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Black Churches Need to Play Stronger Role in Fighting HIV, Activist Urges
Q+A with Victor McKamie, Executive Director of the Minority AIDS Project
What do you focus on in your own AIDS advocacy work?
The approach at Minority AIDS Project (MAP) is nonjudgmental. We focus on gaining the trust of the community, because that's very important. We get in touch with gatekeepers in the community who can take the message back, so that when we leave, they still spread the message of safer sex and self-love. We spend a lot of time on identifying community leaders.
Who are those leaders?
HIV advocacy leaders are usually from the target community. Many have some drug history, have been incarcerated or have been a commercial sex worker. These are persons who were at risk themselves and have the credibility to take the message back. There's nothing more empowering than to see an ex-sex worker go back to the community, and say, "Hey, y'know what you guys, what I was doing is unsafe, and look where that got me. I'm positive myself. Wear this condom. Wear this glove."
I'm an ex-gang member. I've been at Minority AIDS Project for 17 years, I went back to school, received my bachelor's and master's degrees, and now head this organization. Being an ex-gang member allows me to go back to the community and pass out red and blue condoms to Crips and Bloods in an effort to change behavior. Activism makes a major difference. This act of self achievement and procurement sends a strong message of empowerment to the gang population.
A significant number of our staff at MAP is HIV positive, and at one point used to be clients of the agency. People started living longer, doing better when the drug cocktails were introduced, but they needed to work. Does their experience as ex-clients help their work? Yes, it adds a positive spin because they're empowered -- they choose to disclose. That's just amazing. When you come into a session and sit down with a client, and they say, "I'm living with this virus, I'm on meds. You don't know what it's like out there trying to survive." The case manager, although sitting there in a shirt and tie says, "No, I've been positive for 17 years, I take my medications every day. I was incarcerated. I'm 13 years clean." You just can't pay for that.
What is the most critical AIDS issue facing the African- American community?
The number of new infections continues to be the most critical issue of HIV/AIDS in the African American community.
What do you think is the best way to address it?
We need to use more media outlets that African Americans actually utilize -- radio stations, television, music, fashion. We need the right people, such as hip-hop artists and black music moguls, to send the right messages.
Where is the most progress being made in combating the epidemic in the black community?
I'm starting to see some progress in faith-based institutions. Some churches are coming around, so the message is getting out.
Where is the least progress being made?
Funding sources are no longer allowing community-based organizations to test just anyone. We're moving away from routine testing and placing people again in so-called behavioral risk groups. There are people who could be infected -- and definitely are at risk -- but they may never get tested based on the screening process.
For example, a risk category called "Women at Sexual Risk" is African-American women defined as having had at least 15 sex partners in a 12-month period. Most women may not have had sex with 15 men in the last year, and if they have, they are more than likely not to admit it. So after screening, we're not able to test them.
The women may not consider themselves at risk, either. If we take a survey of the 60 or 70 African-American women registered at the agency and ask them, "In the year or two before you were diagnosed, how many sexual partners did you have?", many of them won't go past four or five. A lot of them will have one or two. When you screen them for unprotected sex, most of them consider themselves to be in a monogamous relationship.
What are the biggest obstacles you encounter?
It's funding. There have been a lot of budget cuts from all levels of government. Our own budgets were cut in half in the last year. I had to lay off 31 people over the last year and a half. Meanwhile, the rates of infection are increasing, the demand for services has increased. We're expected to do more with less money. That's a major challenge. Being able to keep the MAP staff is hard, because I can't give raises, can't always make payroll on time and we cannot provide the level of service that is demanded by the need.
The least support is at the federal level. However, they do give to local government, which then gives to us. It's not like they've taken it all away and said, "We're not going to give" -- they've just taken it and said, "We can no longer give directly to you."
From a programmatic standpoint, the challenge of the outreach workers is trying to adhere to the new contracts. It's getting extremely bureaucratic. Everything has to be based on some scientific model. It's challenging for the staff to do all of the things the contracts require and also deliver effective services.
Our HIV testing program is fee-for-service, which is based on behavioral risk groups (BRGs) and HIV positive test results. However, we work with a very challenging population that is not always willing to take an HIV test and we therefore have to offer them incentives, such as, t-shirts or movie/theater tickets to get them to test.
In my opinion, the government is responsible for providing adequate funding to provide for services that are difficult to charge a fee, or in instances where people cannot afford to pay and the private sector is not willing to support because they can't make money. Fee for service programs do not always work for government programs or community-based organizations. As a community, everyone should be encouraging routine HIV screening and testing instead of making HIV testing more difficult.
Where do you find the most support?
I have found some support working with other community-based organizations, because we're all going through the same struggles. Just a few months ago, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) donated $50,000 to MAP.
I have also received support from the private sector, Elizabeth Taylor and her foundation [Elizabet Taylor AIDS Foundation] has provided us with a $20,000 grant. Thelma Houston won $20,000 on a television show and donated it to MAP. Mary J. Blige provided us with $15,000, and Ice Cube gave us a $10,000 check two weeks ago. We get most of our unrestricted dollars from entertainment individuals who are willing to give you a check and say, "Do what you need to do to get the job done." That's a big help and keeps us afloat.
Our major funding sources are derived from local governing bodies such as the city and county of Los Angeles. They give us about 65 percent of our budget. They're there for us with government dollars, but their funding comes with many restrictions, and their funding does not cover 100% of the program operations or services. In order to provide the services required through local government contracts we must generate 15 to 30% of the cost of operating those programs. That is a real challenge.
What are the top myths about HIV you encounter in the African-American community?
Top myths include "It doesn't feel good with a condom on." "I'm too large for that." "Black men are so large, they can't fit the condom." "You don't look gay, you look clean." "You're not thin, therefore you must be OK." Another major myth -- not just in the African-American community, but in society in general -- is that people in church are not having sex, not fornicating. "That everyone is looking for their perfect mate to get married." "That all men are primarily straight" -- that's been proven otherwise.
Another myth is that we believe we can empower our African-American women to fight back and tell their men, "You're going to wear a condom." I think we're setting them up for failure. I can talk to them all day long about making their men wear the condom, and putting them out if they don't. But what if he's the sole provider. What happens when he says, "I'm outta here," and leaves, and the women want and or need their support?
What is the best way to counter these myths?
One of the best ways to counter these myths is to not allow people to endorse myths as realities. A lot of myths are really old and have not been proven otherwise. When HIV first hit the television screens, we saw a lot of Caucasian folks that were HIV positive, like Liberace. When the face of AIDS changed, we didn't see black faces to reflect that. So the assumption is still that it's a white, gay disease. African Americans just backed away. Often times people from the African American community say to us, Yes, we see Magic Johnson, but he has money -- of course he can get the best doctor. "And it's probably a hoax anyway." We hear it all the time: "Magic's not positive. He's just doing that to make money."
Another major challenge is having everyone on the same page. There are many people who believe there's a cure. That may come true, but people are holding on to that hope, and are not dealing with the true issues we have in the community around safer sex, self-love and low self-esteem.
In what ways is the HIV epidemic different in the black community than in other communities?
In the black community, often times HIV is closely associated with being gay. It is often difficult to get the community to focus on the challenges of HIV instead of a person's sexuality. However, in the white community there appears to be a lot more support, acceptance and understanding of being gay. The white community seems to be able to get together and fight for a cause in which they believe. The challenges for an HIV positive white client are quite different. Many are educated, and employed, leaving them just to deal with their HIV status. They think, "I'm HIV positive, now I have to change my diet, take care of myself, go shopping, and eat differently." There may be only a slight change in their life.
For an African American client at MAP, HIV is just one more problem added to the 15 already on their plate. They think, "I was already kicked out of my home, already on drugs. My mom doesn't love me, my dad hates that I'm gay, the church kicked me out." Therefore, they may resort to the mindset of "Put it on the back burner, I don't want to deal with it."
When you see a client who comes into MAP, his service plan is going to be quite different from an APLA [AIDS Project Los Angeles] client. A MAP client is going to need a more comprehensive and culturally competent case management system. Some clients can't read or write or don't have job skills. There are some significant and different challenges to African Americans.
Do you think activism is an effective way to fight the epidemic?
Absolutely, activism is very important. Year after year, there continues to be improvement. It's the squeaky-wheel syndrome. There're not enough resources to go around, and the more active and involved you are, the more likely you are to be funded. Even with the rates of infection so high in among African Americans now, a lot of resources are going for gay, white men. But activism and conversations with the right people make the monies go in different areas. In organizations like MAP, we don't have a lot of activism -- we don't have a marketing department, PR. That's my job, to do all 10 of those things, plus manage the programs. It's challenging.
Do you think too much has been made of the "down low"?
Way too much! It complicated things. I met J.L. King who went on Oprah and said he was on the down low. He did some work with us, right in the 'hood. The down low brought a lot of distraction to a very serious topic -- talking about who this individual is sleeping with, what he's doing in his bed. We got so unfocused in terms of the transmission of HIV. It doesn't matter whether you're gay or straight; it's about protecting yourself. We also put a lot of blame on individuals who may not be at fault for the spread of HIV.
What can be done to help African Americans get tested earlier and therefore get better treatment results?
We need celebrities -- Mary J. Blige, Ice Cube, Jamie Foxx, Oprah, whoever's hot -- to say, "Hey, I'm getting tested now. Everyone get tested!" They can do that on June 27th, National HIV Testing Day, and as often before and after that date as they can. People listen to celebrities.
In addition, there's going to have to be some type of incentive or stipend to test people. We have to understand that many people in urban areas such as South Los Angeles, are not motivated. It may be more cost-effective to give people a T-shirt or a ticket to a movie theater [to get them to go for HIV testing] than to find out that a person is diagnosed with HIV and get them into care at $20,000 a year, or in a hospice which costs even more.
As for getting better results from treatment, individuals need to be more vocal. That's a cultural thing. African Americans, whether educated or not, tend not to question the doctors, and take everything they say or do as gospel. It's disempowering. Being more involved, getting more educated, and becoming involved with community-based organizations that encourage empowerment, will help with receiving better results from treatment. The individual needs to be told, "This is the type of thing you need to look for," because they don't know what types of questions to ask -- they're not familiar with their bodies and HIV.
What are your hopes and fears for the next generation of African Americans as they face the risks of HIV?
My hope is a cure for HIV and AIDS, an eradication of AIDS and a vaccine. I want to work in this fight until I no longer have a job due to the eradication of HIV/AIDS.
My fear is that we're wiped out as a community, which is possible with the small population we have. A third will be in jail, a third will be dead, and the other third will need a job. There will not be much left after that.
Can you recommend one action everyone can take to end the epidemic?
A combination action: get educated, get involved. Celibacy's not going to work, so let's have condoms. Have people make a commitment to wear a condom for the rest of their lives and encourage their family, friends and love ones to do the same.
About Victor McKamie
McKamie is the executive director of the Minority AIDS Project (MAP) in Los Angeles. Founded in 1985 by Archbishop Carl Bean and his Unity Fellowship of Christ Church (UFC), MAP provides a wide range of HIV services to the city's African-American and Latino communities. These include HIV education, condom distribution, syringe swaps, HIV testing, treatment adherence and other support groups for people with HIV, as well as help with detox and rehab, emergency housing, food and transportation. McKamie was once a juvenile gang member serving a life sentence. Released from prison in his early 20s in 1989, he immediately trained as a drug counselor and ended up at MAP, where he has been ever since. In the mid-90s, with his street cred and courage, McKamie single-handedly developed one of the nation's most innovative HIV prevention outreach programs to the Bloods and the Crips in South Central L.A., handing out condoms in each gang's colors along with an HIV-risk rap. Under McKamie, MAP now operates in three L.A. neighborhoods, but recent HIV funding cuts are threatening MAP's extensive grass-roots services -- a subject about which McKamie has become very outspoken.


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Farmingdale, N.Y. - After winning the Skyline Conference Championship in the Fall of 2006, the Farmingdale State men's golf team is set to begin the NCAA Tournament. The 2007 NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championships will be held May 15-18, 2007 at Prairie View Golf Club & Hawthorns Golf & Country Club. Thirty-five teams and five individuals from across the country will compete for a national championship.
The Rams will be led by the Skyline Individual Champion, junior Kyle Havas (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst), who led his team to their first-ever Conference Championship with a two-day score of 154 at the Bethpage State Park's Red Course. He became the second Farmingdale player to win the individual title in as many years.
Senior Ryan Williams (Westbury, N.Y./Clarke) finished 5th individually at the Skyline Championships with a 161. He tied the school record in the fall when he shot a 1-under par 70 at St. George's Country Club. Williams is also a SUNY Chancellor's Scholar-Athlete award winner this year, a Management Technology major who will graduate this Sunday, May 20th with a 3.70 GPA.
Sophomore Andrew Schwartz (Commack, N.Y./Commack) has been playing well this Spring. After finishing 16th at the Skyline Championship, Schwartz led the team with a fourth place finish on April 20th in the Farmingdale Invitational, where he posted rounds of 75 and 77, helping his team to a second place finish overall.
Also representing Farmingdale at the Tournament will be sophomore Tim Pellegrino (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh), the third place individual finisher at the Skyline Championships with a 159, sophomore Alec Salvitti (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford), who tied for 10th place in the Championship, and freshman Larry Hipp (Bethpage, N.Y./Bethpage).
To keep track of the Rams at the Championship, visit the host website at http://hccvb.org, or the NCAA page for up-to-date results as they become available HERE.

subset: commoncrawl


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Israeli Now Taps All US telephones, faxes
-from various sources-
"It turns out that Israel has had a potential wiretap on every phone in America for years, along with the ability to monitor and record who any person is calling, anywhere in America; information of great value even if one does not listen to the calls themselves. Amdocs, Inc. the company which sub contracts billing and directory services for phone companies around the world, including 90 percent of American phone companies, is owned by Israeli interests. Yet another company, Comverse Infosys, is suspected of having built a "back door" into the equipment permanently installed into the phone system that allows instant eavesdropping by law enforcement agencies on any phone in America. This includes yours." -From JMP Aurelius whatreallyhappened.com January 17, 2006
It has been clearly established that during the term of President George H.W. Bush, (once head of the CIA and very friendly towards Israel) the Israeli Mossad, or foreign intelligence agency, had gained permission to send approximately 50 of their agents to the United States in order to "observe possible Arab terrorist groups" that might be operating in the relative safety of that country. These Mossad agents worked through the various Israeli diplomatic establishments as well as the Israeli Trade Commission office in New York and such Jewish organizations as the Anti Defamation League.
These agents, who were known to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, were supposed to merely observe possible Arab terrorist groups and were required to pass on any information they discovered on suspect Arab individuals and groups to the FBI. Highly confidential reports indicate that the Mossad agents did not do so and further, were strongly suspected of using their Presidential mandate to carry out very extensive espionage against the United States.
Top secret military hardware was a well-known target and Mossad agents had a very large stable of informants in various sensitive military and governmental agencies, the great bulk of whom were Jewish and who gladly supplied information to the Mossad as what they conceived was their "sacred duty" to the state of Israel.
The document concludes: "Israel possesses the resources and technical capability to achieve its collection objectives."
A spokesman for the Israeli embassy in Washington issued a routine denial saying that any suggestion that Israelis are spying in or on the U.S. is "simply not true."
Following the September 11 attacks there were approximately 60 Israelis who had been detained in connection with the Sept. 11 terrorism investigation. U.S. investigators now strongly suspect that some of these Israelis had infiltrated and were spying on Arabs in this country, and probably turned up information on the planned terrorist attacks in September of 2001 that was not passed on to American authorities..
A very important issue concerns an Israeli-based private communications company, for whom a half-dozen of the 60 detained suspects worked. American investigators fear information generated by this firm may have fallen into the wrong hands and had the effect of impeded the Sept. 11 terror inquiry..
American terrorist investigators fear certain suspects in the Sept. 11 attacks may have managed to stay ahead of them, by knowing who and when investigators are calling on the telephone. This is accomplished by obtaining and analyzing data that is generated every time someone in the U.S. makes a telephone call.
Here is how the system works. Most directory assistance calls, and virtually all call records and billing inside the U.S. are done for the telephone companies by Amdocs Ltd., an Israeli-based private telecommunications company.
Amdocs has contracts with the 25 biggest telephone companies in America, and even more worldwide. The White House and other secure government phone lines are protected, but it is virtually impossible for any American to make a call on any American phone without generating an Amdocs record of it.
In recent years, the FBI and other government agencies have investigated Amdocs more than once. The firm has repeatedly and adamantly denied any security breaches or wrongdoing. In 1999, the super secret National Security Agency, headquartered in Ft. George Meade in northern Maryland, issued what is called a Top Secret Sensitive Compartmentalized Information report, TS/SCI, warning that records of calls in the United States were getting into foreign hands – in Israel, in particular.
Investigators do not believe such calls are being listened to, but the data about who is calling whom and when is extremely valuable in itself. An internal Amdocs memo to senior company executives suggests just how Amdocs generated call records could be used. "Widespread data mining techniques and algorithms...combining both the properties of the customer (e.g., credit rating) and properties of the specific 'behavior….'" Specific behavior, such as who the targeted customers are calling.
The Amdocs memo says the system should be publically advertised as "helping to prevent telephone fraud." However, U.S. counterintelligence analysts say it could, and unquestionably was, also be used to spy via the records of the American telephone system. The N.S.A has held numerous classified conferences to warn the F.B.I. and C.I.A. how Amdocs records could be used.
At one classified NSA briefing, a diagram by the Argonne National Laboratory was used to show that if phone records are not completely secure, major security breaches are more than possible.
Another NSA briefing document said, "It has become increasingly apparent that systems and networks are vulnerable…Such crimes always involve unauthorized persons, or persons who exceed their authorization...citing on exploitable vulnerabilities."
Those vulnerabilities are growing, because according to another briefing, the U.S. relies too much on foreign companies like Amdocs for high-tech equipment and software. "Many factors have led to increased dependence on code developed overseas.... We buy rather than train or develop solutions."
U.S. intelligence does not officially believe the Israeli government is involved in a misuse of information, and Amdocs insists that its data is secure. What U.S. government officials are worried about, however, is the possibility that Amdocs data could get into the wrong hands, particularly organized crime. And that would not be the first time that such a thing has happened.
In a 1997 drug trafficking case in Los Angeles, telephone information, specifically of the type that Amdocs collects, was used to "completely compromise the communications of the FBI, the Secret Service, the DEA and the LAPD.
There has been considerable but very quiet concern about the 60 Israelis who were detained in the anti-terror investigation, and the suspicion that some investigators have that they may have picked up information on the 9/11 attacks ahead of time and not passed it on.
There exists a classified Justice Department report stating that the Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, did indeed send representatives to the U.S. to warn, just before 9/11, that a major terrorist attack was imminent. How does that leave room for the lack of a warning?
What investigators have stated is that that warning from the Mossad was nonspecific and extremely vague and general, and they believe that it may have had something to do with the Israeli desire to protect what are called "sources and methods" in the intelligence community while at the same time attempting to convince American authorities that they were being cooperative and friendly. There is very substantive and documented evidence that those sources and methods were, and still are, taking place in the United States.
The question arose in the Select Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill, chaired by former CIA agent, and subsequently DCI, Porter Goss. Concern was expressed concerning this Mossad spying issue but nothing came of this and the matter was very quickly, and quietly, shelved
An official listing of known Mossad agents and a much larger one listing Mossad informants in the United States is perhaps the best indicator of the degree and extent that this official Israeli organ has penetrated American security, business and military organizations. Its publication would certainly create terrible havoc and would very adversely impact on American/Israeli diplomatic and military relations.
Reports indicate that such established agencies as the Anti Defamation League, several identified national newspapers and one major television network also harbor and assist a significant number of active Mossad agents engaged in espionage activities.
The concern about telephone security extends to another company, founded in Israel, that provides the technology used by the U.S. government for electronic eavesdropping. The company is Comverse Infosys, a subsidiary of an Israeli-run private telecommunications firm, with offices throughout the U.S. It provides wiretapping equipment for law enforcement. Investigative reports also indicate that these offices have been and are being used as bases for intelligence operations directed against the United States via the Mossad agents working in this country.
Here is the method that foreign wiretapping works in the U.S.
Every time a call is made in America, it passes through the nation's elaborate network of switchers and routers run by the phone companies. Custom computers and software, made by companies like Comverse, are tied into that network to intercept, record and store the wiretapped calls, and at the same time transmit them to investigators.
The manufacturers have continuing access to the computers so they can service them and keep them free of technical errors. This process was authorized by the 1994 Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, or CALEA. Senior government officials have reluctantly acknowledged that while CALEA made officially authorized, and unauthorized, wiretapping much easier for Federal authorities, it has led to a system that is seriously vulnerable to compromise, and may have undermined the whole wiretapping system.
Ex-Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller were both warned on October 18, 2001 in a hand-delivered letter from 15 local, state and federal law enforcement officials, who complained that "law enforcement's current electronic surveillance capabilities are less effective today than they were at the time CALEA was enacted."
Congress insists the equipment it permits to be installed is secure. But the complaint about this system is that the wiretap computer programs made by Comverse have, in effect, a back door through which wiretaps themselves can be intercepted by unauthorized parties.
In this case, the unauthorized parties is the Israeli Mossad and through them, the government and commercial interests of Israel itself.
Adding to the suspicions is the fact that in Israel, Comverse works closely with the Israeli government, and under special programs and gets reimbursed for up to 50 percent of its research and development costs by the Israeli Ministry of Industry and Trade. But investigators within the DEA, INS and FBI have all privately stated that to pursue or even suggest Israeli spying through Comverse is considered career suicide because of the enormous political and political power wielded by the Israeli lobby, the extremely pro-Israeli American television and print media and many Jewish financial organizations in the United States.
And sources say that while various F.B.I. inquiries into Comverse have been conducted over the years, they have been halted before the actual equipment has ever been thoroughly tested for leaks. A 1999 F.C.C. document indicates several government agencies expressed deep concerns that too many unauthorized non-law enforcement personnel can access the wiretap system. The FBI's own small office in Chantilly, Virginia that actually oversees the CALEA wiretapping program, is among the most agitated about the Israeli ongoing threat.
It is the FBI's office in Quantico, Virginia, that has jurisdiction over awarding contracts and buying intercept equipment. And for years, they have awarded the majority of the business to Comverse. A handful of former U.S. law enforcement officials involved in awarding Comverse lucrative U.S. government contracts over the years now work for the Israeli-based company.
Numerous sources say some of those individuals were asked to leave government service under what knowledgeable sources call "troublesome circumstances" that still remain under administrative review within the Justice Department.
And what troubles investigators the most, particularly in New York City, in the counter terrorism investigation of the World Trade Center attack, is that in a number of cases, suspects they had sought to wiretap and survey immediately changed their telecommunications processes. This began as soon as those supposedly secret wiretaps went into place
There are growing and very serious concerns in a very significant number of top-level American intelligence and counterintelligence. Many of these agencies have begun compiling evidence, and instigating a very highly classified investigation, into the very strong probability that the Israeli government is directly involved in this matter and has been from the outset.
Speaking confidentially, top U.S. intelligence agencies indicate that "the last thing needed is another Pollard scandal."
Following the 9/11 attacks, Federal officials have arrested or detained nearly 200 Israeli citizens suspected of belonging to an "organized intelligence-gathering operation." The Bush administration has deported most of those arrested after Sept. 11, although some are in custody under the new anti-terrorism law. Some of these detainees are being investigated for their possible penetration of known Arab terrorist groups located in the United States, Canada and Europe and through this, having gained specific knowledge of the time and location of the September 11 attacks.
It has been established that an Israeli firm generated billing data that could be used for intelligence purpose, and a recent Justice Department report describes concerns that the federal government's own wiretapping system may be vulnerable.
In Los Angeles, in 1997, a major local, state and federal drug investigation suddenly collapsed. The suspects: Israeli organized crime organizations, composed mostly of Russian Jews, with ongoing operations in New York, Miami, Las Vegas, Canada, Israel and Egypt.
The allegations: cocaine and ecstasy trafficking, and sophisticated white-collar credit card and computer fraud. . A DEA report under date of December 18 stated that there existed serious security breaches in DEA telecommunications by unauthorized "foreign nationals" -- and cites an Israeli-owned firm with which the DEA contracted for wiretap equipment .
The problem: according to classified law enforcement documents, is that the Israeli-based gangsters had the Federal and State law enforcement beepers, cell phones, even home phones under constant surveillance. Some identified Israeli gangsters who did get caught, readily admitted to having hundreds of confidential law enforcement telephone and beeper numbers and had been using them to avoid arrest.
An official LAPD intelligence report states:
"This compromised law enforcement communications between LAPD detectives and other assigned law enforcement officers working various aspects of the case. The Israeli-based criminal organization discovered communications between organized crime intelligence division detectives, the FBI and the Secret Service."
Shock spread from the DEA to the FBI in Washington, and then the CIA. An investigation of the problem, according to law enforcement documents, concluded, "The (criminal) organization has apparent extensive access to database systems used to identify pertinent personal and biographical information."
When investigators tried to find out where the information might have come from, they looked at Amdocs, a publicly traded firm based in Israel. Amdocs generates billing data for virtually every call in America, and they do credit checks. The company denies any leaks, but investigators still fear that the firm's data is getting into the wrong hands.
When investigators checked their own wiretapping system for leaks, they grew concerned about potential vulnerabilities in the computers that intercept, record and store the wiretapped calls. A main contractor is Comverse Infosys, which works closely with the Israeli government, and under a special grant program, is reimbursed for up to 50 percent of its research and development costs by Israel's Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Asked about another sprawling investigation and the detention of 60 Israeli since Sept. 11, the Bush administration treated the questions with frightened circumspection.
No information considered "injurious" to Israel is ever discussed, or released to the public, by the current Administration
Source: Voice of the White House
The Story That Will Not Go Away
Labels: faxes, Israeli Now Taps All US telephones


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MASS is an instrument to measure the vertical distribution of turbulence in terrestrial atmosphere by analysing the scintillation (twinkling) of bright stars.
When stellar light passes through a turbulent layer and propagates down, its intensity fluctuates. Spatial scale of these variations depends on the distance to the layer. This dependence is used to separate the contributions from different layers by means of four concentric-ring apertures that work as a matched spatial filter. Turbulence profile is derived from the statistical processing of the series of photon counts with 1 ms sampling.
Last modified: March 25, 2008 A. Tokovinin (atokovinin-AT-ctio.noao.edu)


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A Satellite's-Eye View on Mobile Payments
Sep 17, 2013 5:00 AM PT
Turn-by-turn directions have become a common technological enhancement to the automotive world thanks to a set of satellites dedicated to the task.
To date, these radio positioning signals have been supplied to consumers primarily by the U.S. military through a satellite constellation called "GPS," or Global Positioning System. Essentially, receivers on the ground -- or in cars -- interpret the signals and tell you roughly where you are.
Big changes are in the air, however, as a result of new, more accurate systems on the way. One example: geofencing, a highly targeted form of tight, perimeter-based locating.
Meet Galileo
A form of geofencing using the U.S. GPS is already used to monitor stolen vehicles, trucks and delivery drivers, among other things.
GPS isn't particularly accurate, though. With more accuracy, geofencing could be used to create a zone around a store or school, for example -- or even a particular vending machine, in the world of commercial applications.
One of the new systems offering fresh potential in this area is Europe's upcoming Global Satellite Navigation System, or GNSS, known as Galileo.
Early Success
Galileo is similar to the United States' GPS -- the makers of which, incidentally, are also promising to bring a more accurate system to market down the road -- and the Russian GLONASS constellations as well.
Galileo is scheduled to reach full 30-satellite capacity by the end of this decade, assuming the development money doesn't run out before then.
The good news is that tests completed in March with the four currently orbiting Galileo satellites succeeded in determining a ground location. So, the system does appear to work -- good thing, too, since some estimates place Galileo's costs at 5.4 billion euros (roughly US$7.23 billion) by the time it's finished.
'Global Applications'
Where Galileo gets particularly interesting for us in the e-commerce world is that, buried deep in the European Space Agency's promotional descriptions are some telling statements. For example, Galileo will offer a commercial service that will "allow global high-end and innovative applications" with accuracy down to a few centimeters.
For comparison, GPS maker Garmin says its latest GPS receivers are accurate to within 3 to 5 meters.
Second, despite being a government project, Galileo will be under civilian control -- not government control the way GPS is. It will be fully open to commercial applications.
Then, too, there's the authentication feature Galileo will include -- an accurately timed, trusted location factor.
The Galileo Commercial Service demonstrator will begin its proof of concept in 2014, with early service reckoned to start in 2016.
Sensitive Transactions Become Possible
Why do we care about all this? Simple: because of Geofencing.
Geofencing is currently used in mobile e-commerce to deliver ads and promotions based on a geographical region of interest. The GPS is used to define proximity so that an advertiser can know when you're in the area.
Now add Galileo's authentication to this mix, plus the microlocations obtainable with Galileo, and you're in a different ballpark -- almost literally. Sensitive transactions become possible, along with tracking to the millimeter -- when you enter a building, go to the zoo or choose a concert seat. Turnstiles and the cost involved become redundant, for example.
Vast amounts of valuable marketing data could conceivably also be gained by tracking user movements down to the centimeter.
Current location-based access control and payments solutions that use a GPS signal are authenticated through proprietary algorithms, GNSS expert Monica Pesce, who is associate partner at Valdani Vicari & Associati, told the E-Commerce Times.
Improved Security
By virtue of its ability to enable transaction security and access control improvements, in fact, Galileo's authentication feature will ultimately be perceived by industries such as banking to be a source of added value, Pesce predicts.
"For example, GNSS-based positioning and accurate timing could be integrated in the encryption algorithms to improve the security of the payment process," she explained.
Location-based billing using existing GPS is already in use in limited areas including toll-road billing, and it's being considered for parking as well. However, one of the big problems has been the availability of equipment that's small enough and power-friendly enough to be practical.
The technology on the ground -- the device in your pocket, in other words -- is a limiting factor. If you've ever tried to use your smartphone's GPS chip for more than a few hours, you'll know it kills the battery, even with the latest phones. Current vehicle geofencing trackers, meanwhile, are large, permanently mounted boxes.
New chips will provide portability.
'This Previously Wasn't Possible'
Broadcom, for example, recently introduced a battery-saving GNSS smartphone location chip with Geofence capabilities.
The company's BCM47521 chip lets an application receive an alert when a user enters or exits a virtual perimeter, and uses the current GPS, GLONASS, QZSS and SBAS constellations -- all at the same time.
"What is unique about Broadcom's technology is that it's able to monitor the user's location as a background task, consuming less power," Susan Vander May, a spokesperson for Broadcom's Mobile and Wireless Group told the E-Commerce Times.
"This previously wasn't possible, as the process of continually monitoring for a geofence would rapidly drain a mobile device's battery," she added.
Near Field Communications radio standards can be used for the secure payment element, Vander May explained, and the more widespread adoption of NFC for mobile payments will also generally help drive adoption of location-based payments.
"Geofencing creates the opportunities for new business models, allowing the use of mobile tools and services to not only interact with loyal customers but also reach potentially new customers when they come into a geographic proximity," she explained. "So it does open the doors to some interesting new applications."
'Security and Privacy Will Be Crucial'
Qualcomm's networking and connectivity subsidiary Qualcomm Atheros is also working on positioning. Its IZat location platform is geared towards precise indoor positioning for public places and provides 3- to 5-meter positioning inside.
GNSS will help enable location-based payments, but it's not everything, Leslie Presutti, senior director of product management at Qualcomm Atheros, told the E-Commerce Times.
"There will certainly be other augmentation technologies that will help to increase the propagation of this in the market," Presutti explained. "Security and privacy will also be crucial to acceptance."
Indeed, "today, the tested 'indoor' services need to rely on antennas installed outside the target buildings to reproduce the GNSS signal," Pesce noted. "This requirement causes additional costs, challenging the economic viability of GNSS-based positioning as a means to reinforce the security of access and transactions."


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Anyone who knows me knows I adamantly oppose government interference in the marketplace. I believe government should be restricted in both power and scope whenever possible.
However, I'm not nearly as dogmatic as I used to be where a national animal ID system is concerned. Yes, I understand the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) position that ID should be voluntary, but NCBA also is keenly aware of the drivers in the marketplace, and what our customers are demanding regarding traceability. What they're demanding is simply 100%.
Can you trace an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease if only 90% of livestock are in the system? Will consumers be satisfied knowing the farm of origin is documented on only 75% of U.S. calves? Will the global community be satisfied with age verification that covers just 33% of U.S. cows, or 25% of all cattle movements? And then only if the U.S. is given 6-8 weeks to conduct an investigation?
Of course not. That's why the government will demand it as an essential tool in protecting the U.S. cow herd and consumer safety. Our customers -- consumers, restaurants and grocery stores -- are demanding it, and it's quickly becoming a cost of participating in the global beef market.
A voluntary program with 100% participation sounds to me strikingly like mandatory national ID. The real issues are if the system will be industry driven, and the data protected in private hands; and those hurdles have been cleared. USDA, recognizing it couldn't protect the data, and that private industry could do it more efficiently, more securely, and with the ability to add value creation along with it, has stepped aside.
If free enterprise works, consumers are demanding it, and our industry has the ability to do it, why are we spinning our wheels?
The most progressive cow-calf producers already have embraced national ID and, at the least, are source and age verifying their products. Breed associations, private companies and state cattlemen's groups all have producer-level programs, and the national entity has been created.
Why we seem to be stuck in quicksand is obvious -- we haven't had to move. USDA (www.usda.gov/nais) has set implementation target dates in 2008 and 2009 and, like a kid waiting until the last minute to do his chores, many in the industry are on hold, and at tremendous risk to themselves.
Thankfully, the invisible hand of the marketplace is already moving -- McDonald's is paying premiums, and Wal-Mart is making demands. And, with the impending reopening of the Japan market, we're likely to see premiums equaling those producers enjoyed last fall for source- and age-verified cattle.
USDA target dates for implementation may be two years off, but the economic incentive for cow-calf producers is clear -- they need to be compliant by the next time they market their calves.
The system will never be perfect, but it doesn't have to be. Canada has already concluded the investigation of its latest BSE case, which occurred weeks before the U.S. case in Alabama. Meanwhile, the U.S. investigation finally closed with the admission we couldn't trace the animal.
Put yourself in the position of Korea, Japan or even Wal-Mart, and tell me which product gives you more confidence? The time to move forward was yesterday. -- Troy Marshall


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AUSTIN — After limiting its first two opponents to an average of 229 yards and 12.5 points per game, the rebuilt Texas defense will face a more formidable challenge this week. The Longhorns make their first road appearance of the season against UCLA, which is averaging 485 yards and 30.5 points per game a year after shredding the middle of UT's defense in the second half of a 34-12 Bruins' victory in 2010.
Here's what some of the Longhorns are saying about the state of the defense, and some of its key contributors:
Defensive coordinator Manny Diaz on freshman defensive tackle Ashton Dorsey, who was named the team's defensive MVP in his first career game last week: "The No. 1 word with him is quickness. … He provides a twitch inside that some of the other guys don't. He makes himself tough to block, and he can finish."
Diaz on freshman cornerback Quandre Diggs: "He just does what he does. If he was a stock, his chart has been on the climb ever since he's been here."
Running back Fozzy Whittaker on Diggs, generally listed at 5-foot-10: "Quandre needs a step-ladder to get into his vehicle and a phone book to drive it."
Linebacker Jordan Hicks, on the lessons of the BYU game: "We learned if we do everything right, we can stop the run."
Defensive back Adrian Phillips on the youth of UT's secondary: "We might be young, but we play big."
Cornerback Carrington Byndom on the perception that the Longhorns' young cornerbacks would be picked on early: "You definitely heard that. Coming in, we were going to be tested a little bit. I think we've handled it well, though. Each game we come in and do our job, and things are easy from there."


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The property now housing the Simonette Child Development Center used to be a "peristil," or Voodoo temple, where a well-known Voodoo priest named Sore ruled for several decades.
Sore was such a famous Voodoo priest that people from different regions in the country came to see him every day for different reasons. Pastor Monas had to face fierce opposition from Sore when he was called by God to start his ministry there 21 years ago.
Just a few months after Pastor Monas began his ministry in that area, Sore, the Voodoo priest, gave his life to Jesus. Many of his followers also turned over their lives to Christ. Before he passed away, Sore dedicated the property to the Lord for the local church and different ministries, including the school.
Currently, Simonette Christian Church is the first partner to benefit from the ministry's reconstruction program after the 2010 earthquake that destroyed the inadequate school infrastructure that existed.
Pastor Monas shares,
"I give thanks to God that among the 44 projects that were destroyed by the earthquake, Simonette is the first one that benefits from the reconstruction. I have been facing big challenges in my ministry here during the last 21 years, but I can now testify that our partnership with Compassion (10 years) has opened the door to long-term development for our community."
Before Pastor Monas' ministries started in Simonette, none of the children in that area had the chance to reach the seventh grade. The reason for that was the location of existing schools. It took some children three hours to walk to the nearest town for school.
The Simonette school has made a great difference in the community as it allows more than 300 children, 280 of them sponsored, to benefit from the best education.
"Before I started my ministry in Simonette, the whole community was under the domination of Satan. As a result, many children died before reaching grade six. Because of the gospel, the devil has now no power over the children and their parents."
Parents and children were brokenhearted when the earthquake destroyed the only school in the community. This new construction with 12 classrooms and other infrastructure brings hope again, as it will allow more children to benefit from a better education.
Ricardy is an orphan who became sponsored at 5 years old. Now, at age 15, he is in grade nine and has big dreams for the future because of our ministry's help. Ricardy tells us,
"I like Compassion very much because were it not for its assistance, I would never been able to go to school since I have no mother and no father.
"I like my school because it is near my house. During recess time, I go to my house, eat a little something, and come back to class. If it was far away from my home, my grandmother would not be able to find transportation money to send me.
"After the earthquake, we were gathering under a tent for class. Right now I am proud of my school because it is the most beautiful school in the whole community."
Pastor Monas is proud to see that his vision is being accomplished through the years. The reputation of the church is increasing every day because of the quality of our program. The academic performance of sponsored children is higher than the national average.
In the latest statistics, our students ranked an average of 74% in the grade 12 final exams compared with the 50% country average, and 86.11% in grade 13 final exams compared with the 86% country average.
Pastor Monas ultimate's goal is to see that all of the children from his community have the chance to attend school and become accomplished adults. He also would like to see the whole Simonette population turn their lives to Jesus before he passes away.


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Imaginary Frend got an extra special treat today (yes, we've been good) when Joffrey dancer April Daly (seen above) took five to answer a few questions we posed to the ballerina in anticipation of the company's upcoming program "Rising Stars," which will feature a world premiere of "Woven Dreams" by Edwaard Liang (side note: April was actually snapped in the photo above during a rehearsal of "Woven Dreams"), a world premiere of "Bells" by Yuri Possokhov and a company premiere of "Night" by Julia Adam. "Rising Stars" runs May 4-15 at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University in Chicago, please visit joffrey.org to purchase tickets or for more details about the show.
Being a Joffrey fan for many years now, I am often curious while watching such polished, passionate and graceful performances what it's really like during those long practice days and sore muscles to be willing and able to perfect something so delicately and competently that it actually looks, well, easy! Drive and determination? Talent? Life-long training? The It factor? Magic? More???
Director Robert Altman (r.i.p.) seemed to be similarly stricken and haunted by the Joffrey's magic and in 2003 made a feature film about the Joffrey called "The Company," starring Neve Campbell and James Franco (hello); and, from the vantage point of 2011, it seems like an indication, if straight-up inspiration and precursor, to the Darren Aronofsky and Natalie Portman film "Black Swan" (perhaps you've heard of it) that blew up the world of ballet into a place of drama and darkness that co-mingled with furious competition and all those beautiful lines, leaving audiences at once aghast and in awe.
Seems these days, with the Kanye West's of the world incorporating ballet dancers to juxtapose the grittiness of a song like "Runaway" (see his MTV performance from the fall below, love reposting that) as well as the popularity of a hit film like "Black Swan," the greater public is becoming a bit more fascinated by what becomes a dancer most. So, we say a sincere thank you to April for taking time out during rehearsals to provide a little insight into this world and we very much look forward to seeing her perform next week on the stage when Imaginary Frend attends "Rising Stars" on opening night!
Imaginary Frend: How do you prepare for a performance on the day of a show? Any particular routines?
April Daly: I'm very superstitious so I try not to get too wrapped up in routines! I make sure to get plenty of rest the night before a show. I usually get to the theater early so that I have time to get organized and ready for the show. I hate being rushed. After I warm up I sit on a heating pad while I do my hair and makeup to keep my body warm.
The country (and Kanye West) have gone gaga for ballet this past year, including the interest in the film "Black Swan." Seen it? If so, is any of that stuff true?
I did see "Black Swan" and enjoyed it. I enjoyed Natalie Portman's performance very much. However, most of the ballet side isn't true…I don't know any professional ballerinas who practice in their pointe shoes on their wood floors at home! They kind of went with all of the usual stereotypes. The physical therapy scene was pretty true, though. That being said, I love what the film has done for ballet. So many people are now taking a greater interest and that is wonderful!
What is it like to be a part of the Joffrey? What's your favorite part of being part of the Joffrey?
Joffrey is a great company to be involved with. A dream come true for me. I have been here 8 seasons and I see it continually growing. Especially under the direction of Ashley Wheater. One of my favorite parts would have to be our repertoire. I love that we have such a diverse rep, from Ashton's "Cinderella" and Lar Lubovitch's "Othello" to world premieres by Edwaard Liang and Yuri Possokhov. There is nothing like having a brand new work created for you.
Photo by: Herbert Migdoll
"The Company" trailer here:
Kanye West @ the VMAs:
Tags: April Daly · ballet · Black Swan · chicago · coachella · darren aronofsky · James Franco · Joffrey Ballet · kanye west · mtv video music awards · natalie portman · neve campbell · pusha T · Rising Stars · robert altman · runaway · the clipse · the companyNo Comments


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Atmospheric Sciences & Global Change
Research Highlights
January 2010
Jiwen Fan helps Demystify Pollution's Impact on Storm Clouds
Past studies showed conflicting conclusions, and now we know why
Under certain conditions, pollution can either strengthen or weaken thunderstorm clouds. Researchers solved a mystery on how pollution changes the strength of thunderstorms. Photo courtesy of UCAR/Carlyle Calvin. Enlarge Image
Results: A team of atmospheric scientists led by Dr. Jiwen Fan of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory recently figured out why seemingly conflicting data showed pollution makes storms stronger in some cases and weaker in other cases. The team designed computer simulations to tease out how aerosols from pollution affect storm development and realized the confusion wasn't with pollution at all. It was with wind shear, a difference in wind speed and/or direction.
Under strong wind shear conditions, pollution hampers thunderhead formation. But with weak wind shear, pollution does the opposite and makes storms stronger; at least, until pollution reaches an optimum.
Fan presented their findings in December at the 2009 American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco.
Why it matters: The work improves climate scientists' understanding of how aerosols, or tiny unseen particles that make up pollution, contribute to isolated thunderstorms and the climate cycle. How aerosols and clouds interact is one of the least understood aspects of climate, and this work allows researchers to better model clouds and precipitation in order to predict future climate.
"This finding may provide some guidelines on how man-made aerosols affect the local climate and precipitation, especially for the places where 'afternoon showers' happen frequently and affect the weather system and hydrological cycle," said Fan. "Aerosols in the air change the cloud properties, but the changes vary from case to case. With detailed cloud modeling, we found an important factor regulating how aerosols change storms and precipitation."
The results provide insight into how to incorporate these types of clouds and conditions into computational climate models to improve their accuracy.
Methods: The team ran a computer model with atmospheric data collected in northern Australia and eastern China. They simulated the development of eight deep convective (smaller and more spread out) clouds by varying the concentration of aerosols, wind shear, and humidity. Then they examined updraft speed and precipitation.
In the first simulations, the team found that in scenarios containing strong wind shear, more pollution curbed convection. When wind shear was weak, more pollution produced a stronger storm. But convection also changed depending on humidity, so the team wanted to see which effect—wind shear or humidity—was more important.
The team took a closer look at two cloud-forming scenarios: one that ended up with the strongest enhancement in updraft speed and one with the weakest. For each scenario, they created a humid and a dry condition, as well as a strong and weak wind shear condition. The trend in the different conditions indicated that wind shear had a much greater effect on updraft strength than humidity.
When the team examined the expected rainfall, they found that the pattern of rainfall followed the pattern of updraft speed. That is, with strong wind shear, more pollution led to less rainfall. When wind shear was weak, more pollution created stronger storms and more rain—up to a certain point. Beyond an optimum level, more pollution in the aerosol also led to the decreased convective strength.
Additional analyses described the physics underlying these results. Water condensing onto aerosol particles releases heat, which contributes to convection and increases updraft speed. The evaporation of water from the cloud droplets cools the air, which reduces the updrafts. In strong wind shear conditions, the cooling effect is always larger than the heating effect, leading to a reduction in updraft speed.
What's next: This research considered wind shear from ground level to seven kilometers. One of the next steps is to analyze which levels of wind shear have the strongest effects, those that originate at low levels or those that originate at middle levels? Future research will analyze the observational data from DOE's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program field campaigns to look at some observational evidence in the real atmosphere.
For more information: Read PNNL's press release announcing this research. A video of Fan discussing the team's findings in Chinese can be viewed here.
Acknowledgments: This research was funded by the PNNL Laboratory Directed Research and Development program in support of the Laboratory's Aerosol Climate Initiative.
Reference: Jiwen Fan, "Dominant Role by Vertical Wind Shear in Regulating Aerosol Effects on Deep Convective Clouds" Dec. 18, 2009. Presentation at 2009 AGU Conference, San Francisco, Calif.
J. Fan, T. Yuan, J. M. Comstock, S. Ghan, A. Khain, L. R. Leung, Z. Li, V. J. Martins, M. Ovchinnikov. 2009. "Dominant role by vertical wind shear in regulating aerosol effects on deep convective clouds," J. Geophys. Res., 114:D22206, doi:10.1029/2009JD012352.


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Published by Elsa McBride on May 1, 2017
Do you dread going grocery shopping? Let's put some fun into it by playing grocery store bingo. Use grocery shopping to teach kids about food and nutrition. Talk about where vegetables, fruits, protein food, dairy, and grains come from. Help them make healthy choices. For more healthy tips, be sure to visit wellness.ccs.k12.nc.us.
Tip of the week from MyPlate.gov
Wellness Tip: Make Grocery Shopping Fun!


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Man… I cannot believe it's Friday already. Wow. I guess that's not a bad thing but I kinda feel like summer is slipping through my fingers! Anywho, I'm linking up with Lauren from My Grey Desk again! Here's what made my week exciting:
1. My new love, Revlon Balm Stains!!! Read my review with swatches.
2. A tasty Wednesday night tofu recipe the Hubby actually liked!!
3. A brand new necklace I've loving in my Etsy shop. Meet my tiny chevron necklace!
4. Picked up a slew of swim separates from Old Navy that will look so cute mixed and matched. Check out their sale going on now!
5. Added the new sharing icons to my blog posts. Aren't they so cute?!
What are your top 5?


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Bo and Hope canoodle in bed at home. They reminisce about their wedding and affirm their love for each other before making love. Bo sullies the mood by bringing up Alice's mystery with the bank statement. He fills up her champagne glass and then Hope starts wishing Julie and her dad had found something in Africa. They fall asleep and Hope wakes up and promises Stefano will never come between them again.
No Rainbow Flag For You!
Will warns Gabi, Melanie surprises Chad, and Lexi makes the most of a celebratory luncheon.
Gabi and Will meet at the square where they discuss him coming out to his parents. Regarding Sami's reaction, Gabi suggests some mothers might not want to hear their son is gay. Will snorts, "Wow no rainbow flag for you." Gabi tries to explain herself. She's sure Sami just needs time. Will asks if she went to the police about her stalker. She covers that if she does, Rafe would find out and become overprotective. Will can protect her. They go for coffee and John and Marlena take a seat and talk about getting rid of Stefano. John takes a call, and leaves on 'agency business'.
At the Coffee Bean, Chad receives a text invitation to the DiMera mansion for a luncheon for Lexi. Melanie wants to support him and Lexi but she's not sure she can be around a man who has done such awful things. Chad understands and sort of feels the same himself, but he needs to make peace for his sister's sake. This isn't going to be a one-time thing. Melanie's lucky to love a man whose heart is in the right place. She understands but is worried. Chad takes off for the luncheon. Marlena wanders in where she finds Will and jumps on him. He tells her he came out to Sami and Lucas with mixed results. Gabi finds Melanie, who thinks she screwed up with Chad. Mel fills her in and Gabi's advice is for Melanie to break off with Chad. Gabi goes to get a coffee and Melanie looks for advice from Will. He suggests she surprise Chad. Will tells Gabi this later before ordering her to stop trying to break-up Chad and Melanie.
At the Carver's, Celeste and Theo play with her Tarot cards. Celeste, Lexi and Abe get uptight when Theo draws the card of death which he thinks shows his mommy. Celeste explains that it can mean a new beginning. Theo's excited to see his uncle at the luncheon today.
EJ walks in on Stefano on the phone, speaking with the Italian jeweler about the coin. He is willing to pay any price for what he needs. EJ exclaims that he won't use the money he stole from him. Stefano points out that it's not his money anyway. EJ still wants it returned. Stefano smirks. It'll never happen. Besides, John Black's pension plan has given him the mayoral seat. EJ goes off on Stefano. The only reason he hasn't strangled him and stuck his body on the table as a centerpiece is because he still cares about him. Stefano tells his son he made him and if he wants, he can break him. Lexi walks in and immediately gets a headache. She orders them to their corners. Theo and Abe turn up and Stefano takes Theo and Celeste into the garden while Abe makes a call. EJ makes light of the argument. Lexi worries for his future. EJ tears up and Lexi tells him he's the only brother she has ever truly known. She loves him so much. They hug. Theo, Celeste and Stefano walk into the foyer. Theo runs to his mom while Celeste and Stefano think about how much they love Lexi. Celeste returns to the great room and Abe confronts Stefano about the gases making Lexi ill. Abe refuses to tell Lexi the truth but this won't end with her life. He'll never forget nor forgive it. Chad shows up. Stefano's thrilled when his son asks to be a part of the family again - just not like EJ. They hug and EJ watches, sadly. Lexi greets Chad and tells him to keep Father at arm's length. They hug and Melanie turns up with hugs and kisses and some acceptance. Mel takes Theo to the kitchen while Lexi makes a speech. She hopes everyone will try to get along after she's gone. For Theo. A photographer, Mr. Chambers, arrives and starts taking portrait photos.
In a wooded area, John buys a gun from some dude. He runs off and Marlena follows. She catches up to him at the square and tells him he can't kill Stefano. "Sure I can." He knows how to cover his tracks. Marlena pulls the love card and John sighs and agrees, but when she leaves, he puts the gun into his coat. Marlena finds herself in the woods where she says she'll make sure Stefano pays for his crimes.
Sneak peek!
EJ and Will discuss Sami's reaction to Will's announcement that he's gay. EJ reaches out to Will.
Will finally reveals he worked with Stefano...
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Greetings ~!
Would you agree that dynamic whole health living is a fine virtue, a lovely passion, a source of never-ending beauty and joy? So that you and your organization (family, community, club) become a power of change? Consciously.
Why not Reveal Your Beauty – Express Your Wholeness –
Make Your Magic – by unfolding in you the poem that you are! Unraveling this unique voice is a self- and co-creative process, whereby you reclaim your virtues and authentic self.
I believe that the unfolding of poetry is the clarifying of our virtues, which illuminate our beauty and our life. When we harness our inner power, we prepare our self to be of service to one another. Thus, we also become simply the change agent that our communities need. This is a continually evolving creative process, never-ending like the stories of all time.
An educator and published writer, I am also actively involved as a whole life health and creativity consultant. Why? Because as a poet-artist, I see all that I do as a poetic process of self-unfolding and universal enrichment. My mission is to illumine beauty, inspire wholeness, and integrate healthfulness. This is beyond magic. Life is a dance of chaos and harmony all in place in its resplendence, and we are the art and science of creative flow, attempting to stay neutral at the center.
Know that you are ready to bring
your vision to form, to live a beautiful life.
Ur-Resonance™ (formerly known as Creative Resonance) is a principle of connecting with Self-Source that I discovered through various creative and revelatory experiences over many life journeys. Ur-Resonance™ is the idea that accuracy (from a felt knowing) in language use and the energetic or magnetic resonance with word, sound, image, and thought promote heightened awareness and healing at all levels of being. Sounds simple? In essence it is. At the same time, we know that bringing into form the complexity of our structure influenced by various factors is a process of making harmony, beauty, integrity; it is a gift of self finding Self and realizing that there is no separation or difference.
We begin by clearing, cleansing, and recreating our authentic self, which takes time, unraveling, and thoughtfulness. This process of Ur-Resonance brings about subtle and profound change, whereby you recognize yourself as an integrated whole being—a poem continually unfolding like an endless river with its many tributaries.
What is the promise of this work? Because I know how beautifully the poetic process works as a living principle, I wish for you to achieve your unique personal and professional goals, whole life health and vitality, financial prosperity, abundance in all ways, so by your very presence, you change the world we live in and inspire others to inspire themselves.
Through individual sessions, storytelling, and seminars in (w)holistic self-learning (creating poetry), you can bring to form a life of greater awareness because we are each Infinite Potential.
Gods came to wake you;
Laughed seeing you cower in tears
Who says fire is safe?
When heart opened, walls,
cells ran amuck to clear aches.
Confusion arrived.
Old songs lost tones, tunes.
Soul words scrambled, ached for truth;
Only flow'rs shone simply.
Waking up is hard!
Mystic fire thunders in lakes.
Crown cracks to living.
Lie still lovers, poets.
New grammar rearranges words;
In still point light flows.
~ Waking Up Where Light Flows by Ambika Talwar


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'I don't really know what I am doing' poor photo con. I suspect the worst, as there seems to be more of these poor photo's in a time when excellent camera's cost little.
Some sellers just don't think when they pack glass.
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Wholesale pricing to the public for fresh and silk flowers, wedding flowers, flower arrangements and floral supplies. Flowers by the bunch include fresh flowers, tropicals, greens, and branches. Also amazing prices on bulk fresh flowers. Floral supplies include vases and everything needed for weddings or special events.
Also have an exclusive flower arranging product, FlowerBudi.
All backed by the amazing personality of Russ Phillips, who also have an extensive blog attached with articles and video instruction for the do it yourself or craftsperson.
Affiliates earn 10% commission on sales. Bonus program based on sales levels included.We provide banners, text ads, text links, emails, blog posts, and articles. We also include PDF documents that you can distribute that add value to your customer base.
Premium online florist that guarantees freshness. Flowers arrive as you see them online. Stunning bouquets, floral arrangements, roses, wedding flowers and more. We are Perth, Western Australia's, premier florist, servicing the CBD and providing stunning corporate flower arrangements to leading Perth businesses. Our online store also allows you to enjoy the same stunning arrangements anywhere in the world.
Affiliates earn 10% commission on sales.
Send flowers anywhere, orders are hand delivered by premium local florists. 2flowers is an easy and effective way to deliver flowers worldwide to your loved ones, family friends and business associate on all occasions. We offer an online delivery service that offers largest range of beautiful fresh flowers and bouquets designed by our expert team of florist to send on Birthdays, Anniversary, Christmas, New Year and all occasions.
Affiliates earn 15% commission on sales, with
365 days cookie tracking. Great banners and text links. Committed affiliate management team.
HawaiiFlowerLei.com is the Internet's leading Hawaiian flower lei company. Hawaii Flower Lei provies outstanding customer service, selection and value.
Affiliates earn a 10% commission on sales.
From You Flowers offers a complete selection of floral and gift items appropriate for any occasion and every sentiment. This includes fresh flowers, plants, balloons and gift baskets, all to go along with great prices and exceptional service. Same day delivery is available nationwide.
Affiliates earn 15% commission on sales.
Send same day flowers, delivery guaranteed. Same day delivery of flowers, plants, balloons and gourmet gift baskets for every occasion Earn $10 per order.
Blooms Today offers fresh hand delivered, same day flowers and gifts. We also offer fruit baskets, gourmet gift baskets, plants, balloon bouquets, chocolate, cakes and cookies for every occasion. We deliver locally and nationwide.
Le Rhee Wedding Bouquets is a new company specializing in wedding bouquets. We are the manufacturer. We sell direct to brides, offering custom color options. You are dealing straight with the manufacturer and not a middle man so we can offer you the best prices. Our average order size ranges from $150 to $700. We offer single bridal bouquets and packages.
Affiliates earn 10% commission on sales.
MegFlowers.com and LeFleuriste.com affiliate program offers you a competitive 10% commission off all sales made on our sites. We have extensive promo material, such as banners of all sizes, animated and static. A comprehensive and detailed affiliate admin, where you can view your daily, weekly, monthly or yearly statistics. Paid bi-monthly by check or Paypal.
And for your customers we have the most variety of products such as our
revolutionary print on roses technology
48LongStems.com – our specialty is offering large quantities of flowers at low prices. Our flowers are shipped from our growers to the consumer so they stay fresher longer, and at a price that is less than the local florist.
Affiliates earn 20% per sale
The Flower Bakery offers a 5% commission to our affiliates on our fresh cut flower arrangements. Payout monthly.
The Flower Bakery provides fresh cut flower bouquets shaped as Flower Cakes. Our unique fresh cut flower arrangements fit any occasion and we offer a variety of sizes and prices. We deliver our unique creations to the continental United States via overnight service (FedEx and DHL).
Poppies Shop offers dried flowers and seeds while providing the highest quality of customer service. We are committed to our customers and stand behind our products. We specialize in the hard to find and highly sought after dried poppies. These products sell very well with a huge dried flower customer base.
The two-tier affiliate program pays 20% on the first tier plus 5% on second tier sales.
deLaFlowers.com is dedicated to providing the freshest flowers direct from the farms at which they are grown. We have relationships directly with the growers so the flowers you receive and send to your friends, family, and loved ones are the freshest, highest quality, and most beautiful product available.
Affiliates earn 20% commission on sales. Program managed by AffiliateTraction (www.AffiliateTraction.com)
At The Flower Man we spend our days surrounded by glorious flowers and people who appreciate them. Is it any wonder that our family is in love with their work? That love has been translating itself into wonderful floral creations since 1948. Today, we have eight stores, and an amazing range of customers from all walks of life.
The two-tier affiliate program pays 16% on the first tier plus 5% second tier.
Formed in 1995, Roses Only is part of a family owned business that brings together over 37 years of retail and floristry experience. Now Australia's leading floral retailer, we offer a wide range of exquisitely boxed long stem roses, tulips, gerberas, lilies and mixed seasonal flowers, in addition to superb floral arrangements, accompanied by
fine champagne, wine, teddy bears and Lindt chocolates.
The two-tier affiliate program pays 10%-20% commission on sales, plus 5% second tier.
Formed in 1995, Roses Only is part of a family owned business that brings together over 37 years of retail and floristry experience. We offer a wide range of exquisitely boxed long stem roses, tulips, gerberas, lilies and mixed seasonal flowers, in addition to superb floral arrangements, accompanied by fine champagne, wine, teddy bears and Lindt chocolates.
The two-tier affiliate program pays 10% on the first tier plus 5% second tier.
Flowers24Hours is a London based online florist with same day London and next day UK flower, plant and gift delivery. Order flowers, plants and gifts for any business or private occasion, through a secure online purchase system. Over fifteen years of experience as London florist and hundreds of satisfied customers guarantees satisfaction and top quality service. Flowers24Hours provides direct flower delivery anywhere in the UK.
Affiliates earn 10% commission on sales.
Florist One's experience and expertise allows us to offer you the best possible online flower shopping. Our extensive catalog features flowers for every occasion. Our well known brands include flowers by FTD? and our extensive network of florists allows us to offer same day delivery to nearly all of the United States and Canada.
Affiliates earn 22%-25% commission on sales. We have 90-day cookies, real time tracking and reporting, and prompt monthly payments. Our affiliate manager has over four years experience as a florist affiliate himself and he is comitted to listening to your needs and helping you sell as many flowers as possible.
The Flower Factory is the website of one of Australia's largest florists, based in Sydney organising flower and bouquet delivery throughout Sydney and Australia. For a bouquet of flowers, delivery can be arranged wherever you are in Australia and we've been arranging fast flowers delivery in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Canberra, Hobart, Adelaide, Newcastle and the Gold Coast since 1977.
Affiliates earn 16% commission on sales.
Join the US program here.
Join the UK program here.
Join the 1-800-FLOWERS.COM affiliate team today and earn 10%-12% commission on referred merchandise sales. Flowers are just the beginning. Earn commissions on expert flower arrangements, plants, gift baskets, fresh baked goods, specialty gifts and more. Enjoy periodic newsletters, prompt payment, and access to our merchandising expertise.
Established in 2000, Easyflowers.com.au is an innovative Australian owned and operated business. We specialize in selling flowers and gifts to consumers and delivering them via our quality florist network.
FloraWorld specializes in the delivery of flowers in the USA, Canada, or worldwide. As an affiliate of you earn $3 per sale and a $1 commission on your referred affiliates' sales through this two-tier program. Visitors earn Air Canada Aeroplan? miles or Creditz with their purchase at no cost to you. Our program features real time on-line reporting and 120 return days. A definite win/win situation. Submitted by Doug Munro, FloraWorld.com..
Australia's Best Florist is a network of florists, in every state of Australia, specializing in floral arrangements for all occasions, as well as quality gift baskets and hampers. Wherever you want to send flowers in Australia, Australia's Best Florist will deliver. Affiliates earn 10% commission on sales. Submitted by Ebony Miller..
Cyber Flowers offers an extensive catalog of professionally designed fresh floral arrangements and gifts delivered to US, Canada and worldwide. By teaming up with Cyber Flowers, you take advantage of the huge growth opportunity, enhance your site, earn generous commissions of 8%-10% on sales.
Welcome to one of the fastest growing giftbaskets and flower businesses. We have been established for 10 years and work along with 3 other baskets companies so we can deliver your basket same day or next day all around Australia. Affiliates earn 10% commission on sales. Submitted by Ebony Miller..
Full service online florist with over 1500 arrangements to choose from. The Village Greenery Florist in association with Click Trade are offering you a way to get paid 5% per sale. Submitted by Robert Parker..


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CAP: INDY Connector (College of Architecture and Planning: Indianapolis) is an extension of the College of Architecture and Planning at Ball State University in nearby Muncie, Indiana. The connector draws from the rich interdisciplinary nature of the college programs in architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, historic preservation, and urban design. Combining this richness with the urban context offered by Indianapolis, the center affords the college a unique opportunity to help shape not only future professionals, but also the future of Indiana's capital and largest city.
Our mission is to be a catalyst for recovering and redefining the experience of urban places, in order to build living cities, models for sustainable urban life. This mission implies dedication to social and ecological responsibility, to partnership, and to preservation, planning, and design. It will be accomplished through the combined interdisciplinary knowledge and actions of academia, professional practitioners, and the community.
Urban Laboratory
Following through with our mission, we conduct a wide-range of academic programs in our connector space, including serving as the home for the college's master of urban design program. We also offer an immersive graduate assistantship program that pairs students with firms and organizations to gain hands-on experience while pursuing their studies. We also provide immersive learning opportunities for on-campus students and provide support for Indianapolis-based student design and thesis projects.
Community Resource
Another important part of what we do at the connector is giving back to the community. Through service-based learning, we provide design, planning, and visioning support to neighborhoods and other community organizations in the Indianapolis area. We are working on several projects that involve our students, communities, and community leaders.
Design Advocate
We believe that innovative design and planning is critical to maintaining a viable, competitive region, and we strive to support initiatives, learning opportunities, and partnerships that promote the quality of life in central Indiana.


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Free calculators and unit converters for general and everyday use.
Calculators » Conversion » Data Storage » Tebibyte and Yottabyte
Our online tools will provide quick answers to your calculation and conversion needs. On this page, you can convert data storage sizes from TiB to YB and YB to TiB.
Download: Use this digital storage converter offline with our all-in-one calculator app for Android and iOS.
1 Yottabyte = 909494701772.93 Tebibyte
© everydaycalculation.com


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North American Technician Excellence
NATE-certified technicians have demonstrated their knowledge of today's increasingly sophisticated heating and cooling systems by passing a nationally recognized test developed and supported by all segments of the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning industry. Consumers can rest assured that with a NATE-certified technician, they are getting the best installation and service for maximum comfort and economy in their heating and cooling system. Better installation and service mean a longer life for your heating and cooling equipment and increased energy efficiency. Technicians who are NATE-certified know that NATE stands for excellence and quality service.
Use the contractor locator above.
Ask to see the technician's credentials. You can validate a NATE ID number here. NATE-certified technicians carry a card which is proof that they have taken and passed the necessary tests. Many NATE-certified technicians wear the NATE patches on their shirts. NATE allows consumers to locate contractors by postal or ZIP code. Ask contractors you find on the NATE site to send a NATE-certified technician, as sometimes the contractor may have both NATE certified and uncertified technicians working for them.
When using a certified NATE technician, you'll experience optimal product efficiency, greater home comfort and most importantly, peace of mind.
For quality installation and maintenance or service of your heating, ventilation, air conditioning or refrigeration system, ask for a NATE-certified technician. NATE-certified technicians are skilled professionals who have proven their knowledge in the HVAC/R industry by passing specialized NATE certification tests. When choosing a contractor, be sure to ask that a NATE-certified HVAC technician comes to your home or business.
Welcome to North American Technician Excellence, Inc. The leading non-profit certification program for technicians in the heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC/R) industry and the only test supported by the entire industry.
2111 Wilson Blvd. Suite 510, Arlington, VA 22201
703-276-7247Toll Free: 877-420-6283 (NATE)


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The area's LARGEST selection of private rentals that you cannot find anywhere else!
Local Real Estate Experts helping renters transition into buying their first home.
We will show you every possible rental in our inventory through all sources including Private Listings, MLS Listings and Public Listings.
The Sound Shore's Home Selling Experts for 20 years. Your key to any market, large or small, is your local real estate professional.
The purchase of real estate is one of the most important transactions a person will ever make. The first step is pick out a specific areas to focus your search on.
Our Rental Agents are highly trained rental specialists who have the experience to deal with every client's unique situation and assist them in finding their next home.
Harborview Properties has donated to the following charities:
Autism Speaks, American Cancer Society, Aspergers Foundation, Girl Scouts USA, Hunger Task Force of Larchmont / Mam'k, Food Bank of Westchester, My Hope Is In You- Small Animal Rescue, Smile Train-Cleft Palate Research, New Rochelle Humane Society, Rabbit Rescue of CT, American Heart Association, Youth Soccer- Youth Basketball of Larchmont-Mamaroneck, Celiac-Sprue Foundation, International Religious Fellowship Foundation, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, Lustgarten Foundation- Pancreatic Cancer Research, Police Fresh Air Fund, Special Olympics, American Veteran's Association
Thank You to our Customers & Dedicated Staff for helping us support these charities!
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Licensing Springer Nature products is the first step to providing your users with access to cutting-edge research, information and resources. But how best do we make them aware of new or additional content?
How do we help you to decide which content is the most valuable to your library? At Springer Nature, we are dedicated to helping you make the most of your online content.
Whether you are a new or existing customer, we offer various promotion tools and services to support each step of your library activities – from product implementation to analyzing your library ROI.


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Mine Safety Exercise Conducted, Oct. 10, 2007
Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and New Mexico Bureau of Mine Safety Hosts Mine Safety Table Top Exercise with New Mexico Mine Operators
by Carrie B. Moritomo, 505.699.2318
Carlsbad, NM, Oct. 10, 2007 – What would New Mexico do if it had a mine disaster, like the recent one in Utah?
"New Mexico, unlike Utah, has a state agency responsible for the safety of the state's miners," says Terence Foreback, New Mexico's State Mine Inspector. "We have conducted a table top exercise in response to state requirements."
The New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (NMDHSEM), in conjunction with New Mexico Bureau of Mine Safety, hosted a mine safety table top exercise on Oct. 4, 2007, in Carlsbad, NM.
The exercise simulated natural gas inundation with an explosion, missing staff, and loss of communication in the Mosaic Potash Mine. The scenario allowed the participants to talk through notification procedures, discuss operating periods, evaluate how to deal with the media, and fold into the incident command system.
"This involved all possible facets of a mine rescue and allowed us to discuss resource allocation from numerous public and private organizations," says Foreback.
NMDHSEM Director, Tim Manning, said "The table top [exercise] furthered the relationship between our agency and the mining operators of New Mexico. The end goal is to be able to collaborate and operate in a seamless fashion during an emergency."
The mining companies present at the exercise were Chevron Mining Inc. McKinley Mine, WIPP/Washington TRU Solutions, Mosaic Potash, Chevron Mining Inc. Questa Mine, San Juan Underground and Intrepid Potash. Eddy County's Emergency Management was also in attendance. The exercise was in response to mine operators' request for additional planning, training, and exercises to be ready for a response situation.
The table top exercise in Carlsbad followed up a preliminary meeting in August which familiarized mine operators with the state's incident management system and statewide response capabilities of NMDHSEM.
The August meeting also facilitated sharing of emergency response plans among attendees. The mining companies present at the initial meeting were BHP Billiton, Chevron Mining Inc. McKinley Mine, WIPP/Washington TRU Solutions, Mosaic Potash, Chevron Mining Inc. Molycorp, Intrepid Potash, Phelps Dodge Chino Mines and Phelps Dodge Tyrone Mining. The Department of Labor's Mining and Safety Health Administration was also in attendance.
To continue the process, the following actions are planned:
• Conduct a Joint Information System (JIS) - Joint Information Center (JIC) Training. This training will be for Communications - Public Information Officers of the organizations involved. This is a very important aspect of the incident command structure.
• Travel to the locations of the mining operations involved and present an incident command training to mine management members. This will tie together the discussions that have been held on a technical level, with the incident command structure, so management understands the process. Information will be forthcoming to industry on this aspect of the training.
NMDHSEM is responsible for coordinating the state's response to natural or man made disasters. The department is the access point for mobilization of state resources during a disaster or emergency and is the bridge for assistance from the federal government to local governmental entities in times of disaster.
The Bureau of Mine Safety, under the direction of the New Mexico State Mine Inspector, is dedicated to promoting safe practice and physical well being among miners, contractors, operators, researchers and other persons associated with operating mines, or performing earthwork or rock excavation within New Mexico.
The BMS's Mine Accident Emergency Operations Center is now available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To report a mining accident please call: 1-866-761-6039.


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Alicia Jo Rabins Debuts Performative Song Cycle A KADDISH FOR BERNIE MADOFF at Joe's Pub, 11/8
On November 8 renowned singer-songwriter, composer, musician and poet Alicia Jo Rabins will debut her brand new, full-length performative song cycle A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff at Joe's Pub in New York City. The controversial piece explores the spiritual implications of the financial collapse through the story of Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff, attempting to uncover hidden meanings in this contemporary tragedy. A second performance follows on November 15.
Singing and playing violin through a range of effects pedals and backed by a trio of acclaimed Brooklyn musicians-cellist/music director Colette Alexander (Jens Lekman, Josh Groban, Angelique Kidjo), percussionist David Freeman and guitarist Bjørn Vidar Solli-Rabins draws inspiration from Laurie Anderson to create a lyrical investigation of her unlikely subject, a musical meditation on the intersection of mysticism and finance. A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff interweaves religious texts about money with interviews Rabins conducted over the course of two years, the subjects of which include an FBI agent on the case, Madoff victims and a Buddhist monk (among others).
Inspired by personal finance blogs, kabbalistic numerology and the Kaddish (the Jewish prayer for the dead, which can also be recited for those who have been excommunicated), Rabins explores connections between Madoff's individual crimes and their larger communal and cultural impacts. Ordinary-seeming actions come to reveal truths about the deeper significance of Madoff's deception and the surprising interconnectedness of humans to one another. "Everyone likes to think of Madoff as a monster, an aberration-but are we really so different?" Rabins asks. "Markets go up, markets go down. But Madoff's returns went up, more or less. In a straight line. For forty years. Who wouldn't want that kind of security-no downturns, just growth? No failure, no loss, no death. It's beautiful. But it's impossible."
A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff
November 8 & 15 at 7pm
Joe's Pub
425 Lafayette Street
(212) 967-7555
Alicia Jo Rabins is a Brooklyn-based composer, performer and poet. She is the creator of Girls in Trouble, an art-pop song cycle in the voices of obscure women from the Torah, which has been performed at the New York Public Library, the Great Synagogue of Stockholm and rock clubs across the U.S. and Europe. Rabins tours internationally with Girls in Trouble and has released two critically acclaimed albums on JDub Records. For eight years she was the fiddler in pioneering klezmer-punk band Golem, and she has toured Central America and Kuwait as a cultural ambassador for the U.S. State Department. Her poems appear in American Poetry Review, Ploughshares, Boston Review, 6x6, and anthologies from NYU Press and Knopf.
Jessi D. Hill is a NYC-based theater director and Associate Artistic Director of terraNOVA Collective. Jessi's recent and upcoming play development projects include work at New York Theatre Workshop, Primary Stages, The New Group, Culture Project, New Dramatists, The Lark, The Playwrights Realm, New Georges, The Women's Project, Youngblood and others. She has been Staff Repertory Director for The Acting Company, a Director-in-Residence at Ensemble Studio Theatre and a guest director in professional training programs at Fordham University, Long Island University, Powerhouse/NY Stage & Film, NYU/Strasberg Institute of Theatre and Film, NYU/Playwrights Horizons, Hunter College and others. Jessi is a recipient of the Denham Fellowship from the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation, a 2010-2012 member of the Women's Project Lab, an Affiliated Artist at New Georges and a Finalist for the NEA/TCG Career Development Program for Directors. MFA Directing: Yale School of Drama. Member SDC.
A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff is written and performed by Alicia Jo Rabins; directed and developed by Jessi D. Hill; musical direction by Colette Alexander; lighting design by Jon Harper; movement direction by Malinda Ray Allen; design by Corrie Beth Hogg; co-produced by Mud/Bone Collective. Mud/Bone Collective and this co-production are made possible in part by public funds from New York State Council on the Arts and New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff is supported by a grant from the Six Points Fellowship for Emerging Jewish Artists, a partnership of Avoda Arts, JDub Records, and the Foundation for Jewish Culture, and made possible with major funding from UJA-Federation of New York, as well as support from LABA: The National Laboratory for New Jewish Culture at the 14th Street Y and the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council through a real estate donation from Savanna.