, Harper said, with the three remaining division chiefs and he (Harper) filling in for Anderson.
Within the force itself, members of the weekly Thursday evening fire-training exercises at the fire station loses its leader.
"I'm going to miss the guys, for sure," Anderson said. "It's a great group of people.
"On a Thursday night at my trainings, we'll have 45 people in that training room at the fire station, which is pretty good for a combination paid/volunteer Fire Department.
"We have a great commitment from the guys and gals in town.
"We try to keep it interesting," Anderson said of the Thursday evening training sessions.
"We don't get many fires so we have to train as if it's the real thing so when we do, we're ready for it."
Anderson came to Mammoth first in 1963 to ski, then after a couple of years in college and fighting in Vietnam, Anderson came up as an employee at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area.
"I just fell in love with the place, and I've been here ever since."
He also fell in love with a woman working retail at the ski area. Billy and Val (she worked for 38 years at the Mountain) married and have a son and a daughter.
As for his career at the ski area, Anderson said he had absolutely no regrets.
"There was no problems," he said. "Everything in my life has kind of worked out. I left on my terms."
Anderson worked the fire line on several big-time conflagrations, including the Rainbow Fire in August 1992.
With a total acreage burned of 8,765, the Rainbow Fire has gone down in local history as the worst fire ever, and yet, the fire never reached the town of Mammoth Lakes, thanks to people like Anderson who led a strike team at Red's Meadow resort.
"I had all of the local fire agencies under my command at Red's Meadow, and basically saved Bob Tanner's business for him—at least that's what he thinks."
"We were down there for nine days. Bob said, 'Let's go down and see where this fire is,' because it was all smoke then. It was about four in the afternoon. We rode toward Rainbow Falls and the wind was blowing 40 miles an hour. And I said that this is probably as far as we should go. The shoots of branches on the top were picking up fire, and by the time we got back, they'd run all the horses up to Agnew Meadows and Bob turned to me and said, 'Billy, this place is all yours. Whatever you want is yours. The store is open, the kitchen and café are yours. Take care of your guys,' and then he left.
"We spent the night down there and about the time we fixed up some hamburgers, we thought the fire was about an hour or so away.
"But the wind was blowing so hard that by the time I got back outside, there was fire in the corrals. That's how quickly it moved across the tips of the trees—it was a crown fire. Every smoldering thing we saw we put water on it so nothing had a chance to get going. We did that all night long."
A happy memory? No one would say it was a happy time for Mammoth or its fire crews.
But in the years since, the actions by Anderson and his crew at Red's Meadow are permanently stitched into the town's collective memory.
Today (Friday) he and Val are going to start the trip down to the Mexican coast just below the border, where they have a mobile home set up for vacations.
He said he'll be back for this summer's Canoe Races, and maybe do a little skiing one of these days.
But as of this week, Anderson is gone from the force, leaving a hole big enough to drive a fire truck through.


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An accident between a passenger vehicle and a 26,000-pound truck shut down the northbound lanes of Interstate 95 in Havre de Grace for two hours on Friday, police said.
The four-door sedan lost control and struck a truck shortly before 5:30 p.m. as both traveled north on the interstate, said Maryland State Police Sgt. Edward Loures. The accident caused the truck's fuel tanks to rupture.
No injuries were reported.
The interstate reopened at 7:30 p.m.
Loures said the accident occurred near mile marker 90. Traffic was detoured to state Route 155 at Exit 89.


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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
The fifth annual Easter egg hunt at the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center will take place on Saturday, March 30, from noon to 3 p.m. Last year, more than 300 children were in attendance.
The event is free and open to the public for children up to 10 years old. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Registration starts at noon.
The event will feature photos with the Easter Bunny. The Easter egg hunt will start at 1 p.m., and there will be many other activities, including face painting, craft stations, a basket raffle and prizes for children of all ages.
This year, the Easter activities will be held inside the NACC, not on the front lawn as in previous years, due to the early calendar date. The NACC is located at 1201 Pine Ave., Niagara Falls (corner of Pine Avenue and Portage Road). Enter through the red door on Portage Road. There is plenty of free parking at the corner of Portage Road and Walnut Avenue in the South Junior High School parking lot.
The NACC is still looking for basket donations and volunteers for the event. For more information, contact Laurie Martelli at the NACC at 716-282-7530 or [email protected], or visit www.thenacc.org.
The NACC is a multi-arts center located in the former Niagara Falls High School building. The NACC, founded in 2001, was once slated for demolition, but is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is home to more than 70 artists, a ballet school, two theaters and recording studios.


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Maker: Jim Arbuckle, J.S. (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 3544
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***Blade length: 8.50 in.Total length: 13.00 in.Blade height (at heel): 2.40 in.Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.13 in.Item weight: 11.00 oz.Shipment weight: 10.96 oz.Blade: ATS-34 stainless steel with a hand rubbed satin finish, hardened to Rc 59-60Handle: African olive wood with German silver pins
Description: If you spend any time in the kitchen, would like to have a knife that is as attractive as it is useful, and don�t want the typical off-the shelf chefs knives, check out this handmade beauty by Jim Arbuckle. One in the world.
It utilizes a very deep choil (cut-out) for the forefinger to rest in. This makes the knife easy to hold onto even with slippery hands. The blade is made from ATS-34, high carbon stainless steel made by Hitachi. It is hardened and double tempered to about RC/59-60, then hand rubbed to a satin finish. It has extensive filework along the spine of the blade, which is not only decorative but adds a non-slip area on the back of the blade to rest the thumb. The blade is quite hard and takes an excellent edge.
Availability: Not currently available


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Some would say it was only a matter of time: Justin Bieber has been arrested in Miami Beach on suspicion of DUI, resisting arrest without violence and driving with an invalid license after police witnessed a drag racing incident in Lamborghinis in the wee hours Thursday morning.
The details come according to a police report obtained by Nation Now, which also revealed that the Biebs had, police said, a "stupor look" with glassy eyes and a smell of alcohol coming off him. While the officer searched Bieber, the singer allegedly cussed him out, stating he had no weapons and asking, profanely, why he had to be patted down.
Bieber was then administered a field sobriety test, during which he "did not perform to standards." He was taken into custody pending a first court appearance. Both vehicles — the other driver, rapper Khalil, was also arrested — were taken to a police garage, according to Nation Now.
And after all that, the 19-year-old pop star actually smiled in his mug shot.
Interesting tidbit: According to TMZ, Justin's dad Jeremy Bieber, 38, was on the scene at the time of the alleged racing, during which police said the cars hit 55-60 in a 30 mph residential zone. The road was blocked by SUVs, according to the report, and TMZ said the senior Bieber helped put that in place. Dad was with his son all day, including at the nightclub where Justin was allegedly partying before the incident.
Bieber, who's on a break from touring, has been courting trouble on both coasts, most recently making news for dropping big bucks (some say up to $75,000) in a 21-and-over strip club in Miami, where he's been all week.
ARREST: Justin Bieber arrest report
Before that, Bieber faced a search of his Calabasas home after allegedly egging his neighbor's home to the tune of $20,000 in damage. During the search, a buddy, Lil Za, was arrested on suspicion of felony drug possession.
Divorce for Captain & Tennille, 'Love Will Keep Us Together' duo
Sean Penn, Charlize Theron are dating — but about his 67 guns ...
Robert Pattinson's Dior deal has 'profound' effect: He moisturizes
Follow Christie D'Zurilla on Twitter and Google+. Follow the Ministry of Gossip on Twitter @LATcelebs and on Facebook facebook.com/ministryofgossip.
PHOTOS: Celebrity portraits by The Times
PHOTOS: Royal visit to New Zealand and Australia
PHOTOS: 2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show


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Four new fastpitch softball players were inducted into the Greater San Joaquin Hall of Fame on Jan. 12 at the Grape Festival Grounds in Lodi.
Four new fastpitch softball players were inducted into the Greater San Joaquin Hall of Fame on Jan. 12 at the Grape Festival Grounds in Lodi.
Approximately 175 people attended the event.
Amateur Softball Association Commissioner Matt Pfeifer served as the master of ceremonies.
"It gives me great pleasure to see the past inductees and all the older ballplayers get together once a year and relive their softball days," Pfeifer said. "Although the chance to induct new deserving people into the Hall of Fame is special, the social aspect is what really gives me joy."
Air Tronics, a men's masters fastpitch team, was presented with National Championship plaques for winning the Men's 50-and-over Fast Pitch National Tournament in 2011. This gives this team 13 national championships going back to 1992.
Thirteen umpires were recognized for being selected for National Championships in 2012. One such umpire, Sharon Gregory of Modesto, was given a special award as she was selected for the Special Olympics National Games in Oklahoma City.
The city of Turlock was awarded the James Farrell Award. This comes from the ASA National Office in Oklahoma City for one of the highest-rated National Tournaments in 2012. With a score of 99 out of 100, Turlock was one of a few cities across the country that recieved this award. They hosted the Girls 16- and 18-and-under Fast Pitch Western Nationals in July.
The evening also was a celebration of the retirement of Don Smiley, the Junior Olympic commissioner for the past 23 years. A PowerPoint presentation, followed by the awarding of a bronze softball glove and a heartfelt speech from Smiley, highlighted these awards.
After these awards, the Hall of Fame ceremony began.
Inductees include:
Pete Duenas: He played in 19 ASA National Championships, 6 ISC International Championships and four Olympic festivals. Duenas was a seven-time ASA National Champion, eight-time ASA All American and was named the Most Valuable Player in the 1986 "B" ASA National Championships, won by Tubbs and Sons Electric from Manteca. Duenas has also played with the Masters teams that have won multiple national championships.
Ron Vollstedt: In 1967, at the age of 19, Vollstedt began his softball career with the Mayfair Merchants, a team composed of Hall of Fame players such as Forney Bassham, Pete Turner Sr., Brent Grimm and fellow first-year player Mike Singer. After returning from the military, he played for Cal Paint for several years, during which time he won the prestigious Nor Cal league batting title, hitting .421 in 1974, and was runner-up twice. Vollstedt ws part of a successful team finishing third in the Nor Cal Regionals. He played several more years, mostly with Cal Paint, and participated in nine Regional Tournaments and five District Championships. He received many All-Tournament selections
Jeff Harris: Harris played 16 years of ASA fastpitch softball. In those 16 years, he was named All-American four times and won two National Championships and one State Championship. Harris played in 13 ASA National Championships and was on the winning team twice, in 1993 and 2000. He was named to All-American teams four times.
Mike Nevin: Mike "Bones" Nevin has had an outstanding softball career as a player and as a sponsor. He started his softball career with Chuck Burgers in Hayward in 1970. He was transferred to the Modesto area and played with the Dave Abel Insurance teams and with California Kings for seven years. He also played two years with Guanella Brothers.
In 1992, he joined the Stockton-Nor Cal Merchants Masters team and continues to play with them.
Nevin competed in one ASA "A" Division National Championship, nine Major National Championships and 25 Masters National Championships from 40-plus, 45-plus and 50-plus.
- Information and photo submitted by Matt Pfeifer


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Use Places & People to search over 6,600 parks and gardens in the UK and 2,100 biographies of people associated with them. Image location: Bedgebury National Pinetum
Learn about the rich heritage of parks and gardens in Topics.
Image location: Powis Castle
Follow News & Events, updated regularly with the latest information affecting historic parks and gardens. Image location: Sheffield Botanical Gardens
Visit the Schools for ideas and activities to encourage the interest of children and young people in their local parks. Image location: Trentham
Join us as a volunteer and Research & Record historic parks and gardens in your area.
Image location: Cirencester Abbey
View the Illustrated Glossary which provides definitions and accompanying images for terms and concepts associated with historic parks and gardens. Image location: Pannett Park


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Hampton Inn Cutchogue hotels are listed below. Search for cheap and discount Hampton Inn hotel rooms in Cutchogue, NY for your family, individual or group travels. We list the best Hampton Inn Cutchogue hotels/motels so you can review the Cutchogue Hampton Inn hotel list below to find the perfect place.
This service will also list discounted Cutchogue, NY properties that have similar star quality of Hampton Inn.
How should we direct your call?


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Domain names at Gandi
Hundreds of TLDs available
Back in 2005, Gandi managed just 7 top-level domains (TLDs). Since then, we've added hundreds more, making us a registrar with one of the biggest selections of TLDs on the internet. The process of offering a new TLD is long, costly, and sometimes complicated, but our accreditation and technical teams work tirelessly to bring you more choices all the time.
If there's a TLD you want that we don't offer, or if you have any domain-related requests, we want to hear from you! Check out our domain name wishlist.
The map above shows the geographic areas covered by TLDs available at Gandi.net.
The purple color represents countries whose ccTLD is only available for Corporate customers. These extensions are often obtained via third parties (usually because the accreditation is particularly complex or simply not available) and often must be managed manually. For more information on becoming a Corporate customer, click here.


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Transform your iPhone into a Music Production Studio
Craft your musical ideas wherever you are.
The Akai iPK25 transforms iPhone or iPod touch into a portable music production studio for mobile music creation. You can use the Akai iPK25 with the Akai SynthStation Studio app as well as virtually any MIDI music software on your computer or with MIDI hardware devices such as sound modules, samplers, and MPCs using its USB/MIDI output.
Available exclusively through the Apple App Store, SynthStation Studio gives you three powerful synthesizers for creating and modifying sonic textures used for melodies, chords, and bass lines. Built around Akai Professional's history in synthesis and drawing on the newest MINIAK synth, the SynthStation Studio app sounds great and offers wide-ranging sonic flexibility with its virtual analog synthesis.
Features of the Akai iPK25
- 25-key MIDI keyboard controller for iPhone and iPod touch
- Velocity-sensitive, synth-action keys for expressive performance
- Pitch and modulation wheels, octave +/-, and sound-bank buttons
- Stereo RCA line outputs and headphone jack
- USB/MIDI for virtually any MIDI music software or MIDI hardware devices
- Seamlessly compatible with Akai SynthStation Studio app (included)
View the Akai iPK25 at Dolphin Music


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Holiday Hostess Gifts: When and What to Give?
When to give and what to bring:
If you're stumped about whether you should bring a gift or not, always err on the side of generosity. What cocktail hostess wouldn't appreciate a delightful little addition to the kitchen from one of her guests? Let the gift match the occasion, and you'll be right on track.
Cocktail Party or Holiday Open House
Though not necessary, especially if you are close friends with the host or hostess, bringing a small gift along to informal occasions such as a cocktail party or open house is a wonderful way to thank them for their hospitality. It's not a time to be showy, but a great time to choose something that says 'thanks' in a fun and casual manner. A Folk Flora Rolling Pin or Chalkboard Spice Jars are both delightful small gifts that would be perfect for such an occasion.
Holiday Dinner Party
It takes a lot of effort to pull together a formal dinner, especially around the holidays. Express your gratitude with a unique gift your host or hostess can enjoy year-round. These Hedgehog Measuring Cups are an adorable addition to any kitchen. Though they're so cute you'll want to leave them out on display, they also nest inside one another for easy storage. We also love the cupcake-covered Baker's Delight Apron for its retro graphics and cute cut.
Weekend with Friends
Being a houseguest calls for something a little more special than a bouquet of flowers or a scented candle. Bring along a carefully chosen home or kitchen accent, such as Anthropologie's Wise Ol' Canister. This Italian-made, bright orange cookie jar adds a bright, quirky punch that is perfect for friends with eclectic or vintage tastes. If your weekend hosts have more subdued decor, consider bringing along some accent tableware, such as this Piecrust Dinnerware. Rimmed with geometric pastry-inspired patters, these dishes are sweet as pie.
Whatever you decide to give, present it in style. For casual occasions, "wrapping" can be as simple as tying a pretty ribbon or colorful twine around the gift so the host or hostess doesn't feel obligated to stop and unwrap your gift while they are busy welcoming other guests and making final preparations. For bigger gifts, get creative with wrapping paper alternatives or have the gift professionally wrapped in-store.
Images: Anthropologie


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New Movie Releases — 'The Devil Inside' [VIDEO]
Only one movie is opening at our local Marcus Theatres this weekend, but it looks like it has enough fright-factor to jolt you into the New Year without any outside help.
In 'The Devil Inside,' a woman enlists the help of a team of exorcists to determine whether her murderous mother who's locked in an Italian hospital for the criminally insane is mentally ill — or demonically possessed.
Here's a sneak peek:
The Devil Inside
Directed by: William Brent Bell
Starring: Fernanda Andrade, Simon Quarterman, Evan Helmuth, Suzan Crowley
Get Tickets & Showtimes


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Rotary Club hosts annual Halloween parade
The annual St. Marys Rotary Club Halloween Parade kicked off at 1 p.m. inside the gymnasium of South St. Marys Street Elementary School. Approximately 200 youngsters participated in the event with various scary, cute and whimsical costumes. Among the costume winners were humorous renditions of a toilet seat, a bucket of popcorn, a Lego block and a large piece of candy corn.
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