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Model Search: April 2013
The TransWorld SURF model search for Miss April 2013!
To enter the Model Search, email your photos to email@example.com. Please include name, age, hometown, and some info about yourself. Monthly winners will be featured in TransWorld SURF magazine and win prizes from VonZipper and B. Swim. You must be 18 to enter.

subset: commoncrawl


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When the reconstruction of Highway 160 on South Broadway between McElmo and Maple streets started in July, the Colorado Department of Transportation said there would be access to businesses despite the scope of the project.
They said signs would be placed around town to show residents how to gain access to the impacted businesses, and stated what might be an access to a business one day could be changed the next day.
The access problems have upset several business owners and operators, and they are saying it's had a harsh impact because many residents do not know how to gain access or even if there is any access.
Lucas Picken, a salesman for Keesee Motor Co., said business at the auto dealership has decreased by more than two-thirds since the road was torn up to begin the repaving project.
Last Friday afternoon not one person visited the auto dealership in a 90-minute time period, and many possible customers called receptionist Christina Knapp to ask if they were open and how they could gain access to the dealership.
Knapp said she received more than 50 calls from residents asking whether the business had any access. She said she had to give them directions in hopes the construction project would not keep them away.
She also said that the employees are not too happy with all of the construction that has hampered the dealership and auto repair shop.
One employee said he noticed that Burger King decided to close until the construction was finished, though others pointed to the fast food restaurant's parking lot being repaved as the reason for the closing.
"There's not a lot of walk-in traffic," Picken said, adding that the dealership has not changed or cut back on hours because of the decreased business.
"There is not an access," he said. "There's no sign or anything telling you how to get here."
Picken said CDOT representatives came in to talk and present their plans with a few people at the business, though Picken said he is not sure what was actually discussed or said.
"I kind of had an idea," he said about what he expected of the construction impacts. "I did not know it was going to be this hard to get to work."
Another salesman said he thinks that the NAPA auto parts store might have some of the worst access problems. He said with all of the auto parts stores in Cortez, why would anyone fight the construction to shop at NAPA?
NAPA on this Friday afternoon was completely vacant except for two employees behind the parts counters and the owner, Joleen Daves.
Daves said business has decreased some since construction started, making it harder for customers to get to her business, but added the saving grace is the customers who do not mind fighting the construction to shop.
"We got our dedicated customers who do come in," she said. "We knew (business) was going to be down."
The New Country Auto Center is feeling the impacts of the construction project as well.
On Friday afternoon a receptionist fielded phone calls and assured customers that they were open for business before giving them directions to the business.
Houston Frizzell, business manager of New Country, said the construction and the traffic was what they expected.
He said the auto dealership planned ahead and moved their vehicles for sale to a lot on Highway 160 right outside of the city.
Frizzell said while the auto sales have gone up because of the move, the parts and services departments that are still on South Broadway have taken a hit.
"We knew the (area) was going to be a mess," he said, mentioning a few people working on the project kept them informed on what was happening.
Nanci Regnier of Regnier & Associates Inc., the firm that is handling the public relations part of the project, said the work on the southbound lanes of Broadway will continue for another three to four weeks.
Regnier said she has received a few calls from concerned residents, but was able to let them know what was occurring.
Once the southbound lanes are complete the work will shift to the northbound lanes. She said the work includes paving, grading and milling the gravel.
She said everything possible was done to minimize the impacts to businesses and tried to keep them informed through fliers and press releases.
She said stopping for the flaggers working with the project is only causing interruptions of a short duration.
Regnier also said there was a public hearing in June for residents and businesses to talk about any concerns.
Each business has access signs with the name of the company on it to help residents navigate where they want to go, she said.
"We did everything possible to let businesses learn about the construction," she said. "When you do a traffic change it can become confusing, but we did everything we could. Anytime you do a change it will be disruptive."
Reginer said anyone with concerns about the project can leave a message for her at 744-6630, and she will return the call.


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Back-to-school backpacks bring joy to Seattle
Cars and shoppers usually fill the parking lot of Red Apple Market, a bustling grocery store in Seattle's Central District. But with school starting in less than two weeks, a crowd spreads over the asphalt on a balmy Saturday for a different reason.
Children line up with their parents to receive free backpacks loaded with school supplies. Some chat about the pro basketball players from the Seattle area -- like Brandon Roy, a former NBA superstar -- who return to join World Vision in this and other local back-to-school events.
Getting backpacks for her children "makes it a lot easier for us," says Elizabeth, a mother of four, as she waits for the distribution to begin beneath a white tent in the parking lot.
"When I looked at the list [of supplies required by her children's school], I just about cried, I'll be honest with you. This especially helps people who are low income like my husband and I."
Two of their children, who range in age from 2 to 8, deal with muscular dystrophy. A third has a mild case of cerebral palsy.
"We're doing what we can to survive," says Ronald, Elizabeth's husband. "We don't even have a vehicle right now."
In 2012, World Vision distributed 33,667 backpacks with school supplies to U.S. children in need. That number is expected to climb to nearly 35,000 this year.
The back-to-school giveaway at Red Apple Market is one of four in the Seattle area in late August. Other distributions include events in the Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C., areas.
The backpacks are filled with supplies like binders, notebooks, pencils, markers, rulers, and glue sticks.
"This really is a blessing," says Nelly, a mom who brought her 11-year-old son, Lucas, to the New York event at World Vision's warehouse in the Bronx.
"This is one less thing that I have to worry about getting for him. I feel a lot better knowing that he has a good head start for this new school year. Thank you so much for your kindness. This really means a lot."
Students at several schools that received supplies in the Washington, D.C., area echoed that sentiment.
"I'm glad we have been given new school supplies," says Marcus, a sixth-grader in Prince George's County, Maryland. "That helps us get off to a great start and do well in class. I think the gift was amazingly fun and thoughtful."
Back in Seattle, DeShawn and Jetta wait in line with their three children, including 10-year-old twins.
"We're in between jobs right now and needed some help," Jetta says. "We calculated that for the three of them, [the required supplies] would be almost $250."
Their oldest child, Je'Tia, can't wait to use her new supplies. "I'm excited to learn new things," says the 12-year-old girl, who likes art and math.
Mike Moss, manager of the Red Apple Market, says life is "not always about taking. Sometimes it's about giving back. This is the funnest thing we do all year. We couldn't do it without World Vision."
The Seattle distribution attracts moms like Maria, who brought her daughter and four nieces and nephews.
"We're living paycheck to paycheck," she says. "It makes me tear up to think my girl couldn't get new school supplies. We'd have to scrape up school supplies from last year."
A week earlier at Valley Ridge Park in SeaTac, a suburb of Seattle, World Vision worked with partners to distribute backpacks at a similar back-to-school fair.
Among those in line on the rainy day were 8-year-old Emmanuel and his mom. Receiving a backpack and school supplies will not only help him start third grade. It will also help his cramped toes.
"The old backpack I had was ripped," Emmanuel says. "It's nice to get brand-new stuff." With the money his mom saved, he says, she "can buy different stuff."
Like new shoes for him.
"I was really worried about how I was able to get school supplies," says Emmanuel's mom, Maria. "We didn't have the money. I was not sure how I was going to do it. Now I can use the money to buy his clothes. His shoes squish his feet."
Another mom, Carmen, arrived at the park at 6 a.m. -- four hours before the event started -- to make sure her 6-year-old daughter, Alexia, didn't miss out.
"With the economy the way it is right now, it's so hard," Carmen says. "This is something less to worry about for school."
Alexia, a first-grader who likes reading and art, chose a purple backpack to match her jacket.
Nearby with another family, 13-year-old Verenice unzips her pink backpack and examines the binder, notebooks, pens, pocket calculator, and other supplies.
"It'll keep me organized," she says. "I can do things easier."
Edgar, one of five children in another family, expresses deep thanks to donors.
"It's good to be helping us," says the 11-year-old boy, "and one day, I will repay you."
John Iwasaki is a senior writer for World Vision's U.S. Programs.
Read more about World Vision's work alongside children, families, and communities in need right here in the United States.
Help ensure that a child here in the United States has the school supplies he or she needs for a successful upcoming school year. Make a one-time donation to provide a backpack and school supplies.


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TransWorld cruised out to LA Mission's x etnies annual Easter Shoe Donation this past Good Friday to help dontate 2,000 pairs of etnies shoes to the homeless. Sole Tech's owner Pierre-Andre Senizergues, along with Don Brown, etnies pros Ryan Sheckler and Cairo Foster and other riders/employees of etnies were all on hand to help deliver the goods and stoke out Skid Row. etnies has been providing shoes for the homeless at this event for the past sixteen years, more than 38,000 pairs of shoes have been donated and laced up! Amazing job etnies!
Words & photos by David Jurusik


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I would like to make some corrections to a letter published Dec. 22. The Congress is made up of two branches of government, the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The House of Representatives makes up bills. They are sent to the Senate to be ruled on. When they are finally debated and ruled on, they are sent to the president to be signed and approved for a budget.
The House has sent bills to the leader of the Senate (Harry Reid). He has refused to bring these bills to the floor to be voted on. So we do not have a budget!
With no budget passed, the president can spend uncontrolled until a budget is passed. Also all of the monies spent on energy projects are authorized by a bill passed on energy during the Carter administration.
I have called Washington on these questions and verified what I have written.
Leroy Crawn


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One attendee at the Samsung FutureUnlimited conference
described NAND factories as "the digital equivalent of an oil
well." It's certainly not hard to link the incredible margins of
NAND memory to that of the world's largest commodity, but the similarities don't
stop there.
An industry that totaled just one billion dollars in 2001 will eclipse the
entire DRAM market within the next two or three years, totaling just over $15
billion in revenue last year. Conservative estimates put the 2008 revenue
total at $21 billion.
The world's insatiable appetite for solid-state memory dominates every facet of
portable electronics, and with
the introduction of 64GB and 128GB solid-state hard drives, the desktop is
In just the last year, the major flash memory players sunk incredible amounts
of money into new facilities. Toshiba and SanDisk announced a
joint-venture estimated to cost $16.7 billion to build three NAND factories in
Japan. Samsung's one million square-foot NAND fab under construction in Austin
is the largest single foreign investment in the U.S. ever; an appropriate home
for digital Texas Tea.
Intel and SanDisk, to name just a few, adjusted earnings based solely on NAND
pricing projections. Cheap, ubiquitous flash memory is bad for suppliers like
Intel, but good for consumers like Apple. The inverse is true during a
"Pricing has moved very rapidly, much more so than we thought," Intel
CEO Otellini admitted earlier this week.
Samsung vice president of memory marketing Jim Elliot believes a fundamental
change will occur with flash memory this year. "We're going to see a
psychology change this year. The stair-step model for NAND pricing
will become a sideways S-curve." Elliot then flipped his slide deck
to a picture of Sigmund Freud with a squiggly line on his forehead.
An outage last August at a Samsung NAND fab cost the company a
"mere" $54 million in lost revenue, but it propelled the memory
industry into speculation and unstable prices for months after. Similar
trends occur in the oil market when a refinery malfunctions.
"In the past, NAND prices tended to exhibit trends of oversupply and falling
prices, followed by undersupply and flat prices," Elliot elaborated.
This is a trend typically found in markets like microprocessors.
"Moving forward, instead of minimizing inventory risks, we project companies will opt for
strategic buy-aheads to take advantage of rise-and-fall price fluctuations." This trend
is more akin to the jet fuel market.
What Elliot describes is a bonafide futures market. The end result for
consumers? As the NAND market begins to stabilize, we'll stop seeing the
price-per-gigabyte halve each year, and we'll stop seeing companies
dramatically adjust earnings based a market that isn't as volatile.
With so many competitors in the NAND production game, it only takes a new
factory or outage to upset the delicate spot market pricing. But as more
companies like Intel and Apple begin to adopt the S-curve mentality, consumers
will ultimately benefit from companies that can project supply and pricing for
longer periods of time.


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It's been a while since we've post a daily deals thread on DailyTech, but this one is almost too go
to let slip by. Judging by the feedback from our various tablet-centric
articles on this site, many readers appeared to be enamored with
Honeycomb-based tablets.
The Eee
Pad Transformer hit a new "low" with an MSRP of $399 for the 16GB
model. Today, MacMall is offering the Acer Iconia Tab A500 for $379 with free
shipping through its eBay
store. For those keeping score, the tablet has a regular MSRP of $449.
However, keep in mind the Iconia Tab A500 weighs in at 1.7
pounds which makes it 0.4 pounds heavier than the iPad
2 and 0.3 pounds heavier than the aforementioned Eee Pad Transformer. The
Iconia Tab A500 is also larger dimensionally than the lackluster
Motorola Xoom.
For full specs on the Iconia Tab A500, check out this page.


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Alabama's Paul Warren Claborn was named NIADA 2010 Quality Dealer of the Year
Surprised is the way Paul Claborn felt after he was named NIADA's 2010 National Quality Dealer (NQD) of the Year in June.
"The field was so deep with talent," said Claborn, who operates a pair of dealerships with 22 employees in Albertville, Ala. "I was sitting at a table with Phil Lathrop (the Texas NQD nominee) who is both a scholar and a gentleman. I thought he was a shoe-in for it. I was in awe when I heard all the bios."
It's an ironic statement considering Claborn's contributions to his own community. The 53-year-old Alabama native is active in jail and prison ministries, mentors a young boy each week and takes part in an anti-litter effort along local roads every weekend. Add the duties of running two stores along with his familial obligations and it's obvious his days are packed. Still, being named this year's NQD served as a reminder he could still spare some time to give back to the industry.
"I've been a member of NIADA since 1984. Because I've not been real active, I thought that would play a factor (in receiving the award) but, apparently, it didn't," he said. "I need to become more active in the association."
Claborn and 20 fellow candidates from across the country were judged by a Northwood University panel which looked at a variety of factors to make their selection,
Paul Claborn
of Albertville, AL
including contributions to the automotive industry and community involvement. The candidates compete for the national award after being named as quality dealers by their respective state associations.
The drive Claborn has today began after his mother told him as a child he could overcome the ability of some of his classmates to learn quickly by outworking them. He accompanied her to work every at 4 a.m. to a local restaurant, where she was a cook and waitress, and washed dishes for a few hours before school.
In high school, he took a job detailing automobiles at a local independent dealer after classes ended at noon, often working six to eight hours daily and always on Saturday. Thanks to his work ethic, Claborn was able to buy a new 1970 Pontiac GTO for his senior year.
After graduation, he continued his detailing job while taking on a swing-shift position at another nearby business. When it closed in 1981, Claborn opened his first dealership, Paul Claborn Motors, at age 24. Twenty years later, that store became WholeSaleCars.com and in 2002, he opened a nearby Buy Here-Pay Here (BHPH) dealership. Last year, the stores combined to sell almost 2,500 autos. According to Claborn, two-thirds of his business is wholesale and mostly done via phone without written contracts.
With a fleet of courtesy cars wrapped in bright, colorful advertising, Claborn knows a few things about marketing, and his staff didn't waste any time using the NQD honor as a way to promote his business.
"I heard my general manager tell a potential customer this morning we didn't win this award because we sell the most cars, and we didn't win this award because we make the most money," Claborn said. "He said we won this award because a body of our peers thought that we were characteristic of what good citizen, used car dealers should be."
Integrity is a vital ingredient to Claborn's personal life and it's become the foundation of the way he operates his businesses, according to those who work both for and with him.
"The local paper ran an article that said, 'Paul Claborn wins big in Las Vegas, but it wasn't at the tables,'" he said. "My people, especially the people who have been with me the longest, know that when I say something, that's what we're going to do no matter how bad it hurts. What NQD has done has added validity to what I've always told them about the way we need to conduct our business."
Claborn believes honesty is a vital attribute in business.
"It amazes me that I still see automobile dealers who will tell a little white lie," he said, "then expect their employees to have a high level of integrity. Man, it starts at the top and if we don't mimic good character and good habits, we can't expect to have people who work for us that do the same."
It's an attitude that's reflected in practically everything the dealership does, he said, even something as mundane as a warranty.
"We have a 50-50 powertrain warranty at our Buy Here-Pay Here store that we extend for the length of the contract, whether it's 36 or 48 months," Claborn said. "Regardless of whether a customer is current on their payments, we make that payment. People say, 'How can you do that?' We do what we say we're going to do every time."
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While naruto was training with jiriaya... jiraiya stated that naruto was the only one with enough chakra to master That jutsu which is the jutsu that even the Fourth Hokage couldn't master...
Before the timeskip Naruto and Sasuke where equal. But after sasuke was way stronger than naruto and we all know that nobody trains harder than Naruto and learns a tech as fast as him so i believe thats because Jiraiya spent most of his time trying to teach naruto how to control the kyuubi and how to one day perform that jutsu
That Jutsu is the reaper death seal
I believe Minato created the reaper death seal to protect the village from major threats but the problem was that it would kill and suck him in as well (thats why it is incomplete) .. I believe that minato created it and also developed the jutsu with the third hokage . And i am sure minato thought he would have been able to master the reaper death seal before he actually used it. My point is that naruto will learn or already know the reaper death seal and he will be able to perform a complete version of that jutsu and actually be able to pull souls out as well as seal them away without getting his soul trapped for eternity.
And those that say no it cant happen because they said jinchurikis cant use it... you tell me how many jinchurikis even tried RDS lol i believe they said that because the body and chakra of a jinchuriki is imbalanced and unstable because normal jinchurikis dont get along with their beast and the beast usually hate's its host and wants to kill them... BUT Naruto could pull the jutsu off because he is one with the kyuubi now


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Farmer D Cedar Cold Frame, 3'x3'
- Exclusive
- Vendor Shipped
Easy, hassle-free returns online and in-store for eligible items.Learn More
- Summary
Extend the growing season or get a head start on your spring edibles with this protective cold frame. It provides a warmer climate during inhospitable winter months, so you can enjoy a longer growing season for fall and winter vegetables and start seeds directly outdoors in the spring.
- Fits perfectly on 3' x 3' Farmer D Raised Bed and can also be placed directly on the ground.
- Crafted of 1 1/2"-thick FSC-certified, untreated western red cedar that is naturally rot- and insect-resistant.
- Plexiglass lid is slanted to prevent snow, water, and detritus from accumulating on top.
- Provides optimum growing conditions by preventing heat from escaping and sheltering plants from wind and cold temperatures.
- Transparent top allows sunlight to enter.
- Top of frame may be raised for ventilation; metal struts allow for easy opening.
- Fully assembled.
- 36" sq.; height tapers down from 7" to 5" high overall; 3-cu.-ft. cap.
- Made following socially responsible, environmentally friendly business practices by a company that helps empower people to grow healthy foods and build sustainable communities.
- Handmade in USA.
- Shipping
Shipping Information
This item will be shipped directly from the manufacturer and is not eligible for rush shipping. Please allow one to two weeks for delivery.
Shipping Rates
The shipping rate varies depending on your order total and shipping destination. View Shipping Options and Charges.
Return Policy
At Williams Sonoma, we take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our products. Attention to design, materials, safety and construction are our priority. Upon receipt, please inspect your purchase and notify us of any damage; we will arrange for a prompt replacement.
If within 30 days, you are dissatisfied for any reason, you may return your purchase for a refund of the merchandise value. An original receipt or gift receipt is required for all returns and exchanges. Returns with a gift receipt will be refunded in the form of a Merchandise Credit for the amount indicated on the gift receipt. Returns with original receipt will be refunded in the original form of payment, cash and check refunds over $100 will be issued as a company check (may take 14 business days from time of request).
For all cutlery returns (knife sets, single knives, cutting boards, knife sharpeners, and knife storage) please contact us at 888.922.4108 to initiate the return.
We cannot accept returns on monogrammed, personalized, special-order items, custom upholstery, food, items shipped direct from the vendor, or on items damaged through normal wear and tear. Final sale items ending in .97 or .99 cannot be returned.
For returns of items purchased from your Williams Sonoma Gift Registry, we will gladly provide a refund or exchange for the merchandise within 90 days of your event or within 90 days of purchase, whichever date is later. View Full Returns Policy.


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The AllerAir® 6000 Series is the most powerful series of purifiers within the AllerAir® brand. The models in the 6000 Series treat all the various types of pollutants, which contribute to poor indoor air quality in homes and/or businesses. The massive quantity of activated carbon ranges from 24 lbs to 36 lbs in these units and controls VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds) as well as other gases, odors and particulate matter. They are specifically designed for heavy-duty air filtration of large, severely contaminated environments. The 6000 Series incorporates extra-deep carbon filter beds, which are designed to treat very heavy concentrations of chemicals and gases. The purifiers in the AllerAir® 6000 Series also utilize a powerful Medical-Grade HEPA filtration stage as well as an effective pre-filter.
The AllerAir® 6000 DX Vocarb air purifier for example provides enhanced absorption of VOC's and other airborne toxins such as formaldehyde, benzene and other airborne pollutants, which are difficult to trap. The AllerAir® 6000 DX Vocarb air purifier is AllerAir's most powerful model in their entire numerical series.
Try searching or browse the categories.


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Affinity Plus' Q3 Numbers Show Drop
More than two months after Kyle Markland suddenly resigned as president/CEO of Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union, the cooperative's third quarter financials reveal significant decreases in net income.
On Aug. 28, Markland left Affinity Plus' top post after 16 years of service at the $1.7 billion credit union in St. Paul, Minn. According to Dave Larson, who was named interim CEO shortly after the announcement, Markland's departure was prompted by an empty nest and the former executive's desire to evaluate his future.
At the time of Markland's resignation, Affinity Plus reported a 0.57% return on assets as of June 30, according to its financial performance reports posted on the NCUA website. In the third quarter, ROA dropped to 0.25%. Comparatively, in June 2012, the credit union reported 1.45% ROA.
Affinity Plus' third quarter financials reveal a number of financial management strategy shifts that resulted in a 55.1% annualized drop in net income as of Sept. 30. Net income dropped from $4.6 million as of June 30 to $3.1 million as of Sept. 30.
Driving the income drain was a 12.7% increase in provision for loan and lease losses after delinquent loans increased 23.5% to $16.5 million in the third quarter. However, as delinquencies increased, the credit union's charge off ratio dropped five basis points, resulting in an aggregate 11 basis points slide in Affinity Plus' loan quality index.
The credit union also reported nearly $1 million in non-operating expense during the third quarter, further depressing net income.
On the asset side of the balance sheet, cash decreased to $61.5 million as of Sept. 30, down from $70 million as of June 30 and nearly $102 million during the third quarter of 2012. Investments also decreased to just under $6 million as of Sept. 30, down from more than $29 million the previous quarter.
Affinity Plus, which reported a 99.32% loan-to-share ratio in the third quarter, also reported $64.4 million in loans held for sale, up dramatically from $27.2 in the second quarter and $13.56 million one year prior. Third quarter numbers also reported increases in outstanding balances of all major lending categories and total loans outstanding of $1.54 billion.
New on the balance sheet was a $45 million note that drastically increased total liabilities for the third quarter.
Affinity Plus' net worth dropped to 7.52%, lower than the 7.93% net worth reported in the second quarter. During that period, the average ratio for the credit union's peer group was 10.44%. However, the 7.52% does not represent a long-term slide in net worth, as the credit union has managed net worth between 7% and 8% for a number of years.
Affinity Plus did not respond to a request for comment on its latest financials. In its 2013 Fall Member Focus newsletter, Larson wrote the credit union is a healthy and financially strong organization. He also said Markland "was instrumental in building this organization that stands for people before profits."
"(It) is because of him that we operate in a business model that puts you first in everything we do," Larson wrote. "Fortunately, his departure does not change who Affinity Plus is, why we are here, and what you can expect to experience. It's very simple—you are the reason why we're here."
Chartered in 1930 as State Capitol Credit Union to serve those working in St. Paul, the cooperative changed its name to Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union in 1998 to better reflect its broader service area, according to its website. It now has 25 branches throughout Minnesota and serves more than 167,000 members.
Markland was 33 years old when he took the helm of Affinity Plus in December 1997. When Credit Union Times interviewed him last year upon receiving the publication's 2012 Trailblazer CEO of the Year award, he said the board took a chance on hiring someone so young of what was then a $357 million financial institution.
During his tenure, membership grew from 70,000 to more than 167,000 members and assets hit $2.8 billion in March 2012. He was a staunch critic of the Durbin Amendment that capped fees on most debit card swipes and voiced his concerns in a comment letter to Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.).
Markland touted the credit union's strong loan programs including mortgages which topped the $725 million mark in 2011 at a time when other credit unions were struggling to build their portfolios, he said last year.
Affinity's Plus "Ditch Your Bank" campaign started well before Bank Transfer Day in November 2011, he noted. The campaign continues to this date, according to the credit union's website.


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World Cup TV Exclusive: Royal Reception for World Cup
Players and representatives from all 14 nations competing in Rugby League World Cup 2013 (RLWC2013) gained royal support today as they met with His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales at Clarence House.
HRH The Prince of Wales welcomed RLWC2013 Tournament Director Nigel Wood and RLWC2013 General Manager Sally Bolton along with representatives of all 14 nations including Australian captain Cameron Smith and England forward Sam Burgess.
World Cup TV spoke to Smith and Burgess about what His Royal Highness had to say...


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Styling Steps
1. Wax Hair Down at the Back
Apply some wax to your fingertips and then pull through the ends of your hair in a downward motion to achieve a sculptured look. Pinch clumps of hair in different directions for a messier result.
2. Style Sides Down Using Wax
Using a small amount of wax, work it through the mid-lengths and ends in a downward, pinching motion. For added texture, apply more pinching and more wax.
3. Flatten the Top Using Wax
Apply wax to the palms of your hands, and then starting at the top-back area, drag your hands forward, flattening your hair down as you go. For a wetter look use more wax.
4. Style Bangs to the Right Using Wax
Apply wax to your fingertips then drag through your bangs, sweeping the hair to the right as you go. Pinching the ends will create soft texture.


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Snowboard winner
Standard Sales Co. and Durango Mountain Resort are partnering for the 2012-2013 ski season. To celebrate Bud Light being the new official beer of DMR, Standard Sales is running a promotion with participating liquor stores in Durango and Cortez. to give away one snowboard each month between all of the entries. December's winner, Jackie Nelson, came from G Whil Liquors at 24001 Road G.2 in Cortez. Standard Sales would like to thank G Whil Liquor for continuing to support their program.
Builders Assoc. to hold round-table discussion
Four Corners Builders Association will hold a public round-table discussion on Tuesday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. at First National Bank's conference room at 2258 E. Main St. The meeting will be open to questions from those that come participate, on topics such as home loans, what type of gravel is needed to create a solid driveway, or repairs to property currently owned or that are being looked at for purchase. These and other questions not listed will be open for discussion. For more information, call 565-1771.
Seas'nings to hold 3-course Valentines Tea
February is a favorite month for sweethearts, and there is no nicer way to celebrate than with a special Valentine Tea on Saturday, Feb. 16, at 2:30 p.m. Plan to bring a sweetheart - yes, gentlemen are welcome - or another friend or family member to enjoy a three-course tea menu at $20 per person. The hearts and flowers will be out for the occasion at Seas'nings, at 26 S. Madison St. Space is limited, and reservations are required; call 565-2728 for more information or to reserve a spot.
Region 9 has new website
The Region 9 Economic Development District has a newly-designed website. The website includes regional data, information on Enterprise Zone tax credits, Region 9's business loan fund and technical assistance services. Locally, Region 9 EDD serves Montezuma and Dolores Counties and the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe. They also serve Archuleta, La Plata and San Juan Counties and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. For more information, go to www.scan.org.


text:
The purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment. Screening tests are usually administered to people without current symptoms, but who may be at high risk for certain diseases or conditions.
Screening Tests or Guidelines
At this time, there are no screening tests or screening guidelines for male infertility. However, your doctor may request a semen analysis, which is considered part of the diagnostic workup for infertility.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: Adrienne Carmack, MD
- Review Date: 12/2014 -
- Update Date: 12/20/2014 -


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Votes: 37
Reviews: 11
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Big hopes have been pinned on Casey's arrival, as a defensive minded coach with a talent for creating systems that maximize his resources. But what can he realistically accomplish between December 9th and the Raps first game? And then on in the season with the Raptors playing 3.9 games a week?
During the two week training camp, a lot of time is going to be spent getting the guys into game shape. During the season, even though 48 games are in their own conference, and only 18 are in the West, there will still be a lot of days given over to travel. The Raptors will be lucky to average one decent practice a week during the season.
If you are trying to instil a new system, repetition is essential I would think. Maybe Casey can somehow dumb things down. If not, I wouldn't expect to see any significant defensive breakthroughs with this team.


text:
48 comments:
- drakefell debaser said...
'band composed of teachers & parents'
The organisers had best make sure its strictly traditional. No sitars or other foreign instruments please.
I am looking forward to it as I missed last years one.
- 28 November 2008 at 15:58
- Monkeyboy said...
Ohhhhhh so that's Patrick Baladi. Bodies was an excellent series, it was on a a stupid hour so didn't get a wide audience. Was one of my must watches, wouldn't recommend it if you are an expectant parent or have had a bad obstetric experience.
- 28 November 2008 at 17:12
- Not proper Brockley said...
This is going to be great. I went to last year's and bought my whole family some ethically sourced coat hangers and a whole bag of fair trade cous cous. It was quite the Christmas party...
- 28 November 2008 at 17:20
- Not proper Brockley said...
"No sitars or other foreign instruments please."
Yes, just guitars (Arabic/Indian via Rome and Spain), pianos (Persia via Italy), trumpets (Egypt, Scandanavia and China [presumably independently]). Or maybe a flute (German), violin (Mongolian) or a saxophone (Belgian).
Don't want to listen to any of that filthy foreign muck...
- 28 November 2008 at 17:30
- Not proper Brockley said...
- 28 November 2008 at 17:33
- Anonymous said...
- 28 November 2008 at 17:34
- Monkeyboy said...
Not Proper Brockley....you've not been on here long have you? I think you'll find that DB was aiming that comment at our resident xenophobe who whined last year about the lack of 'proper' traditional british content at the market and complained about the summer fayre having a steel band.
- 28 November 2008 at 18:23
- Anonymous said...
For a newbie he or she's certainly picked up the hilarious 'mung bean eating/ethically sourced/organic/Guardian reading Brockleyites' gags quickly.
- 28 November 2008 at 18:43
- drakefell debaser said...
yeah sorry I couldn't resist. Not Proper Brockley, I am not fussed what gets played.
Interesting contribution to musical instruments by the English then, Not sure what jingle bells to bag pipes would sound like, but I bet it's difficult to play.
- 28 November 2008 at 18:48
- Anonymous said...
Hopefully Paddy B will be wowing us with his John Travolta moves, before flicking the switch ;-)
- 28 November 2008 at 20:41
- Anonymous said...
Patrick Baladi from The Office is turning on the Christmas lights in Brockley? Is this a case of life imitating art? That is so, so crap it could have been in an episode of the Office itself. Hilarious.
- 28 November 2008 at 20:42
- Anonymous said...
As I pointed out in Suggest a Topic, he does actually live here, so not that pathetic!
- 28 November 2008 at 20:52
- Tressilliana said...
Excuse me, DD, I'd like an opportunity to take offence here! The English did not invent bagpipes, nor are they associated with England. According to Wikipedia, the Hittites might have been amongst the first people to invent bagpipes:
but nowadays they're most closely associated with Scotland, surely?
- 29 November 2008 at 09:45
- Monkeyboy said...
Christ, the thought that anyone would consciously invent something that sounds like a skinhead kicking a small dog is beyond me.
Perhaps it was invented as a Hittite joke that went too far?
- 29 November 2008 at 09:51
- Tressilliana said...
You're part-Italian, aren't you, MB? Your lot have them too, in that case:
I love the sound of the pipes. We often visit my parents at the time of the annual Highland Games for the area, which starts with four pipe bands processing to the ground, all playing different tunes at the same time. Stirs the blood!
- 29 November 2008 at 10:12
- nobbly brick said...
"Sir" Steve Bullock is opening the Ladywell Xmas market - he seems like more of a Bromley resident to me...
ho ho ho
- 29 November 2008 at 10:23
- fred vest said...
i used to play the bagpipes
- 29 November 2008 at 10:45
- nobbly brick said...
meeting gentlemen in a public lavatory is not 'playing the bagpipes' Fred...
- 29 November 2008 at 11:17
- fred vest said...
oh yes it is
- 29 November 2008 at 12:11
- nobbly brick said...
I stand corrected
- 29 November 2008 at 13:19
- Paddyom said...
Fantastic - well done on securing a big actor to switch on the lights - i am dead impressed!
- 29 November 2008 at 23:50
- Not proper Brockley said...
when properly 'wrastled' the pipes can be a beautiful sounding ache. There are english, scots, Irish (and probably Welsh) pipes. As far as i'm aware the english pipes are a Northumbrian traditional instrument and are used in the makings of such classics as 'The Lampton Worm'. Hell of a tune...
- 30 November 2008 at 05:12
- Not proper Brockley said...
ps. you don't have to have read ay of this site (although I have) to make jokes about the Guardian reading, mung bean eating, ethically sourcing, cous cous demolishing Brockleyites. You just need to have lived here for a while. When will the council demolish the Broca in favour of a small gaming arcade or pool hall? Not soon enough
- 30 November 2008 at 05:14
- mintness said...
Wheesht, lads, had yer gobs, I'll tell yous aal an awful story...
I always thought it was the Lambton Worm myself, but the word-of-mouth principle of traditional song still held sway in my Geordie primary school days, so I wouldn't want to be too assertive.
As for pipes, guts and the like, you can't beat a Macedonian gajda (disappointingly unrelated to the heemasexualist hook-up site of a similar name). Not content with polluting its fledgling country's World Music scene, the instrument's atonal sounds even find its way into their bloody Eurovision songs. If only I had the skill to fashion one from a cow's stomach and a roll of organic Sellotape - for that is practically all it takes - I'd sign up for a Christmas market stall right now.
- 30 November 2008 at 06:07
- Not proper Brockley said...
I'll defer to your first hand geordie experience. I only heard the song off my mum when i was a kid, and on a tape with no inlay!
- 30 November 2008 at 19:28
- lb said...
I agree the gajda's brilliant, as are those Italian bagpipes that need two people to play them.
- 1 December 2008 at 09:11
- drakefell debaser said...
Tressilliana, sorry I didn't mean to cause offense. The bagpipes I was referring to were the ones mentioned in the previous Wikipedia link on the English version.
I bought a set of bagpipes on my first visit to Edinburgh thinking they would make a good souvenir but once I got them home and saw the 'Made in China' tag I felt a little cheated as the only thing Scottish was the chap who sold them. I should have bought more whiskey.
- 1 December 2008 at 12:58
- Anonymous said...
Great to see the Xmas market back.
By the way I reckon Coulgate Street would be a great place for a regular market.
Would it not be a good idea for the Telegraph Hill farmers market to be based on Coulgate street instead?
It would be bound to have more custom and would encourage trade in nearby shops too. Worth considering in these credit crunch times.
Brockley Jim
- 1 December 2008 at 13:35
- lb said...
[dd] To avoid offending even more Scots people, I'll tactfully point out that "whiskey" is generally made in Ireland. It's "whisky" you're thinking of (and very nice it is too).
- 1 December 2008 at 13:53
- Tressilliana said...
DD, I've been following this website for about six months now and causing offence seems to be a large part of its raison d'etre! I'm not that touchy (for a Scot, anyway).
- 1 December 2008 at 14:02
- drakefell debaser said...
Oops I didn't realise there are different spellings. Learn something new every day. I enjoy whiskey and whisky as well as Bourbon. Have you tried Albannach in Trafalgar Square LB? Great selection of whisky but you need to forget about the state of the economy before going in else you will just drink water. Worth it though.
- 1 December 2008 at 14:35
- lb said...
Oh yes, well worth a look.
And speaking of water, a splash of it will do a good malt no harm (and make it go further too).
By the way if you want to try the Irish stuff I recommend something called "Redbreast" if you can find it.
- 1 December 2008 at 14:37
- drakefell debaser said...
'Would it not be a good idea for the Telegraph Hill farmers market to be based on Coulgate street instead?'
Now why would that be a good idea? Is it because that additional 10 minutes walk means you have to cross the tracks? You really do not like the darkside do you Brockley Jim?
Besides it wouldn't be Telegraph Hill Farmers Market if it moved and not everything can be shifted around for your convenience.
- 1 December 2008 at 14:38
- fred vest said...
a splash of water does wonders for a good malt in my opinion, really opens up and releases the flavours
- 1 December 2008 at 14:39
- drakefell debaser said...
LB, you get a little jug of water to go with your drink in the Albannach. It does make the drink last longer and softens it a little.
I shall try and find a bottle of Redbreast and give it a go.
- 1 December 2008 at 14:44
- Anonymous said...
I actually live closer to the 'dark side' and Telegraph Hill than Coulgate Street but I always thought it strange that Lewisham farmers markets were in the parks and not on the streets.
Brockley Jim
- 1 December 2008 at 16:07
- All the World said...
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- 1 December 2008 at 16:17
- drakefell debaser said...
Fair enough Brockley Jim, I am just getting a little bored of the habitual slagging off of West Brockley, Darkside, Mordor or what ever else people refer to it as so I thought you were just having another go.
Is it not easier in terms of planning or health and safety to have it in a park rather than a street? I dont know but most things seem to hinge on these two issues and most farmers markets do tend to be in a green space.
- 1 December 2008 at 16:18
- Telegraph Hill Tamsin said...
Er, thank you Brockley Jim, but it is quite nice for those who live in Telegraph Hill to have the Farmers Market in the Telegraph Hill Park! Not as many people use it as we would hope, but those who do would probably not trog all the way over to Coulgate Street with their children and back again with their children and shopping. Currently people shop there and then visit the playclub with their kids for a bit of a run around.
- 3 December 2008 at 14:57
- Tamsin said...
Drakefell, never try to buy whiskey in Scotland.
Scotch Whisky
Irish Whiskey
from the gaelic "water of life" in both cases.
(Sorry - just seen others have beat me to in in correcting you!)
- 3 December 2008 at 15:05
- Headhunter said...
And Bourbon? Whisky or whiskey?
- 3 December 2008 at 15:19
- Anonymous said...
Definition of a gentleman - someone who can play the bagpipes. But doesn't.
- 5 December 2008 at 15:55
- LetsbyAvenue said...
Definition of a gentleman: someone who can play the bagpipes - but doesn't.
- 5 December 2008 at 15:58
- Tressillian James said...
Bourbon - is Whiskey
- 5 December 2008 at 16:35
- Headhunter said...
I suppose that's logical with the Irish influence in the US...
- 5 December 2008 at 16:50
- Anonymous said...
No Green Santa this year, in a highly controversial move the Santa was black!
- 13 December 2008 at 17:10
- Monkeyboy said...
Don't say that! Cat still thinks he's real - he'll be sulking.
By the way, there were boy scouts packing bags at Sainsbury's (for charidy mate!)
The thing is they did look a lot like adults. Do you think they screen recruits to make sure they are actually kids? I'm phoning the Daily Mail pronto.
- 13 December 2008 at 17:30
- Anonymous said...
It is of course possible that he could be real and black
- 13 December 2008 at 19:09


text:
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Intel is looking to change that and will be bringing its own discrete
products to market at some point. The discrete graphics cards from Intel will
use the Larrabee architecture and
according to eWeek; discrete graphics cards using the Larrabee architecture won't be available
until 2009 or 2010. EWeek does say that Intel will be sampling Larrabee in 2008.
Intel has begun talking about the Larrabee
architecture and naturally, it feels that Larrabee
is the best architecture out there. What makes Intel so enthused by its
architecture is that the Larrabee
core is based on the Pentium CPU and uses x86 cores. The use of x86 cores means
that programmers and game developers can use the familiar programming languages
-- like C and C++ -- that have been in use for a number of years, rather
than having to learn a new programming language like NVIDIA's CUDA.
Intel says that its Larrabee is a
many-core processor and eWeek reports that it will likely containing ten
or more individual x86 processor cores inside the silicon package. Discrete
graphics cards using the Larrabee
architecture will initially be aimed
at the gaming market. That means Intel is directly targeting AMD and NVIDIA
with Larrabee.
Intel says Larrabee will support
both DirectX and OpenGL APIs and it is encouraging developers to design new and
graphic intense applications for the architecture. Larrabee will also bring a new era in parallel computing with
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Intel has combined the throughput of a CPU with the parallel programming
ability of a GPU. Intel says that Larrabee
will also contain vector-processing units to enhance the performance of
graphics and video applications. The x86 cores feature short instructional
pipelines and can support four execution threads with each core. Each core can
also support a register set to help with memory. The short instructional
pipeline allows faster access to L1 cache with each core.
Intel says that all cores on Larrabee
will share access to a large L2 cache partitioned for each of the cores. The
arrangement of the Larrabee
architecture allows it to maintain an efficient in-order pipeline, yet allows
the processor some benefits of an out-of-order processor to help with parallel
applications. Communication between all of the Larrabee cores will be enhanced by using what Intel calls a
bidirectional ring network.
Larry Seiler from Intel says, "What the graphics and general data
parallel application market needs is an architecture that provides the full
programming abilities of a CPU, the full capabilities of a CPU together with
the parallelism that is inherent in graphics processors. Larrabee provides [that] and it's a practical solution to the
limitations of current graphics processors."
According to News.com, one Intel slide shows that the performance of
the Larrabee architecture scales
linearly with four cores offering twice the performance of two cores.
According to News.com core counts for Larrabee will range from 8 to 48 -- the exact core count for the Larrabee architecture is unknown at this


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text:
Part III
Thanks for joining today's Halloween Party. Today we will have five topics with five chances to win prizes! The topic for this hour is our final topic - Our Halloween Baby!
A vampire and witch just had a baby! What spooky name ideas do you have for the baby?
For a chance to win a $100 Amex gift card, share your spooky names!
Remember, each comment = a chance to win! We'll pick the winner at 5 pm eastern.
Happy Halloween!!!
U.S. Only - Employees of BabyCenter and their families are not eligible.


text:
To The Boiling Point...
In 1984, my family experienced something I will never forget. I was just ten years old at the time. It was somewhere around eight o' clock on a Monday morning. Brother and I were getting ready for school. He was at the kitchen table munching on a bowl of Captain Crunch, and having just finished scarfing down mine, I sat on the couch, watching cartoons.
We were running late that morning, and since we had already missed the bus, mom was preparing to drive us to school. It was only a matter of putting her shoes on, grabbing her keys, and getting in the car. Just then, there was a knock at the door. I was going to answer it, but mom ran over and answered it first.
The door swung open to reveal a thin, black-haired man with a small, muscular build and several indistinct tattoos running up his forearms and biceps. He was wearing a midnight blue t-shirt with what looked like some kind of nightclub logo on it and tight-fitting blue jeans. It was like I could smell the thinning, oily hair on that almost peanut-shaped head of his from the couch—that and the overpowering whiff of cologne and cigarettes. He had a bottle of spray cleaner in his right hand. He said to my mother in a very high-pitch, scraggly voice (I don't remember exactly, so I'm paraphrasing here): "Hi, I'm selling these bottles of spray cleaner. It's a good cleaner. If I can come in and demonstrate on a piece of laundry or dirty surface in your house…"
Something just felt wrong about the guy, even before he said a word. The way he wasn't holding up the cleaning bottle so that it could be examined was odd. He was a terrible speaker who obviously hadn't put much work into his sales pitch, and just like that, he seemed so interested in coming inside! This guy didn't come off like a salesman. He wasn't charismatic or persuasive like a salesman, and he sure wasn't dressed like one. Even my mother, being the nice and entreating person she sometimes can be, looked a little puzzled and interrupted him in mid-sentence: "Well, thanks, but not right now. I'm just walking out to take my kids to school." The man said – this time with more creepy energy in that scratchy voice of his – "It'll only take a minute." Mom replied, "Well, I gotta say no. We're already late as it is. But thanks. Maybe another time." The man seemed to look down for a second before leaving our porch as though fighting himself on what to do next. He then unenthusiastically left, stiffly walking away like he really didn't want to go. He left, and that was that.
The pungent scent of cheap cologne and menthol smokes still lingering, mom looked at us, then rolled her eyes, making a comment or two on how weird that fellow was, but being that we were in a hurry, we forgot about it. In less than five minutes, we were in the family's 1981 Ford Escort and on our way to school. We didn't even make it down the street before seeing two police cars parked against the curb out in front of a neighbor's house and several police officers forcing the man against the trunk of a squad car. One officer searched his pockets and another put cuffs on him. As much as mom could without getting too much attention, she slowed down to get a better view of what was transpiring. When we saw the man, all mom could say was, "Oh…my…God! I almost let that man in!" Brother and I pivoted on our knees in the rear-most bench seat to watch as the man was lowered into the patrol car. It was chilling to see the spooky man meet our gaze just before we drove out of view!
Watching the 6 o' clock news that evening, with curiosity and a still present disconcertedness in the air, we discovered just how lucky we were. The man that was arrested was a serial rapist, who sometimes pretended to sell door-to-door products. He would introduce the product and then ask his female victims for the opportunity to demonstrate their effectiveness indoors. Once he was let in (or if he could force his way in without being seen), he began beating his victims with his fists. When the unfortunate traumatized were sufficiently bloodied, he tied them facedown to their beds or couches and raped them in that position. Then he fled the scene of the crime, leaving the victim bound. We learned that on at least one of the six rapes mentioned in his confession, he gave a boy my age two black eyes and some broken ribs and then bound him to watch his obese mother be viciously sodomized.
We narrowly missed having our worlds turned upside-down that fateful day. Had mom not been so diligent as to keep him outside, things would have been much, much different! In a flash, all those McGruff "take a bite out of crime" films we saw at school made a whole lot of sense!
Accompanying the shock and lively conversation this generated among the family were the customary platitudes of divine thanksgiving, "The angels were looking out for you," "God moved your mom's heart not to let that man in," "Jesus was watching over you," "God must really love this family!", and on and on it went. I can remember this being repeated when I became a minister. God just had to make sure I wasn't hurt so that things would fall into place later in life, allowing me to become a preacher. I didn't think much of it at the time, but today I definitely think about it and am beside myself at the arrogance of such self-serving sentiments.
With only a slight inclination towards rationality one is compelled to answer the question of what happened with the previous six victims of this brutalizing maniac, this sick, twisted beast of a man, unworthy even of a Chinese zoo. Did God not like them? Why would he not send his angels to protect them, or if no one else, just that eleven-year-old boy who had to be hospitalized for his beatings? We can scrape the bottom of the barrel asking what "plan" a divine being could possibly have had for allowing some lying pervert – fit to be put into a wood chipper – to violate these families, but no answer will surface. Those poor women, that unfortunate child; the nightmares they must have had, the horrible flashbacks brought on by this short-circuited toaster of a man; the mental agony, the engrained trauma, the irreparable damage done must have been unbearable.
One can be forgiven for letting the imagination run wild, seeing in the theatre of the mind this loathsome individual restrained, with honey on his genitals, and thrown facedown on an anthill. But there is something else that's loathsome here; it is the believer's conceited conviction that he is somehow indispensable to the universe. There is nothing more selfish than to assume that those who narrowly miss tragedy are spared from it by a watchful deity. These prized souls must have a special destiny, whereas the rest of us are getting the "sloppy seconds" of God's providential care. I am ashamed to say that I used to think like this, but I have thankfully come to my senses, and I can think of nothing more haughty, more gloatingly advantageous than to think that because tragedy hasn't stricken me that it couldn't have because of preferential heavenly factors. Just because I wasn't bum-rushed on a subway train and robbed doesn't mean I was saved from that fate by a god, and yet this big-headed belief on the part of those who feel too cosmically important to face the music of life's mayhem are yapping on like schnauzers of stupidity about their blessings all the time. Just watch the news as some bible-thumping buffoon walks away from a car accident and gets on TV and thanks God for it.
A believer thanking God for his deliverance from catastrophe is like one of two siblings thanking his abusive stepfather because the retrograde scoundrel chose to beat his brother with the steel pipe, and not him. When one thanks God for his deliverance, the person is in effect saying, "Jesus, as a person who hates violence, I don't understand why you allow it, but if you, God, in your infinite wisdom, must allow someone to die or suffer, I'm glad it wasn't me." This unstated line of bloated, self-preserving thinking I renounce as among the worst of mental convictions brought on by a gangrenous spirituality.
How dare you, believer, rejoice because you think your life was spared by a deity when no one had to die to begin with, when loss of life or injury was as needless as an air conditioner in Barrow, Alaska.
How dare you, believer, give thanks to a being who saves a few and slaughters many, many of the slaughtered being god's own faithful.
How dare you, believer, thank a god who orchestrates his sovereign will so unpredictably that a sane, non-religious mind can only view it as the work of blind chance.
When God blesses some, he curses others by leaving them to endure their calamities, and it makes sense; if god is to be glorified by puny patrons, he must save only a few, and naturally, leave the rest to rot. My family was not "blessed" by God to be delivered from this sicko-path anymore than the others were "cursed" who were subjected to him. Like many other chance-favored, would-be victims, we were fortunate. Our location, the order and times in which the human-meat-monger picked his prey, and our very admissible porch were the factors that put us out of harm's way. It brings me to the boiling point to think of those who consider themselves bodyguarded by the Big Man Upstairs, while the rest of us get to know life's tales of terror firsthand—God's arms crossed and folded nicely all the while.


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Guys, get over the money. CBA negotiations have led to talks of all salaries getting clawed back significantly.
Guys, get over the money. CBA negotiations have led to talks of all salaries getting clawed back significantly.
Man I hope this goes through. With this trade going down we would actually have a shot of being a good defensive team.
Rudy Gay's defensive stats:
Opp. PER: 12.6.
That's elite defense.
He's also only 24.
Fuck yes, do this trade.
He is also coming off an injury. Which I don't know much about, and since no one is talking about, I am thinking its not a big deal. ...but just to be sure, how bad was this injury? Could it have long term consequences for Gay?
bayless/derozen/gay/amir/ed is a hell of a starting lineup imo. throw in a guy like Knight or Kanter and a FA along with JJ and Kleiza coming off the bench, that's a playoff team right there.
I've just got two words for ya, and this guy always says it best:
Just one year away... Bruno is almost here!
http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/1257/rudy-gayRudy Gay said he is no longer using a sling on his surgically repaired left shoulder.
Gay was set for 4-6 months of rehab after getting shoulder surgery about two months ago. Considering it's his non-shooting shoulder and direct pounding on it is rare, we're not expecting any medical issues going forward.
I would not normally be into going after Gay, because I think he's just massively overpaid, but if the Raptors can get him for Bargnani, Calderon and Barbosa, then I don't think they can not do it. I'd rather pay Gay what he's getting paid than pay Bargnani and Calderon what they're getting paid together. Personally, I'd rather keep Calderon for now, but I don't see the deal happening without him.
Gay isn't perfect, but he's young, highly skilled and has a positive effect whenever he's on the floor. And he's a better defensive player than his reputation. This past season, he held his opponent to an 11.2 PER, which is excellent. That's the second best on the team behind only Battier.
Let's all make Toronto a Gay-friendly city!
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If this trade goes down, we are looking at a point guard in the draft for sure. Imagine if we actually won the lottery AND had this trade go down... our starters would be set for years. (Irving, DD, Gay, Amir, ED) Great defensive AND offensive line-up, lacking a little in size, but makes up for it with length and athleticism. bench would need improvement though.
Still even though stern was never in favour of the raptors winning anything, we could still potentially have a lethal point guard tandem, with knight and bayless, in the future. The lack of experience will keep us from going anywhere, but trading bargnani helps us develop our young team (everyone important is now under 25), meaning in just a few years when DD and ED are both in their primes, this team will be a lethal top defensive team.
Cant wait to fiend off of every other trade rumour all summer :]
http://morningjournal.com/articles/2...mode=fullstory"Would you please make it clear that we're not trading Rudy Gay?" he said. "(The rumors), quite frankly, (tick) me off. I think it's cruel to the guy. He 'died' during this period. That's how much he wanted to play. And to now have to hear that we're trading him? There's nothing more untrue than that."
uh oh ):
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all 3 teams get better from this, TJ is probably pissed, but not like he's playing these days anyway
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The only pick they have in the 2013 draft is 1-3. If they fail to make the playoffs (which they will) and if they don't win the lottery (ie, move up in the draft) they lose their pick to OKC. If they continue to lose, then the typical reward that most losing teams get (ie, a high draft pick) could be gone. So the losing may be for nothing.
The idea of developing our young players makes sense, but Casey proved last year that he wants to win every game. So he will continue to play his vets. When Anderson is healthy, he will use him a lot. Jose will get a tonne of minutes as usual. Gray will probably get his fare share of minutes as well. So the idea of developing young players makes sense, but it won't really happen with Casey as the coach as he proved last year.
If the Raptors do get a top 3 pick in 2013, then they could lose the pick in 2014 - which most agree is going to be a much stronger draft. Even a top 3 pick in 2013 could be a low lottery pick in 2014. So it might make more sense to lose the 2013 pick and give that to OKC now so that we would not have to worry about losing the 2014 draft pick.
That is why this year has been so frustrating. I personally do not want to see a tank. I want to win. The ideal situation for me would be to be ranked #9th.. ie, just miss the playoffs so the pick goes to OKC. OKC would get a pretty bad pick (13th/14th) and we'd get to keep our pick in 2014 and beyond.
The way things are going though, I wouldn't be surprised if we missed the top 3 and ended up giving OKC the #4 pick. So unlike last year, I really want the Raps to win as many games as they can - and its super frustrating to see them lose.


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Google chief executive Eric Schmidt is under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission for his potentially improper relationship with electronics giant Apple. The FTC believes that Mr. Schmidt's directorships at the two companies, which compete in at least one sector, cell phones, may constitute a breach of antitrust laws. However, despite the government pressure, Mr. Schmidt refuses to give up his relationship with Apple.
Eric Schmidt invested heavily in Apple over the last decade and on August 28, 2006 he was awarded with a position on Apple's board of directors. Mr. Schmidt described his love for Apple, stating, "Apple is one of the companies in the world that I most admire. I'm really looking forward to working with Steve and Apple's board to help with all of the amazing things Apple is doing."
Apple founder and CEO Steve Jobs returned the love, stating, "Eric is obviously doing a terrific job as CEO of Google, and we look forward to his contributions as a member of Apple's board of directors. Like Apple, Google is very focused on innovation and we think Eric's insights and experience will be very valuable in helping to guide Apple in the years ahead."
Over the last few years, as a director at Apple, he has been responsible in part for designating broad policies and objectives, approving budgets, and completing other financial management. Despite the jeopardy that Mr. Schmidt is currently in, he is fighting to retain his position.
He spoke to reporters at Google's Mountain View Headquarters in California, insisting that the relationship was on level, stating, "If there are issues on competitiveness, I recuse myself. From my perspective I don't think Google sees Apple as a primary competitor."
When asked if he might quit Apple, he stated "it hasn't crossed my mind."
Also under investigation is Arthur Levinson, former CEO of Genetech, who also serves on both boards. Google's legal counsel Kent Walker believes that tie is legal, stating, "The law is clear that there is a safe harbour under the Clayton Act for companies that don't have overlapping revenue in different areas, and we're comfortable with that position."
Some shareholders are angry with Mr. Schmidt's relationship with Apple, though. Brandon Rees, a representative of a group of major shareholders, states, "There is nothing to gain and a lot to lose. We don't want Google to become an antitrust devil like Microsoft did."
If Mr. Schmidt is found in violation of antitrust laws it would be a major blow for Google. He would likely have to pick between his two worlds -- his life with Google, and his love for Apple.


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Before the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, few Americans had heard about the division between the Sunni and Shiite branches of Islam, and even fewer could tell the difference between them. That promptly changed with al-Qaeda and the war in Iraq.
Regardless of what motivated the two young Chechen brothers to allegedly carry out the deadly Boston Marathon bombing on April 15, Americans will now have to delve into the long and murky history of the Russian-Chechen conflict. It has its roots in the 19th century struggle against Russian domination of the Caucasus and in Joseph Stalin's decision after World War II to uproot the entire Chechen nation from their native land and deport them to Central Asia. Tens of thousands died en route and in the inhospitable steppes where they were unceremoniously dumped without food or shelter.
The latest chapter of the conflict was inaugurated after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Chechnya demanded independence, and Russia fought two wars to keep it in the Russian Federation. The wars were exceptionally brutal, with both sides committing war crimes, kidnapping, murdering and displacing civilians and engaging in acts of undisguised banditry.
Chechnya remains part of Russia, but only nominally. To defeat the separatists, Russia gave a free hand in the republic to Ramzan Kadyrov, a former field commander of the Chechen rebels who switched sides and went over to the Russians. Kadyrov is loyal to the Kremlin but rules Chechnya with a mailed fist. Russia pours billions of dollars into Chechnya but has no say in what goes on there. Nor does anyone else. Kadyrov's opponents have wound up dead in places like Vienna, Moscow and the United Arab Emirates.
Meanwhile, a low-grade rebellion goes on, drawing on the discontent of ordinary Chechens, brutalized by Kadyrov and his henchmen, creating an enduring refugee problem and a large global diaspora. The rebellion has become more radical, often embracing violent forms of Islam and spreading to other parts of the Caucasus.
Moscow has also suffered from Chechen terror. There were two hostage dramas, one at a Moscow theater in 2002 and another at an elementary school in Beslan, North Ossetia in 2004. Both ended tragically when Russian forces stormed the terrorists. In more recent years, there have been bombings on the Moscow subway and on passenger airliners. Dozens more lost their lives.
With both Russia and the United States facing the same threat, is there suddenly a community of interests that will bring the two countries together after a period of Cold War-like rancor? After all, Russia's president Vladimir Putin was the first foreign leader to express solidarity with the United States after 9/11, and Russia worked closely with Washington during the early stages of the war in Afghanistan.
But times have changed. The fact that Chechen fighters have been radicalized is nothing new. Chechens have been a presence among militant Islamists in Afghanistan, Libya, Syria and elsewhere. in fact, the Obama administration is inclined to the view Russia's policies in the North Caucasus as part of the problem, not of the solution.
This is unlikely to spur any rapprochement between Washington and Moscow. On the contrary, it will likely heighten international tensions.


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UK 'terrorists' may lose passports
The Home Secretary has slotted in a last-minute change to the Government's Immigration Bill so British terror suspects can be stripped of their citizenship even if it leaves them stateless.
In an apparent effort to appease Conservative backbenchers calling for tougher measures in the new legislation, Theresa May has tabled an amendment which will allow the removal of a UK passport from any person whose conduct is deemed " seriously prejudicial to the vital interests of the UK".
The Home Secretary already has the power to take away British citizenship from those with dual nationality, however, this change would allow her to make people stateless if they have been naturalised as a British citizen.
It comes as the Home Secretary and Prime Minister David Cameron face a backbench rebellion when the Immigration Bill returns to the Commons tomorrow.
Human rights campaigners branded the move an "alarming development" giving the Home Secretary power to "tear up people's passports without any need for the kind of due process".
But the Home Office insisted powers to make British citizens stateless will be used sparingly and in strict accordance with the UK's international obligations.
Immigration Minister Mark Harper said: " Those who threaten this country's security put us all at risk. This Government will take all necessary steps to protect the public.
"Citizenship is a privilege, not a right. These proposals will strengthen the Home Secretary's powers to ensure that very dangerous individuals can be excluded if it is in the public interest to do so."
One of the most high-profile cases involving statelessness concerns Hilal al-Jedda, who fled from Iraq to the UK in 1992 as a refugee from Saddam Hussein's regime. He won asylum and in 2000 was granted British nationality.
However, he returned to Iraq in 2004 where he came under suspicion of involvement in terrorism and in 2007 was stripped of his British nationality.
Al-Jedda, who now lives in Turkey, has since been fighting against the move through a series of legal appeals.
In October last year, Supreme Court judges ruled that it was illegal to make him stateless.
However, despite this ruling, the Home Secretary stripped al-Jedda of his UK citizenship for a second time in December last year.
A spokesman for legal charity Reprieve said: "This is a very alarming development, which reverses a long-standing ban on citizenship-stripping where doing so would leave someone stateless.
"It would give the Home Secretary the power to tear up people's passports without any need for the kind of due process we might once have expected as British citizens.
"The concern is that this is all part of the wider excesses of the US-led 'war on terror': once someone has been rendered stateless, it becomes much easier to subject them to execution by drone, without the inconvenience of legal consequences."
The Prime Minister has reportedly been seeking to minimise a rebellion by reassuring backbenchers he shares their concerns, but has appealed for them to allow legislation to proceed uninhibited.
Around 70 Conservative backbenchers have signed a tweaked amendment to the legislation, originally tabled by Nigel Mills MP, which calls on the Government to reinstate restrictions on migrants from Romania and Bulgaria working in Britain until the end of 2018.
A further 100 MPs have come out in support of a move by Tory MP Dominic Raab to completely block foreign criminals appealing against deportation by claiming a right to a ''family life'' in the UK.
Mr Mills, Conservative MP for Amber Valley, attempted to have labour market restrictions for Romanians and Bulgarians extended before they were lifted on January 1.
Mr Cameron rushed through new measures to ensure EU migrants are unable to claim out-of-work benefits for their first three months in the UK - but this was not enough to satisfy Mr Mills and his backers.
However, the MP has lost the significant support of influential backbencher Douglas Carswell MP, who despite having signed the amendment announced on his blog he would no longer vote for it.
Meanwhile, Mr Raab's amendment would see the Home Secretary - rather than the courts - have the final say on whether an offender's family links are strong enough to allow them to avoid deportation.
Foreign criminals who can prove they face torture, ill-treatment or death in their home country will still be able to overturn deportation orders under separate human rights measures.
More than 200 foreign criminals successfully challenge deportation on human rights grounds every year with around 90% relying on the ''right to private and family life'' set out under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Cameron signalled that he shared backbenchers' frustration with the use of Article 8 and urged them not to delay the passage of the Bill.
He said: ''We need to correct - and we will correct in the Immigration Bill - the fact that it is so difficult to deport people who don't have a right to be here and should be facing trial overseas or should be deported overseas but make spurious arguments about the right to a family life.
''It is right that we are changing that. There is nothing anti-European about it. It's a very sensible step that this Government is taking and we should pass the Immigration Bill with all speed.''
Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty, said: "Liberty always said that terror suspects should be charged and tried. First politicians avoided trials for foreign nationals; now they seek the same for their own citizens.
"This move is as irresponsible as it is unjust. It would allow British Governments to dump dangerous people on the international community, but equally to punish potential innocent political dissenters without charge or trial. There is the edge of populist madness and then the abyss."


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Microsoft has long annoyed security software makers over the last decade as it has rolled out free products which often offer a competitive alternative to competitor's packaged software free-of-charge. Microsoft merely offered a decently competitive product for a much cheaper price -- free.
With its firewall and antispyware (Windows Defender) built into Vista, business for private firewall software already has taken a hit. Now in a move that is sure to make Trend Micro, McAffee, Norton, and other security software makers lose sleep; Microsoft has announced that in 2009, it will offer free antivirus software.
To understand this new announcement, a quick trip down memory lane is in order.
Microsoft first entered the antivirus software business in 1992 with its Microsoft Anti-Virus product, which it contracted to Central Point Inc. (later acquired by Symantec). The software was designed for Microsoft DOS 6.0 through 6.22 and could detect an impressive 1,234 viruses. Unfortunately, there were no updates available, though a 1996 pack brought the total up to 2,371 viruses. Embarrassingly, the software though the Windows 95 installer file was a virus.
After the mixed reviews of Microsoft A-V, Microsoft left the business until 2005 when it released betas of Windows Live OneCare. The suite combined antivirus software with a tune-up utility, a stronger firewall, and a file backup utility. The bundle was made commercially available May 31, 2006. Subsequent Live OneCare 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 have also hit the market since, with the 2.5 iteration debuting in July 3 of this year.
Arriving in the present, Microsoft has announced it is axing the subscription based antivirus software business and will offer its antivirus tools for free. The new suite is codenamed "Morro" and will available in the second half of 2009. Microsoft describes the software as a "streamlined solution" and states, "[Morro] will provide comprehensive protection from malware including viruses, spyware, rootkits and trojans. This new solution, to be offered at no charge to consumers, will be architected for a smaller footprint that will use fewer computing resources, making it ideal for low-bandwidth scenarios or less powerful PCs."
The latter portion appears to be a clear nod to Windows efforts to push for a leaner footprint from top-to-bottom, a major focus of Windows 7 (which has been subject to recent doubts).
Microsoft will discontinue the OneCare subscription service June 30, 2009, but customers should fret not -- they will soon receive virtually the same solution entirely for free.
Amy Barzdukas, senior director of product management for the Online Services and Windows Division at Microsoft states, "Customers around the world have told us that they need comprehensive, ongoing protection from new and existing threats, and we take that concern seriously. This new, no-cost offering will give us the ability to protect an even greater number of consumers, especially in markets where the growth of new PC purchases is outpaced only by the growth of malware."
Microsoft has acknowledged that the suite may not contain some of the extra non-security utilities such as tune up and printer sharing available in some commercial antivirus solutions. However, when it comes to its core AV product it brags that its malware engine has garnered many awards already, including the VB100 award from Virus Bulletin, Checkmark Certification from West Coast Labs and certification from the International Computer Security Association Labs. Microsoft has made great strides in security, besting a Mac machine and tying a Linux box at a recent hacker conference.
The new software will be available for Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. Microsoft plans to integrate it with the upcoming Internet Explorer 8 browser which features many security enhancements including the much talked about "Porn Mode".


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OCZ Technology has become a major player in the enthusiast storage market, thanks to their strong Solid State Drive portfolio. The company has been very successful with its Vertex series of SSDs, but strong demand has kept prices high. Competitors like Super Talent have also begun to use the same NAND flash controllers from Indilinx, leading to shortages.
In response, OCZ has been looking for a second source for high-end NAND flash controllers. Samsung is a major supplier of NAND flash memory to OCZ, and has been seeking to broaden its product line by selling NAND controllers and DRAM cache as well. Samsung previously confirmed to DailyTech that they currently have no plans to sell their own PB22-J SSDs to the channel, preferring to sell them to OEMs instead.
OCZ's new Summit series of SSDs use the same S3C29RBB01 controller as found in the Samsung PB22-J. All models will come with a 128MB DRAM cache, doubling that of the Vertex series. The 250GB and 120GB models have a maximum read speed of 220MB/s and a maximum write speeds of 200MB/s. However, sustained writes can achieve 200MB/s; double that of the Vertex series using MLC chips. The 60GB model has the same read speed, but only 125MB/s max write. Random read and write speeds were not available.
The company will compete against Intel in the enterprise market with the Summit series and the new Vertex EX series, which uses faster SLC memory. Retail availability of the Summit series is expected later this week. Pricing information has not yet been disclosed.
OCZ, however, is not the first partner to use Samsung's new controller. Corsair launched and shipped its P256 drive last week. It uses the same S3C29RBB01 NAND controller, but has different firmware.


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Chinese Ministry of Public Security visit to INTERPOL underlines key role of international law enforcement cooperation
LYON, France – The Director General of the International Cooperation Department, Chinese Ministry of Public Security, has met with INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble at INTERPOL's General Secretariat headquarters to discuss security measures aimed at enhancing international cooperation against transnational crime.
The visit by Director General Jingrong Liao provided an opportunity to review key transnational organized crime issues such as human trafficking, drugs trafficking and illegal football gambling.
"China's authorities recognize INTERPOL's essential role in fighting transnational crime in all its forms, through effective cooperation between police forces worldwide. We therefore look forward to developing our relationship with INTERPOL and its member countries even further in combating all forms of international crime," said Jingrong Liao, Director General, International Cooperation Department, Chinese Ministry of Public Security.
Secretary General Noble pointed to China's support of a number of projects targeting Asian organized crime networks, in particular the SOGA operations combating illegal football gambling. Between 2007 and 2010 the three operations led to nearly 7,000 arrests, the seizure of more than USD 26 million in cash and the closure of illegal gambling dens handling bets worth more than USD 2 billion.
In September of this year, global efforts to combat trafficking in illicit goods took a significant step forward when China hosted its first INTERPOL training session against illicit trade. The seminar followed the success of Operation Hurricane, the first ever INTERPOL-led operation targeting illicit trade in Asia.
Interventions across China resulted in several organized crime networks being broken up, the closure of nearly 80 sites producing fake goods and the seizure of counterfeits worth millions of dollars.
Secretary General Noble highlighted how the visit by Director General Jingrong Liao came at a time when police worldwide are facing an increasingly challenging operational landscape, with criminals taking advantage of new technology, the ease of international travel and the anonymous world of virtual business.
"International police cooperation with China is vital not just for the security of its citizens but also for the Asian region and beyond at a time when globalization and technological developments have seen the expansion and diversification of transnational crime," said Secretary General Noble.
"China has demonstrated its support for international police cooperation not just through their support in transnational law enforcement operations but equally as important, in their seconding officers to our General Secretariat headquarters," added the head of INTERPOL.
A review of progress on the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation (IGCI) due to open in Singapore in late 2014 also topped the agenda during Mr Jingrong Liao's visit. Enhancing INTERPOL's presence in Asia, the IGCI will be a cutting-edge research and development facility for the identification of crimes and criminals, innovative training, operational support and partnerships.


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MONTGOMERY — Chilton County farmer Jimmy Parnell has been installed as the new president of the Alabama Farmers Federation and as head of the Alfa Insurance Cos.
MONTGOMERY — Chilton County farmer Jimmy Parnell has been installed as the new president of the Alabama Farmers Federation and as head of the Alfa Insurance Cos.
Parnell, 48, was elected Alfa president on Monday during the foundation's 91st annual meeting, and on Tuesday was elected president, CEO and chairman of Alfa Insurance Cos.
He succeeds Jerry Newby, 65, who retired after seven two-year terms.
Parnell is a partner in his family's beef cattle and timber business and served on Alfa's board of directors from 1999 to 2008. He was chairman of Alfa's State Young Farmers Committee in 1997 and has served as president of the Chilton County Farmers Federation since 2006, Alfa said.
"Alfa was founded to help policyholders protect their farms, homes, automobiles and families with affordable insurance and honest, personalized service," Parnell said in a statement. "I'm excited about the opportunity to build on this foundation as we work to better serve our customers and grow the Alfa companies."
After his Monday as Alfa president, Parnell said, "I'm humbled by the support I received from farmers across Alabama. I look forward to representing them as we work with elected officials, government agencies and other farm organizations to protect the families who grow our food and fiber."
Parnell is a 1985 graduate of Auburn University with a bachelor's degree in agricultural business and economics. The family farm includes 600 brood cows and 2,500 stocker calves.
He was named Alabama Logger of the Year in 2006 by the Alabama Forestry Association, and he and his family were named the Alabama Farmers Federation's Outstanding Young Farm Family in 1999.
Other candidates were state Rep. Richard Lindsey, D-Centre, a cotton farmer, and Ricky Wiggins of Covington County.