text:
Seventh Day Adventist Church of American Samoa v. Maneafaiga
SAMOA and HTC TUATO'O TAUTALATASI, Plaintiffs
GATAI MANEAFAIGA and SINAALEVAIFOA FANENE,
High Court of American Samoa
Land and Titles Division
LT No. 5-92
March 12, 1993
Under Samoan custom, the sa'o has pule (authority) to make decisions about family lands, including assignments of family land for the use of individual family members. [23ASR2d151]
A matai does not lose pule over land assigned to family members, as an outright assignn1ent of communal land is contrary to law and custom.
The right of a family member to use land owned by a Samoan communal family is a property right protected by the territorial constitution's due process clause. Rev. Const. Am. Samoa Art. I, § 2.
The right of a family member to use land owned by a Samoan communal family is conditioned on reciprocal obligations towards the sa'o and family, including the obligation to perform tautua (traditional service); and failure to render tautua is grounds for eviction.
Before KRUSE, Chief Justice, LOGOAI, Associate Judge.
Counsel: For Plaintiffs, Afoa Moega Lutu
For Defendants, Charles V. Ala'ilima
Plaintiff Tuato'o Tautalatasi is the sa'o (senior matai) of the Tuato'o family of Alofau, American Samoa. He seeks eviction of the defendant Gatai Maneafaiga, also known by his title "Moemalemalo" (hereinafter "Moemalemalo"), a lesser matai of the Tuato'o family, from a particular structure which is claimed by both Moemalemalo and the Seventh Day Adventist Church (hereinafter the "church"). The structure was recently built by the church as a residence for its pastor; in fact, Moemalemalo had arranged the building permit on behalf of the church. Moemalemalo, however, claims this as a replacement for his original dwelling, which the church was using prior to its destruction by a recent hurricane.
No one disputes that the structure lies within the Tuato'o communal land known as "Salamau"; indeed, Moemalemalo claims entitlement to Salamau as a member of the Tuato'o family. Rather, the dispute concerns pule, a matter which, according to settled law and custom, is clearly the exclusive prerogative of the sa'o. Notwithstanding, Moemalemalo and certain of his siblings appear to have other ideas about pule. This lawsuit followed; besides the differences on pule, Tuato'o further seeks eviction because Moemalemalo does not render tautua (traditional service).
A number of years ago, Moemalemalo, on his own initiative, brought the church onto the site after inviting a pastor and a small number of fellow adherents to utilize his home for worship. This [23ASR2d152] dwelling was described as a semi-European structure--essentially an open Samoan fale with a corrugated iron roof--to which the church later added improvements. According to Tuato'o, this all happened while he was off-island, but after his return, he confronted Moemalemalo with the church's unauthorized use of family land.
The matter eventually escalated into a lawsuit, with Tuato'o seeking an injunction to enjoin Moemalemalo from building on Salamau without first obtaining his permission as the family's sa'o. See Tuato'o v. Moemalemalo, LT No.1214-71 (1971). Tuato'o testified that he filed this suit after Moemalemalo and his sisters openly challenged his pule; however, he subsequently relented to church use of the site after Moemalemalo apologized, and peace was again restored to the family.
In 1974, Moemalemalo and his immediate family moved to the mainland, where they reside to the present day. At least since leaving the territory, Moemalemalo has not rendered tautua. Until quite recently, however, Moemalemalo continued to remain the go-between the church and the sa'o. When the former needed the matai's permission, Moemalemalo attended to securing that permission. In time, the church added other structures on Salamau.
In 1981, Tuato'o decided that the church's use of Salamau should be documented, and he accordingly advised the church that he desired to formalize any further use of his family' s land by way of lease. Word subsequently got to Moemalemalo, still on the mainland, who then traveled to Samoa to work things out with the sa'o on the church's behalf. His efforts culminated in a document, styled "Assignment of Land for Church Purposes," which he presented to Tuato'o for execution and which the latter signed. The document talks about the assignment of an ill-defined area of Salamau for a period of ten years at a nominal annual rent. It also talks of Moemalemalo as an "assignor" with provision made to include him as an additional signatory on behalf of the Tuato'o family. The document thus conveys the unmistakable impression that Moemalemalo also has something to do with pule. (1) [23ASR2d153]
The defense theory here presented in explanation is that the land encompassing the site was the subject of an outright assignment by the present Tuato'o's father, and his predecessor-in-title, to Moemalemalo's side of the family. The alleged assignee was said to be Moemalemalo's maternal grandmother, who was also the assigning matai's sister; hence, this supposedly explained the manner of the document's wording and its inclusion of Moemalemalo as a signatory .Thus, Moemalemalo in his testimony referred to a shared pule with the sa'o to this area of Salamau. Furthermore, one of his sisters, who also resides on the mainland, took the stand and asserted somewhat defiantly that she too had pule over the site. As may be gathered, the claimed out-and-out assignment is flatly denied by the sa'o.
The dispute arose following a 1992 split among the membership of the church in American Samoa. In the aftermath, Moemalemalo opted to go with the breakaway sect. He now wants the church's access to Salamau to cease; however, in trying to accomplish this, he has again alienated the sa'o because of his manipulative efforts. As noted, the assignment document with the church provided for a ten-year term, which would end in 1991. The document also contained a provision which referred to a renewal option to be exercised upon the giving of notice to "both assignors." Shortly after the split, however, Moemalemalo approached the sa'o and told him that the church was not seeking to renew the assignment since it was planning to move to either Tula or Masefau. The sa'o thereupon instructed Moemalemalo to prepare some sort of writing to accordingly advise the church that there would not be a renewal of assignment. Tuato'o was thereafter surprised to receive a delegation of church officials who visited him at home beseeching a renewal of the assignment. Tuato'o then learned for the first time that Moemalemalo had in fact left the church and that the church's relocation plans, as related by Moemalemalo, were nothing more than misrepresentation.
After dwelling on the matter, Tuato'o subsequently signed a ten- year lease with the church. Moemalemalo, on the other hand, was not to be rebuffed. After his further attempts to dissuade the sa'o proved unsuccessful, he took it upon himself to physically oust the church by moving into the structure at issue and then setting up the co-defendant, Sinaalevaifoa Fanene, as its occupant. [23ASR2d154]
Under Samoan custom, the sa'o has pule, or the authority to make decisions about family lands. See Gi v. Leia, 11 A.S.R.2d 137 (1989); Coffin v. Mageo, 4 A.S.R. 14 (1970); Malaga v. Alaga, 4 A.S.R. 735 (1966); Lutu v. Fuimaono, 4 A.S.R. 450 (1964); Lolo v. Heirs ofSekio, 4 A.S.R. 477 (1964); Tiumalu v. Scanlan, 4 A.S.R. 194 (1961). By virtue of that pule, the sa'o parcels out and assigns family land for the use of individual family members. See Malaga v. Alaga, supra; Leapaga v. Masalosalo, 4 A.S.R. 868 (1962); Tiumalu v. Scanlan, supra. The authorities thus clearly recognize that the pule to Tuato'o family property, Salamau, lies with the Tuato'o, the sa'o of the Tuato'o family. The claim, therefore, to some sort of shared pule with respect to Salamau is without any basis whatsoever .
At the same time, the authorities are also clear that while the matai may assign and parcel out family land, his pule over such assigned property is not thereby terminated. Pisa v. Solaita, 1 A.S.R. 520 (1935); Mailo v. Fuamaila 1 A.S.R. 449 (1931); Levu v. Maluia, 1 A.S.R. 197 (1909); Toleafoa v. Tiapula, 7 A.S.R.2d 117 (1988), a.ff'd 12 A.S.R.2d 56 (1989). Thus, no ground exists for the contention that an "exclusive" assignment of Salamau to the Moemalemalo side of the family thereby deprived the sa'o of his pule or somehow restricted it. What seems to be canvassed here again is a theory of outright assignment of communal land--a theory which this court has previously rejected as being contrary to law (against the alienation of communal land) as well as custom. See Gi v. Leia, supra; Sivia v. Porter, 13 A.S.R.2d 95 (1989). (2)
On the other hand, Moemalemalo has certain rights to Salamau as a member of the Tuato'o family. [23ASR2d155]
[U]nder Samoan customs (fa'a Samoa) ...communal family land
is owned by the Samoan family as such and each member of the
family has a right to the use of a portion of the family land. This
right to use family land has also been held to be a proprietary right
within the due process clause.
Lutu v. Taesaliali'i, 11 A.S.R.2d 80, 87 (1989) (quoting Tuana'itau v. Pago.fie, 4 A.S.R. 375, 381 (1963)). These property rights, however, are "conditional" to the extent that they attract reciprocal obligations towards the sa'o and family. Fairholt v. Aulava, 1 A.S.R.2d 73 (1983). Significant among these is the obligation to tautua. Toleafoa v. Tiapula, supra. Indeed, failure to tautua is grounds for eviction from family land. Leapaga v. Masalosalo, supra; Vaotuua Family v. Puletele, 3 A.S.R. 145 (1955).
We conclude on the foregoing that the Tuato'o, as the sa'o or senior matai of the Tuato'o family, has the singular pule with respect to Tuato'o family land Salamau; that in exercise of that pule, the sa'o may evict from family lands a family member who fails to render tautua in accordance with Samoan custom; and that since Moemalemalo has failed to serve the sa'o in accordance with custom, he is not entitled to Tuato'o family property and may be evicted by the sa'o. The petition for eviction is therefore granted, and judgment will enter accordingly.
It is so ordered.
1. A similar effect appears to have been likewise attempted in the government application form for a land-use and building permit for the structure now in dispute. Moemalemalo filled out the form by holding himself out as the landowner, although the document was apparently signed by the sa'o.
2. Counsel also submitted that the church-assignment document was evidence of a shared pule, and he referred our attention to Satele v. Seumalo, 6 A.S.R.2d 103 (1987), for the proposition that certain assignments of communal land could be outright. We reject the submission; the cited case does not stand for this proposition, and the evidentiary value of the document is naught since the document itself rests on the invalid premise that pule is shared with a lesser matai. Cf Mailo v. Fuamaila, 1 A.S.R. 449 (1931) (senior matai retains pule to lands assigned to a lesser matai).


text:
Rule 5 status limits options for McGuiness
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com
MARYVALE, Ariz. -- Chris McGuiness might not be able to break camp with the Indians, but manager Terry Francona is hoping the team can find a way to keep the Rule 5 Draft pick in the farm system.
"There's a lot to like," Francona said on Friday. "First, he's a great kid. He can play left, he can play right and he can play first. He's got a beautiful swing. He's a hard worker. He's a good listener. Saying that, in a perfect world, I wish he wasn't a Rule 5 and he was in our Minor League system. That's about as honest as I can be."
The Indians selected the 24-year-old McGuiness from the Rangers in December's Rule 5 Draft at the Winter Meetings. The move cost the Tribe $50,000, and the team is required to offer McGuiness back to Texas if he is not going to be on the 25-man roster. If a Rule 5 pick does make the Opening Day roster, he must remain on the team for the entire season, or be offered back to his original club for $25,000.
The other scenario is if McGuiness clears waivers, the Indians could attempt to work out a trade with the Rangers to keep the versatile player in their system.
"I hope that could happen," Francona said. "I don't know if it's realistic or not. I shouldn't even go into that, but we really like him a lot."
McGuiness -- a first baseman by trade -- posted a slash line of .268/.366/.474 for Double-A Frisco (Texas) last season. In 123 games, he posted 23 homers, 25 doubles and 77 RBIs. McGuiness then took home Arizona Fall League Most Valuable Player honors after hitting .283 with four homers, five doubles and 27 RBIs for Surprise.
This spring, though, McGuiness has struggled at the plate. In 15 Cactus League games with Cleveland, he has hit just .115 (3-for-26) with three singles, no RBIs and eight strikeouts. Francona said it looked early on like McGuiness was pressing at the plate.
"I actually said something one day," Francona said. "I was walking by him in the dugout one day and I said, 'You're trying way too hard.' And it's easy for me to say that. You kind of forget sometimes, this is a big Spring Training for this kid. And every at-bat, if he's getting an at-bat in the eighth inning, that's his whole day. I think he's been better the last three weeks about just playing the game.
"But we love what we're seeing out of him. The other day in a 'B' game, he took a left-hander deep. That's not an easy thing to do. At 11 in the morning, hitting a homer off a lefty, that's saying something."
Santana chats with Francona in day off from Classic
PHOENIX -- Indians manager Terry Francona's cell phone began to buzz a few nights ago. It was catcher Carlos Santana, wanting to chat with the manager while away from Cleveland's camp to take part in the World Baseball Classic.
"I think he was bored," Francona said with a laugh on Friday morning. "He called. He was just sitting in his hotel room and he just called to [talk]. I thought that was pretty cool."
Santana, who is currently suiting up for his native Dominican Republic in the Classic, has had a solid tournament for his homeland. In five Classic games overall, the switch-hitting catcher has hit .267 (4-for-15) with one home run, two RBIs, three runs scored and six walks.
During Thursday's 3-1 victory over Team USA, Santana went 2-for-4 and had a key at-bat in the D.R.'s two-run rally in the ninth inning. Facing Braves closer Craig Kimbrel, Santana chewed his way through an eight-pitch at-bat, fouling off four pitches. He eventually grounded out to second base, but the chopper moved Nelson Cruz from second to third base.
Erick Aybar followed with a go-ahead single that brought Cruz home and set off one of the Dominican Republic's wild on-field celebrations.
"They're into it. You can tell," Francona said. "I think the experience has probably been great for him."
The Dominican Republic is awaiting the winner of Friday's matchup between Team USA and Puerto Rico to play for seeding for the World Baseball Classic semifinals. Indians setup man Vinnie Pestano is currently with USA, while Indians infielder Mike Aviles and Minor League lefty Giovanni Soto are on Puerto Rico's roster.
Last season, the 26-year-old Santana hit .252 with 18 homers, 27 doubles, 72 runs, 76 RBIs and 91 walks in 143 games for Cleveland. He has spent much of the past two seasons as the Tribe's cleanup hitter, but will likely slide down some in the order now that players such as Nick Swisher and Mark Reynolds are in the fold.
"I think it's going to be good for him and for us," Francona said. "It's easy to say to a kid, 'Hey kid, go run the pitching staff. And, oh by the way, you're hitting cleanup.' That was a necessity last year. I get that. I've been in that situation.
"But I think now we have the ability to back him up a little bit, and it not only gives our lineup more balance, but it takes a little bit of the burden off of him."
Francona said he was impressed early in camp by Santana's defense, especially the catcher's throws to second base. The manager also believes Santana is only getting started as an offensive weapon for the Indians.
"He has the ability to take a walk, and he's always dangerous," Francona said. "And I think his better offensive years are ahead of him."
Despite reassignment, McDade on Indians' radar
MARYVALE, Ariz. -- Mike McDade was not going to make the Indians' Opening Day roster, but he certainly put himself on the team's radar.
On Friday, Cleveland made a pair of roster reductions, optioning McDade to Triple-A Columbus and reassigning non-roster invitee infielder Nate Spears to Minor League camp. McDade, who was claimed off waivers from the Blue Jays in November, made a good impression on manager Terry Francona.
"I think he's got a bright future," Francona said.
When Cleveland acquired the 23-year-old McDade -- a switch-hitting first baseman -- Francona said the scouting reports were "all over the map." McDade's large frame (6-foot-1, 250 pounds) was considered a potential issue by some evaluators, but Francona did not see any issues along those lines this spring.
In 16 Cactus League games with the Indians, McDade hit .400 (12-for-30) with one home run, two doubles and 10 RBIs. He also handled himself well at first base.
"Seeing him in person," Francona said, "he can hit, and he can hit from both sides. And he can actually play first. ... And I think he has a chance to hit good pitching. It looked to me like he could hit velocity. You see in Spring Training sometimes younger kids maybe come up and get a few hits, but maybe it's off an 86 [mph pitch]. Every time we've faced good pitching, he's had really good at-bats."
Last year, McDade hit .285 with a .360 on-base percentage and a .445 slugging percentage between stops with Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Las Vegas in Toronto's farm system. He compiled 17 home runs, 19 doubles and 67 RBIs in 118 Minor League games in 2012. McDade then hit .286 in 24 games with Este in the Dominican Winter League.
Francona did note that he reminded McDade to keep his weight in check throughout the season.
"We actually talked about that a little bit," Francona said. "I think that's probably dogged him most of his career -- people keep hammering on him about it. I didn't want to do that to him. I just said, 'Hey, look man your future is important.' He has to keep an eye on it, and I told him, 'I hope you do, because I think you have a chance to play in the Major Leagues.'"
Quote to note
"He's not just a big kid that can hit the ball. He can pay first base a little bit and he knows what he's doing. It's not just a big swing. He can make an adjustment, hit the ball up the middle, put the ball in play with two strikes."
-- Indians manager Terry Francona, on Minor Leaguer Mike McDade
Smoke signals
• Indians manager Terry Francona said he has kept in constant contact with setup man Vinnie Pestano, who is currently pitching for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. In two tournament appearances, Pestano has two strikeouts and one hit allowed in two innings.
"I've texted with him a bunch," Francona said. "He's been great about communicating with me every time he throws."
• With 13 games in a row with no off-days to open the regular season, the Indians are weighing whether to carry seven or eight relievers on the Opening Day roster. Francona said having a true long reliever is not currently deemed a necessity for the ballclub.
"No," Francona said. "That's a conversation we keep going back and forth with, with everybody. Some of it is going to depend on the makeup of the bullpen. Some of it is going to be determined by the number of guys in the bullpen. You've got a couple schools of thought there."
• Tribe right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka, who is one of five starters competing for the fifth spot in the rotation, is scheduled to work three innings in a Minor League game at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday at Cleveland's complex. Matsuzaka left his last outing after one inning due to cramping in his right calf.
• Indians All-Star closer Chris Perez, who is working his way back from a right shoulder strain, is scheduled to throw off a mound for the first time since Feb. 26 during Saturday's workout. Cleveland has not ruled Perez out for Opening Day.
• Indians left-hander Scott Kazmir, who is vying for a spot in the rotation, is slated to log four innings in a Minor League game on Sunday. Kazmir has turned in 11 shutout innings (13 strikeouts) this spring between Cactus League and Minor League "B" game appearances.
• Indians catcher Yan Gomes, who is battling for a bench job this spring, exited Friday's game against the Brewers in the fourth inning due to tightness and cramping in his right hamstring. He doubled with two outs and left the game after reaching second base. Gomes is considered day to day with the injury.
Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Major League Bastian, and follow him on Twitter @MLBastian This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
For this coming Chinese New Year, why not creating your very own Hong Bao to give to your kids and family members? They are easy and fun to make with this new set:
This HongBao One Envelopes Set contains 6 'Hong Bao' ('Red Pockets' for Chinese New Year) to help you create beautifully unique 'Hong Bao' this coming Chinese New Year! The finished size of each pocket is 3.5″ wide x 6.5″ tall. PNG format created at 300dpi, just insert your photos/add your own greetings, then print, trim and glue together (or use double-sided sticky tape or tape gun) – quick and easy with gorgeous results that sure to impress everyone who receive them! Simple Instruction is provided with the kit. Warning: the actual set shows so much more ztampfilicious details than the preview image shown above!
The Chinese Greetings on the pockets read:
– "Gong Xi Fa Cai" means: "Congratulations and be prosperous" – the most common greetings used for Chinese New Year
– "Xinnian Kuaile" means: "Happy New Year"
– "Niannian Youyu" means: "Wishing you bountiful surpluses year after year" (it's a word play involving the word "yu": fish which sounds like "you": bountiful – hence the symbolic use of fish)
Hope you'll find them useful :). Let me know if you have any questions.


text:
Spider-Man 4 Villains: Malkovich and Hathaway as Vulture & Vulturess?
- By
- 117 Comments
Movieline has dropped an exclusive report claiming that they have it from an inside source close to Spider-Man 4 that all the previous rumors of The Lizard and/or Black Cat serving as the villains for Sam Raimi's next Spidey film are totally off the mark.
So who will be the principal villain(s) in Spider-Man 4, according to Movieline? That's where things get a bit odd (even more so than the Black Cat rumors).
According to this exclusive report (which is being backed by our friends at First Showing), actor John Malkovich is being eyed for a role as The Vulture, a classic Spider-Man foe whose power is a flight suit with razor-sharp wings. Ok, so maybe that isn't so odd: Malkovich as The Vulture is one of those head-slap, "Should've thought of that" casting choices we all see with 20/20 hindsight. However, news that Anne Hathaway (previously rumored for a role as Black Cat) is being eyed for a role as "The Vulturess" have fans around the 'Net scratching their heads in confusion.
Even more confusing, is the rumor that Hathaway would still be playing the character of Felicia Hardy; in the Spider-Man comics, Hardy was the alter-ego of Black Cat. The Vulturess would be a brand new addition to the Spidey Universe (as far as I know), and if Hathaway is indeed being eyed for the role, it raises a lot of questions (and a few alarms) that I believe we should toss out here and now:
- Would The Vulture and Vulturess be a team?
- If they were a team, would Hathaway be Malkovich's daughter, or (gross) his wife/lover?
- Do we really need two villains with the same exact power?
- Why use the Felicia Hardy character just to introduce a new villainess?
- Wouldn't having a Bird and Cat as villains just be cooler?
Now I can understand why (from a studio exec's perspective) having Black Cat in Spider-Man 4 might seem like a bad idea: the character is too reminiscent of Catwoman, who is still a viable villain for Chris Nolan's next Batman film. Catwoman is, of course, much more well-known than Black Cat, which could make BC a hard sell to a movie audience who can't tell their Cat ladies apart.
It's this same line of reasoning that has me believing Movieline when they report that their same source has confirmed that Dylan Baker's Dr. Connors will absolutely NOT be appearing as The Lizard in Spider-Man 4 (though Baker will be back as Connors). The source states that studio execs were put-off by the thought of such an outlandish villain appearing in a Spidey film – though in the last installment, they did have an alien goo and a big pile of sand as villains, so what kind of hairs are they really splitting?
No Lizard in Spider-Man 4
Anyway, we'll keep you updated as this story develops – which I'm sure will be quickly, given the crazy nature of all this.
Oh Sam Raimi, can you just reveal who the bad guys are going to be? This is getting nuts…
Spider-Man 4 is going to hit theaters May 5, 2011. How does all this Vulture/Vulturess talk strike you?
Sources: Movieline & First Showing
- Ad Free Browsing
- Over 10,000 Videos!
- All in 1 Access
- Join For Free!


text:
Zachary Merton Convalescent Home, Banstead, Surrey RIBA72403
Zurcher Heilstatte surgical clinic, Clavadel, Davos RIBA8039
Enter the year from/to for subject and/or image date. Invalid ranges will be ignored
All contents © copyright 2017 RIBApix
This site uses Cookies. Cookies are very small text files that are stored on your computer when you visit some websites. We use cookies to maximise your experience and make our website easier for you to use. Learn more…


text:
Lovely and graceful, caring and thoughtful, Lovette Twyman Russell embodies the spirit of philanthropy which is the focus of this issue of the Atlanta Daily World. Throughout the paper readers will note stories that highlight Atlantans commitment to improving the quality of life for all in the community. This spirit underlines our city's history and has been an annual feature of the World during the first week of December for decades.
Russell is a native of Atlanta who received her BA in Psychology from Spelman College. After college she worked as a computer programmer for a small firm in Norcross finishing her corporate career with the Xerox Corporation in sales and marketing.
While at Xerox she met Michael Russell, a native Atlantan and the CEO of H. J. Russell & Company. They were married in 1992 and have two children, Michael Russell, Jr. a first year student at The University of Virginia and Benjamin Russell, a senior at Woodward Academy.
"I am passionately dedicated to health, wellness and education for inner city kids," says Russell. She currently sits on the Board of Sheltering Arms, Zoo Atlanta,GEEARS and the CHOA Foundation. She is also a Trustee at Spelman College, Chair of the Hughes Spalding Community Foundation Board, is an advisor to YouthSpark,is a member of Jack and Jill of America and a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
A former tri-athlete, Russell started racing 10 years ago and has completed four races, including the Honolulu Marathon. Now, despite an auto-immune condition that sometimes wears her down, she continues to train and help women and youths to get in shape.
"I think good health and fitness is a key component to well being," she says, adding with a charming smile, "even if it hurts."
Russell's Community awards and involvement are many and varied. They include:
• 2012 Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
• 2012 recipient of the Mary Caan Volunteer of the Year for the Lupus Foundation.
• 2012 co-chair of the Mayor's Masked Ball which benefits the UNCF.
• Chaired the 2011 Swan House Ball, the annual fundraiser for the Atlanta History Center
• Co-chair of the New Look Foundation's annual fundraiser in 2011
• Co-chair of the 2011 Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce annual awards gala
• Chair of Girls, Inc annual fundraiser in 2011
• Co-chair of the Inaugural Grady Hospital Gala in 2010
• Co-Chaired Zoo Atlanta's Annual fundraiser "The Beastly Feast" for 2009
• Co-Chair for the High Museum's David Driskell Prize 2009
• Past Honorary Chair for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Talent Development Program
• 2007 and 2008 Honorary Co-Chair of the YWCA "Open Your Purse" fundraiser.
• YWCA Woman of Achievement for Community Service
• Atlanta Woman Magazine 2007 "Woman of Achievement"


text:
Boise Mountains > Kepros Mountain > Climber's Log
Kepros Mountain Climber's Log
[ Sign the Climber's Log ]
|Midlife Mountaineer
|Spring Hike
Date Climbed: Mar 22, 2015
|Cold and windy on the way out but it warmed up for the return trip. 9.6 mile round trip from Three Points area.
|Posted Mar 23, 2015 11:17 am
|Nice Hike
Date Climbed: Sep 12, 2011
|Nice hike that went on, and on.
|Posted Nov 23, 2014 10:28 pm
|January hike
Date Climbed: Jan 5, 2014
|Since this winter has not produced much snow so far we (Doug and Collin) figured this mostly south facing ridge would allow us to hike up in our boots with out having to use snowshoes. there is a lot of up and down on this hike and my GPS said that we climbed 7,000ft round trip. my legs tell me this is pretty accurate. We were able to do the trip in 4 hours (excluding lunch).
|Posted Jan 6, 2014 4:44 am
|Good Off-Season Hike
Date Climbed: May 15, 2011
|Did this one in spring and fall 2011. Tougher than you'd think with some steep ups and downs along the way. This peak is relatively low in elevation and hot in mid-summer, but it makes for a great spring or fall hike. Great views over the back side of Arrow Rock reservoir at the top.
|Posted Mar 12, 2012 8:27 pm
|Best possible weather
Date Climbed: Nov 19, 2011
|29 degrees with a dusting of snow, some wind, and some sun - we lucked out! Great, snowy views to the northeast.
|Posted Nov 19, 2011 7:07 pm
|From Blacks Creek
Date Climbed: Dec 5, 1998
|Long, cold and windy run along ridge line.
|Posted Dec 18, 2010 2:06 pm
|Perfect Fall Weather
Date Climbed: Nov 13, 2009
|With Splattski, great day and a wonderful hike. Loved Johns "loop"
|Posted Nov 13, 2010 5:50 pm
Date Climbed: Apr 9, 2008
|Did this solo as an "out and back" hike and went up Three Point Mountain to start it off. Didnt see a soul.
|Posted Apr 5, 2010 4:06 pm
|Long haul on a wet day
Date Climbed: Jan 16, 2010
|Went with Splattski and took off from the summit neat Three Point. Was cloudy all day and right after we got off the summit it started raining and snowing. Did Splattski's loop back to the car.
|Posted Jan 16, 2010 8:17 pm
|Fun and Close
Date Climbed: Mar 10, 2006
|Very close to town and a nice snowshoe. I was having so much fun I climbed Three Point Mountain twice that day along with Kepros. It is a bit of a slog on snowshoes though but worth it for winter conditioning.
|Posted Apr 24, 2006 6:16 pm
|Super Dave
|Up & Down, Up & Down...
Date Climbed: Apr 17, 2006
|Made the hike out to Kepros on a foggy spring morning, the weather cleared up a bit on the way back allowing for some great views. Saw multiple deer and quite a bit of fresh coyote sign along the way. Trip Report
|Posted Apr 24, 2006 5:32 pm
|Fun Hike!
Date Climbed: Apr 1, 1999
|I've climbed this peak several times. Very fun and challenging hike from the Three Point Mountain area.
|Posted Apr 24, 2006 4:19 pm


text:
Barbara Kingsolver '77 to Keynote Kentucky's Books-in-Progress Conference
April 20, 2012
Bestselling and award-winning author Barbara Kingsolver, a 1977 graduate of DePauw University, will be the keynote speaker at the inaugural Books-in-Progress Conference. Sponsored by the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning, the event will take place June 8 & 9 in Lexington, Kentucky.
The conference will offer writing and publishing workshops, as well as one-on-one meetings between writers and literary agents.
Learn more about the event here.
Kingsolver's acclaimed books include The Bean Trees; Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life; Prodigal Summer; and The Lacuna, which received the UK's Orange Prize and the Library of Virginia's 13th Annual Library of Virginia Literary Award for fiction. The Poisonwood Bible was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and won South Africa's National Book Award.
Kingsolver has been awarded the National Humanities Medal and every one of her books since 1993′s Pigs in Heaven has made the New York Times bestseller list.
A zoology (biological sciences) major at DePauw, Kingsolver received the LEAF Award for Lifetime Environmental Achievement in the Fine Arts from Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment in April 2011.
Barbara Kingsolver delivered the 1994 commencement address at DePauw, and was also awarded an honorary doctoral degree during the ceremony. Access an MP3 of the complete address, which was titled "As Little Advice as Possible," here.Back


text:
Which Famous Lady Has a String of Gentleman Callers Visiting Her Hotel Room?
This famously sexy star has had every flavor of famous man stopping by her hotel room for a romp. This Real Housewives couple is close to breaking up and this famous couple is wearing promise rings. God, how annoying.
1. "This hot television celebrity certainly has her fingers in a lot of pies… and her legs wrapped around a lot of men. The staff and guests of a certain New York hotel are buzzing over the steady stream of celebrities to her room, one per evening. The festivities start like clockwork around 10:00 pm every night and go on for three or four hours of headboard-pounding, filthy-talking, moaning, screaming fun! In other news, it seems that her taste has shifted from vanilla to café au lait to dark chocolate. While she first became famous for her trysts with a certain pale singer, her visitors this time include a mononymed Canadian singer and a very famous male model. Yummy! We'll bet her husband is so proud of his wife's sophisticated palate!" [Blind Gossip]
2. "One of the Real Housewives couples is in panic mode right now because their world might come crashing down because of one side remark made by another Real Housewife that struck way closer to home than intended. Apparently this couple is barely hanging on but does not want the world to see it and were really upset when a cast member who does not even know what is going on said the couple is barely hanging on. The publicists for the couple are in damage control mode, but that is not their biggest worry. Leaks are beginning to emerge in their carefully constructed cover which was never intended for full media attention. Specifically, friends of the couple have been hinting that the couple have an open marriage and that the husband complains he has not had sex in years and that the couple, who do have children might not have actually had natural conception, especially considering the wife's age and the age of the kids." [CDaN]
3. "These young lovers recently exchanged rings. Don't worry, nothing legal and neither of them are calling them promise rings but they are sure acting like they are. They don't always wear them in public but the minute they are together they slip them on. How cute!" [BuzzFoto]


text:
Volleyball Rules
Team Members: Each team will be limited to a fifteen person roster. Six players allowed on the court at any one time. There must be six players present for a team to start the contest. Only 2 varsity players are allowed per roster and it must be an "A" league team. A daft may be invoked where as all participating varsity players will be randomly assigned a team until all players have been used. (Varsity players are described as any player who has practiced with the varsity squad the previous season).
1. It is a foul for players to touch the net, to reach over the net or under the net and touch an opponent or to step over the center line.
2. Holding or throwing the ball while it is in play. The play must be distinct batting of the ball.
3. The ball may be played at most three times per side and a player may not play it twice in succession, but may play it twice if it is played by a teammate in between.
POSITION OF PLAYERS: Beginning of the Game (Line-up)
At the opening of the game, players shall take their respective positions according to the order given to the scorer. The lineup may change for each new game.
Players of the serving team must rotate clockwise when receiving the ball to serve and the right back must serve.
When the ball is served, each player shall be in his own area. After the ball is served, each player may cover any section.
A contest will consist of best two out of three games and they must be completed in allotted one hour.
1. The ball must be served by the right back behind the rear of the 10 foot mark and may be hit in any manner with the hand.
2. Only one trial serve is allowed per side and it must land within the opponent's court. If it touches the net and continues into the opponent's court, it counts as a serve.
3. A ball landing on a boundary line is "in."
4. A point may be scored only by the side serving.
5 If a ball touches a player or a player touches a ball, he is considered as having played the ball. If the ball hits a player twice or two or more blockers after being spiked, it is considered as having been played just once.
6. teams shall change courts after each game.
7 a player may leave the court to play a ball.
The following are either "side-out" or point depending on who made the serve.
1. Catch or hold the ball, dribble.
2. Reach over the net with any part of the body while the ball is in play.
3. Touch any player under the net.
4. Serve out of rotation.
5. Touch the floor on opposite side of the center line. This does not keep a player from playing a legal ball under the net, but he must not step over the line.


text:
Kanye West has proven to be an equal opportunity offender with his latest song. Last night (April 4) West released "TheraFlu," on which he confessed his past love for reality star Kim Kardashian, dissed her ex Kris Humphries, and raised the hackles of animal rights organization PETA.
On the new track, West dubs himself "Swag King Cole," boasts about his high-fashion bona fides, and taunts PETA throughout:
"Can't a young N*** get money any more/ Tell PETA my mink is dragging on the floor."
In less than twenty-four hours since the song dropped, PETA released a statement to CBS Local expressing their displeasure.
"What's draggin' on the floor is Kanye's reputation as a man with no empathy for animals or human beings," said Dan Mathews, PETA's Senior Vice President in a statement. "He's a great musician but doesn't seem to have the fashion sense to design anything more than caveman costumes. We keep hoping that one day he'll find his heart and join evolved style icons—including Russell Simmons, Pink, and Natalie Portman—who have dropped animal skins."
Other rappers have jumped on board with PETA's message. Last month, CBS Local reported that Waka Flocka Flame joined PETA in a campaign to stop dog fighting and animal cruelty. In the behind-the-scenes video from the photo shoot, the high-energy rapper explains why he decided to join the campaign against dog chaining and animal abuse.
"It's important not to abuse dogs," Waka said in the clip. "Pick on somebody your own size." [See video below]
Kanye's "TheraFlu" originally made news for his revealing lyrics where he admits that he "fell in love" with Kim Kardashian.
"The whole industry wanna f**k your old chick/ The only n***a I got respect for is Wiz/ And I'll admit I fell in love with Kim/ Right around the same time she fell in love with him/ Well that's cool, baby girl do your thing/ Lucky I ain't have Jay drop him from the team/ La Familia, Roc Nation, we in the building…"
While West shouts out Wiz (as in Wiz Khalifa) who is now dating Rose, the nameless "him" is an obvious reference to Kardashian's husband, New Jersey Nets player Kris Humphries. The two are currently embroiled in a messy divorce, while rumors have swirled that West and Kardashian have been secretly seeing each other.
As for the release of "TheraFlu," which you can listen to here, it is unclear if it will be a part of the upcoming G.O.O.D. Music compilation album or on Kanye's next solo set. –E. Parker, CBSLocal


text:
Summer means barbecues with friends, long outdoor excursions, and extended brunches — with appropriate beverages — in the sun. We have everything you need to kick back, look sharp, and impress party guests. Enjoy Summer!
Like what you see? There's still time to order the POPSUGAR Special Edition Must Have Summer For Him box, so find out more and join our monthly subscription, too!


text:
Australia needs to talk about tax: Reserve Bank governor Glenn Stevens backs Treasury secretary Martin Parkinson
Reserve Bank governor Glenn Stevens has backed the head of the Treasury Martin Parkinson, saying Australia needs to talk about taxes and government spending.
Dr Parkinson said on Wednesday night that taxes such as the goods and services tax and fuel excise would have to be boosted or broadened if the budget was to have any hope of returning to surplus.
He said the alternative of letting inflation push Australians into higher tax brackets was "unlikely to be politically feasible" and would not raise enough to bring a surplus in sight.
Addressing the American Chamber of Commerce in Brisbane on Thursday, Mr Stevens said: "Put simply, there are things we want to do as a society, and have voted for, that are not fully funded by taxes over the medium term, as is starting to become clear in the lead up to the May budget.
"Here I refer to the very important speech given last evening by my colleague, Treasury Secretary Martin Parkinson. Our situation is not dire by the standards of other countries but neither are the issues trivial. A conversation needs to be had."
A spokeswoman for Treasurer Joe Hockey said the Treasury secretary's views about the GST were his own.
"We are not changing the GST – full stop, end of story," she said. "Our position hasn't changed."
Mr Stevens told the Brisbane audience that too often governments wrote off good ideas too quickly.
"There is something of a tendency for governments, when asked to outline their growth plans, to list the things that they already want to do for political reasons, and then to claim that they will help growth," he said.
"Some of those things may well help growth, but in fact many of the things that are needed to spur growth seem not to make it onto such lists.
"Things that boost competition in markets, that genuinely free up trade, that reform the governance and financing of infrastructure projects, that put retirement income streams on a sustainable footing... and that minimise distortions from tax – many of these often don't make onto 'to do lists' in the way that perhaps they should.
"These issues are very real ones for Australia. For we face considerable challenges."
The Coalition has promised to prepare a tax white paper within its first term of office.
It has ruled out changing the GST in its first term.
Peter Martin is the economics editor for The Age, based at Parliament House
Get the Morning Edition
Sign up for our daily wrap of the news you need to start your day.


text:
Edwards Off Paternity Hook... For Now
Despite the wishes of her sister, former John Edwards bedmate Rielle Hunter doesn't want the haircut-and-pants to take a paternity test to determine whether or not he is the father of her baby. "Hunter said through her attorney that she would not take a genetic test 'now or in the future.' The attorney, Robert Gordon, called Hunter a 'private' person who is 'not running for public office' and would not comment further on the media frenzy engulfing her. 'She wishes to maintain her privacy and her daughter's privacy,' he said in the statement. 'Furthermore, Rielle will not participate in DNA testing or any other invasion of her or her daughter's privacy now or in the future.'" [Washington Post]


text:
Anna Nicole Smith's psychiatrist put in a massive drug order for the model just months before her death, requesting a cocktail of pills that included 300 methadone tablets and "hospital heroin" from a pharmacist who refused to fill the "suicidal" prescription, explosive unsealed affidavits revealed Monday.
Smith's psychiatrist Dr. Khristine Eroshevich ordered two sedatives, 300 meth tablets, a muscle relaxer, an anti-inflammatory drug and four bottles of a painkiller known as "hospital heroin" from a pharmacist, who denied the psychiatrist's request because the order could've killed Smith, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.
"They are going to kill her with this," the pharmacist said he thought when the order was filled, according to the affidavits obtained by the Times.
The prescription was "pharmaceutical suicide," the pharmacist said.
The affidavits claim that Eroshevich and internist Sandeep Kapoor gave Smith, who died from an overdose of prescription meds, access to a host of dangerous and addictive drugs.
The explosive affidavits also reveal that both doctors had sexual relations with Smith, the model who was known for marrying a man nearly three times her age and baring it all as a Playboyplaymate.
Smith's former boyfriend and lawyer Howard K. Stern, who starred with Smith on her 2002 E! reality program "The Anna Nicole Show," was charged along with Eroshevich and Kapoor earlier this year with conspiring to provide the star controlled substances. They all pleaded not guilty to the charges, and a preliminary hearing is set for next month.
Smith's son Daniel died in the Bahamas just months before Smith herself died unexpectedly on Feb. 8, 2007.
The model's body was found in a Florida hotel room. Smith was 39.


text:
Atmosphere from outside the Conrad Murray trial in the death of Michael Jackson in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Toby Canham/Getty Images)
The jury has found Dr. Conrad Murray guilty of involuntary manslaughter. Murray could receive up to four years in prison and the loss of his medical license. Prosecutors say Murray caused [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Michael Jackson[/lastfm]'s death by administering a lethal amount of the anesthetic propofol.
Murray contended that Michael administered the dose himself.
Michael's family arrived at the courthouse in Los Angeles shortly after the jury announced they reached their verdict. Michael's father had only one word to reporters as he entered, "Justice." LaToya Jackson tweeted that she was shaking uncontrollably when she arrived.


text:
With the 650S package on 93 octane the output rose from 473 at all four wheels to 553 horsepower at all four wheels for a gain of 80 wheel horsepower on pump gas. That is not bad at all. On race gas with GIAC race software this rises to 594 wheel horsepower.
So, good bolt on power but AWE-Tuning wants $13,195.05 for this package (the extra 5 cents there being just kind of funny) which is kind of absurd for software and bolt ons. The 997.1 turbo is falling in price and there are far more cost effective options than this. Especially when the race software is another $400 on top of this and additional ECU programs are $200 each.
Good results, not the best value.


text:
1. We get our first glimpse of "real" vampires in this chapter. What was your impression of them as a group and as individuals? Did you connect the fact that their red eyes had to do with the type of blood they drank? At first I did not think that there were going to be any problems, but I should have known, Stephanie never just writes stuff in, just because. They really just rubbed me the wrong way. I knew the red eyes had something to do with their "eating habits"
2. To me, the book takes on a second sort of plot right here with the emergence of Bella being hunted and put in danger by someone other than Edward. Up until know, the book had a much different feel and rhythm. Do you get the same impression or did you feel something different? I think that the beginning of the book lead into this very well actually. We got to see Edward constantly saving Bella in one way or another. But then you see (IMO) that it kind of lead up to this ultimate battle / protection thing. Everything before seemed like the small steps to the big event. Like training or something. It all helped prepare Edward, so that he knew he could handle this.
3. On page 383, Alice says that there is another option than just running away, which angers Edward into saying, "There-is-no-other-option." What's your take on this moment and what do you think that other option is? The first time through I really didn't even catch this, but now it sticks out and I know exactly what she means, turning Bella would have stopped this whole thing right there and then.
4. Do you think that Bella had the best plan? Do you think things would have worked out better had they gone with Edward's plan? Considering how things worked out, do you have suggestions over what they should have done differently at this point? Bella's plan made sence in order to keep Charlie safe, which was Bella's main focus. I don't think that any plan would have kept James off of Bella's tail for long.


text:
Read the full story here Web Link posted Monday, July 1, 2013, 4:08 PM
Town Square
Shop Talk: Babbo's and Ramona's shutter
Original post made on Jul 1, 2013
Read the full story here Web Link posted Monday, July 1, 2013, 4:08 PM
Comments (16)
a resident of Midtown
on Jul 1, 2013 at 4:50 pm
Does anyone know if Gott's Roadside will open? I thought that they had advertised a late-June opening. I went by on Sunday, but it still hasn't opened.
I visited the Gott's in St. Helena after seeing it on both the Food Network and the Travel Channel. We were impressed! I am confident that it will do well in Palo Alto!
a resident of Evergreen Park
on Jul 1, 2013 at 5:49 pm
I used to go to ramonas a few times a week for a good $2.50 slice of pizza, they will be missed. I wont spend 20+ dollars for a pizza anymore.
a resident of another community
on Jul 1, 2013 at 7:47 pm
Loved Babbo's. Both my son and I loved their Calzone Rustica, just to name one of our favorite dishes. Enjoyed many good conversations with the Owners and the wait staff. Thank you for all the good times.
a resident of College Terrace
on Jul 2, 2013 at 10:36 am
I remember going to Ramona's restaurant in downtown. Sorry to see the last of the business disappear. You can get a good and hefty "slice" at Palo Alto Pizza Co on park. I don't know the cost, but it's delicious.
I'm also sorry to see the Fonos go. I used to love Bravo Fono.
a resident of Midtown
on Jul 2, 2013 at 11:01 am
I have so many wonderful memories of Bravo Fono...all linked to a dear friend who passed away a couple years ago.
And loved the Calzones at Ramona's.
It's true that all things must pass, but it's sad when they do.
I've lost many favorite restaurants over the years, and it really is like losing a friend.
Still hoping that Suraj (formerly on El Camino in RWC) will find a new location... and never did find out what happened to Rangoon.
Have found no respectable replacements.
a resident of Menlo Park
on Jul 2, 2013 at 11:25 am
good riddance to Babbo's. They were so child unfriendly, and like most places in this area, had mediocre food.
But sorry to see Ramona's go.
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Jul 2, 2013 at 1:24 pm
We still miss Rangoon. We did not realize what a gem we had and such nice folks who ran it. I agree I would lve to know what happened there.
a resident of Ventura
on Jul 2, 2013 at 1:39 pm
[Post removed.]
a resident of Stanford
on Jul 2, 2013 at 2:23 pm
Oh, I'm so sorry to learn about Babbo's. (I also loved Bravo Fono.) I feel bad I didn't have a chance to say goodbye to the wonderful, friendly staff. I usually dined there alone after shopping and they were very, very nice to me. Sadly, this sort of gracious establishment is disappearing.
As for being child-friendly, I observed that they were welcoming to everyone, no matter how young, loud, or picky a patron might be.
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Jul 3, 2013 at 10:47 am
So sad to read about Babbo.
My daughter all time favorite restaurant in the area. She LOVES the staff and owners who always spoiled her with something extra. That was her first choice to celebrate special occasions. THANK YOU for may sweet memories!
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Jul 3, 2013 at 11:01 am
Unfortunately, soaring rents are forcing most moderately priced downtown restaurants out of business. Hopefully some of those can find a new home in other parts of town. Pedestrian traffic is really picking up on California Ave and even midtown these days. Younger families love walking around their neighborhoods and love to patronize businesses within walking distance of their homes.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Jul 5, 2013 at 7:25 pm
Bravo Fono and Babbo's were unique local restaurants which are
greatly missed for the food and ambiance. The transformation of Stanford Shopping Center under Simon Properties is very negative, very corporate. Remember Palo Alto Roasting Co? Starbucks took its place.
a resident of another community
on Jul 6, 2013 at 1:10 am
Heartbroken when we went to Palo Alto this evening to see our beloved Babbo's was gone...between Fono's and Cafe Andrea and then Babbos celebrated so many lovely occasions, late night holiday shopping suppers, warm afternoons under their umbrellas...we have lost a truly special spot. And one of my (now adult) daughter's very favorite spots. Bravo Fono's patio was one of the first "nice" restaurants I ever took her to when she was a little girl.
Their smoked salmon platter and a glass of bubbly on a summer evening was a slice of heaven...and the wait staff was always so sweet, remembering us from years of happy visits.
And with the Creamery gone as well...Stanford Shopping Center has, sadly, lost something for me.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Jul 6, 2013 at 3:32 pm
Stanford Shopping Center is steadily moving down-scale
after Simon Properties took over. Cutting back on maintenance
to boost the bottom line is one thing, but never cleaning the
overhang over the front entrance to Bloomingdale's on El Camino
which is now absolutely filthy is really crossing the line.
The old Bravo Fono area with the beautiful glass tiles, the nicest
feature in the entire center, was torn out right away to make way
for retail. Then the passageway was plastered with a Nike sign, etc,
etc. Expect this trend to continue. Simon is in way over its head
at Stanford and its focus is always bottom line and corporate culture.
a resident of another community
on Sep 24, 2013 at 1:26 pm
Ate at Bravo Fono regularly from 1980 until it closed and also loved Babbo's. They were always friendly and courteous there. My children enjoyed eating there from a young age.So sorry to see them go.
If "child-friendly" means letting your children run amok while other are eating and run around tables grabbing onto other diners' chairs as I have often experienced in a certain popular M.P. restaurant then i'm not for it.
My children, nieces and nephews all grew up eating at Bravo Fono and it was never a problem as they stayed seated and knew how to behave at table.
I have TWO WORDS for those of you who inflict your toddlers out of control behavior on others while you ignore them and chat obliviously with friends BABY SITTER. It worked for previous generations.
a resident of Palo Alto Hills
on Dec 9, 2014 at 10:44 am
I'd love to get in contact with either of the owners of Babbo's, or the a chef. If you still have their contact info, please let me know-
Burger chain Shake Shack to open in Palo Alto
By Elena Kadvany | 20 comments | 5,101 views
This time we're not lying. HONEST! No, really!
By Douglas Moran | 11 comments | 916 views
Couples: When Wrong Admit It; When Right; Shut Up
By Chandrama Anderson | 0 comments | 803 views
One-on-one time
By Cheryl Bac | 0 comments | 591 views


text: Near the end of the Goblin "Lost Isles" guide, where you have us doing the Orgrimmar-Razor Hill flight mission, you also have us pick up the quest "The Burning Blade". The odd thing about it is that you never actually have us doing the quest. Instead, the guide moves on to Northern Barrens and the quest is left to be abandoned at some point. If we're not going to be doing the quest, I'd say remove the useless step.


text:
The possibility of becoming infected with an incurable disease never occurred to Jane Fowler. After her divorce, Jane had a sexual relationship with an old family friend. A blood test for an insurance policy alerted the 55-year-old that she was infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
About HIV/AIDS
The HIV virus weakens the body's immune system, leaving patients vulnerable to infections, cancers, and other diseases. People infected with HIV may appear perfectly healthy and may not suffer from any serious symptoms for years. But these people can pass the virus to others through sexual activity or sharing of needles. Casual contact however, does not increase risk. The virus lives in bodily fluids, not on physical objects or body surfaces, so activities such as sharing silverware, hugging, using a public toilet, or shaking hands do not increase your risk of contracting the virus.
The Risks to Older Adults
In general, older adults remain less knowledgeable than teens and young adults about the virus, its risks, and the ways to prevent it. Jane is doing her part to educate older adults by taking to the road and sharing her story. She also founded an organization called HIV Wisdom for Older Women.
Many successful prevention programs have been administered to people in retirement communities, at health fairs, as well as other places older adults gather. The programs use age-appropriate materials and adapt public outreach messages to address the needs of an older audience. They also recruit older adults to pass along the message, and to create a dialogue and atmosphere where people are comfortable asking questions.
There are several ways to reduce risk for contracting HIV, including:
- Keep condoms handy and always use a latex condom during sex with someone whose disease status you do not know. Think of it as having sex with everyone your partner has ever had sex with.
- Learn how to use a condom properly and consistently.
- Learn how to talk about sex and to negotiate protective barriers with potential partners.
- Do not share needles.
Get Tested
"If anybody has put him or herself at risk, get tested," Jane says. "I feel like I was blessed that I 'flunked' the insurance company blood test when I did and found out I was infected. Had I not, I might be dead of AIDS today." Early treatment improves the odds of living with the disease.
Anonymous HIV testing can be done through your doctor, local health department, and even with a home test kit. If you use a home test kit, be sure to discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor first.
Talk to Your Doctor
Routine blood tests do not include an HIV test, and some doctors might not consider ordering an HIV test when older patients come in for a visit. Do not wait for your doctor to introduce the subject. If you think you may be at risk, ask for an HIV test and discuss the risks with your doctor.
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Michael Woods, MD, FAAP
- Review Date: 10/2017 -
- Update Date: 11/30/2015 -


text:
Dental retainers are finding favor with older adults
Dr. Craig Fischer has made a habit of wearing a retainer every night to ensure his glowing smile. The 68-year-old Pittsfield-based orthodontist already has straight teeth -- and he wants to keep them that way.
"I don't want my teeth to move one bit," Fischer said. "It's the easiest thing in the world to pop it in [at night]."
Straightening of teeth is a procedure most often done in teenage years, but dental professionals are finding more older adults among their patients. They are seeking treatment primarily for aesthetic reasons, but also for the long-term preservation of their teeth.
When teeth can't be adequately cleaned because they are misaligned, it can cause decay or gum disease and possible tooth loss.
The popularity of products like Invisalign, a clear removable form of retainer, has made it more socially acceptable for older adults to seek treatment, Fischer said.
He said hundreds of older adults in their 50s and older have come to his office about having their teeth straightened. He said the oldest was in her early 70s.
Pittsfield-based periodontist Erich Schmidt and periodontist Michael Williams say they routinely see patients who want to correct their smiles.
"It's become more accepted," said Schmidt, who added that patients inquire on a weekly basis. "More and more adults straighten their teeth using Invisalign because it is not as noticeable as traditional orthodontics."
The Invisalign process straightens teeth through use of clear plastic molds -- made to fit over the wearer's own teeth -- that are changed every two weeks. Each is calibrated to gradually shift the positions of teeth until they become straight.
Invisalign is meant to be worn at all times except when eating or brushing teeth for the recommended duration of time, Fischer said. The length of time can range from eight month to more than two years, he said.
The Invisalign retainer should continue to be worn after teeth correction to ensure the teeth stay in place, he said. vA retainer would need to be worn full time for three weeks, he said. Then it should be worn at night.
Invisalign isn't a recommended option where a significant correction is needed or in cases where there are recommended tooth ex tractions, Fischer said.
Loss of bone or deterioration of the gum could also lead patients to avoid straightening their teeth, he said. Many adult dental plans don't cover braces unless orthodontic coverage is included, Fischer said. Most dental plans for young adults age 18 or under cover some of the cost.
Loss of bone or deterioration of the gum could also lead patients to avoid straightening their teeth, he said. Many adult dental plans don't cover braces unless orthodontic coverage is included, Fischer said. Most dental plans for young adults age 18 or under cover some of the cost.
Braces can cost $5,000 to $6,000, Fischer said. Invisalign could cost $6,000 to $7,000.
Schmidt said he'd like to see more older adults straighten their teeth.
"Ideally, we'd recommend it to more people, but not everyone is interested or understands the importance. So it is our job [as dental professionals] to educate our patients."
Fischer said he's worn a retainer for the past seven years since receiving Invisalign treatment. He said it's a proactive approach to ensure his teeth don't move out of place.
Whether individuals are young or old, Fischer said, "the majority of adults just want to have a nice pretty, handsome smile."
To reach John Sakata:
or (413)-496-6240.
On Twitter: @JSakata
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us. We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.


text:
Executive Director's Message, June 2013: Being Heard
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 1:4
Dear Listeners and Supporters of the OCN,
I hope you had a blessed month of May as we bask in the radiance of the Lord's Resurrection. One of the main reasons "Come Receive the Light" and then the Orthodox Christian Network was founded was to assist people to walk in the truth of God's revelation and to HEAR His Teachings. Today, people around the world are finding the peace of God in what they hear on our many programs and affiliates.
Walking in truth is becoming harder and harder in a world that chooses to be not truly correct, but rather politically correct. Everything now survives and thrives because it is relevant to changing societal values, not to the truth of who we are as people in the reflection of Holy Scripture and the Holy Fathers. There is also such widespread distribution of gossip about so many people and so many things that finding the truth is becoming more and more difficult.
However, we do have many arrows in our quiver of faith to combat the false teachings swirling around us. The hymns being chanted at each service remind us of the splendor, the majesty, and the sheer power of the miraculous Resurrection of our Lord that changed humankind forever. The renewing of our hearts daily usually comes from hearing these sacred hymns that speak volumes to us about our faith and our Lord's love for us. You can hear many of them on The Rudder at OCN. You can also come to us for more than 20 podcast channels that you and your family can draw on for age-appropriate teaching to support and strengthen your faith.
Hearing is the beginning of growing in the knowledge of Christ our Savior. In fact, the Theotokos, The Mother of Jesus, began a hearing ministry when she heard the call of the Archangel that she would bear a Son and he shall be called Emmanuel. We are called today, my dear friends, in the midst of media and sound cacophony, to find His voice once again so that we might be fulfilled.
I believe God wants us to follow Him. This is why He sent His Son, the prophets, and the saints throughout the centuries. There are many dissonant voices in the world we live in, and we are called as Orthodox Christians to have the spirit of discernment, to separate the true voice from the crooked voice, and then to follow the truth with all our might and strength.
You may say to yourself, Father Chris, I hear you, but how I am to know what is correct when everything is being portrayed as relevant truth? Well, my dear faithful person, immerse yourself in the teaching of the faith, and you will know without a doubt what is right from wrong. Ask yourself if the voice you hear does good or harm. Does it build others up or reduce them to dust? Remember that God, our Creator, gave us a great gift, which is our conscience. Listen to it and learn.
I look forward to sharing this month's programming with you, and I trust that it will help us learn to listen more closely to one another, and to God's voice within us and around us. Let me know your thoughts. Send me your questions, and I will do my best to answer them.
In the Risen Lord,
Fr. Chris


text:
WSJ.com – As Angry Patients Vent Online, Doctors Sue to Silence Them.
Doctors have long accepted that their patients share opinions about the care they have received, knowing that satisfied patients will refer others while those not so happy with their bedside manner might encourage prospective customers to seek treatment elsewhere. But when William Boothe, an ophthalmologist in Texas, saw that one disgruntled former patient was posting his complaints on the Internet, he launched an aggressive response. He sued for libel and other claims, and earlier this year a state judge ordered the material removed from the Web.
The case is one of a growing number of legal battles being waged over Internet postings about medical complaints. More patients are taking their opinions of their local doctors to the Internet, and a wider audience, and that has some medical providers on edge. Several Web sites have sprung up that encourage patients to post anonymous reviews of doctors and dentists, and some frustrated patients have created entire Web sites to criticize specific physicians.
"The potential problems are huge," said Matt Messina, a dentist in Fairview Park, Ohio, and a spokesman for the American Dental Association. "My reputation is my stock in trade … and we work years and years to build that reputation. To have that shattered potentially [by an Internet posting] is a concern."
Patient advocates, meanwhile, say patients have First Amendment rights to describe their experiences with physicians. "Blogs and personal Web sites are no different than talking over the back fence," said Charles Inlander, president of People's Medical Society, a patient advocacy group in Allentown, Pa. "Those who read it have to take it with whatever grain of salt you would take, just like a neighbor. It's too bad if doctors are insulted by this."
I think we all have a very negative view of 'silencing' speech, which to me always sounds like bullying. But, there is speech that needs to be held to a higher standard, and that's what this is about.
OK, I'm not a lawyer, nor do I pretend to be. However, writing about specific, identifiable people on the internet is, to me, a First Amendment right. It's also confers a responsibility to get facts right, and that's where the libel thing comes into play. (I think chatting over the fence is fine, and that's slander, and nobody really cares about that providing it doesn't make a ot of waves; when your libel about a professional with a reputation at stake shows up in a Google search, that's a whole other level).
Read the article, which except for a sexed-up title isn't badly done at all.
via Slashdot


text:
In game one, the game was scoreless until the top of the fourth inning. Biocic doubled to right field. Finnegan doubled to left field to bring home Biocic.
In the fifth inning, Josh Johnson drew a walk and then stole second. Senior Cesar Abreu hit a sacrifice bunt to advance Josh Johnson to third. Sharp singled to center field for an RBI single that brought home Josh Johnson.
The Tigers scored one run in the sixth to make the final score 2-1.
Junior Ryan Taylor took the win for the Wonder Boys after pitching 8.2 innings of work, giving up five hits and only one earned run.
In the nightcap, the Wonder Boys had four hits but had no runs scored. The Tigers scored three in the second and two in the fourth to give them the 5-0 win over Arkansas Tech.
Junior Danny Parker suffered the loss for the Wonder Boys after giving up seven hits in 3.1 innings of work.
The Wonder Boys will play at home next weekend for a three-game series against Henderson State. First pitch on Friday, April 19 is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Golden Suns top Crimson Storm
13-3 and 14-7
BETHANY, Okla. — Sophomore Whitney Robinson 4-for-6 with 9 RBIs, two homeruns, and five runs scored, while sophomore Siarra Gomez went 4-for-5 with four runs scored, two RBIs, and two homeruns as the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns (25-18, 18-12 GAC) blasted through the Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm (16-30, 8-22) defense as they collected a 13-3 and a 14-7 win Saturday afternoon at Cypert Athletic Complex.
Batting third, Robinson homered to left field followed by a homer from Gomez giving the Golden Suns a quick 2-0 lead after one inning of play.
In the top of the second, sophomore Nikki Nail singled through the left side and senior Natalie Magie doubled to right center to bring Nail home. Southern Nazarene would score their only run of the game in the bottom of the second.
Blasting into the third inning, sophomore Ashton Long homered to left center for the Golden Suns third homer of the game giving Arkansas Tech a 3-1 lead.
Going into the fourth inning, the Golden Suns scored nine runs. Long hit an RBI double to left center to score Magie and senior Amy Kilpatrick. Robinson doubled to right center to bring in Long and senior Cassady Haworth. Sophomore Shanna Davidson doubled to right center as Robinson scored. Nail singled through the left side to bring in Gomez. To end the inning for the Golden Suns, junior Ashley Keen homered to left center for an RBI triple that brought Nail and Davidson home.
In the nightcap, Davidson singled to right center scoring Robinson and Haworth to make a 2-0 lead. The Crimson Storm fought back in the first by scoring three runs to take the lead 3-2.
The Golden Suns scored six in the second inning with a single from Robinson, a double from Nail, and a double from Keen. In the fourth inning, Gomez homered to left center for her second home run of the game. The Crimson Storm matched Gomez's homer with a homer from Wiley.
Arkansas Tech held a 9-7 lead going into the seventh inning. With the bases loaded in the top of the seventh, Robinson slams a homer to left field to score four RBIs. The Golden Suns final run of the game would come from a double from Nail to score Davidson.
Sophomore Victoria Huie took the win after pitching 5.0 innings, giving up three hits and just one earned run in game one. She also took the win in game two after pitching 0.2 innings. She goes to 14-9 on the season. The Golden Suns will play at home April 19 and 20 against East Central. The double-header on Friday will start at 2 p.m.


text:
Notice is hereby given to all landowners within Heritage Park Community Development District (the "District") for lands generally described as comprising a parcel of land approximately 392 acres, generally located in St. Johns County, Florida, north of State Road 16, and east of Interstate 95, advising that a meeting of landowners will be held for the purpose of electing five supervisors. DATE: Monday, April 12, 2004 TIME: 9:00 a.m. PLACE: St. Augustine City Hall City Commission Chambers, First Floor, West Wing 75 King Street, St. Augustine, Florida 32084 Each landowner may vote in person or by written proxy. Proxy forms may be obtained upon request at the office of the District Manager, c/o Rizzetta & Company, 3434 Colwell Avenue, Suite 200, Tampa, Florida 33614. At said meeting each landowner or his proxy shall be entitled to cast one vote per acre of land owned by him and located within the District for each person to be elected. A fraction of an acre shall be treated as one acre. Immediately following the landowners meeting there will be convened a regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors for the purpose of considering certain organizational matters of the Board to include election of certain District officers, and other such business which may properly come before the Board. The meeting is open to the public and will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Florida Law for Community Development Districts. A copy of the agenda for this meeting may be obtained from Rizzetta & Company, 3434 Colwell Avenue, Suite 200, Tampa, Florida 33614. There may be an occasion where one or more supervisors will participate by telephone. At the above location there will be present a speaker telephone so that any interested person can attend the meeting at the above location and be fully informed of the discussions taking place either in person or by telephone communication. Pursuant to provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this hearing is asked to contact the District Office at (813) 933-5571, at least 48 hours before the hearing. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the Florida Relay Service at (800) 955-8770 for aid in contacting the District Office. A person who decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at the meeting is advised that person will need a record of the proceedings and that accordingly, the person may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. Pete Williams District Manager L606-4 Mar 15, 22, 2004
Posted from 15-Mar-04 to 22-Mar-04
© 2018. All Rights Reserved. Contact Us


text:
A's having fun at press conferences
Everyone getting into the act and enjoying Japan
By Mychael Urban / MLB.com
There, Bowen got a feel for the unfamiliar scene that a handful of his teammates got to experience a few days earlier at a "presser" that kicked off Opening Series Japan 2008.
"It was a little awkward," Bowen said Sunday before the A's faced the Hanshin Tigers in another exhibition game. "Being respectful and polite is so important here, and I didn't want to mess anything up. I was just kind of feeling my way around.
"I have a tendency to ramble on and on when you get me going, so I had to be real careful. The hardest part is waiting for the interpreter to finish doing her thing."
Second baseman Mark Ellis found that out the hard way during the introductory press conference, at which he appeared with closer Huston Street, shortstop Bobby Crosby and catcher Kurt Suzuki.
When a question is posed first in English, it must be translated into Japanese before the American player is expected to answer. Not easy, Ellis said.
"I interrupted her twice," he said with a laugh. "I felt bad."
Ellis felt bad because, as Bowen noted, being polite is paramount here, a way of life.
"The people are just so friendly, so respectful," Ellis said. "We could learn a lot from them as far as how to treat each other."
Protocol aside, there's been plenty of room for laughs and smiles at the press conferences. Crosby, in particular, seemed to get a kick out of watching his teammates, when a question was being posed to them in Japanese, lock in on the questioner and nod their heads as though they understood exactly what was being said.
He also had some fun at Ellis' expense while one of Ellis' answers was being translated into Japanese.
"I leaned over and said, 'I think she's misquoting you, dude,'" Crosby said, smiling and nodding in Ellis' direction in the home clubhouse Sunday morning. "We had a great time, though. It's part of the whole experience of being over here. That's what makes it so fun."
A's general manager Billy Beane certainly appeared to enjoy himself when he took the stage alongside owner Lew Wolff and manager Bob Geren earlier in the week. Like Ellis, he nodded attentively at a Japanese reporter while being asked a question in Japanese, and when the reporter was finished, Beane eagerly leaned into the microphone and made eye contact with the translator before she could start.
"Do you want me to answer that in English or in Japanese?" Beane asked.
Later in the press conference, when a reporter wondered if the A's had a "new strategy" to counter what a reporter suggested was something of a "Moneyball" copycat thing going on in big league ball, Beane broke into a sly smile.
"We do," he said earnestly, "but I'd have to tell you about it in private. I can't say it up here."
Even Wolff got into the act. After talking seriously about the business opportunities that the trip to Japan represents and the need to continue exploring international talent pools, he suggested that there was another motive for opening the season against the Red Sox in Japan.
"Tickets are so hard to get to the Red Sox games back home; that's why we came here." Wolff cracked.
To which Beane countered, "I wish you'd have left Boston at home and brought someone else [for the A's to play]. It would have been a much more fun series for us."
Mychael Urban is a national writer for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
Misty Forest
Tomorrow I'll fly to Kamchatka. We'll spend there one month together with my workmate Andrew. Hope it'll be interesting trip and of course I'll plan to make some great landscape images. Volcanoes and bears are waiting for me. Before my departure I want to show you one of may favourite images from Crimea.
January 2010, Demergi Mountain, Crimea, Ukraine.


text:
So I'm looking for suggestions for a good home network firewall/router/proxy device. What I really need/want is good filtering rules so that I can filter IP/port combinations, port ranges, devices, protocols, pretty much as much filtering control as I can get, as well as the standard NAT and in bound port forwarding options. A reasonable amount of URL filtering would be good as well. Caching is not a requirement. The proxy must allow for filtering as well.
I have a 13 year old daughter who absolutely loves her Google Voice account, which her dad made the mistake of getting her. There was actually good intent behind it as I will not get her a mobile phone right now as she has no need, but the ability to text family and friends is useful and she has an Android tablet. Not really worried about her going places on the web that she shouldn't, she just can't seem to stop texting and chatting when she is supposed to be doing other stuff, like homework.
So, the ability to block Google Voice and Google Talk traffic without blocking gmail or google search is a good example. I need to be able to block both the web interface and app traffic for both. These are the current examples, but I'm sure I can come up with others.
So, suggestions for a device? I'm willing to pay a fairly significant amount for a good device, especially if it supports a good DHCP server and VPN as well. I know I can do it with a Linux box, but honestly I spend enough time doing that kind of stuff for my day job. I'm happy to pay the money to save my time, assuming the appliance I buy has a reasonable interface and features.
Thanks for the suggestions.
PS: 19" rack mount form factor is a good bonus.


text:
Immigration and Metropolitan Residential Segregation (ICPSR 34460)
Principal Investigator(s): Iceland, John D., Pennsylvania State University. Sociology Department
It is commonly thought that differences in residential patterns across social and ethnic groups reflect social divisions and distance. The goal of this project was to use restricted data from the 1990 and 2000 censuses to document patterns of residential segregation among native- and foreign-born people of various racial and ethnic groups, and examine the interplay between race and nativity in producing observed patterns. In doing so, the study aimed to shed light on the aptness of the spatial assimilation model in explaining residential patterns of groups composed of many immigrants, as opposed to models that stress the overarching role of race and racial conflict in determining where people live.
Access Notes
These data are not available from DSDR. Users should consult the data owners directly for details on obtaining these resources.
Study Description
This study was funded by:
- United States Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Scope of Study
Subject Terms: ethnicity, immigrants, population distribution, residential segregation
Geographic Coverage: United States
These data are not available from DSDR or ICPSR. Researchers should consult the principal investigator directly for details on obtaining access to the data and documentation:
Dr. John D. Iceland
211 Oswald Tower
Sociology Department
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802
email: email@example.com


text:
Lena Dunham Doesn't Like that Lisa Lampanelli Used the 'N-Word.' Lisa Lampanelli Doesn't Get It.
Lisa Lampanelli is almost as edgy as Miley Cyrus, so she's not backing down from using the n-word to describe her pal, Lena Dunham, who's dealing with racial issues of her own — like apparently never seeing a black person in Brooklyn.
However, to Dunham's credit, she's finally spoken out about Lampanelli's desperate attempt at relevance, and her eloquence, if late, was a little refreshing and better written than any of the hipster tripe she spits on her show.
When a writer called Dunham out for essentially pleading the Fifth following Lampanelli's calling her "n—-" publicly on Twitter, Dunham finally responded.
.@lenadunham has showed her true colors on this whole n-word debacle. Her silence speaks volumes.
— shayla writes (@ShaylaDPierce) February 22, 2013
@shayladpierce That's not a word I would EVER use. Its implications are beyond my comprehension. I was made supremely uncomfortable by it.
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) February 22, 2013
@shayladpierce Perhaps I should have addressed it, but the fact is I've learned that twitter debates breed more twitter debates.
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) February 22, 2013
@shayladpierce Don't like the idea that my silence read to you as tacit approval. It wasn't.
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) February 22, 2013
My personal criteria for engaging twitter debate: I wait until something just sits so wrong in my belly & bones that I must finally speak.
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) February 22, 2013
For her part, Lampanelli remains ignorant, idiotic and dense.
"I have not been online since Sunday night; I needed a little break after the writer awards. And I'm like, oh there is controversy, perfect," Lampanelli told The Huffington Post. "I was at the Writers Guild Awards and Lena Dunham saw me and said, 'I saw you when I was 15.' She was so sweet and I swear to you, I'm the biggest fan of 'Girls' in the world, and I just tweeted out our picture. And that's controversial; enjoy, people."
Lampanelli is clearly missing the point, the point being that it's tacky at best and discriminatory at worst for a person in a place of white privilege to use the n-word so freely. No one cared about the photo, which could be construed as offensive in itself depending on how shallow you are, but not for any socioeconomic reason.
Lampanelli tried to explain: "The N-word ending in 'er' is far different context from the word ending in 'a.' Ask any person who knows the urban dictionary, it means 'friend,'" she insisted. "And by the way, if I had put the word ending in 'er,' that would have been a very derogatory thing about Lena meaning she is less than me, and I view her as very above me. 'A' on the end means 'my friend.'"
Of course, simply saying "my friend" wouldn't garner her attention or court controversy, so she wouldn't do that.
"I've played every comedy club and every theater across the country for the last 25 years and seen a lot of audience members from different ethnic persuasions," Lampanelli added, under the false impression that it matters.
"I have been using these words since I started in comedy and guess what, people? I won't stop anytime soon, just because your ass is up on Twitter," she said, clearly attempting to be a rebel without a cause (other than publicity).
"I have always used in my act every racial slur there is for Asians, blacks, gays, and Hispanics. To me, it's acceptable if the joke is funny and if it is said in a context of no hate. It's about taking the hate out of the word."
Fair enough, but there simply was nothing funny about calling Dunham her "n—-." Maybe Lampanelli should hire her onstage joke writers to take over her Twitter account, too.


text:
Must Have For Kids
Must Haves For May
Must Haves For May
Spring is in full swing, it's time to go shopping for a few of Lil's favorite things! This month we've included a coffee table book that celebrates the beauty of babies and a wooden construction set that will keep your children entertained and give back to those in need. Since Mother's Day is upon us, we also threw something practical and preventative in the mix for mom. Check out our must haves!
organic fun dough ($30 for play set) which was invented by a preschool
from organicfundough.com
0previous images
-26more images


text:
January 7th
One of the fun things about CES is that we get to bring a good portion of the Mobile Nations team together. Being that we're out around the world, it's rare to have two of us in the same room, let alone 20. So we take that as an opportunity to do fun things, like in-person podcasts. Our first podcast came by way of Phil, Alex, Richard, and Andrew of Android Central. You can expect that at the close of each day we'll have another site's podcast up and running, giving WPCentral, iMore, and Smartwatch Fans a chance to jump onto the big fancy stage. Watch the podcast, and then let's get to the news.


text:
WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (MD) today released the following statement requesting that the Department of Justice apply a fair and non-partisan evaluation of the new Republican-drawn Texas redistricting map:
"I join my Democratic House colleagues today in condemning this arrogant attack on our constitutional and federal election processes. Republicans have become increasingly drunk with power, demonstrating little regard for the rights of the minority party in Congress, which happens to represent nearly half of the country, and resorting to any available means to expand their political power. The Texas redistricting saga is an egregious example of what has been happening around the country and in Congress.
"Each development in Texas has been more unbelievable than the last, thanks to the strong-arm tactics of Majority Leader DeLay. First Mr. DeLay tossed aside the map that was legally in place in an unprecedented move to write his own – with the sole selfish goal to increase the number of Republicans in Congress and with no regard for minority rights or what was good for the state of Texas.
"In a move reminiscent of a police state, Mr. DeLay wrongly used federal agencies and taxpayer money to chase down Democratic lawmakers who refused to present a quorum in the Texas State House. Then, Republican leaders childishly punished Democratic State Senators and their staff by imposing thousands of dollars in fines, taking away parking passes and other privileges.
"While Texas taxpayers labour under a $10 billion deficit, Mr. DeLay and Texas Republicans called special sessions that cost the state tens of millions of dollars. While Mr. DeLay declares Texas a Republican state, Texans haven't agreed with him at the ballot box. They support the common-sense Democrat they just elected and who spend their time working for Texas not playing politics.
"The Justice Department should take a good, thorough look at this illegal plan, and then toss it – because Texans should decide who represents their interests in Congress, not Mr. DeLay."