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Don't hold it against Sliimy that he was hand-picked by the infamous Perez Hilton to be the first artist signed to Hilton's Perezcious label, an imprint of Warner Bros. And don't hold it against him that his name — pronounced like "Slimmy," not "Slimy" — looks slightly gross and requires phonetic explanation. Or that he's popular in France. (He is French, after all.)
Sliimy has garnered comparisons to Mika and Prince, but he is too openly gay to be too much like either, and with a close listen, it's clear that Sliimy's music is too personal to tie him too closely to any of his influences.
Advocate.com: You were recently spotted at Paris Fashion Week with Dita Von Teese and Katy Perry.
Yeah, that was great. It was the second time I've been to Paris Fashion Week. I think there is a big link between fashion and music, so it's really interesting to go and see some shows and to get in touch with that. I really love fashion too. It's a great experience. It's really marvelous to see such beautiful clothes, and it gives you inspiration, I think.
Speaking of inspiration, how would you classify your own style?
Um ... that's a little bit hard. My style ... is a kind of language. It's like my personality. Sometimes it's really colorful and sometimes it's not. My style is in link with my music, and it's really important for me to express that with clothes.
It's interesting that you said "sometimes it's colorful and sometimes it's not." Your first single, "Wake Up," has a colorful, maybe even childlike, sound, but a lot of the songs on the album have a darker feeling, which isn't necessarily something people associate with you.
I think it's a part of my personality. I am from a little hometown in France and I need to be like this on my first album. It was important to me to be happy with the music. I remember when I was younger and I was listening to lots of bands and lots of music like the Beatles, and I think it was the same for me for this first album. "Wake Up" is one of my personalities — the fun part, the colorful part. But there are also sounds on this album that are a bit darker. In France my new single, called "Paint Your Face" — you can watch this on [the] Internet — it's very different than "Wake Up." And I think that the creations for the second album are going to be really different.
Are you already working on your second album?
Um ...I think I'm ready, but [laughs], but I think I've got to slow down a little bit. Yeah, because I think it's too early at the moment, but I've got some new creations in me. I mean, it's really different because one year ago I was in my hometown and that was a little bit routine and I was always singing the same stuff. So this first album is in link with that. And that's great; I accept that. But this second one is going to be different. This year, it was intense for me, and I've ... I've had lots of different experiences, lots of different cool stuff, some vices also ... I think it was really inspiration for me. For some artists, it's hard to write a second album because maybe you're scared ... but for me, it's different. The first album, I was scared because I was in my little hometown, but I think the second is different because I've got too much inspiration, maybe. [Laughs]
How would you describe your relationship with Perez Hilton?
Perez saw my cover of [Britney Spears's] "Womanizer" [online] and he put this on his blog maybe one year ago, a few months ago, yeah? And after that, he tried to get in touch with me ... and I really appreciate that. I already [had] a contract at Warner Music in France, and it was a contract for the world, so that was cool for me and Perez created a label for the United States, and it was a great experience for me. I accepted to do that with him. I met him in July. I went to L.A. and met him for the first time to talk about music and ... stuff.
And how did that go?
That was great. I was there just for maybe two days, so a little bit tiring. [Laughs] I think it's a great experience. I think it's important for people in the music ... [pause] ... oh, my English is so bad today! [Laughs] People work with you and you have to explain your music and ... who you are, really. You have to explain where you come from when you do that. It's really important to explain that to people.
Speaking of language, you're French, but you sing in English. Did you ever sing in French?
Umm, yeah. The English was like a passion for me when I was young. I started to sing when I was 9 years old, in a choir and in [a musical] ... and that was with other people and we were singing in English. I was really attracted by the English culture, also. I appreciate lots of different artists with lots of big personality — David Bowie or Boy George and lots of different artists who take part in this other culture. When I was young I was really attracted to that. I was like a geek, and I was watching lots of different series in English, movies, I was listening to lots of music. I was like a sponge ... when you're ... you're listening to lots of English and you try to talk and try to do the same intonations, and I think it's like this.
You've been compared to a couple of people, especially Mika and Prince. Would you compare your style to anybody else?
Um, no. [Laughs] No, I think it's important to draw comparisons to other people early on to put some link with the artist, but I think the comparisons just ... you have to do some other creations. You have to show onstage that you are different. I'm different. I really appreciate these artists. I really appreciate Prince, Mika, but I think that we are all different. It's just a ... we have different lives. I don't think that Mika comes from Saint-Etienne [Sliimy's hometown in France] and that I come from London or something like that ...
You're quite different once you really listen to the music.
We can draw comparisons and you can see that, even if we are from different cities and we have different lives, we're in link in some ways, and that's great. The thing with France, you know, when you have some person who likes your music, you are in link with them because you understand their personality and their music. That's why music is beautiful, because you have to share it with different groups of people.
One thing that sets you apart is that you're openly gay. Was that ever in question for you, whether you would talk about that in public as a musician?
One time a journalist asked me that question and I was like, yeah, and what else? Because it's not a problem for me. It's a part of my personality. I don't want to be a ... a role model. It's just a part of my personality and it's important to be sincere with the people, and some people do not like this because they are ... homophobic or, I don't know, they don't respect each other? But I don't care. [Laughs] There are a lot of people who are really open-minded, I think, and I really trust in that. Some people are straight and they're open-minded, some people are gay, some others are black, some others are big, skinny, tall. [Laughs] And yeah, I just do music for people who are open-minded. Or who just like listening to the music; that's the most important thing, I think. And some people just forget that. They just talk about some shallow stuff, some superficial stuff. It doesn't matter if you are gay or black or I don't know what ... the most important is the music.
It seems important to you that people know that the music is what matters most to you.
Yes, I think it's important to be sincere with the people. I think that some artists are not sincere because they want to be attractive for boys and for girls. But it's important to be sincere, because when you are sincere with your music, you are a human being and you express yourself. It's not like when you are acting in a movie and you're a different character. Because the music, it's just true, so you have to be sincere with the people and I don't want to lie to people, and that's all. And maybe I'm going to be straight in 10 years and ... but I don't know [laughs], now it's like this, and that's all.
It's really hard that some people are vain ... I think it's important to be true because nobody does that. Lots of people are going to be narrow-minded ... lots of people are going to be scared to say they are gay because they say, you know, nobody say that I am gay! They are scared. But lots of artists are open about that — Boy George, George Michael — so it's cool.
Do you think there's any more or less pressure to be open about your sexuality in France or Europe than in the U.S.?
No, I think it's the same all over the world. I just want to do songs for everybody. You can do that in France. You can be gay, you can be black, you can be ... I don't know, another person, and you can do songs for everybody. Not just for a community or something like that. And right now it's like this in our society — if it's not for you, then it's boring.
No, no, très bien.
You don't speak French, do you?
Un peu. I took French in school…
No, no! Why didn't you tell me that? Next time you have to speak French!
Although you make music for everyone, your song lyrics are very personal, so the questions are bound to come up ...
Yeah, exactly ... but I think it's important to do music for everybody. But I think that, most important, if you're gay or eccentric, if the music is great — music is all about feelings — then people don't care about that. It was the same for black people in the years when there were racists and all that stuff, it was really hard for artists like James Brown and Diana Ross. But even white people who were racist appreciated the music because they ... liked it and they were dancing to it, and that's beautiful, I think.
Do you think that people get stuck on certain things about you, like your image or that you are gay? Are people listening to your lyrics?
I hope. I hope that people are listening to the lyrics and they're not just seeing.
What do you hope to accomplish with your music?
Um ... [Pauses] Oh, that's hard. It's an odd question. I think I want to ... in the beginning, when you do music, it's to share it with lots of people. And that's it, in fact: to share it with people all over the world.
So what's next for you?
Maybe a second album and lots of other creations. I'm really excited about that because it's gonna be different and ... it's great to change and do some different stuff. And it's important for an artist to do lots of different stuff because you learn. To learn about you and share it with lots of people.
Do you have any other favorite artists?
Recent, or ... ?
Anyone. Who inspires you?
Boy George, David Bowie. I really appreciate recently Lady Gaga, Lily Allen, and Kate Nash. I really appreciate those artists because I think they are sincere. And they're natural. That's what I like.
Lady Gaga leaps to mind when I think of you because of your distinct personal styles.
Yeah, I just saw her in concert. She's really, really great. I love her. She really impressed me when she was doing some acoustic stuff. She has a nice voice and she writes some beautiful songs. She's one of the most important artists of this century, I think, right now. She's going to be huge, and it's great to have an artist like this.
Would you do a duet with her?
Oh! Yeah, why not? But when you are going to work with another person I think it's important for it to be natural. You don't have to meet the person in a serious hope [of recording with them].
You seem like a serious musician — like you're not just about selling records.
Oh, thank you so much. Yeah, it's important for me. I think it's the most important thing in this business. People right now are always thinking when you're different or eccentric or something like that, you like marketing, you know what I mean? [Like] Lady Gaga. Right now all these people are telling me that Lady Gaga likes marketing because she looks different, but I think she can be ... she's also sincere, even if she is different or eccentric or something like that. So it means a lot to me. I am different, but I am sincere. [Laughs] I am sorry that my English was so bad. [Laughs]


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Editor's Note: Over the next two weeks, Sojourners is celebrating our teachers, parents, and mentors as children across the country head back to school. We'll offer a series of reflections on different aspects of education in our country.
My elementary school is a Title I school. About 97 percent of our students qualify for free and reduced lunch and Medicaid. Research shows us that many children raised in poverty struggle to learn to read.
Common sense tells us that children who don't learn to read can't read to learn. They often reach a frustration level with school by the time they're in the third grade. According to the U.S. Department of Education, 70 percent of low-income fourth-grade students can't read at a basic level. I often wonder, "What can I do in my day-to-day work as a teacher to help?"
I came across a story in the St. Petersburg Times about Timothy Driggers, a bus driver for Lomax Elementary School in Tampa, Fla. Each day his bus arrives a half-hour before the school opens. There are about 20 students on the bus. One day he found a book on the bus, and no one claimed it. The next morning he began reading the story to the students. They loved it! When the story ended, they asked for another one. The media specialist gave him a list of great books, and a reading circle was born. Now the students read with him. They predict, question, clarify, and summarize. They tackle difficult books. And Driggers recently won the 'Celebrate Literacy Award' from the International Reading Association, the world's largest literacy group. He received a standing ovation at the award ceremony.
As a reading interventionist, I'm always looking for ways to encourage students to read. Our school opens at 7:15 a.m. for breakfast, but some of our students arrive early and wait at the front of the building for our custodian, Ms. Louise, to come and unlock the door. So I decided to follow Driggers' example and start a reading circle for them.
At 7 a.m., I take my teaching stool and Frindle by Andrew Clements out among the waiting students and start reading. One day I was a few minutes late to my reading spot. Two students said, "Mr. Barton, we were waiting for you! We want to know what's gonna happen next!"
On a political level, I know I can advocate for my students, many of whom are children of color, by supporting policies that promote comprehensive reading instruction, integrated schools, and classrooms with a small percentage of students reading below grade level. At the school level, I know I can advocate for them by urging parents to read and talk to their kids more often. And on a personal level, I know I can advocate for my students by finding creative ways to help them become good readers and by showing them that I care.
Trevor Scott Barton is an elementary school teacher in Greenville, S.C. He is a blogger for the Teaching Tolerance project of the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Photo: Child sitting on stack of books, olly / Shutterstock.com
Have Something to Say?
"The Pages in the Book Go 'Flip, Flip, Flip'"

subset: commoncrawl


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Hi there. I was asked a while back to show a member on the board how the apple core pieces were sewn together by hand to make a quilt. I took these crude pictures to demonstrate how it was done for her. I thought I would share this with the rest of you, who might want to learn the joys of hand pieceing.
Although much slower than machine piecing, you can carry it anywhere with you that you might have to wait. (doctor's office etc.) It is relaxing. You can carry enough for hours of work in a zip lock bag along with your needles, thread and sissors inside your purse or bag. It also helps keep your fingers limber, especially if you are beginning to get a little artheritis in your hands. It is relaxing. You can also do it while watching TV.
1. place two pieces right sides together with the curved areas together. One will be up and down and one will be across. Working from the right to the left , sew a running stitch ------- 1/4 of the way from the edge of the two pieces working the curve in as you go. (If you need to , you can pin these pieces together before you start or you can use you fingers to gently ease them together as you go.) With a little practice, you won't need the pins. When you reach the end take a couple of stitches in the same place to stay stitch. Move on to add your next piece.
2. After you have sewn the first two together continue until you have the piece as long as you want your quilt.
3. Make your next row beginning with the first core facing the opposite direction as the first one on the first row. That way when you sew them together they will fit
Continue making your rows alternating the first and second blocks to begin each row until you have enough to make it as wide as you want your quilt.
4. Take your first two finished rows and place the right sides together and begin sewing them together with the same 1/4 inch seam allowance, making sure your seams all match up. You can gently pull to stretch your fabric to make this happen if you need to, for same amounts. This will get easier and easier as you go along. Continue until all rows are sewn together.
Congratulations. When you get the last row sewn together, you will have a completed quilt top.


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Michael Turner out, Steven Jackson in.
For the Atlanta Falcons and their high-octane offense, that's a net gain. The Falcons and Jackson agreed to a three-year deal on Thursday, a move that should bring a little more giddy-up to a run game that finished 29th in the league last season.
Turner was not the only problem on the ground, but the aging veteran certainly appeared to be wearing down in recent seasons -- he managed just 800 yards rushing last year. Jackson, meanwhile, has not finished below the 1K line since his rookie season of 2004. He still made it to 1,042 yards in 2012, despite a continued reduction in his carries.
Jackson's also one of the best all-around backs in the game, adept as a pass-catcher or blocker. He's averaged 45 catches per season in his career and should help Atlanta keep Matt Ryan upright.
The Falcons had been relatively quiet in free agency up until Jackson's signing, their lone move being the re-signing of offensive tackle Sam Baker. However, tight end Tony Gonzalez announced earlier this week that he planned to return in 2013 (the two sides continue to work toward a new contract). Those moves plus Jackson's addition all but guarantee that the Falcons will put up a ton of points in 2013.
Jackson may no longer be the back that rushed for 1,528 yards in 2006 and 1,416 in 2009. But he remains a reliable, hard-nosed runner, capable of aiding an offense no matter what he's asked to do.Grade: A.


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Discussion in 'Science Fiction & Fantasy' started by JoeZhang, Jul 20, 2013.
The logo at comiccon (linked from my tumblr)
I hope the movie is more imaginative than the logo.
Right...Superman didn't single-handedly destroy the world engine over the Indian Ocean...he didn't stop Zod...he didn't provide the ship that the military used to take care of Zod's ship...nor did he provide the key with the AI of Jor-El, who's been dead for 33 years.
Why not? The whole premise of MOS was that this was a gritty, realistic world before Superman showed up. There was no room for Superman in the Batman stories that Nolan told, but now that they've been told, the alien has arrived and the world has changed.
You could just as easily say that there was no room for Thor and an alien invasion in Iron Man's universe...but it happened.
Hey it's better than the one in New York
That bit does not encourage me.
So would I. Even if that were to happen, would general audiences ever buy someone other than Bruce Wayne as Batman? Which is why I don't think I'll ever see a live-action Batman Beyond film.
Yeah, you can have an escalation of superhero elements within the Nolanverse, but they'll probably introduce a new Batman and establish that Man of Steel isn't in the same universe as Nolan's Batman trilogy as that would give them the freedom to do whatever they want with future Batman movies in terms of the Joker and so forth.
He did, but he was following Jor-El's instructions while the rest of the team was in Metropolis attacking Zod's command ship. They were the ones who actually defeated everyone but Zod.
He did, but only after the primary threat had been defeated by the heroism of Hardy and Hamilton. And he let Zod define the terms of how the fight would end, rather than thinking for himself and finding a better way.
Technically Jor-El provided the ship. Superman just delivered it, following Jor-El's instructions as relayed to him and the military by Lois. If a scientist develops a cure for a dread disease and delivers it to the hospital by courier, that doesn't mean the courier deserves credit for curing the disease.
Again, just making a delivery as per Jor-El's instructions.
And yeah, Jor-El was technically dead, which just makes it all the more ridiculous that he was more proactive in shaping the events of the story than Superman was.
^Way to minimalize the fact that the entire story revolved around Superman and the things that he brought to the table...just because they didn't portray Superman as some master planner who didn't need anyone getting in his way on his first outing....
They shouldn't touch the Joker so soon, and there's no need to, if they're not doing another Batman series.
Nor me...I don't want to see a fanwankish Batman beats Superman scenario onscreen...I want to see them work together.
There'll likely be new Batman solo movies that spin out of this and Justice League. The prospect of a free hand with the Joker and other Batman elements down the line may lead them to establish that this is a new non-Nolanverse Batman. 2018 or 2019 may well be the earliest we'd see a new solo Batman movie.
My guess is they'll have the relationship start out antagonistic and then have them become allies by the end of the movie.
I'd like to think audiences could accept a non-Bruce Wayne Batman. Heck, the most recent film showed Bruce Wayne handing off the mask to someone else.
On the other hand, Warners almost certainly wants Bruce Wayne in a Superman/Batman film because 1) this is the first time such a film has happened and 2) Bruce Wayne is who everyone on the street knows.
I'll be very curious if Warners tries to get Bale back (and for how much), even if it's just for a one-off film.
They've probably already tried and he passed.
It is MoS2, just with Batman.
Yeah guys, let's have a John Blake film! Then he can horrifically die in the first 17 minutes, as we discover that an inexperienced police officer is actually less adept at stealthy acrobatics and the martial arts than a former member of the League of Shadows.
^Yeah, Blake could use a mentor who could teach him Batman's old tricks...somebody like...Bruce Wayne! Just because he's given up the role doesn't mean he has to sit at cafes in Europe for the rest of his life.
That's fine and how they should do it, but the Miller quote suggests something more extreme. Batman can prove he's cunning enough to be a threat to Superman, but I don't think one guy putting his boot on the other's throat would be conducive to their developing mutual respect. Such a long-awaited team-up on film should strive not to make one character look good at the expense of the other.
This will be a Superman movie with Batman playing a part in it rather than the other way around, so I don't think Superman will be made to look bad in it.
^Why not? Superman was made to look pretty bad in MoS.
What I read said that they are using The Dark Knight Returns as inspiration, which is troubling, because TDKR's version of Superman was very unflattering to the character, and its version of Batman was meant to be an extreme, dystopian exaggeration. It's totally the wrong work to look to as inspiration for the first Superman-Batman meeting; it's the story of two old allies who've become rivals and come to resent what they see as each other's betrayal.
The Dark Knight Returns will probably be an inspiration to the same extent that Batman: Year One and The Long Halloween were inspirations for Batman Begins - in other words a very loose inspiration. I take it to mean that for some part of the story Superman and Batman will be antagonists and that there'll be an epic battle between them. No more than that.
Umm... many people here know that Batman and Superman in the comics exist in the same universe and team up all of the time, right?
Anyway, this is pretty cool news but it is odd to not set-up the "new Batman" with his own movie first.
Considering we're just coming off of a complete Batman trilogy, it's the right approach. Keep things moving, don't clutter things up by doing unnecessary set-up films. Everyone gets who the guy dressed up as a bat is supposed to be, whatever the exact continuity details.
Could I dare to hope that they do something different with the costume...something that can't stand up by itself?
Separate names with a comma.


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Jeffrey Huntsman
2:30p-3:45p TR (30 students) 3 cr., A&H, Culture Studies List A.
English L364 will concern itself primarily with prose by contemporary Native Americans, although we will start with the classic collaborative (auto)biography Black Elk Speaks, which we will treat as an example of traditional literature. This course will be organized around several contrasts which we will try to address throughout, including those between Native American literature and other kinds of literature being created in America today, between writing by men and writing by women, and between the ways literature is regarded in the dominant Euro-American society and Native American societies. Thus we will be looking at the structure of the various literatures, their place in their respective cultures, and the remarkable continuity of traditional values and concerns into contemporary novels, most of which written by people who speak only English and who are writing in a genre (extended prose fiction) that was not found in any Native American culture before the period of contact with Europeans.
While the precise contents of the course has yet to be fixed (most texts will be in tradebook editions, notorious for going out of print), we will surely consider the major writers in the field, such as Louise Erdrich, Leslie Silko, N. Scott Momaday, James Welsh, Michael Dorris, Paula Gunn Allen, Linda Hogan, and Gerald Vizenor. The class will be divided into small groups, and each group will be responsible for organizing the discussion of probably two books each, a system which allows you some direct "hands-on" experience both with textual criticism and the means of presenting a text to others. You will write two or three papers, all of which you will be encouraged to revise and resubmit. There should be two examinations, a midterm and a final. I expect to complete the selection of texts by late November and you can obtain a list of the books from me then.


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Herb Shown to Reduce Inflammation in Equine Study
- Dec 13, 2008
- Topics:
Move over glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, there might be a new supplement in town.
In a clinical trial involving 74 trotting horses, LitoVet, a rose hip powder manufactured specifically for animals by HybenVital in Denmark, had an anti-inflammatory effect and improved performance in supplemented horses.
Study researchers led by Kaj Winther, MD, PhD, from the Frederiksberg Hospital, University of Copenhagen in Denmark, a pioneer in the study of rose hip for osteoarthritis, conducted this double blind, placebo-controlled study to determine the effect of LitoVet on horses.
Supplemented horses were administered 210 g of the powder with their food once daily for three months.
Results revealed that supplemented horses trotted faster over 1,000 meters and were more lithe after strenuous exercise compared to the placebo group. In addition, supplemented horses had significant alterations in three separate measures of anti-inflammatory activity than the placebo group.
The researchers concluded that these results, together with studies performed in humans, support the use of rose hip preparations in to decrease pain, inflammation, and improve mobility in horses with osteoarthritis.
The study, "Does LitoVet, a herbal remedy made from Rosa Canina, act as an anti-inflammatory agent in horses exposed to strenuous exercise-a randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel, double-blind study on the immune system of horses, their working capacity and behavior," was a poster presentation at the World Congress of Osteoarthritis (OARSI), Rome, Sept. 18-21, 2008. The poster is also scheduled to be published in an upcoming edition of the journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage (Volume 16, Supplement 4).
About the Author
Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc
Stacey Oke, MSc, DVM, is a practicing veterinarian and freelance medical writer and editor. She is interested in both large and small animals, as well as complementary and alternative medicine. Since 2005, she's worked as a research consultant for nutritional supplement companies, assisted physicians and veterinarians in publishing research articles and textbooks, and written for a number of educational magazines and websites.
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Do misdemeanors constitute reasonable suspicion?
Stop based on reasonable suspicion of a completed misdemeanor held to be unconstitutional
The Ninth Circuit United States Court of Appeals became the first federal appellate court to tackle that question head on in the recent case of United States v. Grigg, 2007 WL 2379615 (9th Cir. 2007). The Court said "no." Different rules apply to stops based on reasonable suspicion of completed commission of a misdemeanor crime. However, as described below, there are often perfectly legal reasons to make an investigative stop when the crime under investigation is a misdemeanor.
Two officers responded separately to a complaint of a car with an obnoxiously loud stereo in a residential neighborhood. The complainant said that he was the victim of ongoing noise harassment from juveniles playing their car stereos at excessive volume levels as they drove past his home. The complainant pointed out the suspect vehicle parked in a residential driveway down the street. He said that the Mercury Cougar was the car that had been "booming" down the street multiple times in recent days. While the first officer was speaking with the complainant, Grigg got into the Cougar and drove down the street. Grigg drove by without the volume pumped up and obeying all traffic laws. The officer radioed to the second officer to stop Grigg and identify him.
Grigg took a few seconds before stopping in a residential driveway. Grigg got out of the car, but the officer ordered him to get back into the car. As the officer approach, Grigg told the officer that he had a "hunting rifle" in the car. The officer then spotted an SKS rifle, later determined to fire in full auto mode, on the passenger seat. The officer also saw loose handgun ammo in the car. A frisk revealed that Grigg held concealed brass knuckles and the officer arrested him. Grigg was eventually convicted in federal court for possession of an unregistered automatic weapon.
Grigg challenged the legality of the investigative stop, claiming that the alleged noise violation was too insignificant of a crime to justify intruding on his Fourth Amendment rights. Unlike the armed robbery at issue in United States v. Hensley, "it is difficult to imagine a less threatening offense than playing one's car stereo at an excessive volume." The officer testified that he stopped Grigg because all of the parties to the complaint were "right there." The trial court found that the officer could have easily gone to the house where the Cougar was parked, knocked on the door, and asked who had just been driving the car. Though the complainant had called about the loud stereo on other occasions, the officer would not have been able to get Grigg's name from the records division or from dispatch because no one had yet identified Grigg as a noise violation suspect. Calling the decision a "close call," the trial judge ruled that the stop was a proper Terry investigative detention.
A few state appellate courts have previously considered whether the rule of United States v. Hensley would allow an investigative stop based on suspicion of a completed misdemeanor crime. The results are mixed. Most of these courts recognize that the United States Supreme Court balanced the seriousness of the completed crime, in relation to investigation of the completed crime as well as future crime prevention, against the individual's Fourth Amendment privacy right. The Minnesota Court of Appeals went so far as to create a bright line prohibition on stops based on completed misdemeanor crimes in Blaisdell v. Commissioner of Public Safety, 375 N.W.2d 880 (Minn. App.1985), aff'd on other grounds, 381 N.W.2d 849 (Minn.1986).
The Louisiana Court of Appeals applied the balancing test from United States v. Hensley to a case where an officer stopped a car passing across the Louisiana-Arkansas state line based on a teletype report that the car struck a road sign in Arkansas. The officer did not see any traffic violation committed in Louisiana. However, the court observed that the reckless driving that resulted in striking an Arkansas road sign might be repeated in Louisiana. When the driver was stopped in Louisiana, the officer noted signs of impairment and ultimately arrested the driver for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Though the level of the completed Arkansas crime was relatively low, the court ruled that the public interest outweighed the driver's privacy interest and the later stop in Louisiana was lawful. State v. Myers, 490 So.2d 700 (La. App. 1986). Similarly, North Dakota's Supreme Court upheld a stop of a vehicle driving away from a bar based on a report that the occupants had been involved in an argument that might have evolved into a fight, but did not. City of Devils Lake v. Lawrence, 639 N.W.2d 466 (N.D. 2002),
Though the Ninth Circuit ruled that stopping Grigg was not constitutionally proper, the court did leave open the possibility that other completed misdemeanors might lawfully justify an investigative detention. The Court of Appeals held that a decision to stop a vehicle based on a report of a completed misdemeanor crime:
Must consider the nature of the misdemeanor offense in question, with particular attention to the potential for ongoing or repeated danger ( e.g., drunken and/or reckless driving), and any risk of escalation ( e.g., disorderly conduct, assault, domestic violence). An assessment of the "public safety" factor should be considered within the totality of the circumstances, when balancing the privacy interests at stake against the efficacy of a Terry stop, along with the possibility that the police may have alternative means to identify the suspect or achieve the investigative purpose of the stop.
One question left unanswered by the facts recited in United States v. Grigg is why the officers didn't ask for a wants and warrants check on the registered owner of the Mercury Cougar? Though it is only speculation that a check would have borne fruit, it may have provided an independent, lawful basis for the stop. And though it would have been less convenient, the first officer might have waited for the complainant to sign a formal complaint, then stopped Grigg to serve the complaint and summons. Alternatively, the second officer might also have merely followed Grigg. Chances are good that the officer could have found an independent reason to stop and identify Grigg. The officer could also have watched as Grigg stopped his car and then approached Grigg to conduct a purely voluntary encounter and ask for Grigg's name and identification. The quick answer to these questions is that the complaint was for a minor noise violation and officers don't have time to spin their wheels on such minor matters. However, in this case, the fruit falling from the poisonous tree was an automatic weapon.
The Court of Appeals concluded that, especially considering the possible alternative means to identify Grigg, "simple efficiency and expediency of law enforcement efforts do not automatically override the other crucial element of the Hensley balancing test-personal security from governmental intrusion in the operation of one's vehicle." This is the same philosophy underlying the general rule that an officer cannot arrest for a misdemeanor crime that is completed and did not occur in the officer's presence. Officers investigating completed misdemeanor crimes that do not hold a potential for future harm should pause before making a stop and ask whether the stop is constitutionally justified.


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Manual Reduction of Twins in Mares (AAEP 2010)
While a mare with twins by her side is rare and sometimes celebrated, twinning in horses is actually dangerous for the mare, especially during delivery. More often than not, one of the twins, generally the smaller and weaker of the two, will die before birth. In fact, the chances of a mare carrying twins to term and delivering them successfully are about one in 10,000.
The manual reduction of one embryo in mares in the very early stages of carrying twins is a practice that was introduced to the breeding community in 2006 (the technique was first described in the '80s along with the increased use of the ultrasound to detect twin pregnancies), and since then it has become a common practice in managing twin cases. In a presentation given at the 2010 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, held Dec. 4-8 in Baltimore, Md., Pete C. Sheerin, DVM, Dipl. ACT, reviewed a study he conducted on manual twin reduction. Sheerin, a reproduction specialist who carried out his study at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, in Lexington, Ky., examined whether the performance of the veterinarian, the drug treatment used, or the mare's age impacted the procedure's success rate.
In his retrospective approach Sheerin used the medical records of mares that underwent twin reduction at Rood & Riddle. The procedures were performed between Days 13 and 20 of gestation. Sheerin explained that mares from the same farms that had only one embryo served as controls in the study. He noted the mares' ages (which ranged from 3 to 24 years), the veterinarian that performed the procedure (14 veterinarians total), and the combination of drugs that were used on the mares (22 combinations).
Sheerin said that the mares that had undergone a twin reduction treatment had a marginally lower live foal rate (80.3%) than those mares that carried a single foal since the beginning of their pregnancy (86.7%). There was no difference in the live foal percentage of the mares that underwent a reduction from Day 13 to 16 of gestation than those undergoing the procedure between Day 17 and 20.
Although the individual veterinarian's performance affected the live foal rate, Sheerin said differences were not related to veterinary experience. He also noted that "mare populations may have impacted these results, with experienced practitioners being referred difficult cases."
Mare age also impacted twin reduction procedures. Sheerin found that mares older than 15 years of age had lower live foaling rates (66.2%) after undergoing a reduction procedure than younger mares (83.2%).
Finally, the drugs used to treat the mares after they underwent a reduction procedure seemed to impact foaling rates, said Sheerin. He explained that mares treated with flunixin meglumine (Banamine) and progesterone had foaling rates of 84%. Mares treated with other drug combinations had a live foal rate of 84%, and mares not treated with drugs had a live foal rate of 77%.
With this new research on twin reduction procedures, owners can feel confident that their mare with a twin pregnancy can undergo a successful reduction procedure and give birth to a healthy foal.
About the Author
Erica Larson, News Editor
Erica Larson, news editor, holds a degree in journalism with an external specialty in equine science from Michigan State University in East Lansing. A Massachusetts native, she grew up in the saddle and has dabbled in a variety of disciplines including foxhunting, saddle seat, and mounted games. Currently, Erica competes in eventing with her OTTB, Dorado.
Related Content
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Managing Emergencies (AAEP Convention 2012)
Reproduction (AAEP Convention 2012)
Joint Injections (AAEP Convention 2012)
Equine Dental Care (AAEP Convention 2012)
Stem Cell Therapy (AAEP Convention 2012)
Top Equine Studies of 2012 (AAEP Convention 2012)
Veterinary Ethics (AAEP Convention 2012)
Feeding Orphan Foals (AAEP Convention 2012)


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Results, not average, important to Longoria
By Bill Chastain / MLB.com
BOSTON -- Evan Longoria, who has hit safely in seven straight games, recently talked about his approach on offense.
"I just want to continue to produce," Longoria said. "The average is important, but in my mind it's not the most important thing offensively when you're looking at what you're trying to do as a team."
Longoria noted that a conversation with former Major League manager Tony LaRussa made him think a little bit differently about what a good offensive player should be trying to achieve.
"I asked [LaRussa] about Albert Pujols and what makes him the special player that he is offensively," he said. "And he had mentioned to me that Albert's biggest attribute offensively was that he was able to play the scoreboard. And for however you want to take it, you don't worry about getting a base hit in that situation, you just kind of worry about doing the right thing offensively. Not only trying to be a good player and getting a base hit, but being a good teammate."
Escobar's dazzling defense has Rays abuzz
BOSTON -- Yunel Escobar's spectacular behind-the-back toss, which started a double play during Wednesday night's 5-1 win, was still being talked about on Thursday afternoon.
Second baseman Ben Zobrist was the pivotman on the play, taking the throw barehanded and making a successful relay to first to complete the twin killing.
"I was definitely surprised," Zobrist said. "You don't expect somebody to go behind their back in a game. Maybe in batting practice, playing around. And it was smooth and easy and perfect."
Zobrist said that for him the most impressive part of the play was "how easy he made it look."
"Anybody else is going to make that look more difficult," he said. "It was smooth, easy, and a perfect play. I had the easy part.
"You don't draw plays like that up. That's just one of those things where he's really good, and he makes it look really easy, and he makes it easy on everybody else, too. To make the play."
Rays negotiating to explore alternate stadium sites
BOSTON -- According to a story in Thursday's Tampa Tribune, Rays officials and St. Petersburg City attorneys have been meeting to negotiate an agreement that would allow the team to explore other possible stadium sites outside St. Petersburg.
Per the report, the most recent meeting took place on Wednesday.
St. Petersburg City Council Chairman Karl Nurse told the Tribune that the proposal being discussed would free the Rays to explore possible sites in Tampa and Hillsborough County after first conducting an extensive review of a proposed site in the Carillon area. Any agreement reached would also restate that the Rays are under contract to play at Tropicana Field through 2027.
"It seemed to me, in very short order, that there was conceptual agreement as to where we were trying to go," said Nurse, as quoted in the story. "Maybe there would be some money that would change hands; I don't think that is the critical element."
Principal owner Stuart Sternberg spoke to reporters in Boston on Tuesday, allowing that the Rays would like to do what they think is necessary "to at least see what's out there."
Rays tie club record with Price's complete game
BOSTON -- David Price's complete game against the Red Sox on Wednesday night gave the team its fifth complete game in its last 14.
Prior to that the Rays had no compete games in the first 88 games of the season. The five complete games in July tied the club record for a single month (June 2002) and are the most by any team in any month since the Mets threw five in August 2010.
The Rays have been a different team since Price returned from the 15-day disabled list on July 2, going 15-3, and the rotation has gone 13-3 with a 2.17 ERA.
Since coming back, Price has been a strike-throwing machine. He is the only pitcher since Baseball Reference's pitch-count data has been compiled (1999) to throw three complete games on fewer than 100 pitches in a span of four starts.
Price is fine with opposing hitters wanting to take pitches against him, "because I feel like they'll be 0-2 pretty quick."
Price's three under-100-pitch complete games equal the most of any pitcher in an entire season since 1999, putting him in company with Atlanta's Greg Maddux (2000), Minnesota's Brad Radke (2001) and Oakland's Mark Mulder (2003).
Price is now 19-3 with a 3.27 ERA in 33 career starts at American League East ballparks,. not including Tropicana Field.
Bill Chastain is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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text:
Dodgers relieved Billingsley only has tendinitis
By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com
SAN FRANCISCO -- Dodgers pitcher Chad Billingsley, currently on the disabled list, has tendinitis in his right elbow, but no further ligament damage, an MRI revealed Wednesday.
The news was considered by the club as a positive for Billingsley, who is returning from Tommy John reconstruction performed a year ago.
Billingsley felt a popping sensation 10 days ago in a Minor League rehab assignment. After letting the discomfort dissipate, he resumed throwing off a mound Tuesday but cut short the bullpen session after eight pitches because of elbow tightness.
"We're going to slow him down a little bit, but it's good news," manager Don Mattingly said.
There is no timetable on when Billingsley will resume throwing off a mound.
X-rays negative after pitch hurts Hanley's hand
SAN FRANCISCO -- Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez said he hopes to play Thursday after escaping serious injury when he was hit on the back of the left hand by a Ryan Vogelsong pitch in the seventh inning of Wednesday night's 2-1 loss to the Giants.
X-rays were negative on Ramirez, and after Wednesday's game, manager Don Mattingly said, "We'll see where he is tomorrow or the next day. I'm sure it will be a little sore. He can play once he's able to squeeze a bat."
Ramirez was leading off the inning in a 1-1 game when he was struck by a 90 mph fastball on a 3-2 pitch. He dropped his bat, angrily threw off his helmet and appeared to be in serious pain as athletic trainer Stan Conte took off Ramirez's batting glove.
Ramirez indicated he wanted to stay in the game, but was convinced to retreat to the clubhouse for the X-rays. He was replaced by pinch-runner Justin Turner. After the game, Ramirez's hand was swollen and, he said, in pain.
"X-rays were negative and if I'm good tomorrow, I'll be in there," said Ramirez. "Now I'll have to see how I feel tomorrow morning. I'll get here early for treatment and if I can go, I'll do everything I can to be in there."
Ramirez has had a series of injuries as a Dodger, including fractured ribs when hit by a Joe Kelly fastball in Game 1 of last year's National League Championship Series in St. Louis.
Last year, Ramirez also missed playing time with a torn thumb ligament, strained hamstring (both occurring at AT&T Park) and lower back problems. This year he played in all 15 games.
"Everyone knows what I went through last year," he said. "You get hit on the hand, it's easy to get any damage, so I was wondering. Yeah, he got me good. I was just praying right away it wasn't broken. Thank God it's good."
Ramirez said he had already iced his hand twice in the clubhouse and would ice it twice at the hotel.
Kershaw continues progress in injury recovery
SAN FRANCISCO -- Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, currently on the disabled list, came out of his bullpen session Tuesday well enough to play catch from 100 feet Wednesday and flip breaking balls on flat ground.
Manager Don Mattingly said Kershaw will throw another bullpen session Thursday as he continues his recovery from a strained teres major muscle in his upper back.
"He's moving forward and feeling better about it," Mattingly said.
Mattingly, however, said there still is no timetable on Kershaw's return and the medical department is still calling the shots.
"Stan [Conte, athletic trainer] decides how far and how fast," Mattingly said. "It's not in Clayton's hands."
Puig issues statement about magazine article
SAN FRANCISCO -- Through his agent, Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig declined Wednesday to respond to an article by Los Angeles Magazine detailing the Cuban defector's harrowing journey to the Major Leagues.
"I'm aware of the recent articles and news accounts," Puig is quoted in a release provided to the Dodgers by the agent, Adam Katz. "I understand that people are curious and have questions, but I will have no comment on this subject. I'm represented on this matter, and I'm only focused on being a productive teammate and helping the Dodgers win games."
Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
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Its time-honored body and headstock shape are well balanced by a comfortable medium scale length (32") that will appeal to bassists and guitarists alike. Remarkable tonal versatility comes from a single powerful Duncan Designed PB-102 SCPB single-coil pickup and three-way switching among special tone circuits, which feature a modern bass sound (middle switch position, volume and tone controls), softer "double bass" sound (neck switch position, volume control only) and authentic tic-tac "baritone" sound (bridge switch position, volume control only).
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text:
ZA detected Win32.Trojan.Spy.Banker.ju. I am able to delete, but it reappears.
However, superantispyware FREE and MBAM did not detect anything.
Is it a false positive?
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition
Software Version: 8.0
Product Name: ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite
Operating System:Windows XP Pro
Software Version:8.0
Product Name:ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite


text:
Grilli getting closer; Wandy still targeting sim game
By Tom Singer / MLB.com
SAN DIEGO -- Jason Grilli incurred a forearm injury seven weeks after Wandy Rodriguez. It isn't like they're racing on the comeback track, but if they were, the reliever would have just closed fast on the rail to take the lead.
While Grilli was set to begin throwing off the slope of the mound before the Bucs depart San Diego, Rodriguez and club officials are trying to deal with the new discomfort the lefty reported after a 40-pitch bullpen session here Monday.
"It's a new development," manager Clint Hurdle said. "He didn't talk about feeling it after his simulated game at home. This was the first he'd mentioned it. He's not sure what he's feeling right now."
Plans still call for Rodriguez to go ahead and follow through on pitching a simulated game Thursday in San Francisco and see if it is more encouraging. With August winding down, there is precious little season left for a starting pitcher who has not seen game action since June 3.
Conversely, the comeback seems full top-speed ahead for Grilli who, as a reliever, only has to build up his arm strength for 15-20 pitches. He again played flat-ground catch on Monday and was set to do it off the slope of the mound Tuesday -- not full-fledged mound work, just off the side "to give him a gradual way of getting back to pushing off forward," Hurdle explained.
"[Grilli] is doing really well. Moving forward at a very good fashion," Hurdle said.
Marte scratched from lineup with bruised hand
SAN DIEGO -- After Starling Marte sat out Monday night's game with a new contusion to his right hand, the Pirates hoped to get their leadoff hitter back for Tuesday night's rematch with the Padres.
Manager Clint Hurdle went so far as including Marte in his original starting lineup. But that had to be changed after the left fielder tested the hand in early workouts at Petco Park, and the hand didn't pass.
"Still sore," a dejected Marte said, holding up his right ring and little fingers. "Tried throwing and gripping a bat. Not good. Maybe later in the game, off the bench."
Jose Tabata replaced Marte, both in left field and atop the order.
This is not a recurrence of the bruise -- the result of being hit by a pitch -- that caused Marte to miss two starts a week ago. This resulted from having his hand stepped on by Arizona's Martin Prado as he tried to steal third base in the eighth inning of Sunday's game at PNC Park.
First number, last word
2.53: Francisco Liriano's ERA following his seven shutout innings in Monday night's series opener with the Padres. It is the lowest among the seven Major League pitchers with 14-or-more wins.
"I know he's looking forward to getting the ball and going out there. He's not pleased with the way things have finished the last two times out." -- Hurdle on A.J. Burnett, who started Tuesday night against the Padres after having squandered leads of 3-1 to the Rockies and 4-0 to the Cardinals in his last two outings.
Worth noting
• Right-hander James McDonald's Rookie League rehab outing Monday (two hits, two runs and a walk without being able to finish the first inning) drew a terse reaction from manager Clint Hurdle, who said "it was not a pain situation. It's him continuing to work on things."
• Outfielder Travis Snider (left big toe) drew positive reviews for his first rehab game with Double-A Altoona, with Hurdle noting, "Everything went well. He cut off a ball down the line and held the runner at first, went first to third on a hit, had a single and drove a couple of other balls to the deeper part of the outfield."
Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog Change for a Nickel. He can also be found on Twitter @Tom_Singer. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Rhinos' rising star looms on NRL radarSteve Mascord
Published: February 15 2013 - 3:00AM
HE'S rated the hottest property in England after Sam Tomkins - but Leeds centre Kallum Watkins says he doesn't know what would happen if he received an offer from an NRL club.
Despite being under contract until 2017, the 21-year-old is on the radar of Australian talent scouts and will get more exposure when he lines up for the Rhinos against Melbourne in the World Club Challenge next week.
Asked if he was in a position to listen to NRL offers, Watkins told Fairfax Media: "It's hard to say because rugby league is massive down there and it's a big challenge for most people to play in that competition.
"You never know. It could be a great opportunity but I guess it depends on how I go in terms of playing here.
"But Leeds is a great club and they look after you so why would you want to move? Anyway, I've heard nothing yet."
Watkins, who scored four tries in his first three appearances for England, said he was unsure how Leeds would react if he was approached.
He added that Australian criticism of Leeds captain Kevin Sinfield winning the Golden Boot as the world's best player would motivate the Rhinos at Headingley on Friday next week.
"It's a big game and you grab any piece of motivation you can," he said. "He's a great leader, a great player, had a great season and thoroughly deserved the award. He hasn't got the recognition he deserves over the years with individual awards so it's about time.''
"All credit to him."
The Storm have broken down one of the last bastions of the rugby union establishment by training at the ultra-exclusive Eton College.
Players were given a tour of the alma mater of prime ministers and princes after their session there on Wednesday, before visiting Windsor Castle.
"It was unbelievable to be afforded the opportunity to train and see one of the world's most prestigious schools," said football manager Frank Ponissi.
This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/rhinos-rising-star-looms-on-nrl-radar-20130214-2efvc.html


text: I love sports, ice cream, nutella, and J.K. Rowling. Without any of the above, I don't think I could function properly :). I am an addict to fan fiction, almost to a fault...my favorite stories to read are romances, preferably with James and Lily....something about them, just gets me every time. I don't like AUs or dark fics, they usually confuse or depress me, but basically, any fiction that is well written appeals to me


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Town Square
Walmart facing a bribery probe. Only the best for P-town!
Original post made by Sal, Downtown, on Apr 23, 2012
Comments (24)
a resident of Canyon Creek
on Apr 23, 2012 at 7:54 pm
Oh good grief here we go again.
Your comments Sal are absolutely stupid!!!
Are you hoping to start some sort of big whoop here.
Let the party begin!!
Oh and just so you get your facts straight Sal, the new store is a grocery store, not a full Walmart.
And it will be a nice addition to that part of town.
If you don't like it, don't shop there.
What a concept!!!
a resident of Birdland
on Apr 23, 2012 at 8:05 pm
'.... and adheres to the demands of a comparatively small number of screaming Tea Party members, that is what really matters in Pleasanton. '. Sal, we all know you're attempting to insult the majority of the residents of our town, but is that really in your best interest. What do you and your union goons hope to gain by insulting the very people that pay your inflated wages and benefits so you can sit on your lazy butt enjoying 5 hour 'work' days while being paid for 8 hours?
As far as the accusations of bribery, guilty until proven innocent, although that's the way business is done south of the border, assuming you don't get ripped off or killed in the process.
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Apr 23, 2012 at 8:16 pm
This does seem like a pretty big deal to me, if proven true. If a company lies and flouts the laws of two countries like this, I've got to wonder what else it is doing.
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Apr 23, 2012 at 8:22 pm
You said "If you don't like it, don't shop there". But if the allegations are true, that doesn't really solve the problem, does it? If Walmart isn't fairly competing, consumers suffer because Walmart has an unfair advantage over its competitors. Only a government remedy would be effective in this case.
a resident of Del Prado
on Apr 23, 2012 at 8:41 pm
I am a proponent of Voting With Your Dollars, and it appears that the investors in Wal-Mart today did exactly that. The stock was down 4.6% on the news of the alleged bribery. It's bad business and can only hurt a company in the long run, no matter what the local business conditions might be.
If this bribery allegation bothers you, don't shop there. Perhaps the stock will fall another 4.6%.
a resident of Parkside
on Apr 23, 2012 at 9:05 pm
(Post deemed inappropriate by Pleasanton Weekly Online staff)
a resident of Parkside
on Apr 23, 2012 at 9:17 pm
(Post removed by Pleasanton Weekly Online staff for containing unverified or personal information.)
a resident of another community
on Apr 23, 2012 at 10:41 pm
are you telling me that American companies have bribed Mexican officials, alledgedly?! No way, i am shocked beyond belief, couldn't happen!!!
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Apr 24, 2012 at 12:04 am
We have no 'problem to solve'. Much ado about nothing...when in Rome, do as the Romans do ! ! That should be the beginning and end of it. It's Mexico ! ! ! That's how things are done....stop with the very weak, frail, pathetic hypocrisy.. Nothing like that happens in our 50 states. (well, not by walmart anyway) I guess we should start with the long list of councils and supers who have sold out the TAXPAYERS !...which is FAR worse, and that's in our backyard, and it's a much longer list.
As far a Mexico, the 200,000, are grateful for their jobs, since there are not that many employers close to that size. They are grateful to have paychecks to buy food !!
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Apr 24, 2012 at 8:02 am
If Walmart is doing this in Mexico, it is unfairly competing against all the ethical, law-abiding companies who are also trying to create jobs in Mexico, and for whom thousands of Mexicans would also be happy to work. It is one thing to be a fierce competitor who plays by the rules, and I always defended Walmart when that was their reputation. But it is quite another thing to break the law to eliminate competition. The Justice Department needs to examine this aggressively, and it behooves Pleasanton to take a close look at the businesses we allow to set up shop here.
a resident of Parkside
on Apr 24, 2012 at 9:50 am
The liberal loon editors will probably erase me because I say this, but I don't care whether companies are ethical or law-abiding. Companies are our best hope against the unions that are trying to ruin the US and Mexico. Besides, its only a grocery store.
a resident of Parkside
on Apr 24, 2012 at 10:21 am
Who needs better evidence of Obamas Emperial Presidency then this? See what the Democrat Party does when the unions votethem in?
"In February, for instance, Albert "Jack" Stanley, a former KBR Inc. CEO got a 2 1/2 year prison sentence for his role in a scheme to bribe Nigerian government officials in return for $6 billion in engineering and construction contracts. KBR, an engineering and construction firm, was a Halliburton subsidiary at the time of the bribes.
And in March, medical device maker Biomet Inc. agreed to pay $22.7 million to settle U.S. criminal and civil allegations that it bribed government-employed doctors in Argentina, Brazil and China for more than eight years to win business with hospitals."
Source: The Dredge Report
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Apr 24, 2012 at 12:56 pm
What's the difference between US companies lobbying congress and paying Mexican officals bribes.....nothing!
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Apr 24, 2012 at 3:08 pm
The difference is that lobbying congress is legal. If Walmart violated FCPA rules, then what they did is illegal.
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Apr 24, 2012 at 3:33 pm
Bill,to your question, I'd say what's the difference with WalMart bribing MEXICAN officials like all their OTHER COMPANIES DO, and our PUBLIC UNIONS BRIBING OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS and SACTO LEGISLATORS in a QUID PRO QUO, ...BUYING ELECTIONs for PENSIONS... and THAT's in our USofA , NOT Rome MEXICO ! ! Where's that outrage.
a resident of Foothill Farms
on Apr 24, 2012 at 3:52 pm
Exactly. Its one thing to bribe politicians with money. We expect our corporations to do that. Because that's capitalism.
But we shouldn't attempt to influence politicians with our votes, because that's not democratic. People shouldn't be able to organize as voting blocs. People should be forced to be individuals like the Constitution says. Unless you're a corporation. Then its okay. But again, that's only using money.
I'm plenty outraged.
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Apr 24, 2012 at 5:25 pm
Stacey is a registered user.
Why shouldn't people be allowed to organize as voting blocs?
a resident of Downtown
on Apr 24, 2012 at 5:35 pm
sSteve...Who needs better evidence of Obamas Emperial Presidency then this? See what the Democrat Party does when the unions vote them in?
This a joke right. You can't be that looney... If you are, then you represent why America is going downhill. It's not the left, it's little people like you that are frighten.
a resident of Foothill Farms
on Apr 24, 2012 at 6:51 pm
Unions organize as voting blocs and they vote. This is not democratic. This is what you'd expect in Russia, where Obama wants to take us.
Now, to buy off politicians with money, that's another matter. That happens everywhere. I may be able to buy off the politician you voted into office, but you got to vote and that's democracy. In free market capitalism, where the wealthy are genuinely free, they should be able to buy off whoever they want. Isn't that, after all, what the Supreme Court ruled? Isn't that what the superpacs are doing?
But we need to get rid of unions. They don't act fairly. They vote in blocs and that's not right. They crimp the style of corporations, which are our truly patriotic citizens, our heroes.
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Apr 24, 2012 at 7:51 pm
Bud, don't feed the trolls. Fergie ans sSteve are one and the same and will be captured and sent back to their facility soon. Unless they resist, in which case they may be apprehended by force....please resist.......
a resident of Parkside
on Apr 24, 2012 at 8:54 pm
Yet another apsect of the Empirical Presidency is people like Mittens calling everyone trolls and one and the same person. Sheeesh! Can't we all just disagree?
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Apr 24, 2012 at 9:37 pm
Stacey is a registered user.
Fergie, why do you say that bloc voting is not democratic? It's the basis of political parties!
a resident of Parkside
on Apr 24, 2012 at 10:20 pm
Fergie is probably a troll, I don't know. But obviously bloc voting is not democratic. Oh, its okay for some political parties, but not the Demcrats. They allow blocs within blocs. Unions, for example, use their organization and numbers to pressure politicians who don't get the opportunity to respond to Republicans and wealthy individuals who only have bribe money to dole out. That's obviously why the Supreme Court ruled that Corporations are people. They saw the unfair advantage unions had, controlling all the media, and all the commericals, and controlling everything from here to Sacramento not because of their money (the union bosses just fritter that away on big black cadillacs like the kind used in the robbery last week) but because of their number of voters who vote as a bloc. This is in opposition to everything the Founding Fathers and their Grandfathers wanted. Namely, individualism. Anything more than that - unions - is Bullshivik and can only destroy this country. I hope that helps. And I hope Fergie chimes in. By the way, we need stricter voter laws to prevent unions from voting twice. They do that a lot. Especially in Chicago as well as here, which my neighbor tells me is really really bad.
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Apr 25, 2012 at 8:32 am
It's pretty obvious what's happening here---democrats have infiltrated the management team at WalMart. How else to you explain the change in a previously squeeky clean manangement structure, now suddenly losing it's morals?
New state housing requirements could affect Pleasanton
By Jeb Bing | 6 comments | 635 views
Salami, Salami … Baloney
By Tom Cushing | 23 comments | 462 views
Time for new collaboration between city and school district
By Tim Hunt | 2 comments | 429 views


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Results 21 to 30 of 58
Thread: 2001 Mobius v22
So............................ new(to-you) Moomba owner yet?The years have been kind, it's the weekends that have done the damage.
2001 MobiusV - Loaded with Ballast, Exile, Blood, Sweat & Tears
02-10-2013, 09:54 AM #22Member
- Join Date
- Feb 2013
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- 57
Hey, stupid question. For surfing, since you weighting one side, what do you do with the other side? Empty it, run400 pounds?
2001 Mobius v22
On that boat, I'd say empty. You can always try a bit in the off side & see what it does. The Mojo likes the surf side 1,100 full & about 500 In the off side.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
02-10-2013, 11:07 AM #24Member
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- Feb 2013
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Also, if a boat is rated for 1,800 pounds, how do you safely assume ballast weight without sinking it? If I have 500 pounds of people am I limited to 1300 pounds of ballast?
Re: 2001 Mobius v22
Sorry to confuse you. On the 2001, I think surf side full, offside empty. But, you may find some offside works, too and as an example, I stated that my Mojo likes 500 in the offside when the surf side 1,100 is full.
Good question on the rating. I, and most that want to make a good surf wave, ignore that pesky little yellow plate. Make your own decision on safety, but I doubt you could sink it unless you do something stupid.
Last edited by wolfeman131; 02-10-2013 at 12:42 PM.
The LSV and the Mojo both like weight in the opposite surf side. This is due to when you weigh one side of the boat it will roll <list> over to that side.
The opposite side <thinking from the center line of the boat> will roll out of the water more.
The key to the surf wave is the boat hull, and keeping the V section on the front of the hull in the water.
So weighting the opposite side will keep that part of the hull in the wave.
The effect i have found is more push in the wave, less list in the boat.
You will know if you have too much weight in the opposite side because the wave will be washed out at almost any speed.
This also ONLY works on Regular surfing. The Goofy side of the LSV doesnt like any weight on the opposite side, this is due to prop rotation.
Mojo isnt as sensitive to this but it doesnt like much weight on the opposite side when Goofy surfing.Malo <--- Means--Evil or Mean One. This explains a lot.
2013 Mojo 2.5 Skylon Tower. Bestia < Beast >
02-10-2013, 01:25 PM #27Member
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- Feb 2013
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2001 Mobius v22
Bergermaister has the same boat dialed with a great wave. I would copy his setup as much as possible. I run 3400lbs. of ballast in my very similar boat with no issues.-Jake
I have 1100's in each rear compartment that get about 90-95% full. Typically only fill the surf side and leave the opposite empty. Although I would like to experiment a little more with adding weight on the opposite - every other time I've tried it seems to wash out the wave too much.
Run a 750 in the basement, and lately I've been putting another 400 right in front of it under the playpen seating since last summer BooneJeepin and I discovered this hull likes a lot of weight in the nose.
If I don't have enough human ballast I will add another 400 on the surfside (regular), preferably on the floor because on the seat blocks access to the cooler Only have one goofy rider usually so we make her go last but the setup is basically the same, just harder to get every sitting on the side with no seat...
I've toyed with finding some lead to go in the compartments or possibly alongside a bag but haven't found any around here to play with yet. I think common sense keeps me from pursuing it.
Bottom line is this hull seems to prefer to lean hard.The years have been kind, it's the weekends that have done the damage.
2001 MobiusV - Loaded with Ballast, Exile, Blood, Sweat & Tears
02-11-2013, 02:18 PM #30Member
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Friday 03.04
A true international male
Nikolai Alekseev has become the face of Russia's LGBT community. He comes to Dallas to discuss the plight and triumphs of gays worldwide and how today's community can work toward equality everywhere. Gay Liberation Network's Andy Thayer from Chicago joins Alekseev talking about his experiences in Russia.
DEETS: Interfaith Peace Chapel, 5910 Cedar Springs Road. 7 p.m. InterfaithPeaceChapel.org.
Saturday 03.05
Let's try this again, shall we?
Caven celebrates Mardi Gras across its clubs with Carnivale VI. With Ricky Sinz at TMC: The Mining Company and aerial artist Amber Monson at Sue's, the night is highlighted by the return of Cazwell at Station 4. We're not expecting the same Super Bowl party debacle that canceled his last show here. We are expecting a major crowd, if it's anything like his last S4 gig.
DEETS: Station 4, 3911 Cedar Springs Road. $15–$20. PartyatTheBlock.com
Thursday 03.10
Denton deals a pair of queens
The NX35 Music Conferette gets underway for a four-day music conference in little ol' Denton. Little D's answer to SXSW, NX35 gets way impressive with some pretty familiar names on the roster. The fest begins with legendary soul and gospel singer Mavis Staples and ends with outrageous sissy bouncer Big Freedia on Saturday.
DEETS: NX35 event grounds, 110 W. Hickory St., Denton. 35Conferette.com
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition March 4, 2011.


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Well, I just got home and am itching to open her up, but had to tell everyone first. This is so exciting.
Please, if anyone has one out there, please let me know. I am sure I will need all the help I can get!!!! Now, I have to find a name. What fun!


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I seem to have some weird mixture of the Free Firewall and the Free Firewall + Antivirus on my Win 7 computer. My intention, and what I have always used before, is to have just the free Firewall. I use a different product for my Antivirus needs.
Still, whenever I go to settings, it shows information about settings for the antivirus (and also Identity protection which I am also not interested in, but can't seem to turn off). Also, I keep getting information about updates to the antivirus codes, etc.
My last download was zafwSetupWeb_110_768_000.exe which I believe was the free Firewall only.
How can I get rid of the extraneous stuff and just use the basic Firewall, which has always been great?
I hate jigsaw puzzles.


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The Knicks want center Theo Ratliff as badly as Ratliff wants them. A source close to Ratliff told The Post at last week's Boston summer league, where the Hawks were competing, that Ratliff wants out of Atlanta.
"He's miserable beyond belief," the source said.
When contacted, Ratliff's agent Joel Bell declined to comment on whether Ratliff has demanded a trade. However, when asked if Ratliff would play for the Knicks, he said, "He would be very happy to be with New York. He's an East Coast guy."
Hawks GM Billy Knight said yesterday he has no intention of trading the 6-10 Ratliff, but ultimately it may not be his decision. Knight disputed the notion he's not allowed to make trades until new ownership takes over. But multiple sources say his hands are tied on making any blockbuster moves that could affect the value of the team until the new owners are in place. Knight admitted he considers himself an "interim GM."
"I'm not getting into discussions we may or may not have had," Knight said. "We're not trading Theo. We plan to keep him. Centers are hard to come by."
Indeed, Knight loves Ratliff, and if he keeps his job it is doubtful he'd trade Ratliff. The Pacers have also targeted Ratliff if Brad Miller leaves, and the Mavericks have attempted to pry him the past several months.
Don Chaney is extremely fond of Ratliff's game. The former Sixer fits into what the Knicks need: a true big man who can block shots and shore up their interior defense. The free-agent center market is running dry, with only Elden Campbell and Predrag Drobjnak the only ones left the Knicks might consider.
So why is Ratliff so miserable? The way it's explained, he feels the Hawks' guards on defense are unable to keep players out of the paint, forcing Ratliff to constantly be burdened with penetrators. Ratliff also feels he has to cover for Glenn Robinson, a notoriously lazy help defender.
Ratliff will make $10 million this season, so the Knicks would have to offer Kurt Thomas and another player to make the salaries work. Former Hawks GM Pete Bab**** often said he'd never trade for Latrell Sprewell, and Knight declined to discuss Sprewell yesterday.
* In another attempt to get bigger at small forward, the Knicks recently contacted Lamar Odom's reps but were told not to bother, that Odom won't accept a $4.9 million exception.
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text:
Posts by
Join About-Face in person!
Date: July 28, 2008 | Posted By:A couple new About-Face events for you, Bay Area-ites! A series of Wednesdays: August 6, 13, and 20. We'd love to see you in person, so check out the details over on our Volunteer page. – J.B. Continue reading


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A comfortable folding custom chair with a carrying case available in a variety of colors and with a weight limit of 300 lbs.
Show your team colors Unstructured Custom Caps with your logo.
This Bottle Opener Custom Keychains will help you open a bottle of success for your company.
Comfortable custom throw blanket made of anti-pill fleece.
These beach custom blankets are water and sand resistant and fold up into a handy carrying case for easy storage.
Enjoy those UV rays while protecting your eyes with a pair of Glossy Custom Sunglasses.
Neon UV-protective promotional sunglasses with your logo.
The Great Coaster Custom Drink Holder is perfect for a day at the beach! They are reusable, and prevent spills and messes.
This solid colored promotional beach ball is a great way to pass around your logo!
This promotional stadium cup is great for sporting events, corporate picnics and fundraiser walks.
Keep those cool shades on and show off your company logo with a promotional sunglass strap.
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Soak the competition with this Tank promotional toy water gun.
The Flying Ring Promotional Flyer can help your marketing campaign soar and get your team or event noticed. Made of durable plastic with a lot of fun colors to choose from.
Enjoy a cup of promotional ice tea any time you want it and have your logo be prominently displayed!
Custom flip flops with your logo on the sole.
Those company picnics that every employee looks forward to during the year can be even more fun when you get your company picnic promotional items from ePromos! Those grab bag goodies with the personalized koozies and custom sport water bottles could be just the thing to make your company picnic better than any other! Your company promotional items cannot come from a better place, ePromos.


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Next only to Continental army commander General George Washington, Nathanael Greene was the most important American general of the War for Independence. Self-taught but extraordinarily capable, Greene won few battles. But his campaign that won the South for the revolutionary cause was the most brilliant and daring of the entire war.
In Rise and Fight Again, award-winning military historian Spencer Tucker tells the story of Greene's rise from relative obscurity to military prominence at the tender age of thirty-two. He reveals Greene to have been a strict disciplinarian who insisted on rigorous training but was also deeply concerned for the welfare of his men. Tucker also shows that Greene was by nature a problem-solver who recognized talent and knew how to harness it effectively. Indeed, although Greene was the youngest general in his army, Washington assigned him the herculean task of serving as its quartermaster general. Greene proved so effective in this demanding assignment that in October 1780 he was given command of the Southern Department. Taking charge of a sharply depleted, dispirited force lacking all manner of military equipment and even clothing, Greene refused to be drawn into pitched battles save on favorable terms. He rebuilt the Southern army in less than a year and adopted daring tactics that defied conventional military wisdom but recaptured from British control most of the Carolinas and Georgia.
Greene has rarely been accorded his earned place in the history of the American founding, in part because of his early death in 1786, when he was just forty three. But with Tucker's brief but masterful biography, Greene finally gets his due.
Additional Information
|ISI Books
|What They're Saying...
"Tucker restores this unjustly neglected leader to his rightful place in the pantheon of America's generals. Based largely on primary sources and judicious in its judgments, this volume will stand as the finest compact biography of this skilled commander."
"Few Americans contributed more to victory in the War for Independence than Nathanael Greene, yet he is too often overlooked among the pantheon of Revolutionary heroes. Spencer Tucker's excellent biography helps to end this neglect by returning Greene to the forefront in the story of the American Revolution. Tucker succeeds in making this biography both thorough and concise, packed with information for scholars while clearly written and accessible to general readers. From Greene's Quaker origins to his early military career under George Washington, to Greene's command in the crucial Southern Campaign and tragically brief postwar career, Tucker presents an engaging and informative account of the general who, despite never winning a battle, managed to win the most important campaign of the Revolutionary War."
"Tucker plumbs the character of Greene like no previous biographer and, capitalizing on the recently completed edition of Greene's correspondence places, the too often overlooked general squarely in the pantheon of American military leaders. Tucker explains how through hard work, ambition, and devoted loyalty to the Revolutionary cause and to George Washington, Greene rose from militia private to major general—and demonstrates that Greene, a self-taught soldier, understood the Revolutionary War in the South better than any other commander on either side. This finely wrought biography, certain to stand long as the definitive interpretive study of Greene, adds significantly to our understanding of leadership in the Continental Army and American victory in the southern states."
|Eligible for Readers Club Discount


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Summaries of EU Legislation
Summaries of EU legislation: direct access to the main summaries page.
- Archived: true
Commission Opinion [COM(97) 2003 final - Not published in the Official Journal]
Commission Report [COM(98) 702 final - Not published in the Official Journal]
Commission Report [COM(1999) 510 final - Not published in the Official Journal]
Commission Report [COM(2000) 710 final - Not published in the Official Journal]
Commission Report [COM(2001) 700 final - SEC(2001) 1753 - Not published in the Official Journal]
Commission Report [COM(2002) 700 final - SEC(2002) 1409 - Not published in the Official Journal]
Commission Report [COM(2003) 676 final - SEC(2003) 1211 - Not published in the Official Journal]
Commission Report[COM(2004) 657 final - SEC(2004) 1200 - Not published in the Official Journal]
Commission Report [COM(2005) 534 final - SEC(2005) 1354 - Not published in the Official Journal]
Treaty of Accession to the European Union [Official Journal L 157 of 21.06.05]
In its July 1997 Opinion the European Commission found that Romania had made notable progress in bringing its legislation on restrictive agreements into line with that of the Community. The Commission asked Romania to continue its efforts to enforce the new legislation and provide suitable training for the two monitoring bodies. As for State aid, the Commission felt that not much progress had been achieved and that a considerable effort would be needed to meet the requirements for the control of such aid, in particular with a view to drawing up a reliable State aid inventory and adopting rules for a monitoring system that is effective and comparable with those operating in the European Union.
The November 1998 Report considered that Romania had made some progress towards the adoption of antitrust legislation, but enforcement needed to be further strengthened. The absence of a legal framework for State aid made it essential to adopt a law on State aid and to complete the first State aid inventory.
In its October 1999 Report the Commission highlighted the progress made in the field of State aid with the adoption of a comprehensive law in line with the acquis, a first report about State aid activities and progress made with regard to State monopolies. Nevertheless the Commission felt that attention should be given to proper implementation of the law on State aid and to the break-up of former State monopolies.
The November 2000 Report found that Romanian legislation on restrictive agreements was largely in line with the acquis but that more remained to be done with regard to vertical restrictions. In addition, it pointed out that a new law on State aid had come into force in January.
The November 2001 Report stated that progress had been consolidated by the activities of the Competition Council, which processed 437 antitrust cases and 72 State aid cases in 2000.
The October 2002 Report noted that Romania had made some progress but that further efforts were needed, notably with a view to institutional strengthening and aligning State aid on Community legislation.
The November 2003 Report found that Romanian competition legislation was broadly in line with EC antitrust rules, although in the area of State aid controls were still insufficient.
The December 2004 Report emphasised that, while its competition policy is broadly in line with Community acquis, Romania must nevertheless pursue its efforts with a view to accession.
The October 2005 report notes that Romania meets the requirements of the accession negotiations as regards restrictive agreements and that it should therefore be in a position to implement the corresponding legislation when it joins the European Union. However, further efforts are needed to ensure that it meets its state aid obligations.
The Treaty of Accession was signed on 25 April 2005 and accession took place on 1 January 2007.
The European Community's competition rules are based on Article 3(g) of the EC Treaty, which states that the activities of the Community must include "a system ensuring that competition in the internal market is not distorted." The main areas of application are restrictive agreements and checks on state aid. Community competition law consists of a body of rules and procedures that seek to combat anti-competitive behaviour by companies (restrictive practices and abuse of dominant positions) and to prevent authorities from granting state aid that could distort competition.
The Europe Agreement with Romania, which entered into force on 1 February 1995, provides for a competition regime to be applied in trade relations between the Community and Romania based on the requirements set out in Articles 81, 82 and 87 of the EC Treaty concerning agreements between undertakings, abuses of dominant positions and state aid, and for implementing rules in these fields to be adopted within three years of the entry into force of the Agreement.
The Agreement also requires Romania to bring its legislation into line with Community competition law.
The White Paper refers to the progressive application of the above-mentioned provisions, the provisions contained in the Merger Regulation and Articles 31 and 86 of the EC Treaty concerning monopolies and special rights.
Romanian antitrust legislation, which was adopted in 1999 and amended in 2004, is broadly in line with Community law. It incorporates the most important principles of the Community antitrust rules relating to restrictive practices, abuse of dominant positions and merger control. With a view to ending overlapping powers in the competition field, it set up a single body, the Competition Council, which has produced satisfactory results. The number of its decisions has increased and its sanctions policy now represents a more effective deterrent, thanks mainly to an increasing number of fines. In addition, the Competition Council's administrative capacity has been further reinforced.
Romania has now aligned its antitrust legislation with Community law. It must now focus on maintaining its track record on enforcement of this legislation. Accordingly, the Competition Council should play an active role in both applying the law and defending competition.
The Romanian state aid law, which was adopted in 2000 and amended at end-2003 and the beginning of 2004, lays the foundations for appropriate controls in this area. By 2003 Romania had already adopted multisectoral regulations as well as regulations on guarantees, risk capital and transparency of public companies. The legislation has also been amended to clarify the definition of state aid and to reinforce provisions on the obligation to recover unlawful aid. New measures have also been adopted to improve compliance with the prior notification requirement. Romania has now aligned its state aid legislation with Community law. As regards enforcement, the pre-consultation mechanism established in September 2004 has significantly improved the quality of decisions. Romania has continued to increase its administrative capacity, in particular, as stated above, by setting up a single body responsible for competition, the Competition Council. With regard to the steel industry, a national iron and steel restructuring strategy has been adopted. Romania has made significant progress in this area and is meeting its commitments.
Although Romania has now brought its state aid legislation into line with Community law, it must continue to focus on enforcement activities with a view to completing preparations for accession. Accordingly, it should improve the quality of state aid decisions, monitor enforcement of decisions and continue evaluating existing aid. Romania must ensure that all state aid schemes are subjected to scrutiny by the Competition Council. Particular attention should be taken to ensure prior notification of all new aid measures. Romania must also continue to focus its efforts on the steel industry.
When the October 2004 Report was submitted, negotiations on this chapter were still under way and Romania was drafting the necessary proposals to complete alignment of its state aid legislation. The Chapter was provisionally closed in December 2004, subject to the addition of a new safeguard clause that provides that the Council could decide to suspend accession by Romania if it were to emerge that it had failed to fulfil its obligations in connection with competition, in particular state aid. The clause requires only a qualified majority and is thus more rigorous than the general safeguard clause that specifies that any decision to postpone accession to 2008 should be taken unanimously. The October 2005 Report does not raise the possibility of implementing the safeguard clause.
Last updated: 13.01.2006