text:
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
one of the most inexpensive audiophile products out there. amazing bang for the buck.
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With most stereo and speaker purchases, we offer installation guides, dash kits, wiring harnesses, and speaker accessories at deep discounts. Also, you can just buy our installation guides for $10. (If you buy a new stereo or speakers from us within 60 days, we'll apply the $10 to your order.)Learn more
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Our experts help you pick the ideal gear for your needs.Meet our advisors
Free tech support for the life of your gear.Read about our one-on-one expert help
You may return items that are complete and like new for any reason within 60 days.See the details of our return policy
Earn one point for every dollar you spend and use those points to save on future purchases.Get full details on Crutchfield Rewards
We offer vehicle-specific installation instructions, dash kits, wiring harnesses, and speaker accessories at deeply discounted prices with car stereo and speaker purchases. Available for most vehicles.Learn more
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The manufacturer's warranty always applies.See more details
Item # 786SR60I | MFR # SR 60i
This item is no longer available.
With their retro-cool looks and up-to-the-minute sound quality, Grado's lightweight SR60i headphones make the perfect companions for at-home or on-the-go listening. This perennial audio bargain sounds simply amazing. You'll enjoy warm, lively, detailed sound with that "you are there" feeling. These 'phones can easily be driven with your portable music player, and include a 1/4" adapter plug so you can enjoy 'em on your home system, too.
Each pair of SR60i headphones is made right in Brooklyn, New York where the Grado family has been building award-winning audio gear for almost 60 years. Like all Grado headphones, the SR60i uses a vented "open-air" earcup design with large, non-resonant air chambers for powerful, extended bass response and more open, spacious sound. Each driver features a high-quality copper voice coil to ensure smooth, dynamic performance with exceptionally low distortion. Drivers are also carefully matched to within 0.1 dB for enhanced stereo imaging and a wide soundstage.
one of the most inexpensive audiophile products out there. amazing bang for the buck.
Rick P, fresno,ca.
Average Customer Review(s):
one of the most inexpensive audiophile products out there. amazing bang for the buck.
Really some of the best headphones at the price point. I really enjoy the open air sound and having a busy life it's nice to be able to hear what's going on around me while still enjoying a private listening experience. Grado has really done the music a favor with these phones. Granted they are mostly plastic, but if you want nicer looking/feeling headphones look upward in Grado's line. I have used the phones on the plane as well as the office. At higher volumes you can disturb your neighbor, but it's worth it for the sound you hear coming from these phones is heaven. The amount of detail and clarity is truly and audio gift at this price point. As long as noise reduction from ambient sources is not a concern you can rest assured these are the headphones you want to hear.
Pros: Sound Quality Retro look Price
Cons: Two wire setup
I have no complaint whatsoever so I am completely satisfied.
After reading some recent reviews I though I should give these " fabulous" headphones a try. Well I sent them back. The sound quality was rather poor as compared to a pair of Bose low end over the ears I compared them to. Dynamic range was not very good and the sound reproduction was sub par. The rain fall portion of Oleta Adam's Get Here sounded like crinkling Cellophane not rain at all. I suppose if you listen to cheapy in ears this might be OK, but Audiophile they are not !
Pros: Cool Look, Reasonable Price, Comfortable Fit
Cons: Poor Dynamic Range, Poor sound reproduction
Outstanding sound quality, especially for an entry level set of headphones. Would rather have these than any "rapper" endorsed set of garbage. Extremely high quality made in USA, not mass produced junk! I can actually hear things in my music I didn't know were there. Amazing.
Pros: Excellent sound quality.
Cons: Non
I had great hopes for these headphones. I wanted over-the-ear noise blocking, good sound with my mp3 player, and acceptable portability. Honestly, the sound is OK, but I did not have the phones long enough to experience them extensively. When they arrived, I took them on a short trip in my carry-on bag. When I took them out of the bag, the steel rod that attaches the headphone to the headband was broken. It's only pressedinto the plastic cup. Since the phones are useless unless they can do double-duty between home and travel, I needed to return them.
Pros: I like the old style. I found them to be comfortable.
Cons: Poor construction for travel use
I was really excited to get these headphones, because I'd had my eye on them for months before I had the money to buy them. When I recieved them, they were fine. The sound quality is rather good, but is not good for much more than sitting in a quiet house with them. They don't block any sound. I was also rather disappointed when the right speaker fell right off the head band after less than a week of use. I decided that the poor construction out weighed the sound quality and decided to return them.
Pros: Good Sound Quality
Cons: Look awkward because of the antenna like adjusters, fell apart after less than a week, felt uncomfortable after extended use, did nothing to reduce noise.
I had my heart set on another, pricier set of sealed headphones. I could justify the double the price for the other pair. After reading several reviews here an on other sites I decided to pull the trigger. I've owned them for about 2 weeks now and they are excellent. Bass is rich and not overbearing. Highs are very clear with nice detail while the mids are pretty well balanced. My musical tastes vary from BassNectar to Vivialdi to The White Stripes. They handle everything with aplomb. Build quality is excellent. Everything has a solid feel to it and is well put together. The cable is thick but very flexible with plenty of length while using them at work on my desk. There are some cons but they are very minor to me. After about 5 hours they get get a bit uncomfortable and the foam used for the ear pads can sometimes make my ears feel warm. I hear Grado offers larger ear pads and I might try them out. Being open backed they can get loud or slightly annoying to my co-workers who sit near me. However, the open back offers the advantage of being able to hear people who come up from behind and need to talk to you. My boss can't claim that with his sealed cans. Overall, I've been very very pleased with them. For the price they can't be beat.
Pros: Excellent, well-balanced sound quality Very good build quality long warranty made in the USA!!!
Cons: Can be a bit fatiguing for extended use open back can be annoying to those around you
I bought these for my office as I have a number of higher end Grados at home. STILL with the cheaper SR60i, the sound is superb. I read a review or two that stated that "these headphones had no detail and sounded muddy". WHAT? What did you use as your sound source, an old PC or something? To really get the awe-factor out of a pair of Grados, feed it right. If you use a PC, use iTunes or another type software that will "purify" the music so the sound comes through clean. Step it up and add in a D/A converter. Grado's need and feed on proper output, otherwise just buy a pair of Sonys or something.
Pros: Sound quality!
Cons: It's kind of ugly, but who cares!
After a couple of hours listening I decided to return the 60's for a better pair. I had my wife and daughter also listen to them. The three of us thought they did not sound good enough even taking into account their cost. They lake detail and sound muddy. I know a lot of folks like these but if you are any form of an audiophile I suggest you spend more money or pick a different m brand.
Pros: Inexpensive for Grado type sound.
Cons: To my ears they sound muddy. My pair were poorly constructed.
Impressive sound, well worth the money. I do not want heavy bass, these headphones preformed exactly as promised!!! Well worth what I paid for them- these headphones sing with guitar, vocals, instrumental, and classical music. I listen to everything except rap and fusion jazz. Quite simply they work as I expect for a cheap price. WOW
Pros: excellent sound quality, it gets better after about 10 hours
Cons: after a few hours, I need to readjust them...no major hassle there, just reposition them. The bass isn't huge, but I knew that going in and its not an issue with me
For an inexpensive pair of headphones these are O.K. but you definately get what you pay for. They sounded terrible right out of the box but got better when they started to break in (about 10 hours or so). Source definately makes a difference. You could say they are revealing of compressed music or sub-par sources, but so much of our musical entertainment comes to us this way these days. They sounded a lot better with a quality CD player but no matter the source the music quickly falls apart when you apply any kind of volume. Not ear bleeding volume but loud rock 'n roll volume. If you like to listen to music at low to medium volume they will probably be fine for the price you pay, but if you like to rock out or prefer deep base, I would look elsewhere. Definately emphisizes the upper range but not to the point of harshness. Like I said, with any kind of volume the whole sound field just falls apart. My other gripe is the short headphone cable. 81" is not as long as you would think so I had to get an extender cable which does degrade the sound quality a bit. I will have to invest in a higher quality cable at some time if I keep these, which I probably will. My bad, I suppose for not measuring. Overall, just O.K., not great.
Pros: Inexpensive Decent sound quality at low to medium volume
Cons: Short cord Sound field falls apart at high volume
On the market for a number of years at a very reasonable price I can't understand why they don't sell for at least three times as much. The sound quality is excellent throughout the spectrum. I enjoy classical music and with the Grado headphones the bass comes in as it should in good perspective with the balance of the orchestra. The openness of the phones allow outside voices to come through, as when my wife needs to get my attention, but is necessary (I believe) for the sound quality to perform at its peak. I also have a pair of Sennheiser phones which are over the ear and cut out almost all outside sound. They cost more and are not as comfortable as the Grado, though they are necessary at certain times (like late at night when the rest of the house is asleep). I highly recommend the Grado SR60i not only for sound quality, but for a price that gives excellent sound on a budget.
Pros: Well balance sound throughout the spectrum
Cons: Others can hear what you are listening to if they are relatively close.
When I looked into Grado, I was really impressed that it is a family company still manufacturing in Brooklyn. Throw into the mix that Crutchfield is a family-owned supplier, and how could I not? It seemed like a chance worth taking to support two independent businesses and make a "feel good" purchase. These last 7 months with the Grado SR60i's have been delightful. Until purchasing these headphones, I have only ever owned headphones with "closed" backs. There really is a striking difference in the sound from the "open" SR60i's, and it may not be for everyone. The Crutchfield details say the SR60i's are for "portable" listening, but I disagree. I bought these headphones to use at my desk, and for that they are perfect. The long cord makes it very easy to move around my office without worrying about pulling out of the jack. Downsides are minimal, but obvious. The headphones are "on-ear," so it can get a little hot and even painful wearing them for long hours. I concur that the head strap has at times been a little painful when listening for several hours. The fully open design means everyone else hears everything you are listening to. . . and you can hear them. While the sound leakage is a definite minus, I don't mind being able to hear when someone is trying to get my attention. The long cord is good if you are sitting, but can be a hassle if you are standing. In sum, I'm quite with these headphones, and I enthusiastically recommend them. Feel good, indeed.
Pros: Exceptional and balanced sound for a wide-range of musical tastes, relatively inexpensive, great for office use, decently portability, vintage style, family company!
Cons: Can be painful if worn with glasses, head strap is uncomfortable after several hours, no noise reduction
I have always wanted to try the Grado SR60i headphone. While I am not a true audiophile, I do appreciate quality sound. The SR60I does perform well. It almost seemed that the 2nd time I listened to a CD they sounded better than the first play. Perhaps not, but they do have a nice sound. While they are not bass heavy, for me personally, I would rather have the instruments sound as they were meant to meaning not one instrument being more pronounced than the rest, but that is also a personal choice. The cable is the most heavy duty I have yet seen. Kudos to Grado!! While I have other phones which are much more expensive and do offer I believe better sound. They should considering the much higher price. It is probably safe to say that the pads may or will have to be replaced at some point, but this should not be a reason to not purchase them. If you would like to try a modestly priced pair of headphones that do a fine job, the Grado Sr60i should be at or near the top of your wish list.
Pros: Sound quality, cable, price, supplied plug for insert in a headphone amp or receiver.
Cons: None that I can think of
From the moment i put them on to test them out for the first time, I knew I had something good, the highs are crisp and distinct, without mashing the sounds of different cymbals and high hats with snares, the mids and vocals come through as intended nothing seems to fight to be heard its all very clean sounding. The bass is rich without mudding up the rest of the sound, if you want eardrum busting bass these aren't for you. However if you'd like to listen to music the way artist intended then these are right up your alley. I'm actually surprised how well these headphones sound at all volume levels, and different styles of music. My average listening time is about 10-14 hours a day, I do design and engineering work so good music for me is a must have. and i came from wearing B&W C5's they also were good but i kept having problems with them so I'm happy Crutchfield let me swap them out for these awesome headphones.
Pros: Price, quality, clarity of sound, great sound stage, very comfortable, sturdy, just plain great!
Cons: none so far, aside from not buying them sooner.
Best phones I have ever heard under 10 times their price,
Pros: Magnificent sound and my bench mark is a live performance of the Japanese High School national Orchestra performing Mussorgsky at Carnegie Hall 12-26-2010. made in USA by small family business.
Cons: No sound isolation but I do not believe the phone would be as good with it.
The sound from these headphones is fantastic. I feel like I am, for the first time, actually hearing the entire spectrum as opposed to just a limited slice of it. The noise reduction is non-existant beyond having big foam cups against your ears but that's not why I got them. So that is not a negative, just something to be aware of. I love the sound from these and have begun (rebegun) listening to music and podcasts a lot more!
Pros: Excellent Sound, Comfortable
Cons: None
Extremely crisp sound. Comfortable. Very well made (cords aren't hair-thin). Would like a little more bass response.
Pros: Price-for-quality, comfortable, crisp sound.
Cons: Probably ought to keep a supply of foam earpads
For the wearer, these are overall an excellent set of headphones. The sound quality is great and there seems to be little to no loss in response across highest to lowest frequencies regardless of the type of music you may be listening to. These are also exceedingly comfortable to wear, very lightweight, very comfortable on the ears and have adequate adjustability. They are NOT designed to deliver really any noise reduction, so you shouldn't be expecting them to do that (hence the 1 star). Even with music turned up to mid-levels I can easily hear my wife talk to me if she's in the same room. Which leads me to Section II; OTHER As I noted above these do not seem to reduce ambient sounds any further than would most other objects placed over your ears. How relevant this is will depend on your usage: When you're at home it probably isn't all that relevant; If you're considering these for use in a more on-the-go, urban area then it becomes more important to consider. Lastly, I obviously don't know at what volume the other reviewers listen to their music but it's MUCH more than "a whisper" that those nearby will hear from these headphones, even from just mid-level volumes. I use them often before bedtime and if my wife isn't listening to her own Ipod, she can not only hear whatever I'm listening to, but hears it clearly. The others may have modified their 'phones somehow, or just listen at volumes a lot lower than I do, but this cannot be understated.
Pros: Excellent sound response No loss across high or lowest frequencies Very comfortable Lightweight
Cons: WAY too much cord for mobile device applications Does not cancel ambient noise "Sound bleed" to those nearby
These are great headphones, I really enjoy listening to these. The sound works out great for all of my main music listening; however, occasionally I will listen to a Dubstep song and these just do not provide the kind of bass to make those sounds sound good. For everything else from hip hop to indie to hardcore to classical these rock. I love the look and they definitely provide have that "Cool Factor". The chord is super long so if you're looking for something that is portable, this may be a hindrance. It doesn't bother me though. Long story short- I would certainly not hesitate buying these headphones again, I have modified the headband with foam to make it more comfortable and it has made a huge difference. If you're looking for a super bass heavy headphone because you're a Dubstep junky I'd look elsewhere. For everything else these sound perfect.
Pros: Amazing sound, very cool looking, comfortable with modding.
Cons: Uncomfortable for long (hours) listening sessions- Modifying the headband and ear pads can fix this but right out the box they left some to be desired.
Extraordinary headphones for not very much! Even these "bottom-of-the-totem-pole" headphones from Grado have been around for so many years and continue to be garnered with award after award all over the world. Even better, gotta love Crutchfield's excellent service (not just the shipping, but talking to a really nice lady who really knows good electronics and hi-fi when we were chatting about these SR-60i's. Thanks Crutchfield!
Pros: Unbeatable headphone quality for the money -- even better than other big-named cans costing up to four times that of the SR-60i's.
Cons: none.
I'm not a technical audiophile, but I am a musician and know good musical quality when I hear it. These deliver. Now, as described by Crutchfield, these won't provide punchy bass. Rather, they provide what you would expect to hear from a live studio recording. Before listening on these phones, I enjoyed my music. After listening with these, I can actually hear the electronic buzz from the guitars in-between notes/riffs. The clarity is unbelievable. They really allow one to feel as if you're right in the next room from the musicians, mixing it all together. Great product! I only regret I had enough to purchase the lowest end model. Try lossless files with these! Whoa!! The only real downside is that other people can hear what you're listening to. It doesn't bother me because I listen from my computer.
Pros: Excellent clarity of sound, comfortable leather headband, cozy foam ear pads, slick black styling/color, classic design
Cons: low bass response, possible annoyance to others if they don't like your music
I bought this as a Christmas gift for a friend of mine that is hearing impaired. He was receiving a Kindle Fire for Christmas as well, and I picked these headphones because I wanted something with low ohms so they would be loud for him. Having a Kindle Fire myself I know the volume is fairly low. I also wanted something that would envelop his ears and be extremely comfortable. He is a very picky person. I figured he would ultimately return or exchange them, but he absolutely adores them. He can even use them with/over his hearing aids with no buzzing. He now wants a new TV for his bedroom to go with his new Grado Headphones.
Pros: Comfortable, low ohms, and fit over hearing aids
Cons: None
Lightweight, great sound, great quality, and comparatively cheap (pricewise), and the top part doesn't press uncomfortably hard against my pointy head. Surprisingly very little sound escape, considering they're not closed cup headphones like my Sennheisers.
Pros: Sound Quality, Lightweight, Great Price, Comfortable
Cons: I predict I'll need to order replacement earpads often because I use these all the time.
I'm amazed by how these sound.Detailed and smooth.This is pretty much the bottom-of-the line Grado.I also have a pair of Grado RS2 mohagany,which I limit to the home stereo.The Grado SR60 are under warranty and are used the most for travel.I love both pairs.
Pros: Sound quality is full,rich,dynamic and clean.
Cons: Exercise caution when handling rough.Get a warranty to protect your investment.
Now listen for the price these are the best head phones on earth. I have listened to so many of the competitors, yet I have turned so many others on to this headphone. I was at BB the other day even the $200 phones were not in the same league. It is in the sound staging the vocals and acoustics have life, these phones breathe on your ears, give them to someone as a gift they will love you. I do not have the words that audiophiles might use to explain a product but I feel I got something special like some mistake was made these headphones should cost at least $300. They are a joy to own and my son listened to them for the first time and could not believe them. I may be ready to move up a few notches in the grado headphone family I am not scared to I just wander now how much can they be improved upon when what I got is so satisfying.
Pros: They are lighter then they look, and just the old school feel. Also the adjustment up and down of each ear and they can lay flat in a drawer about 2 inches high, Even In music I am familiar with I heard nuances I never heard or noticed before.
Cons: That if someone is sitting beside you in quiet, and you listen to music very loud they will hear a whisper due to its design.
Considered to be the best bang for buck headphones on the market since the early 90,s when they first came out. I have to agree.
Pros: Sound quality
Cons: Nothing
|Fit Style
|Earcup Type
|Earcup Width x Height
|3.125" x 3.125"
|Mic For Taking Calls
|iPhone Control
|Lightning Connector
|Android Control
|Frequency Response
|20-20k Hz
|98 dB
|32 Ohms
|Not Given
|Cord Length
|1/4-inch Adapter Included
|Volume Control
|Parts Warranty
|1 Year, earpads not incl
|Labor Warranty
|1 Year, earpads not incl
Vented diaphragm: Grado headphones have a vented diaphragm design for a large, airy, three-dimensional sound.
Drivers: The diaphragm is made of a low mass polymer, developed with the compliance of the suspension in mind to achieve the desired low frequency response. The diaphragm's total mass is designed to provide a full 20 kHz bandwidth, while avoiding break-up at lower frequencies. The left and right drivers are matched to within 0.1 dB for exact imaging.
At Crutchfield, you'll get detailed, accurate information that's hard to find elsewhere. That's because we have our own in-house Product Research team. They verify what's in the box, check the owner's manual, and record dimensions, features and specs. We stay on top of new products and technologies to help people make informed choices.
Says china on the unit... as expected. Unfortunately, lectronics at this price point would could not be produced in the States [ JAMES Jul 19, 2014 ]
Yes [ Joshua Jul 12, 2014 ]
Yes, assembled in Boston [ WAYNE Jul 12, 2014 ]
Yes,made in the U.S.A. [ JEFFREY Jul 12, 2014 ]
We are having the same issue and were wondering if there was any way to stop it. Did not know this would happen or might not have purchased them. [ KAREN L Jan 04, 2014 ]
Hi, Sound leak is a nature of open headphone. I don't this their is an alternative for this rather than going for a closed cans. Regards, Naveen [ Naveen Jan 02, 2014 ]
No, it doesn't. [ EVAN Dec 30, 2013 ]
There is no inline volume control on these. [ GARY Dec 27, 2013 ]
noit does not have volume contol, but they are awesome headphones [ JOHN V Dec 26, 2013 ]
No, this set does not have that feature. [ Ron Dec 26, 2013 ]
No [ WAYNE Dec 26, 2013 ]
No volume control just plain old wired connection. [ BRETT Dec 26, 2013 ]
No volume control on the headset. Make adjustment using whatever device you are plugged into. I must tell you that this headset is one of the best things I have ever chosen to buy. The sound fidelity is incredible. [ ROWE Dec 26, 2013 ]
No. I don't think any Grados have it. [ WIRT Dec 26, 2013 ]
No. [ Cheeku Dec 26, 2013 ]
Grado SR60i does not have volume control, nor a microphone for use with a smart phone. The "i" designation in many products suggests that it is compatible with Apple products, but in this case the "i" designation (I believe) refers to "improved" when Grado released the most recent update of their headphone line. [ KEITH E Dec 26, 2013 ]
It does not have a volume control [ CREIGHTON Dec 26, 2013 ]


text:
what is the best C++ program to use?
the program i am using is Dev-C++.
what is the best C++ program to use?
the program i am using is Dev-C++.
do you mean what is the best IDE? I would say thats up to you.
There are a number avalible, depending on your OS. I think its a matter of personal preference, or what your job requires.
If any part of my post is incorrect, please correct me.
This post is not guarantied to be correct, and is not to be taken as a matter of fact, but of opinion or a guess, unless otherwise noted.
VIM it is baby, for pretty much any OS.
And a commandline for the compiler
For more integrated tools I've always been a Borland fan, but knowledge of CURRENT Microsoft tools is more marketable.
i use dev and visual c++ 6.0, the former being free, the latter
being like all things microsoft - expensive! dev is my home
compiler which i like a lot because i cant save any config data on
visual (college doesn't allow saving of settings).
it depends on what you need - you are a beginner so dev will
be more than powerful enough for you. i would recommend a
command liner compiler too, many experts swear by them and by
giving you a raw, standard compiler without the fancy features of
the more user orientated IDE's make you a stronger programmer -
you have to read the errors/warnings produced and locate the
errors - good for learning from your mistakes.
dev will be more than capable for your needs for some time yet,
so i wouldn't be too worried about the nuances of the different
types yet. just learn to program with standard code and not
depend on what your particular compiler will let you get away with
and you'll be fine.
No No's:
fflush (stdin); gets (); void main ();
Example of fgets (); The FAQ, C/C++ Reference
My Gear:
OS - Windows XP
IDE - MS Visual C++ 2008 Express Edition
ASCII stupid question, get a stupid ANSI
Richie T MSVC++ 6.0 I heard had a buggy compiler that fails to inplement the current C++ newer features. Is this true?
I have 2003.net so mine is ok
Yes, version 6.0 was developed before the C++ standard came out, so it doesn't implement some features according to that standard. It is also about 8 years old and there have been two major versions released since (7.x and 8.0). .Net 2003 (version 7.1) or 2005 (8.0) have much better compilers.
and I'd hardly call VC++ expensive... The 2003 version (the 2005 version is not currently sold separately) costs only about $150, the full 2005 dev.studio rolls in at under $400.
Both the 2003 and 2005 versions are also available free of charge (minus some of the goodies and documentation).

subset: commoncrawl


text:
OCEAN CITY – The process to create a list of capital improvement projects to be included in an ordinance for a bond sale in April began this week.
The list of previously approved projects and their total issuance cost are the reconstruction of the Boardwalk at $6,120,000; the new Art League of Ocean City building at $612,000; the Caroline Street Comfort Station at $1,020,000; the Caine Woods Pump Station, Old Landing Pump Station, and 28th Street Pump Station, all at $918,000 each; the Clarigester upgrade at $1,376,000; the winter influent pump at $408,000; and the St. Louis Avenue Sewer at $442,600. The total cost for all the previously approved projects is $12,732,680.
According to Finance Administrator Martha Bennett, the Boardwalk project was already approved for reimbursement from bond proceeds and various wastewater projects were included in the 2010 water and wastewater rate study to be paid by fees. The Art League building was approved in October of 2011.
Bennett reported that this is the time to take advantage of low interest rates for the refunding of the 2005 municipal bonds.
"What I need is to give our bond council a list of proposed projects so we can bring it to first reading on Tuesday [Feb. 21] night," she said.
The projects need to be approved to be included in the ordinance. Also, the bond ordinance is the ceiling of what the town can borrow and a project can be deleted before the sale is advertised in April.
City Engineer Terry McGean presented other projects that have been discussed in the past and are also candidates to be included in the project list are. They included the following.
(BULLET)Property acquisition and site improvements. The cost is to be determined and the status of the project is currently in negotiation.
(BULLET)The full reconstruction of St. Louis Ave. including storm drains, new street scape with wider sidewalks and new pavement and will cost $9 million. Construction documents are 90 percent compete. The cost for paving, sidewalk repair, and storm drains only is $4.5 million. $2.7 million of the paving is included in the proposed $3 million annual paving program for a three year period.
(BULLET)A Caine Woods street improvement project includes the reconstruction of 136th to 141st streets with new wider sidewalks, landscape strips and new pavement and will cost $3 million. A concept design has been completed. The pavement and sidewalk work will cost $2.5 million and is also included in the proposed paving program.
(BULLET)The Philadelphia Avenue Transit Lane project is the addition of a bus lane on Philadelphia Ave from 17th Street to 2nd Street and will cost $2 million. A concept design has been completed.
(BULLET)The replacement of, additions to, renovations and repairs to various fire stations including Station 4 and Headquarters and is estimated to cost around $5.5 million. The council is expecting to hear a report from Ocean City Fire Chief Chris Laramore in the near future.
(BULLET)A new headquarters building for the Ocean City Beach Patrol will cost $2 million. The status is in program stage only and no design or location has been established.
(BULLET)The expansion of the skate park and compete renovation of the 3rd to 4th Street Park, which will cost around $3.2 million. Construction documents are completed and are ready for bid.
(BULLET)The dredging of city canals will cost $1.5 million and the designs and permits are completed and ready for construction.
(BULLET)The construction of a 590-space parking garage at the current Worcester St. parking lot. This will cost $13.3 million. A schematic design is completed but needs construction documents and permits.
(BULLET)Phase II of the reconstruction of the Convention Center, which is a 1,200-seat auditorium/performing arts stage in the convention center and will cost $14 million. A schematic design is completed, and the town is currently working with legislature for State Funding.
At this week's meeting, Councilman Joe Hall pushed to add the entire St. Louis Ave. project to the list.
"I think we should do St. Louis Ave.," he said. "I think it is a major corridor and I think when we do we should do it all the way … I know it is a giant number but I think the opportunity is now while Hal [Adkins, Director of Public Works] is going into the ground to do everything we should step up for the additional monies, it is a wise investment."
Mayor Rick Meehan said for now paving, sidewalk repair and storm drains will be beneficial.
"I drive St. Louis Ave. every single day and I think doing a $4.5 million project there and re-doing that street would make all the difference in the world, and I think the neighborhoods along that street and the people that use it will be very happy if that was a project that was completed," he said.
Councilman Brent Ashley reminded the room that bonds are a debt obligation on the government and ultimately the taxpayers.
"We currently have almost $82 million in outstanding bonds so if we keep adding to our outstanding obligations and our tax revenue is decreasing, where do you draw the line?" he said. "They are all worthy projects but how much do you spend before you say we can't spend anymore."
Bennett responded that the town is currently retiring about $7 million a year in debt.
In order to make a decision, Council President Jim Hall offered to go with the list of the previously approved projects and discuss the others as the ordinance moves toward its conclusion.
At that point, Joe Hall said the council should include all the projects to create a ceiling number for the ordinance.
"Every project that has been discussed by Terry tonight has been scrutinized, turned inside out, and on the drawing board for years and years," he said. "Construction costs are extremely competitive and favorable, interest rates are the lowest in years and if you are going to set Ocean City up for success in the future we need to invest in infrastructure. These are bills that are not going to go away … I think at a minimum we approve the entire list as for the ordinance and then over the next couple weeks we can really buckle it down for second reading."
Council Secretary Lloyd Martin set the motion to include the list of previously approved projects.
The council voted to set the bond sale ceiling at $20 million in a vote of 4-3 with Council members Joe Hall, Brent Ashley and Margaret Pillas in opposition.


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Hi Kelly,
Yep, its a false widow. Looks like Steatoda nobilis to me. They get a bad press, but they're nothing to seriously concern yourself over.
THanks for your help. It's in the conservatory in the corner, It's been there for a couple of months and sits in full view on its funny looking web. Could there be more and should just leave it there?
You are very welcome.
There may be more, but unless you have other funny looking webs in the area, you probably don't.
I tend to let them be, I relocated a wandering male from my bedroom once, but if your one is just hanging in the conservatory, i'd just leave it there. Good pest control, it may even stop you getting bitten by a mosquito!
Sage advice from malthusius - I usually relocate any I find indoors but there will enevitably be others around the outside of the house and sheds/greenhouses. They really love conservatories and females will stay put and do not wonder - they will live comfortably for 2-3 years. They are indeed good pest control and we are surrounded by them (in southern counties at least) - a very few cases of people being bitten are reported and very often make the press, but this is not regular behaviour. They are strongly synanthropic and I have never found one that has not made its home on a man-made structure - we appear to provide perfect habitat and our change inn climate has suited them too.


text:
"Rich is the perfect person to take on this responsibility," said William F. Matts, P.E., executive vice president, and chief operating officer of STV's Transportation & Infrastructure Division. "He combines the right mixture of intense client focus and approachable manner that is needed to run a practice of this size."
Amodei joined STV in 1999 and has aided STV's role in the public transportation markets as director of business development for North America. The Northeast Region provides multidisciplinary services, including planning, civil/bridge design, rail system design, resident engineering and inspection and construction/project management for an array of public and private clients, STV said.
STV's Northeast Region has overseen numerous large assignments, including Amtrak's Hudson Yards Gateway project and the Long Island Rail Road's East Side Access project.
For his part, Amodei has overseen projects that include the Delaware River Port Authority's $1.5 billion Glassboro to Camden Light Rail Line and Riverside County Transportation Commission's $248 million Perris Valley Line. Amodei is also responsible for STV's entrance into the Canadian marketplace with projects that include the preliminary engineering and project management of the $2.1 billion Ottawa Confederation Line light rail transit project, project management for the Toronto Transit Commission's LRT expansion, and the new $200 million Eglinton Vehicle Maintenance Facility for Greater Toronto's Metrolinx.
Amodei serves as a board member for the American Public Transportation Association, ENO Center for Transportation, Pentrans, and the Southern New Jersey Development Council. He also is a member of the New Jersey Alliance for Action.


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Used Book Sale
Friday & Saturday, October 26 & 27, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
"A" Level, Main Library, 5201 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48202
Thousands of books sorted by subject - autobiography, biography, cookbooks, computer manuals, art books, science fiction, history, politics, rare and collectible books, African American titles, poetry, science, children's books, adult fiction and non-fiction, along with CDs, DVDs and audio books from $ .25 and up.
Friends Only Preview of the Used Book Sale!
Wednesday, October 24, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Scanners are allowed during the last half hour of sale.
Members of the Detroit Public Library Friends Foundation (with current membership card) are entitled to purchase books prior to the public sale. Free parking is available in the library's lot to capacity. Call 313.481.1359 or e-mail email@example.com to join or renew your membership. Your membership dues are tax deductible and earn a credit on your State of Michigan income tax.
Catalog & Database Search
Catalog Search
Search books, movies, games and other library materials.
Database Search
Search newspaper, magazine and journal articles.


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August 12, 2014 08:02
Nigerian officials on Monday said one new Ebola case was diagnosed over the weekend, raising the country's total to 10 confirmed cases.
With the new Ebola case, the number of people who have come into contact with the disease has grown, and officials are now monitoring 177 people for signs of the disease.
Since a Liberian American financial consultant flew into Lagos from Liberia about three weeks ago, the number of new cases has slowly grown, increasing the number of people who may have been exposed, officials said.
Over the weekend, another patient was diagnosed in apparent connection with the Liberian American man, said Onyebuchi Chukwu, Nigerian Minster of Health.
"It was one of the nurses that were primary contacts when he got ill. We then brought her into isolation and we just tested her over the weekend and she tested positive," Chukwu said.
Ebola has killed nearly 1,000 people since the outbreak began early this year, with all but two deaths occurring in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.
Reports that experimental drugs have had success in treating American and European health workers and missionaries who contracted the disease in West Africa have prompted many Nigerians to demand access to the drugs in case it spreads further.
"Nigeria is actually, as of now, is reaching out to various laboratories, various governments, including the U.S.A. government to see how these untried... drugs that seem to hold some hope could also be deployed in Nigeria. We're in touch," Chukwu said.
The World Health Organization said it expects a vaccine to be developed by 2015, but currently there is no known cure.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan Friday pledged $11.7 million dollars to try to stop the spread in Nigeria and $3.5 million to help other countries fight the disease.
Meanwhile, Nigerian officials continue a massive communications campaign to squash the equally massive rumor mill.
People hear rumors that drinking salt water or eating a certain fruit will help prevent contracting Ebola. But local news has reported stories of people across Nigeria who have been sickened by drinking too much salt water or eating too much of a certain fruit.
On a daily basis, officials speak publicly about how to keep from getting Ebola, which is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids, such as blood, urine or sweat. It cannot be transmitted through air, the health minister said.
"If you are in close contact and someone who is suffering from it [Ebola], is sneezing or coughing into your face, you could also get it because the droplets can touch you. So that close contact makes it -- that's why people say it's not air borne -- because you need that close contact," Chukwu said.
He urged people to wash their hands frequently, especially after touching another person and said, so far in Nigeria, the disease has not spread out of Lagos, a megacity of 21 million people that is often called the "heartbeat" of the Nigerian economy.
- Copyright © Chosunilbo & Chosun.com


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BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's varsity softball team's early season unbeaten streak came to an end on Monday as the Seahawks ran into a buzz saw and fell to visiting Parkside, 10-0.
Decatur had made it look fairly easy through the first portion of the schedule, cruising to a 4-0 record while outscoring their opponents by a combined 40-6. In their last two games before falling to Parkside on Monday, the Seahawks beat Mardela, 8-0, and Washington, 20-0.
However, the Seahawks had the tables turned on them when they faced the Rams on Monday, falling, 10-0, for their first loss of the season. The typically potent Decatur line-up couldn't figure out Rams' starter Brittany Donalds, who struck out 10 Seahawks on the way to the shutout win. Decatur's Maddie Justice turned in a decent outing, striking out 10 also, but the Parkside bats were clicking on Monday.
Before the shutout loss to the Rams on Monday, the Seahawks routed Washington, 20-0, last Thursday to keep the early season winning streak alive. Justice went three innings and struck out seven of the nine batters she faced to dominate the Jaguars. Meanwhile, the Decatur offense was led by Jessica Iacona, who had four hits and drove in five runs, along with Kylie Nottingham, who had four hits and drove in four.
The Seahawks will look to get back in the win column this afternoon with a road game against Wicomico, followed by a home game against Pocomoke next Tuesday.


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Ex-Maverick Derek Harper: Monta Ellis will be a perfect Robin for Batman (Dirk Nowitzki)
Former Mavericks and currrent TV analyst guard Derek Harper recently joined DallasBasketball.com. Here are some highlights.
On the Mavericks' offseason:
"I think anytime you're going to try to be successful throughout an NBA season, you need good backcourt play. Adding what the Mavericks have added in the backcourt gives them the chance to surprise some people. The West is going to be extremely tough this year, even better than last year, I think. But when you look at Monta Ellis, a guy who can create a lot of things on the offensive end not only for himself but for other, I think he'll be a perfect Robin for Batman, who clearly is Dirk Nowitzki. Devin Harris brings experience. (Jose) Calderon is a solid point guard, a guy that I've always liked simply because he doesn't turn the basketball over, and we had a lot of problems last year. We lost a lot of games last year down the stretch because of turnovers and just not being able to make decisions down the stretch."
On if Monta Ellis is a subpar defender:
"I'm not going to go subpar. I think players are what they are as players. Monta Ellis plays defense with his offense a lot of night. He puts a lot of pressure on you. But again, you're not going to play in this system if you don't defend. O.J. Mayo found that out last year. Darren Collison found it out last year. The No. 1 priority is to guard, regardless of how good you are offensively."
On Jose Calderon:
"I think the guy understands the position. He runs a team really well. A lot of people talk about his inability to guard. But I think the overall team concept takes care of that. But his ability to run teams, not turn the basketball over, make good decisions, great facilitator, I think he's really going to be a key component for what Dallas wants to do."


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Almost equidistant from Milwaukee and Chicago, Gurnee gives travelers an opportunity to explore two of the northern United States' largest cities. However, visitors staying at our hotels in Gurnee should set aside plenty of time enjoy the local attractions, as well––especially the Six Flags Great America theme park, an enormous entertainment center with rides and attractions for the whole family.
Only an hour's drive from our Gurnee accommodations, downtown Chicago makes for a perfect day trip. You can explore Chicago's Soldier Field, the Miracle Mile, and legendary Wrigley Field, then make it back to Gurnee for dinner at Risotto's Italian Restaurante or The Point Restaurant.
Gurnee hotel guests looking for something different can head north to Milwaukee, where you'll find the Milwaukee County Zoo and the exciting shops of the Riverwalk District––then head over to the breezy beaches of Lake Michigan for a relaxing afternoon.
While in Gurnee, guests are encouraged to slip on their spikes and enjoy a round at the Bonnie Brook and Foss Park Golf Courses, as well as the Glen Fora Country Club. After a long day of sightseeing, kick back and relax with a sweet treat from Tina's Italian Bake Shop.


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Vibur DBCP is a concurrent, fast, and fully-featured JDBC connection pool based on Java dynamic proxies. It supports a fairness parameter, statement caching, Hibernate integration, and SQL queries logging, among other features. Various configuration examples (with Spring, Hibernate, etc.) are provided.
ThreadFix is a software vulnerability aggregation and management system that reduces the time it takes to fix software vulnerabilities. It imports the results from dynamic, static, and manual testing to provide a centralized view of software security defects across development teams and applications. The system allows companies to correlate testing results and streamline software remediation efforts by simplifying feeds to software issue trackers. By auto-generating application firewall rules, this tool allows organizations to continue remediation work uninterrupted. ThreadFix empowers managers with vulnerability trending reports that show progress over time, giving them justification for their efforts.
Journal is software for developing and publishing journals on the Web. It combines Java, Spring 3, Lucene, and Ehcache into an elegant solution for Web content management. The presentation is modern and CSS-based, and uses a responsive approach to layout. Resize your browser window and watch the layout adapt.
ExpressUI is a unique Java framework that offers extremely simple server-side-only APIs for rapidly developing business CRUD applications. Code your application in one language: Java. No HTML, JavaScript, XML, SQL, etc. Code everything on the server; no need to manage client state and synchronize with the server. A data-aware UI: leverage tables and forms that intelligently handle layout, entity relationships, data types, formatting, and validation. Security configuration: manage users, roles, and permissions at field level, all configurable in the UI without code changes.
Dash Reports is a versatile and lightweight reporting solution. It allows users and administrators to create a large range of reports driven by SQL databases. It also supports the creation of complex and powerful dashboards, with local caching of results to reduce load on the source database. Various report output formats are supported and the results can be styled using templates. The system allows for scheduled or user-invoked reports, delivered via browser, file, FTP/SFTP, or email.


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original StarCraft real-time strategy game was released twelve
years ago, and went on to revolutionize computer gaming. The use of
three distinct races with their own unique units and gaming
strategies led to an explosion in LAN gaming, especially in South
Korea. Over eleven million copies of the games have been sold, with
millions more illegally copied. A dozen novels centered on the game
universe have been written, and it is still one of the most popular
in the world.
is particularly popular in South Korea, where professional players
and teams earn sponsorships and prize money through competition in
televised tournaments. Over 10% of the country's population of nearly
49 million still actively plays the game.
Entertainment hopes to recapture that success with today's launch of
II: Wings of Liberty,
the long anticipated sequel to the original masterpiece. Development
on the sequel started in 2003, but had been stalled due to the
resources needed for the World of Warcraft MMO. The company
eventually decided to split
the game up into three parts: Wings
of Liberty, Heart of the Swarm,
and Legacy
of the Void.
of Liberty follows protagonist Jim Raynor as he leads an
insurgent group against the Terran Dominion following the events of
StarCraft and the StarCraft: Brood War expansion pack.
The non-linear single-player campaign has the player taking on
mercenary jobs for money in order to buy additional units and
upgrades. There are key missions that will appear to explore the
storyline and keep it linear.
expansion packs will feature Zerg and Protoss single-player campaigns
to complete the storyline, as well as additional unit and multiplayer
maps. Full multiplayer gameplay with all three races is available out
of the box.
are of course much improved over the DirectX 2.0 standard of the
original. Unfortunately, the drawn out development process meant that
the game was targeted for DirectX 9.0c, and lack the features of DX
10, 10.1, and DirectX
11. While the game looks good, it doesn't look as good as it
could be.
game is still capable of challenging graphics cards, especially at
higher resolutions like 1920x1200 and 2560x1600. ATI Eyefinity
multi-monitor technology is supported, and players fortunate enough
to have a Radeon
5870 HD Eyefinity Edition can game with up to six monitors.
use of the Havok Physics engine and ability to use more units also
means that the game is more likely to be CPU limited. Although
StarCraft 2 is not multi-core optimized, players will still
see a boost from using dual- and quad-core systems.
original StarCraft
game made heavy use of LAN gaming as internet usage was not prevalent
or fast at the time of its release. Broadband internet access is now
readily available, so Blizzard has made the decision
to remove LAN gaming support. Gamers will be required to connect
through Blizzard's servers in an attempt to crack down on piracy.
II: Wings of Liberty
is available for sale in retail standard and collector's editions, as
well as for digital
download directly from Blizzard. MSRP for the standard
edition is $60, while the collector's edition sells for $100. It
includes a 176-page hardcover art book, a 2GB dog tag USB flash drive
containing copies of the original StarCraft
and Brood
expansion, a soundtrack CD, and a DVD with interviews and additional
an unusual marketing move, Blizzard announced that South Korean
players would be able to play StarCraft
for free as long as their World
of Warcraft
subscriptions are active. Retailer K-Mart is currently offering a $20
gaming coupon on in-store purchases of the game through the end of
the month.


text: I will have the most accurate and complete sat phone relays updating the top bikes' running order and split times from each of 20 BAJA PITS locations starting at 7:20 AM PST on race day. I'll try to post em here but for quick access try checking here: http://www.facebook.com/BreauxmanLIVE BBBRRRRRUUUUUURRRRRRPPPPPPP! LA PAZ, BAJA CA, MEXICO- It really is the Race of the Century and all eyes are on the bikes as the top manufacturers of off-road battle the harsh and unforgiving landscapes of the BAJA wilderness for the coveted 1x plate. Its winner take all because the points race for the season championship is so tight, there is no jockeying for 2nd place to clinch the title. Second place is truly first loser. There is no other title in North America that means more for any off road team due to the rough conditions and mystique of a remote and foreign country. Look it up, its on the Internet-Johnny Campbells multi-decade legacy of HONDA dominance is under attack by the former kings of Kawasaki and now joined by KTM, which is relatively new for the European manufacturer. There are only 3 teams that can win this race and, therefore, the title: Defending 1x champion Colton Udall of JCR HONDA, former 1x champion Robby Bell of THR KAWASAKI and virtual BAJA rookie Kurt Caselli of FMF KTM. The X-Factor is the new course section We took 4 days on the bike to survey as much of the racecourse as possible (as we did in 2010) to find out what the riders are up against. We found that the average speed will come down from 2010 and that the recent storms have dramatically worn the terrain in a bad way. Additionally, SCORE has added an 85-mile section in the midpoint that can only be described as TOTALLY HACKED OUT. The new section will be the X- factor for the bike teams as this is a highly technical area with deep sand and silty s-turns wrapped up by the most gruesome and rocky 5 mi section into San Ignacio. No exaggerating here: it is the harshest 5 miles for bikes in the history of the race. If the wind comes up, as is the custom, the silt beds in the first part will be blinding for the racers who will reach this spot in just an hour after the sun sets. So who will win the race and the title? It is just way too close to call. So here are the factors for each team to consider: This is a night race, period. Due to the geography of the Baja Peninsula and its orientation to the earths longitude, the racers travel toward the southeast and therefore into darkness during the top half of the race. By our calculations, the racers will have only 9 hours of daylight versus 12-13 hours of darkness. When the sun sets, racers will be traveling into it on the way into El Arco. Also, the race cannot be won in the first half, but it can easily be lost by a single mistake. The technical nature of the new section and the possibility of inclement weather (wind, fog and/or cold) means that racers will have to balance speed and endurance with care and efficiency. By default, at least one team will lose the race in the first half by rider error, but quite ironically, can win it back by the misstep of another in the second half. It certainly can come down to the last 50 miles. Fog played a factor in speed during the last 100 miles for Kendall Normans 5th win 2 years ago, although he won the race handily. Starters might not be able to help finish- This is a relay race and, due again, to the particular geography of BAJA and the massive Sierra de San Pedro de Martir, racers who ride anywhere north of San Felipe might not stay ahead of their teammates if they get off their respective bike in the northern section. SCORE rules prohibit racers from being transported by air after they have already raced. THRs Robby Bell for instance, is expected to ride in the north around San Felipe and may let his teammates carry the torch for his effort down south. The same may hold true for FMF KTMs Ivan Ramirez and JCR HONDAs David Kamo. The only conceivable way these riders could race in the north AND make it to an interception point further south is to stay in the race for 325 miles to Cocos Corner and/or to ride a ghost bike as fast as possible down the east side of the peninsula and join the HWY 1 at Chapala dry lakebed. While this is possible it is not so practical. Breaking the teams down, piece by piece: 1x-JCR HONDA: COLTON UDALL, TIMMY WEIGAND, DAVID KAMO Colton Prepares for launch at the last Baja 500 We will start with defending 1x champion Colton Udall and his teammates David Kamo and Timmy Weigand. We now know that Timmy has been staying in La Paz and pre-running many nights (with Caselli ironically) on the final 220 miles. We expect Timmy to finish for Colton, as he did in the last Baja 1000. Our intel sources have spotted Colton pre-running as far north as San Felipe and clear down toward Loreto. Colton looks up to Timmy as a mentor and coach. They are like two peas in a pod and Colton trusts Timmy with everything. Also a factor to consider: while Colton has proven speed on his split times versus former rival Kendall Norman, he has only won 2 SCORE races in his career, back to back San Felipe 250s, both with the late Jeff OX Kargola on his team. Johnny Campbells experienced team and logistical integrity of the pit program are not to be understated. That they only have 3 riders is the weak point versus KTM and KAWI who each have 4 (plus 1 back-up each). Johnny himself is the backup rider for JCR, as is the tradition on that team. There is no question that this is Coltons moment of truth. A win here validates the noble warrior. A loss would be truly devastating. 8x-THR KAWASAKI: ROBBY BELL, STEVE HENGEVELD, DAVID PEARSON, DESTRY ABBOTT THR KAWASAKI's David Pearson passes JCR HONDA's David Kamo moments after Pearson made a costly mistake in the pits at the season finale of the AMA National Hare and Hound series Robby and Henge were both groomed by the late Bruce Ogilvies HONDA dynasty and defected in 2008 when Johnny Campbell disconnected HONDAs off road program from the American HONDA complex in Torrence. Ever since Bells departure, he has worked with Henge to dislodge Johnny from atop his perch in the BAJA arena. In 2009, Bell & Hengeveld came within 2 minutes (after 900 miles) of tackling Johnnys boys, but was rooted by Kendall Norman who stalked Henge in the darkness for 150 miles and finished a minute behind him. THRs has some great strengths: the experience and tenure of Bell and Henge, the logistical prowess and engineering talent of Robbys dad Bob and Precision Concepts, the maturity of Destry Abbot who is now 40 and has only the BAJA 1000 remaining on his list of things he wants to accomplish before retiring. Abbott is considered one of the most accomplished off-roaders of all time, well rounded and humble. KAWASAKI recently cancelled their off-road program and Abbott is ready to retire. Doing so with a BAJA 1000 title will be the icing on his cake. The gentle giant David Pearson is motivation to p a win for THR, especially versus rival Kurt Caselli. Recently, Pearson threw an AMA championship literally onto the ground and figureitivley into Casellis hands in Lucerne Valley when he hastily rode down pit road while fueling his bike before dropping his dump can on the ground. Pearson is ready for redemption. In the past, THR has had several pitting and logistical mistakes which they hope to remedy by enlisting BAJA PITS as the core infrastructure for the pitting needs. It is expected the 8x bike of Bell will stop at nearly all 20 BAJA PITS location and THR personnel will be on hand at each. As for weakness or cracks, THR KAWI has few if any. If someone had to pick a team that is advantaged, THR KAWI would be the one, but it is still way too close to call. FMF KTM: KURT CASELLI, IVAN RAMIREZ, QUINN CODY, MIKE BROWN Like Destry Abbott, Kurt Caselli has won just about everything in off-road and is the successor to filling Abbotts shoes as the most accomplished off road racer ever. The only meat left on that bone, like Abbotts, is the cliché granddaddy of them all. Caselli approached KTM over a year ago to wage a complete war against incumbent JCR HONDA. A natural leader, Caselli is running the show weather or not KTM heads may suggest it. Caselli has been working the graveyard shift in southern Baja for many weeks and has been, believe it or not, sharing pre-running time with JCRs Timmy Weigand. The two are great friends yet they will battle each other like no tomorrow in the greatest motorcycle race ever staged in the western hemisphere, perhaps the world, even rivaling any DAKAR battle. Casellis teammates Ivan Ramirez and Quinn Cody have each crashed this year. Ramirez cash in the BAJA 500 cost Caselli a win there and Codys spill in San Felipe took Mike Browns bike out of that race. Lets talk about Quinn Cody for a moment: The JCR defector, like all others before him, has it out to knock Johnny off the box, but crashes at DAKAR and San Felipe this year have put his total strength in question and he may not yet be at 100%. His experience helping Kendall Norman win as many as 5 BAJA 1000s is not to be understated so we will put a check next to Codys name in the strength column. Another great strength for KTM is BAJA native Ivan Ramirez. We wouldnt be talking out of school to suggest he may have countless cousins and distant relatives who could pitch in to help KTMs entry into southern BAJA. The one question is weather or not KTMs top brass wants to take any chances delegating any logistic outside of its central control. If KTM has a strength, its their bike speed and Casellis work ethic. The weakness would be net inexperience in southern BAJA. Where the Hell is Kendall Norman? The 6 time BAJA 1000 champ has had a number of challenges, some of which have not been widely reported but his abilities have never been questioned. He was released suddenly and unexpectedly from JCR after winning #6 a year ago and has yet to find either a win or a team to call home. Rumors and predictions (even a verbose one by this fallible author) have never materialized. He would give KTM the advantage in this race, or any team for that matter, but he appears absent in this arena, much to the loss of all parties, especially the fans. Random Strategy Factors for spectators and crews to consider: Low moonlight: 6% illumination 9 hrs of daylight 13 hours of darkness Likelihood of inclement weather Guarantee of changing weather Ave speed prediction: 52.5MPH Total time estimated: 21.33 hrs Gets dark around rm475, bikes heading southwest into setting sun Estimated to cross finish at 4:03PST, 5:03 local (1hr 3 min before sunrise)


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Applied and Technical Studies
Architectural Drafting Technician certificate
Chilliwack — Canada Education Park
This full-time program has been designed to prepare students for entry-level drafting positions in the architectural, civil, and related fields.
Throughout this 10-month program, the instructors will endeavour to create an environment similar to that found in industry. Students will be given the maximum responsibility for the solution of design problems and will be encouraged to develop their creative talents and techniques beyond the level demanded of a junior draftsperson.
If you are interested in pursuing a career as a draftsperson, you should have good hand and eye coordination, mechanical aptitude, facility with mathematics, and the ability to communicate and work effectively with co-workers in a design team.
Concurrent studies option
UFV allows high school students to complete this program through a concurrent studies model during their grade 12 year. For more information, contact your district/school career counsellor. You may also contact the UFV Trades & Technology Centre at 604-847-5448 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Employment opportunities
If you complete this program successfully, your training will give you appropriate skills for employment in an entry-level position with a broad range of private firms or public agencies or departments which provide design and drafting services in architectural, civil, and related engineering fields.
Entrance requirements
To be admitted you must:
1. Be 19 years of age or older, or have B.C. secondary school graduation (or equivalent), plus
2. One of the following with a C+ or better: Foundations of Mathematics 11, Principles of Mathematics 11, Pre-Calculus 11, or MATH 085.
3. Applicants must satisfy the English language proficiency requirement. For details on how this requirement may be met, see English language proficiency requirement in the Admissions section of the calendar.
If you think you have equivalent courses or acceptable technical background, contact the instructors at 604-847-5427 to make an appointment for orientation and assessment. If you have a successful interview and assessment, you may be eligible to enter the program without the above-stated prerequisites.
When to apply
Applications are accepted on a continuous basis throughout the year.
Qualified applicants are considered for the next intake in which there is space.
See Continuous application
process for more information.
How to apply
1. Submit the application fee, along with your UFV application for admission form, to the Office of the Registrar (OReg). You can apply online or download an application form at ufv.ca/admissions/admissions/apply. Application forms are also available from any OReg or Student Services office.
Additional documents required for a complete application:
• Proof of B.C. secondary school graduation or equivalent, and
• Transcript (or interim transcript) showing grade/course achievement as per entrance requirements, or
• Written permission from instructor.
2. All applicants must attend an orientation session following receipt of their application. You will be informed about orientation dates in the new year. You must attend or make special arrangements with the instructors to be eligible for admission to the program.
3. When all entrance requirements are met, you will be admitted to the program or placed on a waitlist.
4. Note: English as a Second Language applicants will be assessed on an individual basis by the ESL department.
Basis for admission decision
Applicants who meet the entrance requirements will be admitted in order of
their application date. This date is set when an application, all required
documentation, and the application fee have been submitted.
Fees and additional costs
See the Fees and Other Costs section. Full payment of fees is required before the start of classes.
Financial aid may be available through the Financial Aid and Awards office at any UFV campus.
Workload and classroom expectations
You are required to attend all classes — five hours a day, five days a week. In addition, you will be responsible for the completion of approximately 15 hours of assigned homework each week.
The Architectural Drafting program is located in the Trades & Technology
Centre at the Canada Education Park in Chilliwack. The reception office is open 8 a.m. to 4
p.m., Monday to Friday.
Dates and attendance requirements
The Drafting program starts in September and ends mid-June.
The Drafting program requires continuous attendance to successfully complete all requirements for the program. Students will be expected to attend classes five days per week for the duration of the entire program.
Students who fail to meet the attendance requirements as outlined in their individual program guides may be subject to a failing grade or academic warning.
See UFV's Academic Warning policy (79) and Attendance policy (62).
Program requirements
Students must complete all requirements with a minimum passing grade in order to graduate.
Students who do not receive a passing grade in all required areas by the
program end date, may apply to their instructor for re-entry into the program. Students who reapply may register as upgrading students and must complete all program requirements no later than
the program end date of the following year. See upgrading policy for more details.
Students must apply for graduation by completing a Request to Graduate form available at the Trades Centre.
Academic warnings
Applied and Technical Studies students who demonstrate unacceptable academic performance will be placed on Academic Warning. See UFV's Academic Warning policy (79).
Unacceptable academic performance may, at the discretion of the instructor, include poor attendance, slow progress in theory and practical tasks, and/or lack of satisfactory participation in class activities. See UFV's Attendance policy (62).
Applied and Technical Studies students are expected to conduct themselves in a mature and responsible manner, and will be held responsible for their actions, whether acting alone or in group. See UFV's Student Academic Misconduct policy (70) and Student Non-Academic Misconduct policy (204).
Withdrawal policy
Student-initiated withdrawal (discontinuing)
If a student wishes not to continue, he or she will need to initiate a withdrawal at the Office of the Registrar.
Required to withdraw (failed grades)
Failed grades may result in withdrawal from the program.
Required to withdraw (academic warning)
Students may be required to withdraw from a course or program for failing to comply with any of the following UFV policies: Academic Warning policy (79), Attendance policy (62), Student Academic Misconduct policy (70), Student Non-Academic Misconduct policy (204).
Program outline
The provincial common core drafting program was incorporated into the program in 1996.
This program has been developed on the following modular basis:
Note: ADT 1 and ADT 2 are prerequisites to register for the remainder of the program.
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text:
Prepared Statement of Deputy Attorney General Paul J. McNulty
at the Senate Judiciary Committee Concerning
"Reporters' Privilege Legislation:
Preserving Effective Federal Law Enforcement"
Washington, D.C.
Chairman Specter, Senator Leahy, and Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear today to discuss S. 2831, the "Free Flow of Information Act of 2006," and unauthorized disclosures of classified information by the media. While others at the Department of Justice previously have testified on these matters, this is my first opportunity to talk with you about them. The issues are weighty, and I commend the careful attention you are giving them.
Let me begin with these facts and observations, upon which we should all agree. The Department of Justice shoulders the important obligation of enforcing the law and ensuring the public safety against foreign and domestic threats. We also are duty bound to administer justice with fairness. Our work requires a constant balancing of interests.
A determination to commence prosecution requires a careful assessment of all facts and circumstances. Our guidepost, as stated in the United States Attorneys' Manual, is whether the "fundamental interests of society require the application of the criminal laws to a particular set of circumstances," recognizing that any decision to bring charges "entails profound consequences" for all affected persons. U.S. Attorneys' Manual § 9.27.001. In all instances, the Department's attorneys represent and must protect the public's interest in the fair and balanced administration of justice.
How we conduct investigations is no less important. We owe crime victims, those suspected of committing crimes, and the public the duty of conducting diligent and thorough investigations. Our search is for the truth, and our record shows that our approach has reflected measured and careful judgments. Overreaching does not serve justice, and the Department's men and women understand and respect that principle.
Our measured approach manifests itself in the daily administration of justice around the country. Our attorneys, for example, take great care to ensure that grand jury investigations are both full and fair. Indeed, the very institution of the grand jury––consisting as it does of ordinary citizens––provides an added layer of balance to our investigations. To be sure, though, a grand jury operates with a broad and time-honored mandate: to search broadly for the truth and enlist everyone with potentially useful information in that search. As the Supreme Court has explained, the "investigative power of the grand jury is necessarily broad if its public responsibility is to be adequately discharged." Branzburg v. Hayes, 408 U.S. 665, 700 (1972).
In our investigations and prosecutions we always respect civil liberties, including the First Amendment rights of citizens and the media. Since the Founding era, journalists have contributed invaluably to our public discourse. Every schoolchild learns of the importance of Thomas Paine's contention, penned as it was in a revolutionary-era pamphlet, that "common sense" compelled a separation from England and the establishment of a new nation. More modern examples abound. Indeed, it is difficult, if not impossible, to read any newspaper or Internet news site and not find commentary on issues of enormous importance to our communities and nation. The Department of Justice fully respects and is committed to protecting the media's right to comment, however favorably or critically, upon the course of government and the actions of public officials.
Striking the right balance today between vigorously investigating and prosecuting crime and protecting civil liberties presents unique challenges. Our nation is engaged in a war on terror, and the Department's highest priority is to prevent another attack. Our prevention efforts must be tailored to the nature of the enemy we face––extremists constantly searching for ways to penetrate our communities and inflict death and destruction upon our people. Secrecy and surprise are cornerstones of our enemy's approach. Our response must follow suit. Our counterterrorism arsenal must include secrecy among its weapons. To publish the full contours of our prevention efforts would provide our enemy with unacceptable opportunities. Certain information must be kept classified and outside the public domain.
In making this point, the Department fully appreciates that there is not unity of opinion as to how America should conduct its war on terror. We are fighting a new kind of war that regularly presents new kinds of challenges, and Americans rightly are asking new kinds of questions. This debate is healthy and welcomed.
But our public dialogue, in which journalists play an essential role, cannot be permitted to itself breach our nation's security. In this regard, the media bears the important responsibility of striking the proper balance in its reporting––to keep Americans informed and to comment broadly without arming our enemy or risking danger to our troops, communities, or nation. The Department appreciates the care with which the media has undertaken this responsibility.
My larger point is that our Constitution permits the proper balance to be struck. As a nation, we are fully capable of both protecting our security and preserving the media's right to engage in robust reporting on controversial issues. Security and free speech are not mutually exclusive. Or, as Justice Goldberg famously observed, the Constitution is "not a suicide pact." Kennedy v. Mendoza-Martinez, 372 U.S. 144, 160 (1963).
The Department of Justice has developed a strong record in striking the right balance. I want to describe that record by explaining how we investigate leaks of classified information. Let me emphasize at the outset the seriousness of the problem posed by the unauthorized disclosure of classified information. An individual who leaks classified national defense information commits a crime. To talk about such leaks, then, is to talk about criminal conduct. There is no virtue in leaking; it reflects a profound breach of public trust and is wrong and criminal.
The consequences of leaking are extraordinarily grave. Leaks lay bare aspects of our national defense; they provide a window into steps we are taking to secure our country; they risk arming terrorists with precisely the information needed to avoid detection in plotting an attack upon our troops or communities; in short, they expose and damage our nation. These concerns and realities have been echoed by the President and Members of Congress in both the House and the Senate, including Members of this Committee.
Some skeptics have tried to paint those who unlawfully leak classified information to the press as whistleblowers caught in an intractable dilemma between, on the one hand, allowing what they believe may be unlawful activity to continue within the Government and, on the other hand, unlawfully disseminating information to someone with no authority to receive it. These so-called whistleblowers, the argument runs, escape the dilemma by conditioning a disclosure of classified information upon a journalist's promise of confidentiality.
This dilemma is a false one. It incorrectly assumes that the media is an individual's only outlet. Not so. Congress took care to ensure that no Government employee faces such a dilemma by enacting the Intelligence Community Whistleblower Act of 1998. That statute established mechanisms through which members of the intelligence community could voice concerns while ensuring that classified information would remain secure. In the first instance, the statute directs individuals to relay their concerns to their agency's Inspector General. Employees who are dissatisfied with their Inspector General's response are then authorized to bring their concerns to an appropriate committee of Congress in its oversight capacity.
With these mechanisms in place, it is a mistake to dub an individual who leaks classified information a whistleblower. A leaker commits a crime; a whistleblower, by contrast, follows the legal course of disclosure enacted into law by Congress. The difference is significant and should not be not be lost on the Committee.
Upon learning of a leak of classified information to the media, our primary focus is on identifying and prosecuting the leaker, not the reporter or media organization who received the leaked information. This focus is reflected in the Department's guidelines for the issuance of subpoenas and other compulsory process to the media. Codified at 28 C.F.R. § 50.10, the guidelines demonstrate how seriously the Department takes any investigative or prosecutorial decision that implicates members of the news media. This policy, by its terms, seeks to "balanc[e] the concern that the Department of Justice has for the work of the news media and the Department's obligation to the fair administration of justice." 28 C.F.R. § 50.10.
The details are important. The guidelines provide that "[a]ll reasonable attempts should be made to obtain information from alternative sources before considering issuing a subpoena to a member of the news media." Id. § 50.10(b). They also call for undertaking negotiations with the media before resorting to a subpoena. Even then the prosecutor should do so only if there are "reasonable grounds to believe, based on information obtained from nonmedia sources, that a crime has occurred, and that the information sought is essential to a successful investigation––particularly with reference to directly establishing guilt or innocence." Id. § 50.10(f)(1).
This process ordinarily plays out across multiple levels within the Department of Justice. A prosecutor seeking confidential source information from a journalist must justify the request in writing. If the request receives approval from a United States Attorney, it then comes to Washington for careful vetting within our Criminal Division, Office of Public Affairs, the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, and, ultimately, the Office of the Attorney General. The Attorney General's approval is mandatory in all cases in which cooperation fails with a particular journalist.
This exhaustive and rigorous process is undertaken for a reason––to enable close scrutiny by career prosecutors and to ensure that subpoenas seeking confidential source information from journalists are issued only as a matter of last resort. In the past 15 years, the Attorney General has approved only approximately 13 requests for media subpoenas that implicated source information. This record reflects restraint: we have recognized the media's right and obligation to report broadly on issues of public controversy and, absent extraordinary circumstances, have committed to shielding the media from all forms of compulsory process. The Department of Justice will steadfastly continue to strike this same balanced approach in our investigations.
Our approach fully complies with the law. While the Supreme Court repeatedly has stressed the importance of the media's role in our society, it also has decisively declared that the media is not exempt from the general obligation––shared by all citizens––to provide evidence to grand juries investigating crimes. The seminal case is Branzburg v. Hayes, 408 U.S. 665 (1972). The Supreme Court in Branzburg held that journalists had no First Amendment right to refuse to comply with a subpoena and provide testimony to a grand jury regarding information received from a confidential source. See id. at 690-91. The Court's message was plain: "[W]e cannot accept the argument that the public interest in possible future news about crime from undisclosed, unverified sources must take precedence over the public interest in pursuing and prosecuting those crimes reported to the press by informants and in thus deterring the commission of such crimes in the future." Id. at 695. Other courts have reinforced this conclusion. See, e.g., In re Grand Jury Subpoena, Judith Miller, 438 F.3d 1141, 1146-48 (D.C. Cir. 2006); New York Times v. Gonzales, No. 05-2639, 2006 WL 2130645, at *11-12 (2d Cir. Aug. 1, 2006).
No aspect of the legal landscape or the Department's guidelines has inhibited the media from robustly reporting and commenting on controversial issues. To the contrary, journalists have time and again proven themselves more than able to gather information and disseminate news and commentary on the most controversial matters of the day. Only in extraordinarily rare circumstances––approximately 13 cases in 15 years––has the Department determined that the interests of justice warranted compelling information implicating sources from a journalist. We have struck the right balance and will continue to do so in the future.
I want to turn now to S. 2831, the "Free Flow of Information Act of 2006." The Department of Justice firmly opposes the bill. In recent months, at least three Department officials have provided statements or offered testimony on the proposed legislation, and on June 20 of this year we detailed our objections in a views letter. I do not intend to rehash all of the points made in our letter or prior testimony. Allow me instead to focus on the bill's most serious deficiencies and to address the practical consequences that would befall the administration of justice and criminal defendants if the bill became law.
As an initial matter, proponents of the bill contend that it is a necessary response to certain recent high-profile cases in which the Department's actions have purportedly signaled a newfound eagerness to stop journalists from reporting of leaks. The contention is misguided. The Department has not changed its policy or approach to investigating leaks. We continue to follow the same guidelines and processes that have resulted in the issuance of subpoenas implicating source information in only approximately 13 cases in the last 15 years. We continue to regard journalists as a source of last resort. There is not one shred of evidence supporting the notion that the Department of Justice is out to get the media.
Nor is there anything but conjecture to support the contention that journalists are writing in fear. Indeed, the argument parallels the same ones presented to, and rejected by, the Supreme Court in Branzburg in 1972. The Supreme Court dismissed as "speculative" the assertion that reporting would be chilled by requiring journalists to provide confidential source information to a grand jury. Branzburg, 408 U.S. at 694. If the critics in Branzburg were to be believed, we would have seen a marked decline in press freedoms in the ensuing years. Of course, the opposite has occurred. We live in an age in which news and critical commentary is everywhere––in print, over airwaves, and throughout the Internet. The proponents of the bill have not proven their case; they have failed to demonstrate that the Department of Justice has sought to compel confidential source information from journalists more aggressively or in greater numbers than it has in the past. The proposed bill is a solution in search of a problem.
Let there also be no doubt about the ramifications the bill would have on the administration of justice. The bill would work a dramatic change in current practice and severely hamper our ability to investigate and prosecute serious crimes, including acts of terrorism.
Under Section 9 of S. 2831, a court must determine "by a preponderance of the evidence" that "an unauthorized disclosure has significantly harmed the national security in a way that is clear and articulable" and that such harm "outweighs the value to the public of the disclosed information." By its terms, then, the bill not only transfers to the judiciary the authority to second-guess the Executive's determinations regarding what does and does not harm the national security, it also licenses courts to find that a reporter's promise to conceal a source's identity can override national security interests, even when harm to national security is conceded. The only necessary finding is that the public interest was sufficiently strong to justify disclosure of the classified information.
The Department of Justice is particularly concerned about Section 9 and its transfer of authority to make national security determinations to the federal judiciary. The bill would force federal judges into making extremely difficult decisions about the national security implications of a particular leak––decisions that would require extensive and nuanced knowledge about our larger national security strategy, the details of classified programs, and the ground-level impact of certain information being disseminated to the public. The process would require the submission of ample evidence and consume inordinate amounts of time, which we rarely can afford to lose when confronted with the dynamics that define national security challenges today. Perhaps Judge Wilkinson put these concerns best in his concurring opinion in United States v. Morison, 844 F.2d 1057 (4th Cir. 1988):
Evaluation of the government's [national security] interest . . . would require the judiciary to draw conclusions about the operation of the most sophisticated electronic systems and the potential effects of their disclosure. An intelligent inquiry of this sort would require access to the most sensitive technical information, and background knowledge of the range of intelligence operations that cannot easily be presented in the single 'case or controversy' to which courts are confined. Even with sufficient information, courts obviously lack the expertise needed for its evaluation. Judges can understand the operation of a subpoena more readily than that of a satellite. In short, questions of national security and foreign affairs are of a kind for which the Judiciary has neither aptitude, facilities nor responsibility and which has long been held to belong in the domain of political power not subject to judicial intrusion or inquiry.
Id. at 1082-83 (Wilkinson, J., concurring).
Section 9 of the bill would thrust the judiciary into law enforcement matters reserved by the Constitution to the Executive branch. Within the context of confidential investigations and secret grand jury proceedings, determinations regarding the national security interests are best made by members of the Executive branch––officials with broad access to the full scope of information necessary to protect our national security. As Justice Stewart explained in his concurring opinion in the Pentagon Papers case, "it is the constitutional duty of the Executive––as a matter of sovereign prerogative and not as a matter of law as the courts know law––through the promulgation and enforcement of executive regulations, to protect the confidentiality necessary to carry out its responsibilities in the fields of international relations and national defense." New York Times Co. v. United States, 403 U.S. 713, 729-30 (1971) (Stewart, J., concurring).
Let me be clear about what is at stake in Section 9. Under existing law, an individual wishing to challenge a subpoena bears the burden of proving that the request for particular evidence is unreasonable or oppressive. The proposed bill, by contrast, saddles the Government with the obligation of going into a federal court and producing evidence of a quantity sufficient to prove clear and articulable harm to our nation's security. In addition to infringing upon constitutionally-conferred executive authority, the bill goes a step further and makes matters all the worse: it places a thumb on the scale in favor of the reporter's privilege. The Government cannot obtain confidential source information unless it first proves that the harm to our national security would outweigh the public's interest in maintaining the free flow of leaked information. Our national security is too important to be subjected to these standards and burdens.
Section 9, in short, would reflect bad policy and make bad law. The practical impact, moreover, could be enormous. To provide a simple example, consider a journalist who publishes a detailed story about covert classified efforts to track the movements of international terrorists. The story also contends that aspects of the covert program have encroached on privacy interests of certain individuals by mistakenly identifying them as terrorists. The journalist attributes the information to a confidential source and describes the source as a government insider who is so concerned about the program that he intends to resign and relocate outside the United States, taking with him documents detailing the program's operation.
Despite their best efforts, the Department of Justice and the intelligence community are unable to identity the confidential source through independent means, and the journalist refuses to cooperate voluntarily with the Department. To prevent further harm to national security, the Attorney General quickly approves a narrowly-tailored subpoena that seeks only the identity of the journalist's source. The journalist believes the public has a right to know about the covert program and the potential privacy problems and thus challenges the subpoena in court.
Under current law, to prevail on a motion to quash, the journalist would be required to prove the subpoena request was unreasonable and oppressive. Given the circumstances, it is unlikely the journalist could make such a showing and thus the Department would learn the leaker's identity and apprehend him in time to prevent additional harm to our national security. Under the proposed bill, however, the Department would first be required to provide affirmative proof that the leak damaged our national security. While it is possible that such a showing could be made in this scenario, it is equally likely that a court could find that the harm was not yet realized or capable of specification. That finding would be enough to defeat the subpoena, even though the journalist would have done nothing other than file the motion to quash, thereby shifting the burden of proof to the Government. Moreover, even if a court credited the Department's showing of harm, the court nevertheless could find that public's interest in learning about the alleged privacy violations outweighed the Government's interests. That finding would defeat the subpoena.
This example is both realistic and revealing. It proves that the proposed legislation would impose significant and potentially crippling burdens on federal law enforcement in cases directly affecting our national security. Given the Department's record of restraint in compelling confidential source information from journalists, the bill would inflict unjustifiable harm upon a proven approach to effective law enforcement.
Section 9 is by no means the only provision of S. 2831 with serious deficiencies. The bill is deficient in the simplest of dimensions. Take, for example, the definition of "journalist" in Section 3. It includes only journalists who work for financial gain and thereby discriminates against individuals who, for no money, contribute a story to a local newspaper. This deficiency leaves the bill wide open to serious constitutional challenge on the ground that it unjustifiably discriminates against categories of speakers.
Section 5 of the bill raises grave constitutional concerns of an altogether different variety. The Sixth Amendment entitles defendants to compel witnesses to appear in court and testify. Section 5, however, would permit defendants to access such a witness only if, "based on an alternative source," they are able to show that the witness had information relevant to a successful trial defense. The Sixth Amendment imposes no such "alternative source" requirement. Section 5 is egregiously defective in a more basic way. It requires a court to balance criminal defendant's "constitutional rights" against the "public interest in newsgathering and in maintaining the free flow of information." Such a balancing requirement is indefensible; individuals facing grave criminal penalties, say, for example, a life sentence, should not have their "constitutional rights"––indeed, their liberty––thwarted by the interest of "newsgathering."
Other points warrant emphasis. Some supporters of S. 2831 have suggested that the bill is no more than a codification of the Department's own guidelines. That view is badly mistaken. The Department's guidelines preserve the constitutional prerogatives of the Executive branch with respect to key decisions regarding, for example, the kind of evidence that is presented in grand jury investigations and what constitutes harm to the national security. The proposed legislation, by contrast, would shift ultimate authority over these and other quintessentially prosecutorial decisions to the judiciary. Furthermore, the proposed legislation would replace the inherent flexibility of the Department's guidelines, which can be adapted as circumstances require––an especially valuable attribute in a time of war––with a framework that is at once more rigid (by virtue of being codified by statute) and less predictable (by virtue of being subject to the interpretations of many different judges, as opposed to a single Department with a clear track record of carefully balancing the competing interests).
I have also heard it suggested that the Department's concerns are overblown because many states have enacted workable media shield laws. Such analogies are entirely misplaced. An individual state's decision to provide a reporter with protection against a subpoena from a prosecutor investigating crimes under state law, serious though those crimes may be, says little about the virtues of providing journalists with such protections at the federal level. The Federal Government, unlike state and local governments, is uniquely responsible for providing for the national defense, working with our international partners to prevent acts of terrorism, and investigating crimes with expansive national and international ramifications, such as terrorism, espionage, and leaks of classified information.
In closing, I wish to end where I began. The issues before the Committee are of enormous significance. They require each of us to acknowledge the necessity of balancing important interests and then to focus on the Department of Justice's record in striking that balance. That record, as I have explained, is one of success and restraint. We seek to work cooperatively with the media, and only rarely has the Department determined that the interests of justice warranted seeking to compel a journalist to reveal information obtained from a confidential source. The rarity of those occasions reflects the Department's commitment to respecting the media's important role within our society. The media has been and will remain a source of last resort in our investigations.
Against the backdrop of the Department's record and the lack of any evidence showing that our approach has meaningfully chilled robust reporting by the media, I respectfully urge the Committee not to support S. 2831. The bill would significantly weaken the Department of Justice's ability to obtain information of critical importance to protecting our nation's security, inject the federal judiciary to an extraordinary degree into affairs reserved by the Constitution for decision within the Executive branch, and, at bottom, encourage the leaking of classified information.
Thank you again for the opportunity to testify, and I look forward to answering the Committee's questions.