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Microsoft is jumping on the one-swipe mobile payment bandwagon by introducing Near Field Communications (NFC) technology to Windows Phone 7, according to online rumors. NFC would allow Phone 7 users to pay for items such as subway tickets, groceries and drug store purchases by waving their handsets in front of a machine. The mobile payment technology could be part of the Phone 7 operating system later in 2011, according to two people familiar with the plans who spoke to Bloomberg Businessweek.
NFC appears set to become the next popular feature for new smartphones this year. The technology relies on a card reader at the cash register and an NFC chip embedded in your phone to transmit data.
Google added NFC capability to Android handsets with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) in December. Samsung's Nexus S was the first Android phone to come with an NFC chip when Gingerbread launched and many more NFC-capable Android handsets are expected in the coming months.
Google is currently testing NFC in Portland, Ore., as a one-swipe search solution. The pilot project uses promotional decals on shop windows that allow people to swipe NFC-enabled phones to get information from Google Places such as store hours, address, phone number and customer reviews. There are also rumors that Google is testing its own line up of NFC machines in New York and San Francisco, and The Wall Street Journal recently reported Google was working with Citigroup and MasterCard to implement an NFC one-swipe payment system for Android phones.
Apple is also rumored to be bringing NFC to iOS devices such as the iPhone and iPad, but the rumors are shaky at best. Visa in 2010 experimented with NFC for iPhones with a special case for the iPhone 3G and 3GS.
Despite its use in other parts of the world, NFC payment systems embedded in smartphones have been slow to catch on in the United States. Although, that is expected to change this year.
Given Google's interest in NFC payments, it's no surprise that Microsoft wants to follow suit. The two companies have similar mobile strategies that focus on producing mobile OS software instead of creating both mobile software and hardware as Apple and Research In Motion do. Microsoft's new agreement to become the primary platform for Nokia phones in 2012 may also give the company a wider platform to introduce Windows Phone 7-styled NFC.
Connect with Ian Paul ( @ianpaul ) and Today@PCWorld on Twitter for the latest tech news and analysis.


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Cheap and simple, non-invasive blood test could replace invasive diagnostic techniques in early pregnancy
NB: this is the subject of a news briefing by Dr Suzanna Frints at 10.00 hrs (CEST) on Tuesday 29 June [Hall 10, Room A]
Rome, Italy: Researchers in The Netherlands believe they are on the verge of developing a simple, prenatal blood test that would be able to detect accurately chromosomal abnormalities in the developing foetus. At present, the only reliable way to do this is through amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling, both of which are invasive and carry the risk of triggering a miscarriage.
Dr Suzanna Frints, a clinical geneticist at Maastricht University Medical Centre (Maastricht, The Netherlands), will tell the 26th annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Rome today (Tuesday), that she and her colleagues have been able to use molecular genetic probes to detect DNA belonging to the foetus in blood samples taken from pregnant women.
So far, they have been successful in identifying DNA from the Y chromosome, indicating that the foetus is a boy and therefore could be at risk of inheriting an X-linked disorder such as Duchenne's muscular dystrophy and haemophilia. [1]
The researchers believe the same method can be used to detect trisomy 21 (where an extra chromosome 21 causes Down's syndrome) and they are investigating this next, followed by trisomy 13 and 18 (responsible for causing Patau and Edward's syndromes respectively). [2]
Dr Frints and her colleagues are using the "Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification" (MLPA), technique to detect foetal DNA that is present in the blood of women who have been pregnant for at least six to eight weeks. The MLPA test is part of an existing kit that is already used around the world to detect chromosomal abnormalities in invasively obtained amniotic fluid or chorionic villi samples from pregnant women. The kit is cheap and fast, delivering results within 24-62 hours, but, until now, it has only been used on samples taken during invasive procedures; it was not known whether it would work on cell free foetal DNA circulating in blood samples of pregnant women.
"It is inexpensive compared to the costs of invasive prenatal diagnosis, and could easily be implemented at low cost, between 30-150 Euros per kit per person, with a small apparatus in every hospital in the world. Blood samples can be taken during routine antenatal visits," said Dr Frints.
The study started in 2009 and is expected to continue to 2012 or longer. The researchers are recruiting women who are at high risk of an abnormal pregnancy and undergoing prenatal screening and invasive diagnostic procedures. To obtain MLPA proof of principle, they have recruited 14 women who had a pregnancy termination between 14-22 weeks gestation because of trisomy 13, 18 or 21 detected by invasive prenatal diagnosis (group A), four women who had non-invasive prenatal screening at 12-14 weeks gestation (group B), three women who had invasive prenatal diagnosis because of being at least 36 years old (group C), and nine non-pregnant control women who had had up to three children (group D). A total of 20, 715, 40 and 30 women are needed in each group respectively to complete the clinical trial to test the reliability of the MLPA technique.
"The MLPA test results obtained in 2009 were compared with the results of amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling and pregnancy outcome. All but one sample correlated with the non-invasive MLPA test results, detecting foetal Y-chromosome sequences," said Dr Frints. "At the moment, the reliability of the test is about 80% due to false negative results, but we are working to improve the accuracy of the MLPA probe.
"Although we need to test and refine this MLPA technique further, our results so far are promising. This is innovative translational research and when we succeed in developing the MLPA procedure for use in maternal blood, we will be able to offer a safe, cheap, fast, reliable and accurate non-invasive test, which will be of immediate benefit to pregnant women, young and old, all over the world."
The researchers hope the test may be available in the clinic in two to five years' time.
Abstract no: O-189 Tuesday 17.00 hrs CEST (Hall 10, Room F&G)
[1] Most X-linked disorders are recessive. This means that females, who have two X chromosomes, need two copies of the affected gene to show the disorder, but because males have only one X chromosome, they show the disorder if they inherit one copy of the affected gene. Genetic abnormalities that are carried on the X chromosome include Duchenne's muscular dystrophy and haemophilia.
[2] Patau syndrome occurs in approximately one in 10,000 births and Edward's syndrome in approximately one in 6,000 births. They both cause numerous physical and mental abnormalities and most babies do not survive beyond infancy.
This research was supported by the Zonmw Prevention Fund.

subset: commoncrawl


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Hold your next special event at the Dedham Community House. We have two facility options to meet your needs. Conveniently located right in the heart of Dedham at the corner of Ames and High Streets in Dedham Square, we are easily accessible from major highways and MBTA bus routes.
Haven House
Our beautiful historic Samuel Haven House, built in 1795 and now better known as the Dedham Community House, is an ideal location for baby and bridal showers, intimate weddings, elegant parties, rehearsal dinners, business meetings and much more.
Streeter Gymnasium
Located just behind the House, our gymnasium is the perfect place for children's birthday parties, dances, basketball or large meetings. The open basketball court makes this space quite versatile. Use of toys and gym equipment appropriate for all age groups is included with your rental. Tables and chairs are also available for your use. Why not bring in your own magician, musician, or even rent our bouncey house? The gym is not available for rentals June through August.


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1. Divergent by Veronica Roth
Why you should read it: This will be the next Hunger Games, mark my words. A dystopian society with five factions and a courageous teen ready to change the future. Tris is the kind of protagonist you really want to root for, and there are no love triangles! You will not be able to put this trilogy down.
Movie release date: March 21, 2014
Who's starring: Shailene Woodley, Kate Winslet, and Theo James
2. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Why you should read it: A gifted child is sent to a rigorous military school to prepare for a future alien invasion. I think that says enough, right?
Movie release date: Nov. 1, 2013
Who's starring: Asa Butterfield, Abigail Breslin, and Harrison Ford
3. The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Why you should read it: A story about a girl who discovers she has a supernatural bloodline after her mom is abducted by demons. It's a very long series, but totally worth it. Let's hope Hollywood does it justice!
Movie release date: Aug. 21, 2013
Who's starring: Lily Collins and Jamie Campbell Bower
4. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Why you should read it: A terminally ill girl unexpectedly falls in love despite her inevitable fate. Grab the tissues, you will have tears of joy, laughter, and sadness.
Movie release date: June 6, 2014
Who's starring: Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort
5. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Why you should read it: A bunch of boys are trapped in a maze filled with deadly creatures ready to kill. Their home is a ticking time bomb, and you'll race through the book to find out if they ever escape. P.S. The movie stars DYLAN O'BRIEN, ladies and gents.
Movie release date: Sept. 19, 2014
Who's starring: Dylan O'Brien, Kaya Scodelario, and Patricia Clarkson
6. The Wolf of Wall Street by Jordan Belfort
Why you should read it: A man makes a stupid amount of money, wasting it on drugs and partying, until it all comes crashing down. The book will get you pumped for the Leo film that is bound to be a masterpiece.
Movie release date: Dec. 25, 2013
Who's starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, and Matthew McConaughey
7. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Why you should read it: It starts off with a murder mystery, pulling you in on the investigation to find out what exactly happened to Amy Dunne. You don't know who to believe and you're suspicious of what the characters are hiding, and then BAM: PLOT TWIST. Just wait till you're 50% through — you won't know how to deal with your emotions.
Movie release date: Oct. 3, 2014
Who's starring: Rosamund Pike and Ben Affleck
8. The Monuments Men by Robert M. Edsel
Why you should read it: This isn't your typical WWII story. A group of art historians and museum curators risk everything to save works of art before Hitler destroys them. I think we can depend on Clooney and Damon to bring this story to life.
Movie release date: Feb. 7, 2014
Who's starring: George Clooney, Matt Damon, and Cate Blanchett
9. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Why you should read it: During WWII, a young girl named Liesel finds solace by stealing books and sharing them with others. Under the stairs in her home, a Jewish refuge is being sheltered by her adoptive parents. The book is narrated by Death, so it will be interesting to see how this translates to film.
Movie release date: Nov. 15, 2013
Who's starring: Sophie Nélisse and Geoffrey Rush
10. Serena by Ron Rash
Why you should read it: The book is a thrilling story that follows newlyweds George and Serena Pemberton on their journey to create a timber empire and ruthlessly kill all who fall out of favor. Serena finds out some unfortunate news and then all hell breaks loose. JLaw is totally going to kill this role, y'all.
Movie release date: Oct. 31, 2013 (Russia)
Who's starring: Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper
11. Horns by Joe Hill
Why you should read it: Ig Perrish's girlfriend was raped and murdered, and he was originally accused of this heinous crime. One day he mysteriously wakes up with HORNS and uses his new paranormal powers to hunt down his girlfriend's killer. Daniel Radcliffe may not be a wizard anymore, but this is close enough.
Movie release date: Unknown
Who's starring: Daniel Radcliffe and Juno Temple
12. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Why you should read it: It's an intriguing story about a 17-year-old girl who slips in a coma after a bad accident. She has an out-of-body experience, watching as friends and family visit, and needs to choose to live a difficult life or die peacefully. If you read before the movie comes out, then you'll know what she decides and stress less at the theater.
Movie release date: Unknown
Who's starring: Chloë Grace Moretz
13. The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp
Why you should read it: This is a classic I-unexpectedly-fell-in-love high school story that will have you rapidly flipping through the pages. The movie premiered at Sundance and received rave reviews, saying, "John Hughes would be proud."
Movie release date: Aug. 2, 2013
Who's starring: Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller
14. Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight
Why you should read it: A workaholic single mother discovers her only child has committed suicide, but deep down inside, Kate doesn't believe her daughter would ever do such a thing. She sifts through Amelia's text messages, emails, and Facebook posts to uncover the shocking truth of her daughter's last days. It's a quick, easy read, and the HBO movie will keep viewers locked to the TV screen.
Movie release date: Unknown
Who's starring: Nicole Kidman


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Should you raise money from VCs? If so, how should you pick your VC?
November 4, 2010 · 3 min read ·
It has become part of the conventional entrepreneur wisdom that you should raise an angel round, then a first VC round followed by a few more before taking the company public, selling to a strategic or a private equity company. Most of the well-known Internet companies have followed this path: Yahoo, eBay, Amazon, Google, Facebook, etc.
However, it may not be the most logical path for most entrepreneurs. The vast majority of exits are below $100 million and most of those are below $30 million. You can't raise a $5 million series A at $10 million pre to sell for less than $30 million. Not only will you disappoint your investors (most VCs are shooting for a 10x on their investment), but the liquidation preferences might eat up most of your return. If you have made money before and are looking to build something big for fun, then by all means raise as much money as you can at the highest possible valuation in order to maximize the probability of building a $1 billion company. You significantly increase the risk of making nothing, but in this context it's worth it to increase the probability of building something big.
If you are a first time entrepreneur or have not made much money before, you need to be careful not to price yourself out of potential exits. There is a lot of temptation to raise money at a high price if it's available. However, often you might just be better off just doing an angel round or a small VC round – say $2 million at $4 pre, to actually maximize your risk adjusted returns. Likewise, you might be better off trading off price for terms. A clean 1x liquidation preference at a lower price might be better for you than a participating preferred, especially if the company ends up taking 5-7 years to exit which is by no means atypical.
Having less cash might not make much difference to your outcome. Startups are much more capital efficient these days. You have companies that service your every need, eliminating most potential capital expenditures. Even ecommerce startups are relatively cheap to build these days as there are companies that will handle logistics for you and you can avoid taking inventory by drop shipping.
Just as importantly as figuring out how much money you need at what valuation, you need to pick the right investor to raise the money from. Let's start by setting expectations: VCs are not going to help you execute. That's your job! They may make a few introductions and might help you hire a few good candidates, but the reality is that you probably could have found a way to get introduced to whomever you wanted to meet and would have met good candidates to hire without them. This does not mean that VC selection is unimportant and that you should just pick whoever offers the highest valuation and the best terms.
Quite the contrary, VC selection is essential to your success. By sitting on your board, the VC will play an essential role in discussing and setting the strategic direction of your company. In fact, it's probably the most important role they will play. By pulling you away from the day to day to focus on the strategic issue of what maximizes value creation they will hone your strategic thinking and steer the direction of the company. They will also play a crucial role in the exit discussions as they will play bad cop to your good cop (if you don't have a VC investment bankers can also play this role).
Given the importance of the role and the fact that whomever you pick will likely be on your board for years, picking a VC is like getting married. It's absolutely essential that you get along well with them and that you trust them. This means that the name of the firm is irrelevant. What matters is your relationship with the partner you are going to work with on a day to day basis.
Strategic investors are probably also best avoided. Not only could they have conflicts of interests as they may not want you to get too expensive for them to buy, but even when they have the best of intentions they have proven to be fair weather VCs – jumping in when the market is hot and retrenching when conditions are tough. They are least likely to be helpful and supportive in a downturn. (To be fair, Intel Capital and Naspers may be exceptions to that rule as they have shown staying power and have seemingly been fair to their portfolio companies.)
Now it's your turn: go start a great company and raise the capital you need from the best partner possible for you!


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Hello friends,
I am writing a small program in which i have 3 methods. All are working fine. One of the method getstring(char_aarray, string, int_array) is taking 3 arguments First arguments is char[ ] and returning a character array char[ ]. I want that when the program start and there is a call to getstring(char_rarray, string, int_array) method, it takes a predefined char[ ] as arguemnt but second time if there is call to that method it uses its own returned char[ ].
Thanks in advance.


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Pomembna izjava o COVID-19. Poizvedite več
From World Cup competition to local weekend races, cyclocross is all about speed, handling and versatility in all conditions. Our men's cyclocross bikes deliver unbeatable performance for riders of all levels. We have lightweight composite flyers and aluminum all-rounders, so choose the perfect cyclocross bike to mix it up on roads, gravel and dirt.
Current price:


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'Happy New Year' Text Message Accidentally Detonates Suicide Bomber
Getting text messages from your service provider is incredibly annoying. Especially if you are a suicide bomber, and your bomb is triggered by incoming texts. As one Russian woman learned the hard way.
You know how kids are always "sexting" each other these days? Well, so are Russian Muslim extremists! Except, instead of "sexts," "suicide bombs detonated via SMS." See, a lot of suicide bombers—in Russia and elsewhere—trigger their bombs via text messages to cell phones wired to the explosives. The thing is, though, you have to keep your phone off until the right moment. Because if you get an errant text ("wat r u doin"), you will blow up.
According to The Telegraph, Russian authorities believe a would-be suicide bomber did not follow this advice so well:
The unnamed woman, who is thought to be part of the same group that struck Moscow's Domodedovo airport on Monday, intended to detonate a suicide belt on a busy square near Red Square on New Year's Eve in an attack that could have killed hundreds.
Security sources believe a spam message from her mobile phone operator wishing her a happy new year received just hours before the planned attack triggered her suicide belt, killing her but nobody else.
So: Turns out unwanted texts from your mobile provider can actually save lives. And yet, they're still not worth it.


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Goldstream Falls
Frigid water cascades into a pool surrounded by greenery in Goldstream Provincial Park, Victoria, BC.
"Martha" - 2018 Swiftsure
Martha sails past Clover Point during the 2018 Swiftsure International Yacht Race in Victoria, BC, Canada.
Eagle Eye
Eagle perched observantly on a dock piling in Ucluelet, BC, Canada.
beaumont beach
Own a glimpse of Pacific Rim National Park. Taken near Long Beach, Tofino, BC, Canada.
barn swallow 2
wild pacific
daisy daisy daisy
one horn
airplane pano
View Royal Park - panorama
fall road
lens cap in snow


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Contact us now to get BEST DEAL. Minimum 6 months stay for serviced apartments, 12 months for condos.
- Patio/Balcony
- Internet Access
- Wifi
- TV with Standard Cable
- Air Conditioner
- Kitchen
- Washing Machine
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Shower
- Hot Water
- BBQ/Grill
- Swimming Pool
- Gym
- Business Center
- Parking
- Building Staff
- Fire Extinguisher
- Elevator
This spacious 70-square-meter, 1-bedroom apartment is located in the renowned City Garden complex in Binh Thanh district. The apartment offers a generous living space and is complemented by a balcony that provides a sweeping and unobstructed view of the city. The interior is tastefully furnished with complete and sophisticated amenities.
The bedroom provides a comfortable retreat, while the living area is ideal for relaxation and entertainment. With its thoughtful design and attention to detail, this apartment offers a seamless blend of comfort and elegance. It is a perfect choice for those seeking a spacious and stylish living environment in the heart of City Garden.
- 3.7km to CBD, District 1 center
- 3.4km to Thu Thiem urban area, Thu Duc city
- 8.4km to District 7 center
- 8.5km to Tan Son Nhat International Airport
The neighborhood is surrounded by a variety of restaurants, shops, and cafes, making it easy for residents to enjoy all the conveniences of city living. With its modern design, friendly atmosphere, and prime location, City Garden is an excellent choice for anyone looking to rent a 1-bedroom apartment in Binh Thanh.
Do I have to pay for the agent services?
No and Yes. There is no agent service fee but we start charging a small amount for the second viewing of the apartments/houses that you want to re-check conditions (for our transportation cost). Please, read the next question for more detailed information.
How much do I pay for pick-up fees?
Our apartment viewing pick-up service includes comprehensive pick-up and drop-off assistance for up to five destinations (houses/buildings) within a transportation range of 20km or less. The cost of the service is $50 (or VND1,200,000) per use.
Below is a table of our pricing for apartment viewing pick-up service:
|Number of Destinations
|Transportation Range
|Up to 5
|20km or less
What is the minimum length of stay?
Our minimum length of stay is Six – 06 months or more (upon terms and conditions). Please contact us for specific information.
How far in advance can I rent?
Nomarlly, the landlord is only comfortable waiting for one month with a certain amount of deposit.
Do you require a deposit?
Yes, you are required a security deposit of two month's rent on the move in date of your stay. For some serviced apartments, one month deposit is also acceptable.
How much do I pay for fees?
There are the common fees that you have to pay when settling in Saigon.
|Type of fees
|Price/unit (USD)
|From VND2,500 to 4,000/kWh
|From $15 to $20
|From VND150,000 to 500,000 (depending on each packages)
|Apartment service fee
|$0.7-1.0/m2/month (for high-rise building only)
|Bike Parking
|Car Parking
Guide: Please access this articles: Monthly utility bills for condos and apartments in Saigon, for more detail.
Do I have to pay for the utilities?
We would like to inform you that the usual practice is for the utilities of the apartment building to be included in the management fee payment. However, in certain projects such as City Garden, Saigon Pearl, Thao Dien Pearl, and Terra Royal, additional fees may be required to access the swimming pool and gym facilities.
We understand that you may require further information and we encourage you to contact us for assistance. Alternatively, our consultants will be happy to provide you with detailed information during your apartment tour.
Thank you for considering our services and we look forward to the opportunity of serving you.


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text: My luthier needed to raise my action to accomadate a set up for 13/56 strings. This required him to shim the saddle. He put the nylon shim between the bottom of the saddle slot and the under saddle pick up of my Stage Pro Anthem. There is a noticable reduction in volume and sensitivity from the under saddle pick up. I am thinking the shim should have gone between the pick up and the saddle. Which is correct. Would I get a better result in just purchasing a new Tusq saddle? Thanks in advance.


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It is the policy of Ithaca College that discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, marital status, national origin, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or military status will not exist in any activity, area, or operation of the College.
Ithaca College and its representatives on occasion take photographs for the College's use in print and electronic publications. This serves as public notice of the College's intent to do so and as a release to the College of permission to use such images as it deems fit. If you should object to the use of your photograph, you have the right to withhold its release by filling out a form at the Office of the Registrar.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this catalog is accurate and complete as of April 1, 2008. However, errors are possible and changes such as the addition or cancellation of courses may occur during the academic year. The College reserves the right to correct these or other errors in the catalog and to make changes in degree requirements, course offering regulations, and procedures as educational or financial considerations require. For the most up-to-date information, contact the appropriate department offices.


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Courtesy USDA/ John Williams
Not only does no-till farming save time and fuel during planting, a study shows it prevents erosion and water runoff.
Wheat farmers in eastern Oregon and Washington who use no-till production systems can substantially stem soil erosion and enhance efforts to protect water quality, according to research performed by USDA scientists.
USDA Agricultural Research Service hydrologist John Williams led a study that compared runoff, soil erosion and crop yields in a conventional, intensively tilled winter wheat-fallow system and a no-till four-year cropping rotation system.
Williams and his colleagues at the ARS Columbia Plateau Conservation Research Center in Pendleton, Ore., set up research plots in two small neighboring ephemeral drainage areas in the Wildhorse Creek Watershed in northeast Oregon. For three years, they measured runoff and sediment loads at the mouth of each drainage channel in the study area after almost every rainfall.
The scientists found that 13 rainfalls generated erosion from conventionally tilled fields, but only three rainfalls resulted in erosion from no-till fields. In addition, they noted that 70 percent more runoff and 52 times more eroded material escaped from the conventionally tilled fields than from the no-till fields.
No-till production left the soil surface intact and protected pore space beneath the soil surface, which allowed more water to infiltrate into the subsoil. In addition, there was no significant yield difference between the no-till and conventional-till production, but direct seeding in no-till production saved fuel and time.
Other research on no-till production and soil erosion had been conducted in small experimental plots, but this work provides much-needed information for farmers in eastern Oregon and Washington on how no-till management can reduce soil erosion across entire production fields.
Results from this work were recently published in the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation.


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X REVOLVE Athens Necklace
Amber Sceats
Amber Sceats
O 4 parcelas de $12.75 by afterpay Learn more about Afterpay
Estimated Delivery : 06 de out. - 07 de out.
Envio Grátis
- 24k gold plated necklace
- Layered styling
- Etched pendants
- Lobster clasp closure
- Measures approx 16" in length
Pendant measures approx 1" in diameter
- Revolve Style No. AMBE-WL149
- Manufacturer Style No. ASN1371G
Heavily influenced by their appreciation for art, travel and architecture; Amber Sceats is an ode to the abstract. The quality and versatility of their collections is testament to their familys vast experience in design and production. There is a distinct sense of style, glamour and individuality to Amber Sceats jewelry. The underlying rock element to the collection makes the pieces uncompromisingly contemporary whilst simultaneously timeless. Since the inception of the brand, Amber Sceats has clearly assembled a cult following for her designs; being featured in Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Elle, Grazia and on Australias most influential bloggers.
Combine com
If an item you would like to purchase is out of stock, you can place a Special Order Inquiry. REVOLVE will then check the availability and obtain an approximate arrival date for the item, if available. Typically, it takes up to 3-4 weeks to verify this information.
Placing a Special Order Inquiry is absolutely free and there is no obligation to follow through with a purchase.
- You will be notified by email once we receive the item.
- You may cancel at any time without penalty
- Your card will ONLY be charged when your order is shipped.
- Availability is not guaranteed.


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Explore Magical St. Augustine
Close to historic downtown, World Golf Village, and St. Augustine beach
Plan your trip to Florida and book a room at our Days Inn by Wyndham St. Augustine I-95/Outlet Mall. Conveniently located off I-95, our St. Augustine hotel is an excellent value. There is something for everyone nearby. Our hotel provides friendly service and easy access to area attractions.


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NTE MRC370V35, 35uF @ 370V AC, Motor Run Capacitor
The MRC series is a range of AC metallized capacitors. These capacitors are most often used in motor run, HVAC, lighting, and power supply applications.
- Width: 2.87" (72.89mm)
- Depth: 1.87" (47.50mm)
- Height: 3.94" (100.08mm)
- Four Way 0.250" Quick Connect Terminals
- Pressure activated circuit interrupter
- Self healing of shorts due to dielectric breakdown
- Non PCB dielectric fluid
- Low dissipation factor
- Leak proof terminals
Payment & Security
Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.


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Gold's London AM fix this morning was 1,778.50 USD, 1,328.230 EUR, and 1,125.419 GBP per ounce.
Yesterday's AM fix was USD 1,754.75, EUR 1,325.04, and GBP 1,116.32 per ounce.
Spot gold hit a 3 month high of $1,787.55/oz yesterday rising gradually for the fourth day in a row. Gold closes in New York at $1,778/oz and has consolidated in Asia and early European trading.
Silver surged over $1.20 yesterday to over $35.50 – up over 3.55% on the day and convincingly breaching recent resistance at the $34.50 level. Next level for resistance is $40/oz and then the record nominal, repeat nominal, high of 1980 at $50/oz.
'Gold Bullion Or Cash' was released for public viewing on Wednesday. The video is educating the public internationally about gold bullion and why gold is safer than cash in the long term and in certain circumstances gold will be safer than cash in the short term as well.
Gold's importance in the uncertain world of today, gold's extreme rarity, liquidity and safe haven currency status is illustrated.
The 'gold bubble' and the many gold myths and misconceptions are looked at and the video uses music, images, facts and quotations to show how gold is a proven store of value throughout history and an important diversification today.
Currency debasement of all major currencies is happening today on a scale never before seen in history.
Yet there continues to be a complete lack of awareness amongst the majority in the western world as to the risks posed by our currency monetary and financial system.
There continues to be a lack of knowledge and indeed often wilful ignorance regarding gold.
Indeed, some comments on gold are so ignorant of the historical and academic record that they have all the hallmarks of crude anti-gold propaganda – and will be seen as such in time.
Gold is a proven safe haven asset and currency. Despite much recent academic evidence and the historical record showing this and despite voluminous articles, research and evidence, (evidence succinctly summarised in the video 'Gold Bullion or Cash'), there continue to be frequent anti gold outbursts by some of the most respected and trusted people in the western financial and economic world.
Such attacks on gold have come from men such as Paul Krugman, Nouriel Roubini and more recently Warren Buffett.
Alan Greenspan correctly wrote in 1966 that "an almost hysterical antagonism toward the gold standard is one issue which unites statists of all persuasions".
Today, an almost hysterical antagonism towards gold bullion as a diversification and as a store of wealth alternative to fiat currencies unites beneficiaries of the current status quo – both intellectual beneficiaries and material beneficiaries.
That status quo is a massively leveraged and insolvent monetary, financial and economic system.
The masses are slowly realising the fundamental unsoundness of our global monetary system and are beginning to ask questions. But they are continually lulled into a false sense of security by the "experts".
Experts incidentally who failed to warn them about the stock, property and global debt bubbles before it was too late.
Many Greeks today lament that they were not aware of gold as a safe haven and wish they had diversified into gold. These lamentations will be experienced in other debt-laden industrial nations in the coming months and years.
A minority in the western world are seeing through the anti-gold bias and beginning to take action and buy physical bullion as insurance and as protection from significant monetary, systemic, geopolitical and macroeconomic risk.
Crude anti-gold propaganda that is based on sophistry, silly straw man arguments, ad hominem and personal attacks, poor research, inaccuracies and actual fallacies is the stock in trade of what we could be termed the expert "paper bugs".
We would prefer not to have to engage in name calling but unfortunately the likes of Roubini, Krugman and Buffett have tended to engage in ad hominem attacks (accusing those who buy gold or sell gold bullion of being driven by fear or even of creating fear) rather than engage in rational debate regarding the merits of gold as diversification or as financial insurance for one's and one's family's portfolio or life savings.
This shows the intellectual weakness at the heart of the anti-gold proponents' very poor arguments and faulty logic which ignores thousands of years of history and recent excellent academic research.
A few probing questions from a knowledgeable interviewer about simplistic anti-gold opinions would quickly show the weakness of their pronouncements regarding gold.
A hosted TV debate would similarly help enlighten people but we would be surprised if the expert paper bugs would engage in such a debate.
Meanwhile, many of the people and investors who correctly predicted the current crisis – and protected themselves, their families and their clients in the process – continue to advocate a diversification into gold.
Faber, Rogers, Einhorn, Gross and many others have all articulately laid out why they believe gold is an essential diversification in these times.
The video 'Gold Bullion or Cash' clearly shows who is mistaken and who is correct.
Yahoo Finance
Gold comes off 3-mth peak; heads for weekly gain
The Wall Street Journal
Gold, Silver Hit 2012 Highs As Dollar Slips
Bloomberg Business Week
Gold Rises to Three-Month High as Dollar Drops; Silver Gains
The Australian
Gold, silver at year high on Iran jitters
Tsunami of debt: Japan faces costs of credit
MISH's Global Economic Trend Analysis
Price of Oil Hits Record High in Euros and British Pounds; Oil Shock Coming
Video: Jim Rogers: Greece Deal Is A Sham
The Economic Collapse Blog
Video: Even Robert Kiyosaki Is Warning That An Economic Collapse Is Coming
Hendry: Gold at $5,000/oz? As "Hyperdeflation Happens Before Hyperinflation"?
Audio: Jim Rickards on Currency Wars and Gold
Western central banks – more debt, Asian central banks – more gold


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Crash Bandicoot redesign spotted at Vicarious Visions
Crash Bandicoot has been spotted lurking in the background of a photo taken at Skylanders developer Vicarious Visions.
A poster showing a re-designed Crash can be seen in the top left of a photo on Facebook from Vicarious Visions' 2012 game jam.
GameInformer blew the image up a bit, and you van see Crash standing on a little tussock of some sort, sporting a very different look.
Although the poster may just be a bit of fan art, it is visually reminiscent of the Skylanders style, causing speculation that the Naughty Dog-created character may make an appearance in the phenomenally successful series.
Vicarious Visions did once developer a Crash Bandicoot game, for Game Boy Advance. The property was last published by parent company Activision.


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New Horizons: November 2004
Do you find your relationship with the missionaries and other kingdom workers of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church difficult to define? Are we partners in the work of the gospel? Are we friends? Is your support of kingdom workers a business arrangement or an act of worship? Or do all of the above apply?
The complexity of our relationship is nothing new. The apostle Paul and the people in the congregation at Philippi had a multifaceted relationship.
Deep bonds of friendship knit Paul and the people of that church together. "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you.... It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace.... For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 1:3, 7, 8). To what other church does he say, "My brothers, whom I love and long for ..." (4:1)?
Some of you have special bonds of friendship with a missionary family or a church planter or as pastoral intern. You have shared meals. You have prayed for one another. You have competed against each other in volleyball at a presbytery conference. Cards, e-mails, and photos have been exchanged over the years.
But more than friendship is involved in your relationship. You feel a sense of obligation to this man and his family. You have a part to play in his ministry. You are doing all you can to hold up your end of the partnership. You regularly pray for this family of kingdom workers. You give generously to Worldwide Outreach to support his ministry.
This also describes the relationship between Paul and the Philippians. They were friends who cared deeply for one another. And they were also business partners.
The apostle uses business language metaphorically to describe their relationship: "You Philippians ... entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving" (4:15). "I have received full payment, and more" (4:18). This is the language of commerce. Paul and the Philippians were in partnership. Each had obligations. An in-and-out "cash flow" was taking place on both sides.
The flow of gifts from the Philippians to Paul is easy to see. Again and again they sent him gifts to support him in his ministry. Their first gift flowed out to Paul soon after they had been established as a congregation. Whether Paul was in Macedonia or Thessalonica or in prison at Rome, this congregation sent gifts to meet his needs. They gave; he received.
But the Philippians received as well. From his prison in Rome, Paul was not able to send them much. However, Paul assured them that "my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (4:19). God would take up Paul's end of the partnership and provide all that the Philippians needed.
They were suffering because of the oppression and opposition of the enemies of the gospel. God would richly supply steadfastness, joy, and encouragement. In their need to advance the gospel with a united heart and purpose, God would supply the grace and humility necessary. When one might expect grumbling and anxiety, God would be with them as the "God of peace" (see Gordon D. Fee, Paul's Letter to the Philippians, page XXX).
Furthermore, interest was accumulating on their side of the ledger. "I seek the fruit that increases to your credit" (4:17). The fruitfulness of these Christians was partly evidenced by their gifts to support Paul, the kingdom worker. This fruitfulness was entered on the divine books as interest to their account.
Many of you give regularly to Worldwide Outreach through your local congregation. You will soon be joining with other Orthodox Presbyterians in presenting an offering of thanks to Godthe Thank Offering. These gifts may be an expression of personal concern for David and Sunshine Okken in Uganda, or Greg and Janet Thurston in Colorado, or Sixto and Damaris Perez in New Jersey. Over seventy-five families, laboring for Christ through the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, are supported through your gifts.
Your gifts are also an expression of your partnership with them in doing the work of Christ. You are partners in an enterprise of telling unbelievers in North America and Asia and Europe and Africa and South America that the true and living God "so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). You are partners in planting churches where disciples of Jesus Christ may be nurtured to observe all that Jesus commanded. You are partners in preparing materials to assist in that discipleship. You are partners in equipping men to be shepherds of Christ's sheep. What an enterprise you are investing in!
And how that investment is paying off for you! God puts into your account all that is necessary for every need of yours. Note the measure of that giving from God: "according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19). Can you put a value on God's riches in glory in Christ Jesus? There is no end to such riches. There is enough love to flood your longing, aching heart. There is enough security to keep you in God's embrace for all eternity. There is enough order to anchor you through the cluttered chaos of sin.
The gifts that Epaphroditus brought to Paul were an expression of friendship and love. Those gifts were a payment on an account that was due. But there was another dimension to their gifts: they were an act of worship: "I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God" (4:18).
With the change of metaphor, the focus shifts. God is viewed as the recipient of the gifts. The material gift to feed and clothe missionary Paul is a sacrificial offering to God.
The gifts are a "fragrant offering," a term used to describe burnt offerings. "And the priest shall burn all on the altar as a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord" (Lev. 1:9 nkjv). God is pictured as enjoying the fragrant aroma wafting up to him.
The willing, joyful sending of the gifts to God's servant was an act of worship. They were like the sacrifices of the old covenant. Just as the animals brought to the tabernacle and offered there to God were a sacrifice, acceptable and pleasing to God, so too are gifts given to support missionaries and other kingdom workers.
As you look over the names and faces on the maps that appear later in this issue, you will see the missionaries and other kingdom workers of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church who are supported by your gifts to Worldwide Outreach and your Thank Offering. Through their efforts and support, forgiveness of sin in Jesus' name is being proclaimed across North America and around the world. With God giving the increase, churches are being established. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, disciples are growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
As you participate in Thank Offering 2004, your gifts are an investment as a partner in the business of King Jesus, and your gifts are an act of worshipa Fragrant Aroma, an Acceptable Sacrifice.
The author is the associate general secretary of the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension. Reprinted from New Horizons, November 2004.
New Horizons: November 2004
© 2023 The Orthodox Presbyterian Church


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1865: Chief Ahan of the Tsilhqot'in
July 18th, 2009 Headsman
"The Indian Ahan," read the dispatch in the British Columbian this date in 1865, "will have expiated his crime upon the gallows ere these lines meet the public eye. The execution will take place in the rear of the jail early this morning."
Ahan and another Tsilhqot'in (or Chilcotin) were of the party of Klatsassin, whom we have already met in these pages. Months after the Chilcotin War's mass execution, the luckless pair were arrested trying to pay what would have been a routine-for-them bit of blood money.
Both were condemned; Lutas received clemency, and his freedom. ("I eagerly availed myself of some favorable circumstances in the case of Sutas and sent him back pardoned to his tribe. A sufficient number of Indians has now perished on the scaffold to atone for the atrocities committed last year.")
Documents related to this proceeding are archived at a canadianmysteries.ca page on Klatsassin.
Ahan's execution in New Westminster, now part of the Vancouver, B.C. metropolis, isn't dead, though — and isn't even past.
Over the course of the past year, a public school project in the city that had been built over an old pauper's grave that might have become the hanged man's resting place was gravely (ahem) complicated by the continuing Tsilhqot'in search for Ahan's remains. While Ahan's own situation remains unresolved, the suit on his behalf eerily outlined the macabre past lurking everywhere beneath our workaday feet.
On this day..
- 1980: Winfried Baumann - 2020
- 1743: The Black Watch mutineers - 2019
- 1726: Franz Laubler, Hermann Joachim Hahn's murderer - 2018
- 1888: Two in New Jersey, by father and son hangmen - 2017
- 1741: Othello, Doctor Harry, and five other New York slaves - 2016
- 1707: John Whittingham - 2015
- 1801: Chloe - 2014
- 2003: Lehlohonolo Bernard Kobedi - 2013
- 1936: Virgilio Leret, the first shot in the Spanish Civil War - 2012
- 1300: Gerard Segarelli, Apostolic Brethren founder - 2011
- 1943: Eight from the Krasnodar Trials - 2010
- 2007: Not Sina Paymard, saved by a flute - 2008
Entry Filed under: 19th Century,Canada,Capital Punishment,Death Penalty,Disfavored Minorities,Execution,Guerrillas,Hanged,History,Murder,Occupation and Colonialism,Power,Public Executions,Racial and Ethnic Minorities,Soldiers,Wrongful Executions
Tags: 1860s, 1865, ahan, chief ahan, chilcotin, first peoples, july 18, klatassine, klatsassin, lutas, new westminster, tsilhqot'in, vancouver


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Word! Nicotine
Article Translations: (Spanish)
Say: nih-kuh-teen
This chemical is found in cigarettes and is the reason why kids (and others) get hooked on the smoking habit. So say no to nicotine – it's nasty!
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
© 1995-2023 KidsHealth ® All rights reserved. Images provided by iStock, Getty Images, Corbis, Veer, Science Photo Library, Science Source Images, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com


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This image looks like it can't possibly be real, but it is. Taken back in 2006 when the Cassini spacecraft was orbiting the sixth planet, this photo captures a nighttime view of Saturn as light sparkles off of its rings.
A NASA astronomer explains all the components that make up this beautiful image:
First, the night side of Saturn is seen to be partly lit by light reflected from its own majestic ring system. Next, the rings themselves appear dark when silhouetted against Saturn, but quite bright when viewed away from Saturn, slightly scattering sunlight, in this exaggerated color image. Saturn's rings light up so much that new rings were discovered, although they are hard to see in the image. Seen in spectacular detail, however, is Saturn's E ring, the ring created by the newly discovered ice-fountains of the moon Enceladus and the outermost ring visible above. Far in the distance, at the left, just above the bright main rings, is the almost ignorable pale blue dot of Earth.
You can click on the image up top for a closer look.
Via NASA.


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The constitution provides for freedom of religion, and other laws and policies contributed to the generally free practice of religion.
The government generally respected religious freedom in practice. There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom by the government during the reporting period. Terrorist organizations, especially the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), killed, kidnapped, and extorted religious leaders and practitioners, inhibiting free religious expression. Terrorist organizations generally targeted religious leaders and practitioners for political rather than religious reasons. The National Liberation Army (ELN) continued to threaten members of religious organizations but generally adhered to its agreement to cease killing religious leaders. Former United Self-Defense Forces (AUC) members that refused to demobilize and new illegal groups, including the Aguilas Negras (Black Eagles), also targeted representatives and members of religious organizations. Some indigenous leaders reportedly were intolerant of nonsyncretic forms of worship.
There were some reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice.
The U.S. government discusses religious freedom with the government as part of its overall policy to promote human rights.
Section I. Religious Demography
The country has an area of 439,735 square miles and a population of 45 million. The government does not keep statistics on religious affiliation, and estimates from religious leaders varied. According to the Colombian Evangelical Council (CEDECOL), approximately 15 percent of the population is Protestant, while the Catholic Bishops' Conference estimates that 90 percent of the population is Catholic. A 2007 article in the daily newspaper El Tiempo claimed that 80 percent of the population was Catholic, although not all were practicing; 13.5 percent of the population belonged to non-Catholic Christian groups; 2 percent was agnostic; and the remaining 4.5 percent belonged to other religious groups, such as Islam and Judaism. Other membership estimates include Seventh-day Adventists, 261,000; Anglicans and Presbyterians, 50,000 each; Mennonites, 4,000; Methodists, 1,500; other Protestants and evangelicals, 5 million; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), 150,000; Muslims, 10,000; and Jews, 5,000. Practitioners of animism and various syncretic beliefs are also present.
Some religious groups tended to be concentrated in certain geographical regions. For example, most practitioners of syncretic beliefs that blend Catholicism with elements of African animism are Afro-Colombian residents of the Chocó Department on the Pacific coast. Jews resided in major cities, Muslims on the Caribbean coast, and adherents of indigenous animistic religions in remote, rural areas. A small Taoist commune existed in a mountainous region of Santander Department.
Section II. Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom
Legal/Policy Framework
The constitution provides for freedom of religion, and other laws and policies contributed to the generally free practice of religion. The constitution specifically prohibits discrimination based on religion.
The constitution states that there is no official church or religion, but adds that the state "is not atheist or agnostic, nor indifferent to Colombians' religious sentiment." Some interpret this statement to mean that the state unofficially sanctions a privileged position for Catholicism, which was the official religion until the adoption of the 1991 constitution. A 1973 concordat between the Vatican and the government remains in effect, although some of its articles are unenforceable because of constitutional provisions on freedom of religion. A 1994 constitutional court decision declared unconstitutional any official government reference to a religious characterization of the country.
The government observes the following religious holidays as national holidays: Epiphany, Saint Joseph Day, Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter, the Ascension, Corpus Christi, Sacred Heart Day, Saints Peter and Paul Day, the Feast of the Assumption, All Saints' Day, the Immaculate Conception, and Christmas.
The government extends two different kinds of recognition to religious organizations: recognition as a legal entity (personeria juridica) and special public recognition as a religious entity. Although the application process is often lengthy, the Ministry of Interior and Justice (MOIJ) readily grants the former recognition; the only legal requirements are submission of a formal request and basic organizational information. In addition, any foreign religious group that wishes to establish a presence must document official recognition by authorities in its home country. The MOIJ may reject requests that do not comply fully with established requirements or that violate fundamental constitutional rights. Some non-Catholic religious leaders complained that their applications were unnecessarily delayed and that their petitions for recognition as legal entities were denied for trivial reasons. They stated that for this reason some non-Catholic religious groups chose not to apply for legal recognition and instead operated as nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) or as informal religious entities.
Since 2008 the MOIJ has approved 719 applications for special public recognition as a religious entity; an estimated 90 percent of the approvals were for evangelical churches. According to the MOIJ, 827 applications failed to meet constitutionally established requirements and thus were not approved. In cases in which individual churches or schools affiliated with a nationally registered church applied separately for special public recognition, the government granted those organizations affiliate or associate status. Although the MOIJ has statutory authority over recognizing religious entities, there is no government agency to monitor or enforce laws governing religious freedom.
Accession to a 1997 public law agreement between the state and non-Catholic religious groups is required for such organizations to minister to their adherents in public institutions such as hospitals or prisons, provide chaplaincy services and religious instruction in public schools, and perform marriages recognized by the state. When deciding whether to grant accession to the 1997 agreement, the government considers a religious group's total membership; its degree of acceptance within society; and other relevant factors, such as the organization's statutes and its required behavioral norms. No non-Christian religious group was a signatory to the 1997 public law agreement. Some prominent non-Christian religious groups, such as the Jewish community, chose not to accede to the 1997 public law, declaring that the agreement was designed for Protestant groups. Many churches that are signatories reported that some local authorities failed to comply with the accord.
The ministry of foreign relations issues visas to foreign missionaries and administrators of religious groups that received special public recognition. Foreign missionaries are required to possess a special visa, valid for up to two years. Applicants must have a certificate from the MOIJ confirming that their religious group is registered with the ministry or a certificate issued by the Catholic archdiocese. Alternatively, they may produce a certificate issued by the religious organization confirming the applicant's membership and mission in the country, as well as a letter issued by a legal representative of the religious organization stating that the organization accepts full financial responsibility for the expenses of the applicant and his family, including return to their country of origin or last country of residence. In both cases applicants must explain the purpose of the proposed sojourn and provide proof of economic means. The government generally permits missionaries to proselytize among the indigenous population, provided that the indigenous group welcomes proselytism and visitors do not induce members of indigenous communities to adopt changes that endanger their survival on traditional lands. The Supreme Court stipulated that no group may force religious conversion on members of indigenous communities.
The constitution recognizes the right of parents to choose the type of education their children receive, including religious instruction. It also states that no student shall be forced to receive religious education in public schools. Religious groups that have not acceded to the public law agreement may establish their own schools, provided they comply with ministry of education requirements. For example, the Jewish community operates its own schools. The Catholic Church has an agreement with the government to provide education in rural areas that have no state-operated schools. These schools are tax-exempt. Leaders of non-Catholic religious groups claimed that local authorities in many municipalities did not grant their schools the same tax-exempt status Catholic schools enjoyed.
Restrictions on Religious Freedom
The government generally respected religious freedom in practice. There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom by the government during the reporting period.
Although the 1991 constitution mandates separation of church and state, the Catholic Church retains a de facto privileged status. Accession to the 1997 public law agreement is required for non-Catholic groups to minister to military personnel, public hospital patients, and prisoners, and to provide religious instruction in public schools. Muslim and Protestant leaders claimed difficulties in acquiring military chaplain positions and gaining access to prisoners.
The state recognizes as legally binding only those religious marriages celebrated by the Catholic Church and the 13 non-Catholic religious organizations that are signatories to the 1997 public law agreement, as well as religious groups with an associate status. Members of religious groups that are neither signatories to the agreement nor associates must marry in a civil ceremony for the state to recognize the marriage. Some signatories to the agreement complained of discrimination at the local level, such as municipal authorities' refusal to recognize marriages the groups performed.
All legally recognized churches, seminaries, monasteries, and convents are exempt from national and local taxes and customs duties; however, CEDECOL claimed that this was not respected in practice and that reportedly municipal governments required some non-Catholic religious groups to pay property and other local taxes on their places of worship and schools. The treasury department reportedly required non-Catholic places of worship to pay a 4 percent tax on all tithes, offerings, and charitable contributions. According to CEDECOL non-Catholic missionaries and religious leaders also must pay a 17 percent tax on all financial assistance received from abroad.
In 2006 the Bogotá municipal government passed a city planning ordinance that restricted the number of churches in residential areas and imposed stringent building codes on church facilities. The city granted congregations until 2015 to implement fire safety, disabled access, and other security standards. The executive secretary of CEDECOL stated that the ordinance was a positive step and did not show favoritism toward the Catholic Church. He added that Catholic churches are usually older and are exempt from some of the standards due to their historical and architectural status.
There was one report of religious detainees in the country. Indigenous Christians reported that indigenous leaders prevented them from practicing their faith on indigenous reserves. On October 27, 2009, approximately 28 Christian members of the Kogui indigenous community (including two nursing mothers) residing in the Sierra Nevada reserve were detained for nearly two months by the Gonawindua Tayrona Organization (OGT), the governing body of that reserve, for practicing their faith. The OGT denied holding anyone against their will and cited the constitution and related court decisions that uphold indigenous autonomy and the right to control religious practices within indigenous reserves. The government dispatched officials to the reserve to meet with both the OGT and the Kogui Christians to investigate. NGOs reported that in February 2010 a judge ruled that while the constitution provides for religious freedom, Kogui leaders have the right to "protect" native practices. In March 2010 the courts rejected the Kogui Christians' appeal. Both sides relied on a 2008 legal decision that acknowledged the right to practice Christianity in private on indigenous territory but upheld the indigenous government's right to determine if the public practice of Christianity was a threat to indigenous traditions.
Forced Religious Conversion
There were no reports of forced religious conversion.
Abuses by Rebel or Foreign Forces or Terrorist Organizations
Religious leaders and practitioners were the targets of threats and kidnappings by guerrilla groups, former AUC members that refused to demobilize, and new illegal groups, generally for political or economic rather than religious reasons. These groups were responsible for the majority of such attacks and threats, killing, kidnapping, extorting, and inhibiting free religious expression. In general the motive for crimes against religious leaders was not their religious beliefs, but rather their human rights work, advocacy on behalf of the displaced or other vulnerable groups, and involvement in helping vulnerable groups with their land claims.
The Human Rights Unit of the Prosecutor General's Office continued to investigate the killings in past years of 14 members of the clergy believed to have been targeted because they were outspoken critics of terrorist organizations. The government reported four killings of religious leaders in 2009. The Presidential Program for Human Rights reported that nearly all killings of priests by terrorist groups could be attributed to leftist guerrillas, particularly the FARC. Catholic and Protestant church leaders noted that killings of religious leaders in rural communities were generally underreported because of the communities' isolation and fear of retribution. Religious leaders generally chose not to seek government protection because of their pacifist beliefs and fear of retribution from terrorist groups. Catholic priest Father Javier Giraldo, spiritual leader of the San José de Apartadó (Antioquia) "peace" community, received multiple death threats for his human rights defenders work, his community involvement, and his efforts to bring military personnel to justice for human rights violations. On April 16, 2010, there were spray painted graffiti threats at the headquarters of his organization (the Center for Investigation and Popular Education) and other buildings throughout Bogotá. In response, then Vice President Francisco Santos publicly condemned the threats and stated his support for Father Giraldo and other human rights defenders.
A human rights organization affiliated with the Mennonite church, Justicia, Paz y Acción Noviolenta (Justapaz), and CEDECOL claimed that guerrillas, former AUC members that refused to demobilize, and new illegal groups equally committed violence against evangelical church leaders. Between January and October 2009 in the Department of Córdoba, Justapaz and CEDECOL reported that six evangelical leaders were killed, resulting in the displacement of 1,230 individuals from 265 families in five communities. New illegal groups, including the New Bolivarian Self-Defense Forces and the Aguilas Negras, targeted human rights organizations. Religious workers involved in human rights activities received death threats.
Most religious groups reported that due to threats from guerrillas, former AUC members that refused to demobilize, and new illegal groups, many religious authorities were forced to refrain from publicly discussing the internal conflict. Illegal armed groups, especially the FARC, threatened or attacked religious officials for opposing the forced recruitment of minors, promoting human rights, assisting internally displaced persons, and discouraging coca cultivation. The Catholic Bishops' Conference also reported that guerrillas, former AUC members that refused to demobilize, and new illegal groups issued death threats against rural priests who denounced them. In response to such threats, some religious leaders relocated to other communities.
Guerrillas, former AUC members that refused to demobilize, and new illegal groups harassed some indigenous groups that practiced animistic or syncretic religions; however, political or economic differences (whether real or perceived) or questions of land ownership generally motivated such harassment rather than religious concerns.
Section III. Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom
There were some reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice. The Catholic Church and some evangelical churches reported that some indigenous leaders were intolerant of nonsyncretic forms of worship.
A number of faith-based NGOs promoted human rights, social and economic development, and a negotiated settlement to the internal armed conflict. The most influential of these organizations were either affiliated with the Catholic Church or founded by church officials. The Catholic Church was the only institutional presence in many rural areas and its Social Pastoral Agency conducted important social work.
Section IV. U.S. Government Policy
The U.S. government discusses religious freedom with the government as part of its overall policy to promote human rights. U.S. embassy representatives maintained regular communication with representatives of the Catholic Church and other religious groups.


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Detroit was a loser in the great global economic war that marked the end of the 20th century, its surrender made official yesterday when it filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy. The defeat is financial, though the city bears some of the hallmarks of an actual war: blocks of homes in ruins; a depleted population that skews old and young; lawlessness; and unsustainable debt incurred fighting against foreign forces.
So what becomes of Motown? The Chapter 11 bankruptcy law, which General Motors and Chrysler filed under, allows a company to eliminate plants, people, and contracts as if they don't exist once you get court approval. When a city files for Chapter 9 bankruptcy, there are creditors to escape, but no plant or people to walk away from. The city pension agreements—they are known as obligations for a reason —still exist. Detroit's people are still there – albeit in far fewer numbers — and their needs haven't changed.
(MORE: Motor City Meltdown: Long Road Ahead for Detroit's Record Bankruptcy)
Detroit's challenge is to do the same thing its car companies have done: reduce capacity and resize the operation for the 21st century. Sadly, that's left only one plant fully within Detroit's city limits — Chrysler's Jefferson North Jeep plant. Chrysler's headquarters are teeming with activity, but it's located in suburban Auburn Hills, while Ford is based in Dearborn. Both close enough to matter, but neither necessarily helping Detroit's tax base.
Detroit needs to diversify its economy, increase its density and figure out how to attract more people to live there. And it can be done. Just look at Pittsburgh. In the mid-1980s that city was home to 15 Fortune 500 companies. Then the steel industry collapsed in the first industrial meltdown as Japanese and Korean companies flooded the market with cheap metal. Pittsburgh's legendary companies such as U.S. Steel, National Steel, Jones and Laughlin couldn't withstand that heat. Like Detroit's implosion, it was brutal and thousands of people got thrown out of work at once. You can't close part of a blast furnace.
Yet Pittsburgh has bounced back—smaller and smarter if still scarred. It's economic base was a bit more diverse than Detroit's and it has found a lifeline in higher-end metal and medicine, as well as robotics, computer science and other high tech areas. In metals, the region regained its advantage by going upmarket, focusing on high value specialty steels as well as aluminum and titanium.
(MORE: Detroit: As the Governor Moves to Take Control, Residents Wonder What's Next)
In medicine, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center—which occupies what were the senior executive floors in the former U.S. Steel Building — became the region's biggest employer. UPMC has made huge investments in Pittsburgh, but also exports its know-how to other countries. In technology, Carnegie-Mellon University has been a font of startups in computer science, robotics, and nanotechnology. The emerging field of biotechnology is a natural outgrowth for both of these institutions.
Pittsburgh has even benefitted from its limiting geography. It sits at the confluence of the Monongahela and the Allegheny rivers, which join to form the Ohio. The Allegheny defines its northern border. The city jumps the Monongahela, but it's quickly stopped by the coal-bearing hills that once fed its mills. The Monongahela Valley's communities were hard hit, too, but they are not part of the Pittsburgh municipality. Detroit's geographic sprawl of 139 sq. mi. (vs. Pittsburgh's 58 sq. mi.) is one of its main issues, because density promotes efficiency. Pittsburgh's compact downtown core made redevelopment more efficient and more visible, even beautiful.
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder called the Detroit bankruptcy "our opportunity to stop 60 years of decline." Perhaps, but it won't happen in a matter of months, or even a few years. The switch from a manufacturing economy to a mixed technology economy is difficult, because steelworkers or autoworkers can't become tech workers overnight— or ever in many cases. In Pittsburgh, the process is still evolving. Consider that the downtown didn't see a new office building constructed for about 20 years after the mid 80s collapse. And it still shares problems with many old northeastern manufacturing centers: huge pension and healthcare obligations, a smaller, older population, and pockets of poverty.
(MORE: Michigan: Its Own Worst Enemy)
Detroit might have a harder time pulling a Pittsburgh, or a Cleveland for that matter. It can't claim any world-class universities that will develop the next wave of industry. It can claim a huge trove of industrial knowledge. The area's tool and die shops, for instance, once employed the world's best industrial craftsmen; but the automakers outsourced too much of this work in their desperation to cut costs. There's still time to reclaim some of those industrial arts. There's also hope that the melding of computer circuitry and controls with automotive design has created a demand for a new type of tool and die guy—an automotive software engineer or app developer. That's an opportunity for one of Detroit's schools, such as Wayne State, to become a bigger player.
Great Lakes industrial cities such as Pittsburgh and Cleveland have had the "benefit" of going to hell in an earlier era. Detroit is in a much deeper hole: $18 to $20 billion. But Detroit does have an auto industry that is roaring again, which should limit further erosion, and its relatively dense 7.2 sq. mi. downtown is already in rebuilding mode. It has low-cost real estate and— once the bankruptcy winds it way through the courts— investors will have some clarity about future costs of doing business. There is a roadmap for the Motor City—if it can find a way to fund the trip.


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DORAL, Fla. – With so much talk about quitting in the middle of a round, Tiger Woods brings his own perspective.
If he had not walked off the course in the middle of the final round at Doral last year, he might not have gone on to win three times on the PGA Tour.
In one of the most surprising — certainly the quickest — turnarounds in his career, Woods hit his tee shot on the 12th hole last year on the Blue Monster, shook hands with Webb Simpson, walked to a cart and was driven to the parking lot. He was 3-over for the round and 10 shots out of the lead. He said later in a statement that his left Achilles tendon was sore, the same one that caused him to miss almost the entire summer of 2011, including a pair of majors.
Two weeks later, he won at Bay Hill for his first PGA Tour win in more than two years.
Woods said he was worried that if he didn't stop, the Achilles would get so bad he would have to take more time off, similar to his poor decision in 2011 to compete in The Players Championship. He withdrew after nine holes at The Players. If he had skipped that event, he might not have missed those two majors.
"It was a point that if I kept going, then yeah, I could have pushed it to that point," Woods said. "So I learned my lesson from The Players and I didn't do it. And consequently I was able to go on and win the next tournament I played in, which was Bay Hill."
Rory McIlroy left the Honda Classic for other reasons.
He was frustrated by the way he was playing. He was fed up with not getting the results he wanted, and with his swing not being in the position it needed to be. He felt the burden of living up to the expectations of being the No. 1 player. He wanted out.
Only after he had driven off from PGA National, and then compounded the error by claiming he had a sore wisdom tooth, did McIlroy realize his mistake.
He has spent the last five days doing damage control, giving an interview to Sports Illustrated ahead of his Wednesday news conference to soften the criticism. He apologized. He explained the source of his frustration. He promised to never do it again.
European Tour official Michael Gibbons introduced him by suggesting he immediately discuss his disappointment ... of Manchester United losing on Wednesday.
"I gave myself a red card last week," McIlroy said, referring to Nani getting a red card and Man U having only 10 players the rest of the way in a loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The difference is, McIlroy left on his own.
"I realized pretty quickly that it wasn't the right thing to do," McIlroy said. "No matter how bad I was playing, I should have stayed out there. I should have tried to shoot the best score possible even though it probably wasn't going to be good enough to make the cut. At that point in time, I was just all over the place. ... It was a mistake, and everyone makes mistakes and I'm learning from them. I guess some people have the pleasure of making mistakes in private. Most of my mistakes are in the public eye.
"It's over now and it won't happen again."
He did well to repair the damage to his reputation, which to that point had been nearly flawless. The next step is his golf, which might be a bit tougher to fix.
And it comes on a big stage.
This World Golf Championship has a 65-man field composed of players who are either in the top 50 in the world ranking or were leaders on the money list from tours around the world. It's so strong that all but a dozen players are already in the Masters.
There's no cut, assuring McIlroy his first 72-hole event this year. But he'll be playing with Woods and Luke Donald, Nos. 1-2-3 in the world. Already this year, McIlroy has missed the cut in Abu Dhabi, lost in the first round of the Match Play Championship and quit after 26 holes of the Honda Classic.
Woods had some sound advice, unrelated to health or frustration with form. It was about the grind of golf.
"We play week after week," Woods said after nine holes of practice on the Blue Monster. "Once one week ends, you have to move on the next one. And we're on a different venue and different golf course. For me over the years, I've just put it aside and moved on, whether it was good or bad, whether I won the tournament or missed the cut, whatever it may be. You move on and get ready for the next event."
His year hasn't been the best, except for the week at Torrey Pines when Woods won his 75th career PGA Tour event. He also missed the cut in Abu Dhabi. He also lost in the first round of Match Play. And while he finished the Honda Classic, he was in the middle of the pack and failed to break par in any round.
But he has his health.
A year after he pulled out of Doral on the last day, Woods sounded as though he were as strong as ever.
"I'm actually able to do everything," he said. "I don't have to worry about my Achilles or my knee anymore. I can now actually train instead of rehab. I've made some pretty significant gains in my strength and it feels nice to be able to train. ... That's one reason why I'm hitting it farther. I have my legs underneath me and that's where our power is. It's nice to be able to have that and I'm moving the ball out there to where I know I can again."


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Developing Astronomy Globally: astronomy for all
This Cornerstone project acknowledges that astronomy needs to be developed in three key areas: professionally (universities and research); publicly (communication, media, and amateur groups) and educationally (schools and informal educational structures).
The focus is on regions that do not have strong astronomical communities. The implementation is centred on training, development and networking in each of these three key areas. This Cornerstone project uses the momentum of the IYA2009 to help establish and enhance regional structures and networks that work on the development of astronomy around the world.
These networks support the current and future development work of the IAU and other programmes and ensure that developing regions benefit from the IYA2009 and the work of the other Cornerstone projects. It should also address the questions of the contribution of astronomy to development.
Task Group
Kevin Govender (South Africa, SALT) firstname.lastname@example.com
ChairNorio Kaifu (Japan. NAOJ)
Filipe Pires (Portugal, Universidade do Porto)
Barbara Villone (Italy, INAF)
Ana Lopes (Portugal, Nature)
Dan Hillier (UK, ROE)
Hakim L. Malasan (Indonesia, Institut Teknologi Bandung)
UN Millenium Development Goals
Go to the Developing Astronomy Globally website.
National Nodes: 148
Organisational Nodes: 40
Organisational Associates:33
National Websites: 111
Cornerstone Projects: 12
Special Task Groups: 11
Special Projects:16
Official Products:8
Media Partners:22


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Iraq Media Coverage:
Curiosity may occasionally kill a cat. But lack of curiosity is apt to terminate journalism with extreme prejudice.
"We will not set an artificial timetable for leaving Iraq, because that would embolden the terrorists and make them believe they can wait us out," President Bush said in his State of the Union address. "We are in Iraq to achieve a result: A country that is democratic, representative of all its people, at peace with its neighbors and able to defend itself."
President Johnson said the same thing about the escalating war in Vietnam. His rhetoric was typical on Jan. 12, 1966: "We fight for the principle of self-determination -- that the people of South Vietnam should be able to choose their own course, choose it in free elections without violence, without terror, and without fear."
Anyone who keeps an eye on mainstream news is up to speed on the latest presidential spin. But the reporters who tell us what the president wants us to hear should go beyond stenography to note historic echoes and point out basic contradictions.
A couple of days before the voting in Iraq, the lead story on the front page of the New York Times -- summing up the newspaper's exclusive interview with President Bush -- had reported his assertion "that he would withdraw American forces from Iraq if the new government that is elected on Sunday asked him to do so, but that he expected Iraq's first democratically elected leaders would want the troops to remain."
Logically, the president's statement should have set off warning buzzers -- along the lines of "What's wrong with this picture?" For instance: Public opinion polls in Iraq are consistently showing that most Iraqis want U.S. troops to quickly withdraw from their country. Yet Bush asserted that the Iraqi election would be democratic -- even while he expressed confidence that the resulting government would defy the desires of most Iraqi people on the matter of whether American military forces should remain.
The easy way for journalists to reconcile this contradiction is to ignore it -- a routine approach in news reporting.
Military power has a way of creating some political constituencies for itself. And that is certainly true of the Pentagon's massive footprint in Iraq, where the Jan. 30 voting was part of a mystified process – with a U.S.-selected election commission and ground rules that kept candidates' political stances, and even their names, mostly secret from the voters. In the coming months, the potential for a disconnect between voters and the policies of the new government's leaders is enormous.
Since last summer, the leadership of the "interim" government in Baghdad has been largely comprised of Iraqis opting to throw their lot in with the occupiers. At this point, their hopes for power -- and perhaps their lives -- depend on the continued large-scale presence of American troops.
Naturally, the current prime minister Ayad Allawi, installed by the U.S. government last June, now claims the insurgency will be defeated if the American troops stay long enough. Even President Ghazi al-Yawer, who has been critical of some aspects of U.S. military operations in Iraq, is now touting the need for Uncle Sam's iron fist. As February began, al-Yawer declared at a news conference: "It's only complete nonsense to ask the troops to leave in this chaos and this vacuum of power."
Writing in the Boston Globe of Feb. 1, columnist James Carroll put his finger on a key dynamic: "The chaos of a destroyed society leaves every new instrument of governance dependent on the American force, even as the American force shows itself incapable of defending against, much less defeating, the suicide legions. The irony is exquisite. The worse the violence gets, the longer the Americans will claim the right to stay. In that way, the ever more emboldened -- and brutal -- 'insurgents' do Bush's work for him by making it extremely difficult for an authentic Iraqi source of order to emerge."
Meanwhile, the London-based Guardian published a devastating essay by a university lecturer who left Iraq during Saddam Hussein's rule. Sami Ramadani wrote: "On Sept. 4, 1967, the New York Times published an upbeat story on presidential elections held by the South Vietnamese puppet regime at the height of the Vietnam War. Under the heading 'U.S. encouraged by Vietnam vote: Officials cite 83 percent turnout despite Vietcong terror,' the paper reported that the Americans had been 'surprised and heartened' by the size of the turnout 'despite a Vietcong terrorist campaign to disrupt the voting.' A successful election, it went on, 'has long been seen as the keystone in President Johnson's policy of encouraging the growth of constitutional processes in South Vietnam.' The echoes of this weekend's propaganda about Iraq's elections are so close as to be uncanny."
During the first days after the balloting in Iraq, few discomfiting facts have intruded into mainstream coverage in the United States. But the fairytale storylines that have sailed through the reporting and commentary will soon run aground onto hard reefs of reality. The U.S. government is set to keep large numbers of troops in Iraq for a long time to come. And no amount of thunderous applause and media praise for State of the Union verbiage can change the lethal discrepancies between democratic rhetoric and military occupation.
Norman Solomon is a syndicated columnist and author of Target Iraq: What the News Media Didn't Tell You (Context Books, 2003) co-authored by Reese Erlich. His next book, War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death, will be published in early summer by Wiley. His columns and other writings can be found at www.normansolomon.com. He can be reached at: firstname.lastname@example.com.
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Other Recent Articles by Norman Solomon
Of Death Be
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#184 "Denying Temptation"
A proper introduction.
A proper introduction.
got a feeling tim will find the book then later find out truth about his mom then him her will have the big talk
this comic is interesting, very different from most web comics. tbh i was scrolling for porn on discord then this boio named shaggy introduced me into it. i was expecting porn but found wholesome content wtf bruh
OMG so in love with this flippin book its amazing
so brandon i know this is random and completely unrelated to whats happening on the current page but i just wanted to confirm something that has been knocking around the back of my mind since i started reading. Was shadow's obsession with collecting tim's socks a foot fetish kind of thing or a scent fetish kind of thing. Speaking personally I know that a well worn pair of socks can have a fairly strong scent to them and i know she LOVES the way tim smells but there are better pieces of clothing than socks to steal for scent so i was just curious.
Ooooooh. I need to read this all over again.
By the way, thanks, Brandon, for making this comic. I love it.
Found this today on E-Hentai and got hooked instantly, please for the love of god do more of this.
I used to keep up with this but forgot about it when I got a new phone how often is it uploaded??
Thinking back of what Ruthless said about the coockie pot with both their name on it, plus the book, I think it won't be so difficult for Tim to find out
And PS, because it's the first time I ever think to comment, I love your work !
Holy hell how have i not thought of this before. Can future tim use the encyclopedia Magika? Is he a spellcaster?
Well, we've seen him with an aegis so he can obviously use some of their stuff. And he at least has some Nox blood in him if that makes a difference at all, so maybe not impossible? Could be a way for her to smuggle him in for a peek around her world at some point if he can maintain a disguise. It would only be fair, no?
Consider another possibility: the aegis may be a TOOL. Anyone can pick up a hammer and use it. Those with experience may use it more efficiently, but it can be used by anyone.
So…hes half human half…..um…whatever shadow and his mother is? (Sorry i forgot what their called…some sort of demons?)
I have been reading this since 2015 and I love this comic
Holy cow! I bet no one saw that coming! This reminds me of another recent plot twist in popular media that no one saw coming, Arya Stark being a badass, after training 7 seasons to be a badass.
Season 4 of Rick and Morty is happening!!!
November 2019!!!


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Latest news
Cash help for music learners around the world as global fund re-opens
ABRSM fund to help tackle barriers to music learning
A global fund set up by the UK-based ABRSM music education charity to help provide inspiring experiences for music learners in different corners of the world re-opens today (20th January).
The International Sponsorship Fund (ISF) aims to help tackle barriers to music education by providing one-off grants of up to £5,000 for projects.
Eligible projects must work outside the UK and Ireland to encourage progression in music learning through community activities, such as local festivals and outreach work, or high quality performance opportunities for young musicians in youth chamber ensembles, orchestras and choirs.
The ISF was set up by ABRSM in 2012. It has so far helped more than 30 different organisations across Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Latin America and the Caribbean by helping buy and repair instruments, train teachers and support education projects using music to motivate and support young people.
ABRSM Chief Executive Chris Cobb said: "ABRSM is committed to supporting music progression around the world but we know that COVID-19 has made access to music learning even more challenging for communities in some areas.
"That's why we're particularly pleased to be launching this year's International Sponsorship Fund and, more than ever, looking forward to applications which help meet the needs of music learners where the need is greatest – whether they are within the western classical music tradition or not."
ABRSM supports the musical journeys of learners by working in 93 different countries to provide music assessments and educational resources and promote the power and value of music education.
Projects interested in applying to the 2021 fund can find out more here.
Applications to the fund must be received by 20 April.


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Osage Avenue: Still An Open Wound
Osage Ave: Still an open wound
By VALERIE RUSS
Philadelphia Daily News
firstname.lastname@example.com 215-854-5987
TWENTY-SIX YEARS ago today, Philadelphia police dropped a bomb on what had once been a quiet leafy neighborhood on Osage Avenue, near Cobbs Creek Park.
But Milton Williams is tired of talking about the bomb that started a fire that killed 11 people in the MOVE house and destroyed 61 homes.
"I want to know what the city is going to do now," said Williams, 62. "What are they going to do with all of these empty houses?"
Williams' community is still home to people who once worked as teachers, nurses, clerical workers, carpenters, police officers, roofers and truck drivers.
They are aging now, many over 60, some in their 80s and 90s, and they say the city has them in limbo, living in a blighted neighborhood with houses they can't sell.
The MOVE bombing destroyed all 40 homes on both sides of the 6200 block of Osage Avenue and 21 homes on the south side of the 6200 block of Pine Street.
The homes were so shoddily reconstructed after the 1985 fire - nearly every house had leaky roofs, bad plumbing, sagging floors because beams had not been properly installed, cedar siding peeling off exteriors, and faulty electrical wiring - that the original contractors went to jail because money was misused.
The city offered families $150,000 to leave their homes, and all but 24 accepted.
The families who stayed went to court and won an injunction against the city.
But Gerald Renfrow, president of the Osage/Pine Community Association, said U.S. Judge John P. Fullam dismissed the suit even though only eight of the 24 plaintiffs signed agreements to settle.
Since the 2008 dismissal, nine more plaintiffs have accepted what later became a $190,000 settlement, saying they felt worn down.
Thirty-seven of the 61 brick twin homes now sit abandoned, with plywood in front windows and exposed, tattered insulation flapping in the wind.
It looks like a war zone.
"It looks like Berlin looked in 1945 during World War II," said Williams, who drove a UPS truck for 32 years.
Now, residents of 23 homes that remain occupied say they want answers from the city about what it intends to do to rebuild the neighborhood - once again.
Last week, about a dozen neighbors protested outside City Hall after they were denied permission to protest outside Mayor Nutter's office.
They came to ask Nutter if he is aware the lawsuit was dismissed in 2008 "with insufficient evidence that all 24 homeowners agreed to settle."
Renfrew pointed out the city's own legal documents - filed in a motion to delay paying Moody's legal fees - prove that 16 of the 24 homeowners had refused to settle the case.
"After the parties settled the case in the summer of 2008, we anticipated receiving twenty-four releases from Plaintiffs," said a legal memo filed Aug. 18, 2009.
"Instead, however, we only received releases from eight of the twenty-four plaintiffs at that time . . . "
As far as the city is concerned, mayoral spokesman Mark McDonald said, the suit has been dismissed by a federal judge.
"It is sorely in need of renewal," McDonald said of the area.
But he added that little can be done "until all this matter between those private landowners, their attorney and the court is resolved."
Adrian Moody, the attorney who filed the suit for the Osage/Pine residents, did not return several phone calls from the Daily News.
Renfrow said that Clarence Armbrister, Nutter's chief of staff, told them after a protest last year that the city may take their homes by eminent domain.
McDonald, however, denied that the city wants to seize the homes.
But Renfrow believes that all that stands between their homes and a wrecking ball is the seven homeowners who have continued to hold out.
And he said those who took the settlement are reluctant to fix their homes because they think the city will come and bulldoze them later.
Renfrow said the city wants to force them out because the area, close to a lush, green park, public transportation routes, and entertainment at the Tower Theater and the 69th Street shopping area, would be a boon for gentrification.
Residents are used to feeling that they are being pushed out.
Back in 2000, after Mayor John Street took office, residents said Street stopped repairs on their homes that had begun under the Rendell administration.
Street told them, " 'I don't want to throw bad money after good' " and talked of bringing in a wrecking ball to tear down the neighborhood, according to Connie Renfrow, 64, Gerald's wife.
"When one of the neighbors asked if we would get the first chance to buy the new homes, Street said, 'No, because you won't be able to afford them,' " said Connie Renfrow, who moved to the block in 1980.
They also said Street "scared" people into accepting the initial $150,000 buyout offer by telling them the homes had faulty heaters and posed a carbon-monoxide threat.
"You don't condemn a house because of a faulty heater," Williams said.
"This was a problem that could be taken care of for $800."
"I have no comment except to say that the Street administration made every effort to be more than fair," Street responded in an email this week.
For many residents, not only were their homes poorly rebuilt, but the city planted trees that are now breaking up sidewalks.
Hazel Taylor, 63, said her insurance company is threatening to drop her if she doesn't repair the sidewalk.
But Taylor and others said the Fairmount Park Commission told them the city had not checked to see which trees to plant.
Now many of trees have roots that have buckled the sidewalks and torn up underground water pipes.
"I'm 63 and on a fixed income, I can't pay to fix this sidewalk," Taylor said.
Elizabeth Bostic, 90, said she will continue to fight for her home.
"I refuse to die until they settle this mess," declared Bostic, raising her arm in defiance.
"It was a beautiful place," said Virginia Cox, 78, who still speaks with a lilting Trinidadian accent despite moving to the block in 1971.
"You could leave your children and say, 'I'll be right back,' " she said. "You could leave your doors open, everyone would pitch in and watch and see and live and love like a family.
"But they break us up. They break us."