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(The Loop/AP)—Pop star Celine Dion announces she will give birth to her second child next spring.
Dion confirms she is pregnant with her second child via invitro fertilization, according to her spokeswoman.The singer, who gave birth to her first son, Rene-Charles in 2001, returned to the same fertility clinic in New York with hopes of becoming pregnant with a second child.
Murielle Blondeau, Dion's rep, says the Canadian singer and her husband/manager Rene Angelil had dreamed of giving their young son a sibling and are overjoyed at the news. Dion, who is the youngest of 14 children, and Angelil, who has three children from previous marriages, had always planned to have a large family. When Dion experienced difficulty conceiving, she turned to invitro.
No comment has been made on if the May due date will affect the renewal of Dion's Las Vegas concert contract.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.


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The G8 met at Camp David in May and formed something called the New Alliance to lift 50 million people out of poverty through long-term agriculture plans. This was an important step forward for the first three countries named in the G8's plans.
But now it's time to deliver for more countries— including 6 in the Sahel region of Africa— that stand ready to lift themselves out of poverty. This means a total of 15 countries by the end of the year. And next year, the G8 should double that number, reaching the full 30 countries that are currently ready to go.

subset: commoncrawl


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"A U.S. Navy official says a minesweeper that ran aground on a reef in the Philippines has been punched full of holes and is taking in a significant amount of water.
Rear Adm. Thomas Carney said Thursday that 56,000 liters (15,000 gallons) of fuel must be removed from the USS Guardian before a crane ship can lift it from the Tubbataha Reef.
Carney, the commander for the Navy's Logistics Group in the Western Pacific, expressed his "deepest regret" over the Jan. 17 accident and says the Navy is committed to removing the ship from the reef.
The Philippines says it wants to fine the Navy for the damage and illegal entry into the marine sanctuary that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
An investigation is under way.
" — Copyright 2013 The Associated Press


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Edileen was born August 21, 1925 to Homer McDaniel and Lona Vice in Rondo.
She is survived by one son, E. R. "Eddie" Stingley III (Vickie) of Russellville; one daughter, Judy Stingley Hartsfield of Maumelle; three grandchildren, Cheryl Hartsfield ( Chris), Edward R. "Rusty" Stingley, IV (Kathleen) and Amy Hartsfield (Dane); one great-grandchild Annie Jeanne Stingley; two sisters, Bernice Connolley, of Southaven, Miss. and Thelma Jobe of Augusta, Ga.; three brothers, G. W. McDaniel of Mt. Home, Robert McDaniel of Pine Bluff and Clyde McDaniel of LuRand, Miss.; and a host of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands E. Roscoe Stingley, Jr. and George A. Milam; one infant son, Kenneth Larry Stingley; one brother, Billy McDaniel.
For 31 years Edileen enjoyed gardening and church activities at her Moon Lake home.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec.19, 2012, at Roller-Citizens Chapel in West Helena. The Rev. Mark Massey will officiate. Visitation will be from noon-1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012, also at the Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park in Barton.


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Regional News, Industry Updates, & Items Of Interest From Around The Country
Total Seal Expands Hours
Phoenix, AZ
Starting March 18, 2010, Total Seal's new business hours will be 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. In an effort to better serve our customers across the nation and around the world, Total Seal has extended our hours. To find the times listed for each Sales and Technical person, and for more information about Total Seal Piston Rings and our other fine products, please visit our website at www.totalseal.com to learn more.
Holland Takes Over Champion
Odessa, TX
The new promoter at Champion Motor Speedway has asphalt in his background and a fondness for dirt. Scott Holland takes over the reins at Odessa, where Saturday night shows will feature IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, and Southwest Racing Specialties Southern SportMods. The former boss at the 1/2-mile paved San Antonio Speedway, was motivated to take the gig at Champion, a 1/4-mile clay track, when his daughter enrolled in The Art Institute of Austin, in nearby Austin, Texas. Champion will offer weekly IMCA-sanctioned racing beginning in early April. More info can be found at
VP Official Fuel of NeSmith Dirt Late Models
Cartersville, GA
Series officials announced a three-year agreement making VP Racing Fuels the Official Fuel of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series as well as sponsor of its Rookie of the Year program through the 2012 racing season. The VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Year will win a $5,000 cash award at the end of the season. In making VP its official fuel, the series will help promote CHP, VP's newest racing fuel designed for crate engines. Although it's not mandatory to use in the series, CHP is specially formulated for the GM Performance 602, 604 and CT 525 Crate Engines used in the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Tour, Weekly Racing Series, and Super Dirt Car Series.
Busch Takes to the Strip
Gainesville, FL
Recently, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star Kurt Busch spent a rare free weekend behind the wheel of a different kind of race car, a 426 Hemi-powered Dodge Challenger. Busch raced in the Super Gas division of the Sportsman class at the NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. It all started when his wife bought him a class at a drag racing school as a surprise present. Bitten by the drag race bug, the 2004 Cup Series champ bought a 1970 Dodge Challenger off eBay for $15,000 and turned it into a Super Gas car. The street legal Mopar features a 426ci Gen 3 Hemi with a single 106mm turbo that puts out nearly 1,200 horsepower. Using a 3.70 gear and 10.5 Goodyear slicks, Busch's best e.t. was a 9.04 at 166 mph in the 3,300-pound car. Not too shabby for a guy who only turns left.
Evan Smith
Skinner Raises Big Bucks
Daytona Beach, FL
Former NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Mike Skinner was joined by his wife, Angie, celebrities, sponsors, and fans to raise more than $150,000 for local Volusia County charities. The 4th Annual Toyota Skinner Round Up for Charity took place March 11-12 at Daytona International Speedway and Spruce Creek Country Club in Daytona Beach, Florida. Among the celebrities on hand were blues superstar Stacy Mitchhart, "American Idol's" Bo Bice, NASCAR Drivers Michael Waltrip, Ron Hornaday, Geoff Bodine, Rick Crawford, Steve Park, and Tommy Baldwin.
Rain forced the golf tournament portion of the two-day event inside Spruce Creek Country Club, but that didn't stop the efforts to raise money. "We could not let the rain ruin our efforts to raise dollars," says Angie Skinner. "Participants played an impromptu 18 holes of dice golf along with a nine-hole putting course featuring Red Bull tee markers." She added that players are hoping that the Dice Golf and Red Bull Putting Course remain a part of the Skinner Round Up in future years.
Following the round of dice golf, more than 100 players joined in for the Poker Tournament. NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Director Wayne Auton had the winning $1,000 hand at the Celebrity Table donating all back to the charities.
Mike Skinner
NASCAR Announces
Developmental Series TV
Daytona Beach, FL
NASCAR recently announced an expanded television calendar for its developmental series that includes 21 events on SPEED for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series and seven races for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour. The comprehensive package includes airing of every race on the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West schedules. Three of the Whelen Modified Tours will air as same-day televised events. The NASCAR Developmental Series programming will air Thursdays at 6 p.m. ET.
Kevin Thorne
Dirtcar Racing to Sanction MDLMS
Wichita, KS
The year-old Midwest Dirt Late Model Series (MDLMS) will carry the sanctioning of DIRTcar Racing in 2010, officials from the two organizations have announced. Renamed the Midwest DIRTcar Late Model Series, the Wichita, Kansas-based tour will focus on full-fender Dirt Late Model competition at tracks in the Kansas/Oklahoma area. It will feature several co-sanctioned events with the Colorado Late Model Association DIRTcar Series, which also ran under the DIRTcar banner for the first time this past season. Series president Dusty Wiegert remains at the helm. For more information on the Midwest DIRTcar Late Model Series, visit www.mdlms.net.
ASALMS Signs Title Sponsor
Lexington, MI
Ron Varney's ASA Late Model Series has signed Sunoco Race Fuels, which was recently announced as the Official Fuel of the series, as title sponsor of its Challenge Division. Featuring the newly designed Mustang- and Camaro-bodied Late Models, the ASA Late Model Series Challenge Division will now be known as the Sunoco National Tour. The ASA Late Model Series Northern Division will see a slight change in its name as it has been shortened to the ASA Late Model Series. Varney says that the Sunoco National Tour is a new Series from the ground up. For more information visit www.sunoconationaltour.com.
USAC Goes Green
Indianapolis, IN
The United States Auto Club, recognizing the importance of alternative sources for fuel, is endorsing the United States Government's "Green Initiative" and encouraging its racing teams to think "green." Its first step was to grant probationary use of ethanol to Mario Clouser Motorsports of Auburn, Illinois, for use in National Midget Series events in 2010. Clouser has been a leading proponent of the usage of ethanol in USAC competition to the extent of coordinating meetings between ethanol-producing companies and USAC management, as well as spending time on the chassis dyno to prove the fuel's mettle. While Clouser is the only USAC Midget racer to make the switch to ethanol, series officials will review requests to run the environmentally friendly fuel on a per team basis.
Mario Clouser
All-American 400 Returns to Nashville Fairgrounds
Nashville, TN
During the driver's meeting at the recent CRA race at Gresham Motorsports Park, officials announced that the All American 400 Weekend would return in 2010 to the previously shuttered Nashville Fairgrounds track. The event will be held October 2-3 at the historic Tennessee Fair facility as the sixth and final race of the CRA Six Pack schedule. Nashville native Tony Formosa has an agreement to promote events at the famous high-banked facility for the 2010 season. Four other race dates have since been announced. For more information visit fairgroundsspeedwaynashville.com.
Circle Track Archives


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Today, at the annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative, the African Wildlife Foundation and MASS Design Group announce the opening of the Ilima Primary School in Equateur Province, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Topi, an innovative mobile solution that optimizes networking at conferences, meetings, and other special events, has announced its support to advance the conservation mission of the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), an international conservation organization headquartered in Kenya.
Hong Kong lawmaker Dr. Hon Elizabeth Quat JP has come to Kenya to help build bridges between China and Africa as part of her campaign to stop the buying of ivory and end the killing of elephants. The trip was organized in partnership with WildAid, Save the Elephants, the African Wildlife Foundation, the Northern Rangelands Trust and Stop Ivory.
Children, conservationists, and local celebrities joined the African Wildlife Foundation and WildlifeDirect on Saturday to celebrate world's largest land mammal ahead of World Elephant Day
Prominent New Zealand businessmen and philanthropists, Dr Gareth Morgan and Sir Stephen Tindall, have teamed up with international supermodel and Patron to Born Free Foundation Rachel Hunter, and the Executive Director of SPCA Auckland, Bob Kerridge, to formally urge the New Zealand Government to consider a complete ban on all ivory trading and to crush the Crown's confiscated ivory stockpile.


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Stories Tagged with "adult learner"
2011 - 1 story
Battle Heats Up for Tablet Market Between Android and Apple Apps
January 24, 2011
The battle between Android and Apple applications for tablet devices is yet in its infancy. But give it two months, said NJIT's Tim Kellers, an instructor who's teaching an on-line course at NJIT in Android apps, and you may see a very different landscape. >>


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Photographer's Note
This picture was taken in the Maliana, approximately 170Km southwest from the capital, Dili. I captured this woman selling betel leaves in the town market. A country that is extremely impoverished and devastated, I discovered a people who are extremely generous with their warmth and love.
Critiques | Translate
wrocek (247) 2005-10-21 21:14
I visited east Timor - Timor Leste, a month ago, and still, after a couple of weeks - have no idea what is that brown staff sell for.. located on the lower right corner..
They tryed to sell it for me for about $1.oo a piece.
ellie (60) 2006-11-01 10:52
Have seen Betel on photos from other countries, but never sawa the actual leaves -- and you have really gotten great detail of them here, along with the woman, the wonderful blue and red and green colors, and the effective framing and POV, -- Ellie
Photo Information
- Copyright: kheong lim (kslim) (143)
- Genre: Places
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 2005-10-19
- Categories: Daily Life
- Camera: Panasonic DMC-LC1
- Exposure: f/4, 1/125 seconds
- More Photo Info: view
- Photo Version: Original Version
- Date Submitted: 2005-10-21 20:35


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Did you know that arguing can actually help your relationship?
The best way to elucidate this point is to talk about an argument I had with a friend of mine. While we were having dinner one night, the conversation shifted to the topic of art. My friend started telling me a story about a South African artist who had gotten a huge ball of plasticine (a type of plastic material) and rolled it through the streets of a number of poverty-ridden cities in South Africa to make a statement about violence and poverty. The ball was then displayed in a museum for people to come and say "ooo" and "aww." Well I just thought this was too funny and laughed.
However, he didn't intend for his story to be funny.
My friend, who I have known for five or six years and who has always been the most mellow human being on the face of the Earth, got pretty passionate (what I didn't know at the time was when he was younger, he worked in that museum and it was his responsibility to dust off the ball each night). And this only made me laugh harder. I mean he was exhibiting such intense emotional reverence for a big plastic ball that picked up trash!
But then I saw he wasn't just being passionate. He was clearly upset. I just looked at him and said, "OK, let me understand this. The guy took a huge ball of goopy plastic, rolled it through streets to pick up garbage, and it ended up in a museum?!" This just seemed like the plot of "The Emperor's New Clothes" to me. There was nothing he planned, this was not creative, and whatever got stuck stayed. How the hell could anybody call that art?
Well he did, and the situation didn't get any better. He then mentioned another very famous German artist who just painted a canvas black, but it was considered a great piece because of the way the brushstrokes reflected light. At this point, I lost it all together. I was the laughing version of inconsolable. I couldn't stop laughing. I have to tell you, if it looks like I can do it, it's not art (I don't think Pollock throwing paint on a canvas is art either). For me, an entity is attractive or it's not. I don't care who made it, what their political history was, if they were rich or poor, or if they had emotional, mental, or physical problems. My friend, on the other hand, thinks a piece of art has no intrinsic value unto itself. For him, art is tied to history, biography, era, and circumstance – something has artistic value because of the surrounding context. I could not agree less. I don't think that's art, I think that's a personal statement. I think art is supposed to be attractive, passionate, and powerful without all that surrounding stuff. For example, as I pointed out to my friend, if you suddenly found out that the big plastic ball of garbage was created by Donald Trump, it would no longer be meaningful.
However, through this argument, we came to a deeper understanding about each other. I called him up the next day, apologized, and told him I now had a better understanding and appreciation about something that was so emotionally personal to him. I just said we probably wouldn't go art shopping together, and we shared a good laugh.
Arguments, especially between you and someone you care about, should be constructive and bring about a deeper understanding. Here are a few general tips for arguing in your marriage:
Only argue about one thing at a time. Don't start bringing up history or other subjects, and don't wait until you have a long list of disappointments to air. Talk about things as they happen and you'll avoid feeling ferocious from holding in your frustration.
Argue very gently. Don't criticize, name-call, or blame. Arguing is not about abuse – it's about stating your needs clearly and respectfully. Try as hard as you can to figure out what the other person is talking about and what they want without being defensive. If you're getting defensive, just tell them you're getting a little hot under the collar and to give you 30 minutes to go for walk, take a shower, or make a cup of tea. Say you'll finish the discussion later. And during the break, don't rehearse what you're going to argue about. Just calm yourself down.
Listen to each other. People have different personalities, tastes, histories (family, emotional, and psychological), needs, goals, and dreams. There's only one reason couples grow apart: they haven't reached out to each other, expressed what's on their minds, or taken what the other person has expressed and done anything constructive with it. People do not naturally grow apart – it's totally voluntary. If you're having a discrepancy with your husband or wife about decorating your house, for example, you need to communicate. Ask each other what makes you feel comfortable in a home. Not all the rooms have to be the same style. Compromising and giving the other person something they dream about is all part of love. In my house, if one of us says we really don't like something, it doesn't come into the house. We just keep looking until we can find something we both like. (Now, fortunately we have relatively similar tastes, such as not wanting a lot of beads hanging from anything).
Stay focused on the solution to the problem. I once read a story about the CEO of a cancer research company who actually encouraged arguing because as opposed to getting input from a bunch of "yes" men and women, the arguments would foster new ideas. And when the arguments got heated or off track, he would just say, "Hey, let's remember why we're here – to cure cancer. Keeping focused on the mutual goal is very important. For example, the next time you and your spouse are trying to go out to the movies and there are dishes to put away, don't stand there fighting about who did the dishes the last time. Just keep focused and say, "We have to get this crap out of the way so we can go to the movies." Get it done without the ego of who did what. The point is to find a solution.
The real purpose of arguing is to come to some kind of agreement or compromise. The main point of arguing is not to win (you could even put that on little three-by-five cards around the house). Having a useful argument means you've learned something about yourself and about your partner. Always remember you love each other.
As many of you know, I take pool lessons. The hardest thing for me to learn was that dropping the ball in the pocket is not the goal. Instead, you're supposed to play for that incredible feeling of when you make the perfect stroke exactly in sync. The point is the feeling, not winning a particular point.
So, the next time you're arguing with someone you love, remember the point is not to win the point – it's to experience the feeling of being in sync.


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By Crash I'm too old for this shit, but damn, what an adventure! I thought I could write something short to share the TAM Road Trip journey and give TAM Blog a little more content. I believe the potentials we have with the TAM Blog are pretty evident, and given enough time, can be fashioned into something powerful, entertaining and educational… Read More »
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Nelson Bryant
Recent and archived news articles by Nelson Bryant of The New York Times.
As Temperatures Drop, So Do Ducks and Geese
The coastal region of Massachusetts - West Tisbury is part of Martha's Vineyard Island - has had split hunting seasons for ducks and geese in recent years.
December 31, 2005, Saturday
A Feast of Whitebait Begins With a Cast Net
One of the rewards of growing old is rediscovering pleasurable endeavors long neglected. My latest such experience involved capturing and devouring whitebait.
November 26, 2005, Saturday
Stripers Come in Pairs, and Keeper Gets Away
Migrating striped bass appear off the shores of Martha's Vineyard in early May, but they're too small to keep.
May 29, 2005, Sunday
Hark, Young Hunters: The Call of the Wild Turkey
This year, two special days have been set aside for young hunters: the weekend before the state's annual May 1-31 spring turkey season begins.
April 18, 2005, Monday
Sending Winter Out the Door On Opening Day
One way to celebrate winter's demise is to venture forth April 1 for opening day of New York State's trout season.
March 27, 2005, Sunday
Don't Spare Rod, Spoil Yourself At Outdoor Expo
If your pleasure in fishing, camping, canoeing and hunting has flagged a bit, pay a visit to the World Fishing and Outdoor Exposition in Suffern, N.Y., this weekend.
February 28, 2005, Monday
Foul Weather for Hunters Helps These Waterfowl
With two hours of shooting time left before sunset, we got into the blind and sat, icy water at our waists, on our bench waiting for our quarry to arrive.
February 13, 2005, Sunday
Duck Dining Out on Watercress
Black ducks were common on Tisbury Great Pond 50 years ago, but their numbers have dwindled and mallards are now the usual quarry.
December 26, 2004, Sunday
Luring Pickerel With the Promise of Blue Beads
Salmon Stream and Salmon Stream Lake in Maine hold chain pickerel, white and yellow perch and smallmouth bass. I was focusing on pickerel.
October 24, 2004, Sunday
At Cole Pond, Nostalgia Is Disrupted
Responding to a nostalgic urge to revisit Cole Pond this month, I was chagrined to discover that the trail to it was much more challenging than I had remembered.
September 26, 2004, Sunday
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EDITORIAL: Microsoft Turns in Child Predator in Penn., Internet Critics Cry
Jason Mick
August 8, 2014 12:21 AM
Recipient E-mail
Sender E-mail
Failing to compare anonymous image fingerprints protects only one group of customers -- child predators
A little over a week ago, a Google Inc. (
) tip
led to the arrest of a previously convicted child rapist
in Texas who police say had been hoarding child pornography in his Gmail account and secretly videotaping children at a local Denny's Corp. (
) restaurant in Pasadena, Texas where he worked.
I. Microsoft Helps Authorities Catch a Predator in Pennsylvania
Now just days later, Microsoft Corp. (
) has helped authorities catch another child predator, this time in Pennsylvania. And as in the Google incident the arrest has triggered outrage among some internet commenters who claim that Microsoft, Google, and Apple, Inc. (
) are violating their "rights" and privacy.
The Smoking Gun
first reported the recent arrest
. It published a copy of the affidavit:
The affidavit reveals the identity of the defendant -- Tyler James Hoffman, 20. He was arrested on April 24 by the
Pennsylvania State Police Computer Crime Task Force
Pennsylvania Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force
(ICAC), after an investigation determined he had solicited and obtained multiple pornographic images of pre-pubescent children aged 7 to 13 engaged in sex acts or being sexually assaulted.
A search of Pennsylvania's sex offender registry did not indicate Mr. Hoffman to have been previously convicted.
The case has been widely reported on, even
receiving coverage from
BBC News
II. Police: Suspect Sought Out Images of Girls Aged 6 to 13
Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Christopher Hill confirmed the arrest and reported that a Microsoft tip triggered it. In a sworn affidavit police investigators say they were alerted to the man's behavior after a Microsoft script that scans uploaded files for child pornography detected not one, but two uploads of known child pornography.
Pennsylvania State Police picked up the accused child predator in late April. [Image Source: CCJ Magazine]
The first image involved a girl between the ages of 7 and 10 performing a sex act. Police officers indicated to Philly.com that Mr. Hoffman also obtained an image of a slightly older underage female -- between the ages of 10 and 13 -- having intercourse.
Microsoft detected Mr. Hoffman uploading these images to Skydrive -- its cloud storage service, which was in February was
rebranded as "OneDrive"
After being questioned, Mr. Hoffman admitted to officers, according to court documents, that he obtained the images via contacts on Kik, a cross-platform messenger service. After uploading the pictures to Microsoft's cloud storage service, he then tried to send the images via his Microsoft live.com email account to another user, further establishing his intent to possess and redistribute the illegal images.
[Image Source: Penn. State Police (left) / Facebook (right)]
According to police, he was arrested on July 31 at work and admitted to the crime after being questioned that he had been "trading and receiving images of child pornography on his mobile cellular device".
III. The Boy That Cried Wolf
The report yet again has provoked some internet commenters to explosions of outrage, such as some commenters on a
post on the arrest. "Jane Q. Public"
It isn't so much a matter of "Look! they did something great!" (and they did)... it's more a matter of: look at the shitty (sic) privacy intrusion they've committed on hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people, in order to accomplish that one great thing.
Another user, "Ol Olsoc", seems to liken it to government officials raping someone's wife, commenting:
I worked with a guy who once said. "I don't care if they come into my bedroom and f*ck my wife, as long as they keep the country secure". He was willing to give up any semblance of freedom for his "security".
Slashdot users were among those suggesting that child predators be afforded special privacy protections that help hide their crimes.
Another commenter "thieh" says they're fine with Microsoft and Google reading their emails for profit (advertising), but performing a much less intrusive scan to catch child predators crosses the line. According to this commenter, Microsoft should have warned the defendant that molesting children or sharing illegal pictures of them might result in jail time. The commenter writes:
The problem usually comes down to that "personally relevant product features, such as customized search results, tailored advertising, and spam and malware detection" didn't include "days in court" nor "jail time" as their catalog of "personally relevant product features".
But such comments ignore the realities of cloud storage and email services.
III. Critics Appear Ignorant of Reality: Hashing is Part of the Normal Storage Process
First, top online firms like Apple, Google, and Microsoft virtually all had hashing projects that predated the anti-child porn efforts. These hashing technologies were originally adopted to improve power efficiency, storage, and access times. Many images on the internet (think popular memes) are regularly downloaded, reuploaded, and sent via email by users.
By recognizing images already stored on their servers, top internet firms enjoy cost savings and can provide better (faster) service. Private images are typically new, so the temporary hash created at upload provides little identifiable insight that could be used to "target" users outside of very specific scenarios, despite the
current rash of uninformed fear mongering
Digital fingerprinting is primarily used to improve the efficiency of cloud storage and had little use to law enforcement concerning most crimes as it does not provide personally identifiable data.
[Image Source: Microsoft]
The only current scenario in which images are checked
for illegal activity is in the case of child pornography.
Much of the limitations to the intrusiveness of these kinds of checks are due to the inherent technical details. Versus techniques employed by the
U.S. National Security Agency
(NSA) and other sophisticated police entities, hash checks are unable to identify wholly new images, as they don't use any type of shape-based recognition algorithm
such as facial recognition.
This means to flag a user for individual inspection, the image must match a database of known images of offensive nature.
IV. Dangers are Mitigated by Transparency
There are potential applications in a dystopian future -- such as a police state "detecting" and arresting those who distribute known anti-government imagery or used by government agents to hunt down those who leak images that show illegal government behavior. But Google and Microsoft actively oppose such uses.
In other words, there is valid cause to be watchful and vigilante to avoid abuse. But there's a difference between vigilance and baseless paranoia and false accusations.
Emma Carr, a director of a non-profit pro-privacy advocacy,
Big Brother Watch
, appears to be a reasonable voice. While she warns of dangers (such as the aforementioned political suppression) she implies that in the current context the efforts appear appropriate -- something the most vitriolic critics appear to be ignoring.
She tells
BBC News
Microsoft must do all that it can to inform users about what proactive action it takes to monitor and analyze messages for illegal content, including details of what sorts of illegal activity may be targeted.
It is also important that all companies who monitor messages in this way are very clear about what procedures and safeguards are in place to ensure that people are not wrongly criminalized, for instance, when potentially illegal content is shared but has been done so legitimately in the context of reporting or research.
While some internet critics aren't placated, privacy advocates say Microsoft is doing the right thing in explaining its policies and protecting the privacy of the average consumer. [Image Source: Bloomberg]
Microsoft and Google fortunately appear to be increasingly trending towards transparency in terms of this hash scanning detection effort. Microsoft like Google already explicitly warned users that their data would be subject to automatic detection algorithms to combat child pornography:
Microsoft [reserves the right to utilize] automated technologies to detect child pornography or abusive behaviour that might harm the system, our customers, or others.
Following the two recent arrests,
Microsoft and Google
have come forward to shed more light on the technology and to explain why they don't believe it poses any significant threat to customer privacy in its current form.
V. Limited Tools, Joint Effort Protects Privacy and Children Alike
Compared to richer analysis techniques like facial recognition and examination by human analysts (whose
brains are equipped with advanced facial and shape recognition
algorithms), this is a relatively crude tool that requires a very specific and obvious focus.
In Google and Microsoft's case, the supporting data set comes courtesy of the
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
(NCMEC). NCMEC, an anti-child abuse group who runs the "Missing Kids" campaign, in 2011 received government permission to compile a database of signatures (hashes) of known child pornography images.
When child predators are caught (typically after engaging in real world sex crimes or attempts at such crimes) search warrants are often obtained to examine their device. Such searches face few ethical objections if the defendant left the devices unprotected by a password or offers investigators access. Based on these kinds of inspections, law enforcement officials in the U.S. daily acquire a large amount of child pornography imagery that is then passed off to NCMEC, which has exclusive permission to legal keep signatures of these images.
VI. In-Depth: How Microsoft Technology Preserves Anonymity
Microsoft's technology, for example, is called "
Jointly developed
by digital forensics firm Netclean and Microsoft Labs, this advanced technology aims to protect the privacy of customers while preventing the transmission of images of child sexual abuse. To do that it uses familiar technologies to protect anonymity, while preserving the ability to search for a small, targeted group of images.
Microsoft's Digital Crimes Unit chief, Mark Lamb, comments on the recent cases:
Child pornography violates the law as well as our terms of service, which makes clear that we use automated technologies to detect abusive behaviour that may harm our customers or other. In 2009, we helped develop PhotoDNA, a technology to disrupt the spread of exploitative images of children, which we report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as required by law.
To efficiently analyze a massive amount of information, Microsoft's algorithm first converts a temporary copy of the upload in memory to grayscale or black and white. It then breaks it into a grid of cells and uses histograms of the color intensity (brightness) of pixels in each cell to assign a "base" value to each cell. Together the cells in an image make up its "DNA" -- a unique signature.
Microsoft's PhotoDNA technology does not compromise customer privacy (see images). The only customers who suffer inspection are those who have an image that appears extremely likely to be child pornography.
This approach has a few advantages.
First, as mentioned it does not allow for more intrusive forms of analysis like facial recognition that pose more thorny privacy risks. Second, it's faster and cheaper than more complicated algorithms. Third, by using histograms based on cell-divide color intensity Microsoft can potentially detect images even if pedophiles make crude attempts to disguise them by applying blur filters to part of the image or by lightening/darkening the image (as the relatively values would all shift by an offset or possibly remain unchanged in a blur, depending on the blur type and cell size).
Google appears to be using PhotoDNA for its own efforts, although it too had worked on similar efforts in-house. Facebook, Inc. (
) and Twitter also use PhotoDNA and the NCMEC database to watch for child pornography. Apple, a Microsoft licensee, may use it as well but did not respond to comments about its involvement.
While it's tempting to jump to conclusions and field slippery slope arguments, it's important to view these efforts in context. First, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Apple, and others are not automatically alerting authorities when a user receives an offensive image. Generally the policy at all of these firms appears to be to scan uploaded images using the hashing technology, and then inspect the user's account contents, if the scripts raise an alert.
While this industry wide effort may be viewed as a ubiquitous form of limited surveillance it is a voluntary one as the companies traditionally clearly warn against such uploads in their contracts -- legally binding documents.
VII. Microsoft Spending its Own Money to Fight Unconstitutional Mass Spying
Thus, the initiation of the process is highly different from the NSA spying or other ubiquitous surveillance campaigns. When
the NSA collects data from Americans
or American companies,
it's in effect robbing them
as the targets traditionally have never authorized the agency to collect or store their personal text or images. Thus in government terms
privacy is supposed to mean
"don't look at my stuff unless I commit a crime and you have a warrant".
Citizens never gave the government permission to spy on them and abandon due process.
[Image Source: Nation of Change]
Microsoft, Google, and Facebook have all
filed suits against the government
looking to block overreaching government data requests. In fact, Microsoft's condemnation is particularly ironic given that perhaps it's the corporation that is
fighting the hardest in court
spending its own money to protect users
from NSA spying.
This contrasts sharply with other companies like Oracle Corp. (
) and Amazon.com, Inc. (
) that
not only condone government spying
on U.S. citizens, but
pay politicians lobbying money
in favor of it. Microsoft's corporate enemies
profit off violating users' privacy on a massive scale for the government
; Microsoft is spending its hard earned profit to try to protect that privacy.
And yet still some condemn it for cooperating with one extremely reasonable and limited law enforcement effort.
Surely Microsoft managers and engineers must be throwing their hands up in frustration at the ingratitude. If only customers could see the difference, they must think -- if only they could see how this campaign has no impact on the privacy of non-child predators.
Microsoft -- and unbiased technically aware observers -- will perhaps first recognize a startling dissimilarity between
the NSA's data dominancy campaigns
and Microsoft, et al.'s PhotoDNA. PhotoDNA does its best to protect anonymity and privacy. In that regard it's
closer to the ACLU
than the NSA.
Unsurprisingly, like many criminal elements the NSA has
already been caught regularly
in its
own web of lies
. Not only does its agents break the law,
its leaders lied to Congress
, seemingly
with no remorse
. It has made every effort to fight transparency.
The NSA is anti-transparency, its agents break the law (admittedly) thousands of times a year, and its leaders lie to Congress. Microsoft's anti-predator program is pro-transparency, obeys U.S. laws, and is forthright to the citizens it protects. [Image Source: tumblr.com]
By contrast, Microsoft has made every effort to promote transparency and clearly publicize the technology behind its child protection efforts to anyone who cares to bother to learn about it.
Another key difference? Microsoft's program clearly is catching criminals in a lawful way that respects due process. By contrast the NSA
can't seem to provide solid evidence
that its mass spying has succeeded in catching a single criminal, yet it did admit to Congress that
its agents were committing thousands of "accidental" crimes against Americans
every year. If you can't see the difference there, then you need to reread this paragraph.
VIII. Customers Told Google, Microsoft, et al. to Store and Process Their Data
Where the NSA takes without permission, internet firms participating in the PhotoDNA effort are only using what users give them. Users explicitly authorize Microsoft, Google, and other service providers to access, process, and store their images. Without such permission, no cloud storage or email services would be possible.
There's no such thing as a completely secret email service in the modern context as since the 1980s messages and attachments have been shuffled to long-term storage that allows the user to read them at their convenience. So to some degree Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and others have to "scan" and run your images through scripts and store them in order to fulfill your requests.
Users may be unaware of the technical realities (likely many are). But when you sign up for Dropbox, OneDrive, Gmail, Outlook.com, iCloud, Facebook, or any other major service you are authorizing the company to store and process your images. Its behavior is generally limited by
the contract you sign with it -- your terms of service agreement
While some have confused image fingerprinting with more advanced surveillance tactics, image fingerprinting is very different as it's done on the fly and is anonymous. In a legal context it's only been successful in combatting one crime -- sexual abuse of children. [Image Source: CSherpa]
But that document is a two-way street. It also binds the user to not engage in certain practices deemed unacceptable (i.e. uploading child pornography).
If a user accepts the contract and then breaches it, they've committed a civil crime/infraction against the tech company, which absolutely has every right to complain to authorities if it decides that's the best thing to do.
Second, it should be said that Microsoft, Google, and others offer most of their services to individual users free of charge. Generally it should be frowned upon for these companies to inspect your data more closely and scrutinize it, but in the name of monetization such inspection inevitably occurs and is traditionally warned of in the user contract (ToS).
IX. Even Most Pro-Privacy Nations Support Hash-Based Checking for Child Porn
Probably the most reasonable restriction is to forbid the service provider from sharing personally identifiable information with third parties. This is the perspective that pro-privacy EU states such as Germany and the Netherlands have pushed Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and others to adopt.
But even these adamantly pro-privacy nations have also supported local efforts similar to the NCMEC/U.S. law enforcement campaign against pedophiles. That support is not inconsistent for a couple of reasons that were already partially outlined.
First, detecting widely distributed child pornography is perhaps the easiest crime to detect. A company already, as mentioned, runs lossless compression and anti-duplication scripts on your data to efficiently store it. It's easy to inject one more simple script into it. That script produces no personally identifiable info.
Second, while a handful of internet commenters may disagree, the vast majority of citizens even in strongly pro-privacy states believe it should be illegal to possess and distribute pornographic images of children. There are gray areas (e.g. photos of babies that are artistically posed, but nude), but when it comes to images that depict violent sex crimes against children (as many of these child pornography images do), few would condone them.
Third, detection can be done in a way so as to protect the anonymity, political freedoms, and free speech of law abiding citizens, hence it is not inconsistent with the end goals of even the most aggressive pro-privacy efforts.
Fourth, detection only is the first of many steps that could eventually lead to prosecution. Detection leads to the company who found it inspect the data you authorized them to store and process. Google, Microsoft, and others are aware that sometimes people are sent these kinds of images as malicious pranks or as spam.
In most, if not all the cases where they've alerted authorities it's been because there's easily spotted patterns of egregious behavior. For instance, Google indicated in the recent Texas case that the user was identified as a registered sex offender and had discussed in his Gmail messages sexual fantasies about performing illegal sex acts on children. Law abiding users generally have nothing to worry about since the process is so well controlled and rigorous.
X. Innocent Typically Go Free in Rare Cases of Elaborating Framing
Finally, even if some innocent individual is fingered by Google or Microsoft due to an elaborate framing effort or some sort of rare and catastrophic failure of the companies' analysis protocols, at worst the authorities have only been given at tip to investigate the user with supporting evidence. The user still has every right to plead their case both before any trial and in court should they be charged. In most, if not all such cases, wrongfully accused individuals did successfully plead their innocence, even in a nation like the U.S. where courts can be rather technically ignorant and biased at times.
For example, a couple in the state of New York in early 2011 was implicated in child pornography but later found innocent. While it is true they went through quite an ordeal, investigators
were able to find the true culprit in the end
-- a 25-year-old college student who lived in nearby apartments and was squatting on their Wi-Fi.
Likewise, in a more wild and well-publicized incident NBA player Christopher "Birdman" Andersen was
targeted in a wild scheme
that not only appeared to attempt to frame him as possessing child pornography, but also to extort the child involved -- an underage Californian girl.
Free bird: Chris Andersen's case shows even elaborate framing efforts struggle to convict innocent men for child sex crimes. Convictions typically come in light of glaring, overwhelming evidence.
[Image Source: First to Flyy/NBA]
After an extensive investigation in which authorities struggled with inconsistencies of the case, police finally traced IP logs from the communications in the case to a woman living in the Canadian province of Manitoba. The woman, who had conducted the entire outlandish scheme remotely, was arrested and charged with various crimes.
There's always the possibility of an innocent person being accused, but so far the Google and Microsoft driven partnership -- which has been embraced by Facebook, Twitter, and others -- has been quite effective in limiting false accusations. To date we were unable to locate any report of a case where a pedophile was accused based on a report from Google or Microsoft in which the evidence did not sound compelling enough to conduct a police investigation.
Further, the ultimate onus in both the Texas and Pennsylvania case will lie on the judge and jury in the courts they're charged in. It is up to them that make sure criminals are found guilty and punished and that the innocent go free. Google and Microsoft's job is respectively simple -- they just have to one extra script on the data that their users willingly provide them with and ask them to process/store.
XI. Business and Governments -- Not the Same Legally, Not the Same in Terms of Privacy Obligations
A bit of fear is understandable -- it's often hard for people to wrap their brains around the difference between responsible law enforcement and Orwellian spying in the digital age. But as a general rule of thumb it's always best to consider non-digital examples/analogies when try to assess these new scenarios with a fair and levelheaded gaze.
There is no real pre-digital analogy to the NSA spying -- a government collecting, storing, and programmatically examining every single piece of communication its citizens right and attempting to open and inspect every item they send.
But there's a long history of business owners tipping authorities when they see one of their customers engaging in questionable behavior. After all, sensible business owners even in the pre-digital era traditionally did precisely what Microsoft did -- have customers sign contracts to limit their liability should customers use their services for illegal behavior.
As a business owner -- whether online or offline -- it is wise to respect consumer privacy as you depend on your customers' trust to stay in business. On the other hand trust is a two way street. Liability is only so limited for nonprofits and corporations alike, should they turn a blind eye to sex crimes against minors.
Companies legally endanger themselves when they purposefully ignore child porngraphy being trafficked by their users. [Image Source: WordPress]
The U.S. was founded on the premise that governments were subject to privileges that businesses were not, but also that those privileges came with restrictions. The government, within the confines of due process (with warrants) can force you to be at a specific location, to give it affects, and to share information with it. But all those privileges come with great demands for respect to due process and privacy.
By contrast a private business or nonprofit cannot force you to do business with it. It cannot force you to give up your property or give it sensitive information. But it is also not traditionally legally bound to protect your privacy, particularly if you're committing a crime. In fact, if the services it's providing are involved in the commission of a crime it can be held civilly liable, if not criminally liable.
XII. Failing to Compare Image Fingerprints Would Only Protect Predators' Privacy
Liability is often based on "obviousness".
If a person uses Google's Gmail to plan a robbery or if they're buying zip ties and duct tape one Amazon to kidnap someone, the business who provided service is unlikely to be in any legal trouble, even in a civil sense because the pending crime was not obvious. It would only be detectable by engaging in complex surveillance of every single customer, often by human eyes.
On the other hand, in the case of child pornography it's a far different story. Due to the fact that most cloud storage providers already hash and perform crude analysis on files to fingerprint them to eliminate duplication, it's clear that Google, Microsoft, and others are already analyzing the files in script. Unlike nearly any other crime, in this case identification is typically painfully simple -- comparing widely distributed illegal images' fingerprints with the one involved.
Protecting privacy is necessary in the cloud; but Microsoft's effort respects privacy as it produces no identifiable results for law-abiding users.
If Microsoft and Google would follow that policy that some suggest -- to not compare the non-identifiable fingerprints of illegal child porn files to those it's creating for the storage of uploaded images -- it would not be protecting the privacy of the majority of its customers as these image fingerprints are not human inspected and are not personally identifiable unless they match a know image of child sexual abuse.
Thus if Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Twitter, Apple, and others were to bow to their critics, they would only be protecting one very small group of users -- those who prey on children sexually. And any organization who made such a choice would be willfully turning a blind eye to crime, and likely liable on the basis of obviousness.
In digital form, the issue of liability when it comes to cloud services used in crimes against children has never been truly tested, but the threat is certainly there, particularly given non-digital precedents.
XIII. What's the Cost of Complicity in Sex Crimes Against Children? Ask Penn State
The question of businesses willfully ignoring obvious signs of child sex abuse and the legality of such silence is a salient one, particularly given that the case in question occurred in the state of Pennsylvania. The state's most prominent institution --
Penn State University
-- was recently marred by an ugly sex crime investigation and trial.
In this case the business offline did exactly what critics say Google should have done online -- choose to ignore easy to detect signs that a customer or employee was engaging in sex crimes against children. It didn't stick its nose in football defensive coordinator, Gerald Arthur "Jerry" Sandusky's business even after employees relayed disturbing accounts. It "protected" Mr. Sandusky's "privacy".
Penn State did exactly what Microsoft's critics wish it did -- ignore sex crimes against children.
[Image Source: Deadspin]
Eventually the truth came out. Mr. Sandusky was a serial sexual predator, who had raped and molested at least ten young boys that he had carefully chosen, based on their vulnerable emotional or financial status. He had committed dozens of sex crimes, at least 20 of which were believed to occur on Penn State's campus.
Reports indicate that officials are conducting ongoing investigations into allegations that Mr. Sandusky distributed pornography both online and to contacts in other states via the U.S. Postal Service. Authorities
reportedly found child pornography images
on Mr. Sandusky's computer and photographs he had possibly taken and was intending to mail.
The onus isn't really on the U.S. Postal Service. Mr. Sandusky used the service via a sealed envelope -- the pre-digital equivalent of an encrypted email attachment. That's very different from someone who hands a business an image that's obviously child pornography -- an image that would be easy to notice both in the online and offline case without compromising customer privacy.
To make an analogy, the recent Google and Microsoft cases would be analogous to if Mr. Sandusky had handed local FedEx employees a handful of pictures depicting sex crimes against children, and then the employees without question packaged those photos in an envelope and mailed them to his requested destination.
At that point the business has crossed the line from protecting privacy to being complicit in sexual abuse of children.
XIV. No Need for Emotional Arguments -- Microsoft's Actions are Ethical
Mr. Hoffman reportedly made no attempt to disguise his uploads. He brazenly posted them to his account and tried to send them to friends with similar interests. Microsoft did what it needed to do to make sure privacy of more young children was not violated.
How well does it work out to follow the critics' advice and turn a blind eye to easily detectable abuse? Perhaps ask Penn State.
Even as Mr. Sandusky sits in prison having been found guilty of dozens of sex crimes against children, the university he invested so many years in -- but also committed crimes at -- is reeling from punishments for what a Judge recently called "a conspiracy of silence".
Virtually every staff member involved in the cover-up was fired or forced to resign. Joe Paterno, who prior to NCAA sanctions was the winningest NCAA football coach in history was fired. Athletic director Tim Curley was fired. University president Graham Spanier and vice president Gary Schultz resigned.
But the consequences for those involved in the stunning serial abuse may yet run far deeper than mere career loss. For Coach Paterno the shame ended quickly, after he succumbed to lung cancer months after his firing. But today his colleagues -- Mr. Curley, Schultz, and Spanier
are awaiting trial
on numerous crimes including perjury, obstruction, endangering the welfare of children, failure to properly report suspected abuse, and conspiracy. After losing their jobs they may soon find themselves losing their freedom, if a jury chooses to send them to the same place as it sent Mr. Sandusky whose crimes they stand accused of turning a blind eye to.
Allowing Jerry Sandusky to commit crimes at its facilities will potentially cost Penn State hundreds of millions, if not billions of dollars. The effort to cover his acts up ruined the careers of those involved and may leave them sentenced to time in prison. [Image Source: AP]
The case was also a huge blow to the university's finances and reputation. It was fined $60M USD by the NCAA (a fine which was set aside for programs to prevent child abuse like NCMEC, incidentally) and lost hundreds of millions in TV revenue from being banned from the post-season for four years. At least one victim has settled for a "sizeable sum"; meanwhile,
an even bigger settlement is still being negotiated with other victims
who rejected the university's initial offers. These settlements are expected to reach hundreds of millions as well.
Critics be damned, Microsoft is clearly doing the right thing here. It doesn't need to rely on emotional "think of the children" arguments because upon thorough closer inspection its policies are perfectly respectful of the privacy of its customers and are ethically sound. it would be insane to abandon this effort and return to casting a blind eye to child sex crimes, as some are advocating.
Microsoft is protecting customers' privacy by using ethical tools to purge child predators from its networks and from the streets. It's caught a predator and deserves praise, not condemnation. [Image Source: Dateline]
What's the cost of protecting giving special privileges that only protect the privacy of pedophiles? Ask Penn State, perhaps.
The Smoking Gun
BBC News
via Slashdot
"So, I think the same thing of the music industry. They can't say that they're losing money, you know what I'm saying. They just probably don't have the same surplus that they had." -- Wu-Tang Clan founder RZA
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About the Community & Neighborhood Development Program ||| Currently Funded Activities ||| Results ||| Proposal Qualifications and Process ||| Materials Available from Us ||| How To Contact Us
Expansion of Homeownership Opportunities
Preferences ||| Conditions ||| Activities
These activities expand homeownership opportunities and strengthen current neighborhoods through encouragement of affordable owner-occupied housing, home buying, and expansion of ownership/tenure options. These activities generally help improve both the affordability for purchase by moderate income homebuyer households and/or the physical status of the housing stock available to first-time homebuyers. The activities include various forms of alternative ownership such as rent-to-own, land trusts, self-help or downpayment subsidies, or renovation of housing stock for purchase. These activities address Objective A2 in the Five-Year Plan and are generally targeted to those households in the 50-80% of median range. The long-term target goal is to maintain or increase the rate of homeownership in the lower income non-University neighborhoods to 90% of the Citywide average for ownership. The national benchmark for ownership is a 65% average.
The Commission will fund activities that acquire, construct or rehabilitate properties which will be re-sold to qualified low or moderate income homebuyers. (A "qualified homebuyer" is defined as one who has not owned a home or property within the last three years.)
The 1999 City objective is to help at least 57 households move into affordable ownership positions.
For information on how to submit a proposal in this category, click here.
The Commission will give preference to activities which increase ownership opportunities within the CDBG Target Area, are designed to assure housing affordability over time, provide housing for re-sale to persons at less than 60% of median income, or incorporate accessibility requirements into the project design.
The sale price to the LMI buyer, of any assisted property, shall not exceed the HOME assessment limit as established by HUD.
Housing (after rehab) shall comply with all applicable State and local minimum housing and building codes.
Proposals will be limited to receipt of $37,500 per housing unit. This sum will include the total CDBG and/or HOME funds received.
Activities may not exceed a total loan (or other secured funds) to value ratio greater than 115% from all sources. (NOTE: The CDBG Office will give consideration to higher per unit amounts or percentages when the proposal meets the preferences stated above or is temporary financing to reduce holding costs.)
A minimum of 85% of all funds received shall be applied to capital costs including acquisition and closing costs, rehabilitation, labor and materials, design and engineering costs and relocation costs. A maximum of 15% of the total CDBG Office funds received may be applied to staffing and other service delivery costs. Activities involving the training of lower income individuals and which lead to employment or higher education may apply up to 50% of funds to staffing, legal or other development associated costs.
The CDBG Office shall secure capital assistance with a mortgage in the form of a recourse loan. The mortgage will require a repayment equal to the amount of CDBG or HOME funds invested, or the percent of appraised value which the CDBG or HOME funds represent in the value of the property, whichever is higher.
Ongoing / currently funded activities in this category include:
City CDBG: Housing Development Fund (Homeownership)
Operation Fresh Start: Employment and Training through Rehab
Urban League of Greater Madison: Single Family Rent-to-Own Program
City Community and Economic Development: Home-Buy
Common Wealth Development: Affordable Homeownership
Habitat for Humanity: Development of Low Income Owner Housing
Movin' Out, Inc.: Homeownership Program


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Review: Atlanta Poly Weekend event and Triptych sci-fi novel
Download the mp3 directly Introduction and host chat Intro, under-18 warning and re-direction to http://www.scarleteen.com; friend us on Twitter or Facebook, call 206-202-POLY with comments or discuss your own topics at the forums. Announcements
- The Poly Weekly Android app is out! Please download me. J
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Atlanta Poly Weekend
For pix, visit my APW Facebook album. For the slides of my talks, check out Poly Dating 101 and Personal Branding for the Sex-Positive Educator.
- Triptych by J.M. Frey – visit for blurb and pre-orders. Nice poly love story told with true emotion, but it wasn't necessary for the alien to be an alien.
Happy Poly Moment: Dominant Species
Feedback: 226
Getting over the fear of physical affection between a metamour and your partner
Questions? Comments? Feedback? Email email@example.com or call the listener comment line at 206-202-POLY. And hey, why not attach an audio comment to that email? 🙂 Check out PolyWeekly at polyweekly.libsyn.com. Share this with a friend or write an iTunes review! Want Poly Weekly for your very own? Get the Best of Poly Weekly collection from PodDisc.com Our intro and outro music is courtesy of Pacemaker Jane, "Good Suspicions."


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Love the powerful vocal track and the 80's-hot singer. The video has some entertainment value as well, including said 80's-hot singer, a decrepit Bob Dylan, mullets and -- perhaps the best part of all -- Lord Humongous on drums.
I like this song she does off the Blow soundtrack
Actually heard this on the radio this AM. I laughed to myself. Great movie.
About to crank up the new Smashing Pumpkins remastered "Siamese Dream" box set.


text:
The online button is a manifestation of a Comcast project called See It that involves a partnership between the three companies to integrate online social interaction into the TV viewing experience. It also reflects a broad effort by technology companies to mingle TV with mobile devices and the Internet.
In addition, the deal establishes an advertising partnership between NBCUniversal and Twitter at a rather opportune moment: Twitter has filed to launch an initial public offering and potential investors are likely to appreciate the revenue implications.
Tweets about TV content have been growing fast enough to convince Nielsen to begin tracking Twitter conversations about TV. Metrics service SocialGuide claims that 19 million individuals in the U.S. sent 263 million tweets about live TV in the second quarter of 2013, a 24% year-over-year increase in participation and a 38% increase in tweet volume.
[ Learn more about Twitter's initial public offering. Read Twitter IPO: 6 Interesting Facts. ]
The partnership between Comcast, NBCUniversal and Twitter presents an opportunity to turn online conversations into valuable data, engagement and viewers.
"By partnering with Comcast, we'll be able to make it easier than ever to turn on the show everyone is talking about and jump into the conversation," said Jana Messerschmidt, VP of business development and platform at Twitter, in a blog post.
In so doing, social media becomes indistinguishable from commercial media.
"See It will be integrated into a show's tweet, so that with the click of a button, I can change the channel on my TV right away, record it or even watch on my mobile device," explained Sam Schwartz, Comcast's chief business development officer, in a blog post.
NBCUniversal says it plans to offer See It in tweets related to the following shows: The Voice, The Blacklist, Chicago Fire, The Michael J. Fox Show, Sunday Night Football, Access Hollywood, NHL, Premier League Soccer, Sochi Olympics, Today Show, Psych and Suits, among others.
Although See It will be available only to Xfinity TV subscribers when it debuts in November, Comcast and Twitter say that they're discussing possible relationships with other video distribution partners and television networks.


text:
2011 Report on International Religious Freedom - Equatorial Guinea
|United States Department of State
|Publication Date
|30 July 2012
|Cite as
|United States Department of State, 2011 Report on International Religious Freedom - Equatorial Guinea, 30 July 2012, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/502105c4c.html [accessed 21 January 2018]
|This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
July 30, 2012
[Covers calendar year from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011]
Executive Summary
The constitution and other laws and policies protect religious freedom and, in practice, the government generally respected religious freedom. The government did not demonstrate a trend toward either improvement or deterioration in respect for and protection of the right to religious freedom.
There were no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice.
The U.S. government met with the government and religious leaders as part of its overall policy to support human rights. These discussions focused on the need to promote mutual understanding, tolerance, and respect for all religious groups, especially the marginalized.
Section I. Religious Demography
An estimated 93 percent of the population is Christian, of which 87 percent is Roman Catholic and 6 percent Protestant and members of independent denominations. Many Catholics reportedly follow traditional beliefs as well. Five percent of the population practices indigenous religious beliefs exclusively. Muslims, Baha'is, and practitioners of other religious beliefs each constitute less than 1 percent of the population. The number of Muslims is increasing due to the growing number of West African and Middle Eastern immigrants.
Section II. Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom
Legal/Policy Framework
The constitution and other laws and policies protect religious freedom; however, the government remains sensitive to criticism, and religious leaders usually avoid discussions that could be construed as critical of the government or government officials.
In 1991 the government adopted Law Number 4/1991, the Regulation of the Exercise of Religious Freedom, which establishes religious freedom and outlines the procedures for registering a religious institution with the government. In addition, a 1992 presidential decree provides additional regulations including official preference for the Roman Catholic Church and the Reformed Church of Equatorial Guinea. Catholic and Reformed church officials are exempt from airport entry and exit taxes.
The 1992 decree regulates the registration of religious groups. In order to register, religious groups must submit a written application to the Ministry of Justice, Religious Affairs, and Penitentiary Institutions. The director general in the ministry oversees compliance with the decree and the registration process. Registration was not required of the Catholic and Reformed churches. Unregistered groups that operated can be fined.
The government generally allows religious teaching and practice, as well as preaching. The government requires religious groups to obtain permission for any activities outside of places of worship. Door-to-door evangelism reportedly occurs without incident.
The Law on the Regulation of the Exercise of Religious Freedom states that each person is free to study his or her religion and should not be forced to study another faith, but the situation is somewhat more complicated. Religious study is optional in public schools and can be replaced by a course in social or civic education. Catholic schools are often the best available option for many students, but non-Catholics are expected to participate in daily Catholic religious lessons and prayers in those schools. In recent years many more Protestant groups, including the Reformed Church, Evangelicals, Seventh-day Adventists, Assemblies of God, and Baptists, have operated their own primary and secondary schools.
The government observes the following religious holidays as national holidays: Good Friday, Corpus Christi, Immaculate Conception, and Christmas.
Government Practices
There were no reports of abuses of religious freedom.
The 1992 presidential decree did not hinder the practice of other religions; however, its preference for the Catholic and Reformed churches could be observed in some circumstances. For example, Catholic masses were a normal part of any major ceremonial function, such as the October 12 National Day and June 5 President's Birthday.
The application and approval process for registration sometimes took several years, but such delay was reportedly due to bureaucratic inefficiency and not policy. The government reportedly approved more rapidly those groups that provided beneficial social programs, such as health projects or schools. Government enforcement of registration requirements was inconsistent. The government rarely applied fines, but periodically announced over the radio that any unregistered religious group was subject to fines or closure and should register as soon as possible.
Despite the government's requirement that religious groups obtain permission for any activities outside of places of worship, in practice, this requirement reportedly did not hinder religious groups from holding retreats and other meetings.
Some non-Catholic clergy, who also worked for the government as civil servants, continued to report that their supervisors strongly encouraged participation in religious activities related to their government positions, including attending religious events such as Catholic masses.
Section III. Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom
There were no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice.
Section IV. U.S. Government Policy
U.S. government officials met with religious leaders and government officials as part of an overall policy to promote human rights. These discussions focused on the need to promote mutual understanding, tolerance, and respect for all religious groups, especially the marginalized.


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The Triple Bottom Line: The Business Case for Sustainability
Chris Davis, Director of Investment Programs, Ceres
Friday, January 18, 2013, 3:30pm
Spanos Auditorium
This seminar is part of the Jones Seminars on Science, Technology, and Society series.
To achieve long-term success (i.e., be "sustainable"), today's products and business must not only be financially successful, but must be environmentally and socially responsible—and well managed on each of these fronts. This imperative for superior environmental, social, and financial performance has been called the "triple bottom line" and requires a holistic, big picture approach to design, management, and strategy. Successful businesses need to effectively manage financial, human, social, natural, and intellectual capital to survive and thrive. Thus, sustainability can no longer be viewed as a peripheral "corporate social responsibility" initiative, but must be integrated into all aspects of the enterprise—from the copy room to the executive suite and from the production line to the supply chain. This presentation will review key global mega-trends that are creating unprecedented risks and opportunities for society, governments, and businesses, provide an operational definition of sustainability, review the business case and practical benefits of sustainable business practices, examine growing investor interest in these issues, and explain how all this matters to engineers and other business professionals who will lead tomorrow's enterprises.
About the Speaker
Chris Davis directs the Investor Program at Ceres and is chief of staff of the 100 member Investor Network on Climate Risk (INCR), working with institutional investors and asset managers on climate change and other sustainability issues. Prior to joining Ceres in 2010, Chris spent almost 30 years practicing environmental law. As a senior partner at Goodwin Procter LLP, Chris chaired the environmental practice, co-founded and led the clean tech practice, and was a member of the private equity team. He is a member of the American College of Environmental Lawyers. He has held various leadership positions in the American Bar Association's Section of Environment, Energy and Resources, serving as Education Officer, Council member and chair of the Keystone Conference on Environmental Law. Chris chairs the Board of Deacons at First Church (Congregational) in Wenham, MA. Prior to his legal career, he worked as an environmental engineer. Chris holds degrees from Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School, where he was a member of the Harvard Law Review. Chris and his wife Carol have two grown children, Greg and Colin (who are co-founders of an energy efficiency software company), and live in Hamilton, MA. He enjoys skiing, bicycling, hiking, surfing, gardening, and other strenuous outdoor activities.


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Top 10 Design Winners and Losers
british_rover Posts: 8,458There were Super V8s in 2003 but that was the older steel chassis X308. You could probably get one of those in the mid 20s or so and maybe a little less for a higher mileage one or a non-standard color. The X350 bodystyle is the one to get as that is the all aluminum chassis. It weights hundreds of lbs less then the X308 but is much a much larger car.
There are only four Super V8s listed for sale on cars.com in the whole country. One of them is a 2003 and the rest are new body style Jags. The new body style ones are a lot more then a W210 but they are still deprecating rapidly while the W210s are starting to level off some. Looks like a 2005 Super V8 can be had in the mid 40,000 range.
fintail Posts: 42,941Yeah, if I wanted one I would want a new bodystyle, that old one was really bland in my eyes. Mid 40s is too rich for my blood anyway.
A nice enough early W210 E55 can be had for 20K, the nicest late ones shouldn't hit 30K unless they are somehow special. I paid 28 for my 27K mile 2002 model last year. A decent 2003+ W211 E55 will still cost you 45K+, but I see this as a different car - different engine. The styling is very similar, I like some aspects of both cars - I prefer the older dashboard for one.
dweezil Posts: 271*This is the definition of the Dodge Caliber : sharp angles, curves, stuck on tail lights, chaotic side view.The 21st Century Road Toad. Not cute, not pretty, not attractive. A real eye sore.
You have it described perfectly Mr Shiftright:"Front half has nothing to do with the back half", "things stick out, jut at crazy angles" and the most perfect description for this car wreck of a design: "Ridiculous Pomposity; call it the gold chain and hairy chest syndrome".
The Cadillac XLR meets this criteria as well.Lines going every which way,no definition, overwrought "art & science" bull****.
Everyone mentions the Aztek as the "gold standard" for ugly. Why not the Mitsubishi Montero? Both discontinued and both beyond ugly.Meets all your standards as well. It is as bad or worse than the Aztek, but with a lot of chrome and awful from every angle: lumps, strakes, cladding, curved where it should go straight. A mess.
The new Scion box takes the torch as the current offerings Aztek. UGH.
On my short list of the best [and soon no longer offered] : the Mazda 6 station wagon. It looks better than the sedan for some reason, balanced and finished off with beautiful tail lights.It's just perfect.Elegant.
Compare that to the Malibu Maxx.
Passat; again finished off with incredible tail lights.Looks chiseled out of a single piece of steel.
Other than a couple of ringers, I'd say the Edmund's community got the list just about right.
*Opinion solely that of the author, no insult, affront or flame intended. !!!!
texases Posts: 7,902Here's a different question - what do you think are the worst technology disasters? We're not talking looks, we're talking things that just didn't work well. Here are some of mine -
- Vega's aluminum engine
- Fiero's low-oil engine
- Corvair's undeveloped engine
- BMW's original iDrive system
TwistedRacer Posts: 1im surprised the volkswagen thing didn't make it anywhere on here!
Dunno what some folk got against the Honda Element. I have the SC model and get constant comments of "nice ride." I think of it as the box the ScionXB came in. I agree with most of the posters here that all GM, Ford, and Chrysler products are lacking in aesthetics. My sister says that about my Element, but she hasn't lived with it. But she likes the color. It handles every bit as well as an Accord and the hauling room is incredible. It's a very versitile vehicle that is fun to drive, gets great mileage for its class. People who think it's "too boxy" are living in the past. Practicality is the wave of the future and I think Honda hit it dead-on with this vehicle.
My top 10 ugly vehicles:
Of course Pontiac Aztek, and its platform mate, Buick Rendesvouz
Dodge Caliber
Ford anything, especially the Focus...very awkward styling
Hyundai anything, Sonata excluded...but how's the reliability getting, and it's a copy cat of the 98-02 Accord
Kia anything
Cadillac anything...trying too hard..what up with them fender vents? Passe.
Lincoln anything...again, trying too hard, and anyone who wants fender vents should buy a Buick. I hear they're back.
Any gargantuan SUV by any maker...get with it folks, these vehicles are pigs, they don't impress anyone...if anything, they make you look like you're selfish and overcompensating for some shortcoming, and who can see around the beasts?
Chevy anything...see the USA in something more stylish and reliable.
While I appreciate the utility of the Element. It is Aztek ugly from every angle. The Toyota Venza has it beat on just about every point and it is a good looking vehicle. Much better mileage, more towing, more seating, and better rollover rating. For a few dollars more you could have gotten the VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI, with 25% more room and double the fuel mileage.
Element=marginal utility and gross looks. It is not a pleasant vehicle to behold. The old version of the Scion xB was so ugly it was cute. The Element is not cute.
Hello gagrice...I was not looking for "cute." That's for the girlies. I disagree with your comparison of the Element to the Aztek...not even close. I'd rather drive a box than a deformed potato. As I said, I get more comments of admiration on this vehicle than any other I've owned. Seems people either love it or hate it, and I happen to belong to the former group. The ones who say they hate it obviously haven't driven or lived with one. Looks are subjective, and I've heard some dubious comments on how attractive a vehicle I think looks hideous is. Mine is the SC model with the body all one color, factory lowered/tuned suspension and factory 18" wheels. It handles great, and sits all hunkered low to the ground. It has 5 stars in every safety category except rollover, and that is only because of the tallness vs. the short wheelbase, and I don't drive so much like a maniac that I need to worry about a rollover. I agree with your comments on the Toyo Venza...sharp looking vehicle, but I ain't got the 30-plus grand it takes to get one, and it doesn't hold as much. I've owned a few Toyotas, and while they are reliable, my preference is the Honda on handling, quality, component integrity and overall reliability and driving satifaction. You couldn't give me a VW for free -- they are German junk, incredibly expensive to repair and very unreliable...just like Mercedes and BMW, although I love the driving experience of the Bimmer.. Anything with a turbo and diesel engine is off my list. Turbos screw up all the time, and I don't wanna have to hunt for a truck stop to get diesel. My Element gets great mileage...I happily afford the gas. At current prices, I pay $26 for a fill-up, and it lasts me a good week and a half, and I put 20K miles a year on my cars. I don't see any significant difference in fuel usage than I did with my previous car, an Accord. Besides, fuel economy is not my priority, utility is. I would not drive a Tahoe or Suburban or other truck platform tank...talk about ugly, ungainly and plain unnecessary for most folks...I just need the room for a little plywood or sheet rock here and there (yes it will hold it) and maybe a little furniture or junk hauling once in a while. I never thought I would gravitate to and SUV-type vehicle but need one now thanks to buying and in the process of renovating a house. I get the best of both worlds. Car-like handling, tons of cargo room, and, oh yeah, I like the way it looks. I don't tow anything and am no longer a Toyota affiicianado, so I don't care what people think about it's styling. If that's all they're interested in, let them buy that Venza or that Murano or Acadia or CX7 or whatever the sleekest new utility vehicle happens to be. Whatever floats yer boat. You never mentioned what your "cute" vehicle is. I'd be interested to know. Or are you just a frustrated Element-owner wannabe?
I don't love the Element but I like it. Never been inside one though, and that's what really counts. I thought the khaki color was sharp.
I liked the Thing ok too.
Nice defense of your rig.
'Preciate ya steve...I liked the khaki too, but they didn't offer it when I bought mine. I've got the "Root Beer" metallic. I think that's what people like about it. Sorta overcomes the negativity some folks have about this vehicle. They shouldn't knock it 'til they've tried it. Plus the XM stereo is killer! I ain't no young'n...I'm pushin' 50. Still looking for that original condition '59 Buick for a leisure car...talk about styling!
I don't really have any cute vehicle in mind. I would like to have a midsized diesel SUV. If you lowered your Element you must live where the roads are in much better shape than SoCalifornia. Our LS400 gets swallowed in some of the potholes around here. Our Sequoia handles the roads fine. Just a gas hog. I was disappointed that Honda failed to bring a diesel Pilot to the USA. I would have considered it to replace the Sequoia. As it stands today my choices are a BMW X5 diesel, MB either ML or GL320 CDI or the Touareg TDI. I really don't like the looks of any of them. I just want a full size SUV that gets close to 30 MPG on the highway. All three of those fill that wish. Quite frankly I am trying to think of a vehicle today I consider really beautiful. None come to mind.
Nothing to compare to a 1959 Buick or a 1957 Chevy Nomad, my all time favorite vehicle.
For some reason, Honda didn't make many in that khaki color. I skimmed over the part where you lowered yours. Mine would wind up looking like this:
See more Car Pictures at CarSpace.com
If you want an Element they are selling below invoice down here. 24 MPG on the highway with a little 4 banger does not impress me. You could not give me another car with suicide doors like on my GMC PU truck. You cannot let someone out of the back seat without getting out of the car. Same as that awful FJ Cruiser. Get the Prius with a lift kit. If your going ugly at least you will get 45 MPG doing it.
Rigs like that just cry out for one big slider on each side. Probably wouldn't pass the side impact crash tests though.
steve...loved the photo...I don't go off-road at all with only front-wheel drive. Don't need AWD, just adds weight and complications with keeping up with tire wear. By the way, I didn't lower the suspension...the SC came from the factory that way. It's only about an inch and a half lower, but that, and the big tires make it look way better than the EX or LX. No problems ever with ground clearance or having the front bumper ram those concrete parking lot stops. Agree with the suicide door arrangement. Doesn't bother me to get out to let the back seat rider out, but if some moron parks too close and I need rear seat access to load something, there are some acrobatics involved, but that's' only happened once. I try to park where that won't come into play. Agree I feel somewhat uneasy at times with the structural integrity of the clamshell doors. But I believe the Element got a 5 star rating for side impact as well. Almost got a chance to see how it would end up when a senior citizen ran a red light going 50 mph a while back. If I hadn't been watching, she'd have creamed me dead center in the side. Luckily I stopped in time but if I'd noticed her a second later she'd a torn the whole front off. She passed within inches of my front bumper. It was sorta funny...I saw her clap her hand over her mouth when she realized what was going down. Poor lady. I'm hoping those side seat airbags and side curtain airbags would do their job had she actually T-boned me. To gagrice...so you DO have taste in automobiles, however the Lexus LS400 is just to mushy in handling for me, and the steering is a bit numb, but I do like their looks...especially the latest version...elegance in motion. I heard they even have an automatic butt wiper. As far as the Sequoia, another good choice, but again, it's a truck-based platform and I don't like being thrashed & rolled around, the handling is too soft and ungainly, and I'm sure the mileage is horrendous. But if my only choice was a truck-based big SUV, the Sequoia would win. As far as roads are concerned, I live in Okla. City...we're known for less than stellar roads, but haven't experienced any problems with bottoming or being "swallowed." The low profile tires (P225/55R/18) do give it a stiffer ride than the standard Element, but I like it. It's not so harsh as to be uncomfortable, and the lower stance and wider tires add to the stability and handling. Again, for what it is, this vehicle handles wonderfully, and feels very stable and agile in sudden high-speed maneuvers. I love the feel of the steering, too. A lot of heft to it and it goes where you point it right away. It ain't no Ferrari or Lamborghini for sure, but those things won't haul furniture or other items I frequently need to have room for. The 4-banger puts out more than adequate power for me and is a very efficient, well engineered power plant. Paid $20,300 OTD (stickers at just shy of $25K, invoice around $22K) after a few weeks of haggling and on a very desolate day at the dealership. All in all, and love it or hate its looks, this car has been a great vehicle for me with no problems whatsoever.
Well thankfully you saw her coming. I don't care if a car has a 10 star rating. Being hit broadside is a scary proposition. You did very well on the price. I started to look at them when they first came out and got side tracked. As I said before after having the clam shell doors on my 2005 GMC PU, I swore never again. The GMC dealer could never get them to shut tight enough to keep out the wind noise. I would expect that Honda is better at fit and finish.
Our 1990 LS400 is my wife's car. I do not like cars at all because of clearance. I like to be able to go off road at any given time without worrying about clearance. And getting in and out of low slung cars gets tougher every year.
The Element is a funny thing. They've grown on me over the years and work especially well in some colors and definitely ones that didn't get the clad on them.
Inside they are a great design. Versatile as all get out.
The Aztek was just plug ugly now matter how you approached it.2013 Mazda 5 Grand Touring, 2010 Toyota Prius IV. 2007 Toyota Camry XLE, 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999 Mazda Miata
ford91 Posts: 7I think the ugliest car in the wrold is the Pontiac Aztec! :sick:
andys120 Loudon NHPosts: 18,885I think the ugliest car in the wrold is the Pontiac Aztec!
Oh no it isn't>
2000 BMW 528i, 2001 BMW 330CiC
I think the Aztek holds a special place in hell though, because it taught us to accept cars that are ugly, have styling cues that appear stuck on, or body parts that appeared to be designed by three different committees who weren't communicating with each other.
The last time that happened was 1958-59, and the auto industry straightened itself out very quickly. But for some reason this time around, the ugly has stuck, and we embrace it!
I saw a Nissan Juke on the road the other day. At least, I think it was a Juke. Front-end made me think a bit of the [non-permissible content removed]-end of a '59 Ford. Hideous looking little thing.
That thing you posted above, while ugly, IMO at least still has an endearing sort of charm about it. It's like a pug dog, or one of those wrinkled, hairless cats...so ugly it's almost cute!
I can see the charm you are talking about but it still took a severe beating from the ugly stick!
I worry sometimes that ugliness grown on me. As example I give you the Nissan Cube. For an age I've thought it to be the worst of the square boxes that started with the Scion Xb. But I find it's growing on me and I find it kind of cute...2013 Mazda 5 Grand Touring, 2010 Toyota Prius IV. 2007 Toyota Camry XLE, 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999 Mazda Miata
I never really understood why the Aztek got so much flak but the Rendezvous flew under the radar. The Pontiac was a bit more hatchy with some typical Pontiac bling stuck on it, but otherwise you'd have trouble telling the difference if you saw two of them on a rainy night.
The front end of the Juke looks more like the face on this guy to me!
Part of the problem might have been that the Atzek often came in loud colors, like that radioactive-pee you posted above, while the Rendezvous were more often done up in more sedated colors. On a cloudy, drizzly morning, that Rendezvous would almost disappear.
I knew someone who had a black Aztek as a company car awhile back. This was before they gave you the option of body-color cladding (or maybe they took the cladding off completely? I can't remember now). Anyway, in black, with that black cladding, it didn't look AS bad.
The Aztek also had a sort of a double-grille effect up front, like two different car front-ends were forced on, one above the other. And, even little details, like that exposed fuel filler on the Aztek, which draws attention to itself, gives it a haphazard, thrown-together look.
I think the Aztek actually looks better now than it did when it was new. What with the likes of the Nissan Juke and Cube, some of the goofy Scions, the cowcatcher Acuras of late, the current Honda CR-V, with a front-end that looks inspired by the '61 DeSoto, right down to the slanty headlights and double-grille effect. Ugly and awkward, jarring and disjointed, has become mainstream. When the Aztek came out, it was pretty unique in its ugliness, it's off-the-wall-edness (I know that's not a word!). The only other really oddball vehicle from that time I can recall was the Isuzu Vehicross. IIRC, it was a poor seller too, but part of that could have been that Isuzu was rapidly declining.
Sort of like this? Without that top grille, the '61 DeSoto would've looked like a 1960 Lincoln.
I always thought that if they had just done away with that upper grille and lowered the front of the hood, it would've cleaned up the looks considerably on the '61 DeSoto. They probably had to do it that way though, so that it could use the same hood as the Chrysler Newport and Windsor. Plus, if you have a brand that's on its way out and you just want to hasten it, it helps to make it a bit extra ugly on purpose, so that people don't whine so much about having to buy a Chrysler instead!
That bulge at the top that houses the upper grille makes me think a bit of how modern cars started swelling up in that era, such as the 2007 Camry and 2008 Malibu. Supposedly nowadays it's for pedestrian safety, but back in '61 it was probably to keep the pedestrian stuck to the front of the car, out of your windshield! :surprise:
One reason I think the Aztek got all the flack was because it came out before the Rendezvous by a fair amount of time.
I remember going to the NY Auto Show before the Rendezvous had started selling but the Aztek had been on the market for at least a couple of months.
It was very entertaining. The Pontiac and Buick displays were very near each other and the Pontiac folks had several Azteks on display including one with the tent option set up. It was kind of cool if you didn't look at the outside of it.
I went over to the Buick guy and asked him if you could get the tent on a Rendezvous and he had a long, rehearsed speech about how the Buick was an entirely different vehicle and had no parts in common with the Aztek. Um, yeah...2013 Mazda 5 Grand Touring, 2010 Toyota Prius IV. 2007 Toyota Camry XLE, 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999 Mazda Miata
uplanderguy Kent, OHPosts: 9,858I think the Aztec is ugly, but the Nissan Cube burns my eyes.
I was behind one today. It reminds me of the rear of a '98 Taurus with a box welded on top.
I can only imagine if one of the Big Three had come out with that design (although I'm glad they didn't).
I don't know why the Cube has been growing on me. It is mighty wacky looking - asymmetrical to boot.
Oh, if GM had made it you would have never heard the end of it! Heck, if Honda made it it would be another sign that the styling folks at Honda continue to have lost their minds.
With Nissan it's merely the latest in quirky designs....2013 Mazda 5 Grand Touring, 2010 Toyota Prius IV. 2007 Toyota Camry XLE, 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999 Mazda Miata
The Cube reminds me of this cookie jar my Mom once had:
This discussion has been closed.