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The National Security Agency "would welcome" the creation of a public advocate's position at the court that oversees its electronic surveillance programs, said its outgoing deputy director.
John C. "Chris" Inglis, who retires Friday after more than seven years as the NSA's No. 2, told Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep that "I would only put the caveat on there that it needs to be operationally efficient."
"So, let's say that I'm authorized to target the head of al-Qaida worldwide and I'm actively doing that," he continued. "I'm trying to figure out what communication services — selectors — that person is using. If at every moment in time somebody had to authorize me to put the next selector on — 'He just changed his email address, can I put that on?' — if that's where the advocate stands in, that's operationally not terribly efficient.
"But if there's going to be some novel interpretation of the law — if there's going to be some authority that's going to be applied as an extension of the law [that] might say, 'I've got a different view,' we'd welcome that."
The NSA would also welcome a public advocate's presence in the room each time it seeks a warrant, Inglis said, if the process can be made "operationally efficient."
The creation of a public advocate position inside the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance — or FISA — court that oversees the NSA is among several reforms that the President's Review Group on Intelligence and Communications Technologies has suggested. The recommendations followed former NSA contractor Edward Snowden's leaks about the agency's surveillance programs.
The idea is that the advocate could raise objections if it appears the NSA might be about to violate someone's civil or privacy rights.
President Obama has been meeting with congressional leaders and will talk with technology company executives on Friday as he considers the panel's recommendations. The president is expected to announce his decision on what changes, if any, will be made to U.S. surveillance programs later this month.
Snowden's revelations have lifted the veil on many secrets about the NSA's massive electronic surveillance efforts, which the agency says are aimed at the telephone and Internet communications of suspected terrorists overseas — but have also swept up data about the phone calls and emails of world leaders and average Americans.
In the NPR interview, Inglis did not dispute an estimate that the agency had examined electronic communications more than 44 million times in 2012. But he said that does not mean the NSA spied on 44 million people, since many targets of surveillance had multiple phone numbers or email accounts, which the agency examined multiple times.
"A particular terrorist might have dozens ... hundreds of these selectors," he said.
Inglis made the case for why the NSA needs to gather so much information. "If you're looking for a needle in a haystack, you need the haystack," he said.
He also said the NSA is open to another potential change that has been suggested — having the data it wants collected stored by phone companies and other tech firms, not by the agency itself, and only made available after warrants are issued by the FISA court. "We are considering that," he said, although the decision about such a change will be made by policymakers, not the agency.
During the conversation, Inglis also said that in hindsight, the NSA should have disclosed at least some details about its surveillance programs before Snowden's leaks hit front pages last June.
But Snowden did not do the NSA any favor by spilling its secrets and sparking a national debate, Inglis said. He likened what Snowden did to "somebody who burned my house down [and] has given me an opportunity to perhaps build it in a way that I would prefer."
Much more from the conversation with Inglis is scheduled for Friday's Morning Edition.
Related posts:
-- The Case Against Clemency: Expert Says Snowden's Leaks Hurt Security
-- The Case For Clemency: Expert Says Snowden Deserves A Pass
-- Tech Execs Complain About NSA During Obama Meeting
-- Judge Rules That NSA Collection Of Phone Data Is Lawful
-- Judge Rules Against NSA Bulk Collection Program
This is MORNING EDITION, from NPR News. I'm David Greene.
And I'm Steve Inskeep. We walked, this week, into a vast building covered in reflective glass, the headquarters of the National Security Agency. We met there with John C. "Chris" Inglis. He's the agency's No. 2, its top civilian beneath the general who runs it, Keith Alexander. Inglis was in his final week at the NSA.
Do they have exit interviews for people who are leaving the National Security Agency?
CHRIS INGLIS: They do.
INSKEEP: And if he's asked in his exit interview what might change at the NSA, Chris Inglis says he'll suggest the NSA be more transparent. He spent his final months on the job defending the agency from the revelations by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. Snowden disclosed the agency was gathering phone records of millions of Americans. Inglis says the revelations came out in a way that unfairly stained his agency. And that raises a question about running a spy agency in a democracy.
In retrospect, do you wish that some years ago, this agency had made some effort to disclose this program in a way that the public could debate it, in a way that it could be looked at fairly, from your point of view?
INGLIS: In hindsight, yes. In hindsight, yes. But if you had asked me on June 4th, say, just before all of this broke; if you said, are you concerned, Chris Inglis, about the 215 Metadata Program? I would have emphasized the controls that are imposed on it. And I would have described the participation of three branches of government in it. And I would have thought - I think naively, at this point in time - that it was sufficient that those three branches of government had stood in the shoes of the American public and made that determination
I think that what we found in the summer of 2013 is that it was insufficient.
INSKEEP: Now, the agency has been forced to defend what it is, and what it does. Chris Iglis' long agency career goes back to when NSA employees barely admitted the agency existed. Today, it's so different that Inglis recently gave a speech at the University of Pennsylvania.
INGLIS: Thanks very much. If anybody hasn't turned their cellphone yet - off, just hold up your hand. I'll turn that off for you now.
INGLIS: I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding.
INSKEEP: Thousands of military personnel and civilians work for this agency around the world. Their job is listening to terrorists or hostile governments, and protecting U.S. government communications. The NSA is not supposed to listen to Americans without a warrant from a special court. But after 9/11, the agency began gathering years' worth of American phone records.
The metadata program, for example - has it been worth it, given that part of the cost of it is that it got disclosed eventually?
INGLIS: I think so. Well, that's a great question that we've been debating as a nation for the better part of six months. You're probably quite familiar with the testimony that I, General Alexander and others have made before Congress about the number of plots that have been thwarted by the totality of intelligence capabilitiesthat NSA brings to bear in various venues. We've described that as 54 total plots.
INSKEEP: Fifty-four plots disrupted. But when we began to pick at that number, it became smaller. The information on the vast majority of those plots was gathered outside the metadata program. Inglis insists the phone records are still important.
INGLIS: And so it's, in a mosaic, useful to essentially inform other tools. But it's not a silver bullet in and of itself
INSKEEP: But this is what I want to go through. You initially said the agency said, and your boss Gen. Alexander said, 54 plots were disrupted. What you've just affirmed for me is that the vast majority of those involved Prism, a different program.
INGLIS: That's correct.
INSKEEP: And there may only be one case that you can point to, where you feel that the metadata program was significant. And in fact, the President's Commission - which looked into the NSA's operations, of course - didn't even endorse the one. They said it was hard to find any cases. And yet there's been this tremendous political cost from its disclosure. That's why I ask again, if it was worth it?
INGLIS: I do think so. Because I don't know that I'd want to go back in time and say that I would run the risk of not uncovering the one plot that I did, or to not have that tool that's an insurance policy to try to find something that crosses from a foreign terrorist plot to something that might then be inserted into the United States as an activity here.
There are other implementations of the 215 Program. The government doesn't need to hold the data; it could be held by a third party. You could compel others to essentially do the kind of search that today, NSA is authorized and charged to undertake. But the question remains as to whether you're going to have a capability to find something that is the connection of a foreign plot to a domestic extension of that plot.
INSKEEP: You just mentioned other ways to do this program. Are you now, as an agency, considering those other ways? Just leaving the information with the phone company, for example, and picking it up through a warrant from the foreign intelligence surveillance court, when you need it?
INGLIS: Certainly. We are open to other limitations. I think...
INSKEEP: So you are considering that?
INGLIS: We are considering that. But I think that we're not the policy agent that would decide whether or not we would then embrace one of those other choices. We would be a component of executing that choice.
INSKEEP: If the president or Congress changed the program, Inglis contends, it still needs to be efficient. It also has to protect Americans' privacy, which the agency insists it has always tried to do with the vast piles of records it collects.
INGLIS: I think most Americans would be surprised at how infrequently we actually look at that data. In all of 2012, there were less than 300 locations where we said what we had was reasonable, articulable suspicion - that's the legal standard that's applied here - to query that database; less than 300 times.
INSKEEP: Although it is interesting, though, the President's Commission, when it investigated this issue and wrote about it, said that yes, 288 times - I think - in 2012, you went to the metadata for a particular phone number. But then you're allowed to look at phone numbers that were called from that number...
INGLIS: That's true.
INSKEEP: ...and then numbers that were called from those numbers. And they outlined a scenario where one data request might cause you to look at a million phone numbers.
INGLIS: It could. But in all of 2012, we actually looked at 6,000.
INSKEEP: Six thousand numbers, is the number in 2012.
INGLIS: Six thousand numbers is what we actually then touched, all based upon the seeds that started with less than 300.
INSKEEP: If it's not clear by now, Chris Inglis lives in a world of numbers, at an agency filled with computer experts. Far more of those numbers have become public than the agency ever intended. Last summer, Edward Snowden disclosed an internal agency audit. Analysts just at NSA headquarters committed about 2,700 violations of the rules in a single year. Inglis has suggested only 711 violations were of real concern. And many of them were typos - entering the wrong phone number, say, in search of another,
He says that represents a tiny percentage of his analysts' work. Those numbers got us thinking, though, about just how vast the agency surveillance operations really are.
INGLIS: The accuracy rate at NSA is 99.99984 percent - which is a pretty good record.
INSKEEP: I was fascinated by that math; that 711 errors in a year means that 99.99984 percent of the time, you're right. And so I started doing the math and reversed it; tried to figure out well, how many communications are they monitoring, then? And when I did the math, I concluded that that means that you're monitoring - I wrote down - 44,437,500 communications in a year.
You're nodding - that's about the scale of your activities.
INGLIS: That's what that math would lead you to. But actually, it's not that simple. So let's say I'm interested in a particular terrorist. That individual might have dozens; might have, across a given year, hundreds of selectors. I'd kind of pick up and drop telephones - you know, like it's fast food.
INSKEEP: And the agency may look at each communication many times. In this way, Inglis suggests, the NSA is not monitoring so many individual people, though he never denied analyzing tens of millions of communications. The agency faces pressure now to accept reforms. The special court that issues warrants to monitor Americans operates in secret, and that presidential commission called for a public advocate to operate within the court as a kind of defense lawyer. Chris Inglis told us, quote, "We would welcome that."
During our long talk, Inglis referred many times to the man whose leaks prompted talk of such change - though he referred to that man in a particular way.
INGLIS: I thought it was interesting at around right the December timeframe, when one individual on the planet was saying that "I won." I donât think anybody who's NSA would ever think in those terms.
INSKEEP: This is a side point, but I notice you're not saying the name Edward Snowden. Is there a reason you donât say his name?
INGLIS: No. I can say that name.
INSKEEP: (Laughter) But you're not going to just now.
INGLIS: I think Mr. Snowden deserves, you know, his day in court. He has his position. He has his opinion. I'd like to see him get his opportunity to make his case.
INSKEEP: As much as you disagree with what he did, has he helped you since he brought about a public debate that you now say that in hindsight, you wish had happened before?
INGLIS: Yeah, in the same way that somebody who burned my house down has given me the opportunity to perhaps build it in a way that I would prefer.
INGLIS: That rebuilding will be left to Chris Inglis' successor. He retires today after running the day-to-day operations of the National Security Agency.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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We've heard the stories, but we've yet to appreciate it in the flesh until now. That's right, Pocket-lint was present and correct at the first UK showing of the Asus UX31, the company's new Ultrabook.
Shown at an Intel Tweet Up in London to an unsuspecting audience, the new flagship Asus device and MacBook Air destroyer, according to some, settled in for a quiet 20 minutes with Pocket-lint. This allowed us to enjoy the spun aluminium finished laptop in all its glory away from the marauding tech bloggers (aka the lunch bunch) usually found at such events. All the better for it, according to those who attended.
Clientele aside (we love you really), the new UX31 is everything that a PC loving MacBook Air fan would want: a thin design, instant on Windows 7 capabilities, and a week to 10-day standby on the battery life - yes this really is a Windows PC.
If that wasn't enough to excite, then the super-thin (to coin an American phrase) metal casing top and bottom probably will.
Basically, if you've been tempted by the Cupertino clan, this will quell those thoughts better than the Dell Adamo ever did. High praise indeed.
Praise aside, the Asus Ultrabook will come in two models: an 11.6-inch version and a 13.3-inch version. While that's vastly different to the "several models" the rumours had us believe, we've gone straight to the source on this one.
Specs are still very light on the ground, but based on the ports we've snapped you'll be getting an SD card reader, two USB sockets, DisplayPort and a microHDMI socket.
In the flesh the design is incredibly crisp and one of the best looking Asus models we've seen to date, taking the design ethos first seen in the Asus NX90 launched in 2010 and making it thinner, as well as more approachable to the average consumer.
As for that trackpad, it's incredibly responsive, with the chiclet keyboard comfortable to use.
Inside and the new laptop will come with the second generation of the Intel Core i7 processor, aSATA 3 SSD (size still to be confirmed) and a bevy of specs to get you "excited", according to the Asus exec we spoke to.
Our quick play with the new Ultrabook proved fast and responsive, although to be fair we weren't able to fully test or push it to its limits.
Due out before Christmas, Asus has yet to set a date or a price for the new laptop, however the company has confirmed to Pocket-lint that the luxury laptop will come with a leather case to keep your new prize possession safe (as pictured).
As for the purple bezel in the pictures? That will be toned down, we've been told, as our shots are of an engineering sample. According to our man at Asus, the final version will look a lot better.
- Asus UX series laptop has MacBook Air in it's sights
What do you think of the new model? Let us know in the comments below.

subset: commoncrawl


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WASHINGTON – Farmers interested in the 2005 winter sign-up for the Conservation Security Program have a new tool that could help them decide if it's worth their while to try to participate in the program.
The tool is a self-assessment workbook that allows farmers to determine their eligibility for the CSP and other USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service programs, according to NRCS Chief Bruce Knight. The NRCS is the agency that administers the voluntary program.
"The workbook is significant because "self-assessment" is a new way of doing business with NRCS, ' said Knight, who announced the availability of the workbook today. "Used as a pilot that proved successful in last year's program, farmers and ranchers can assess their potential eligibility by themselves on their own time at their convenience."
The initial self-assessment will help producers identify whether their individual agricultural operation meets sign-up criteria and answer the question, "Have I fully addressed the minimum requirements for both soil quality and water quality on the land I manage?"
By going through the workbook, producers will get an initial idea about whether they are eligible for CSP at this time. NRCS state offices will be preparing supplements to the self-assessment workbook that further explain program requirements and add any needed emphasis or explanation for local conditions.
Producers who may not be eligible at this time can find out about other USDA programs that can help them achieve a higher level of conservation so that they may apply for CSP in the future.
To apply for the program, NRCS asks potential participants to complete the self-assessment to determine if their operations meet the requirements of the program and qualify for program participation. The self-assessment process is completed using a self-screening questionnaire for each land use to be enrolled.
NRCS provides up-to-date technology, tools and resource information to meet the conservation needs of the nation's producers. Soil quality assessment information at http://soils.usda.gov/sqi/soil_quality/assessment/index.html includes the Soil Conditioning Index, a tool used to predict the consequences of cropping systems and tillage practices on the status of soil organic matter. Water quality resources, including a Manure Management Planner, are at http://wmc.ar.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/wq.html.
Last month, USDA announced that the fiscal year 2005 CSP will be available to eligible farmers and ranchers in 202 watersheds across the nation during a sign-up to be held this winter. A sign-up announcement will be published along with the final rule that will detail specific program requirements in these watersheds. The program will be offered each year on a rotational basis in as many watersheds as funding allows.
The CSP self-assessment workbook is available in hardcopy or compact disk (CD) from local NRCS offices and online at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp. Also at that Web site is a map of the CSP watersheds and additional information on the program.


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Crews renovate Big Bay Cabin By Candace Ward
Beginning Dec. 1, reservations for Kenai National Wildlife Refuge cabins can be made on-line at www.recreation.gov or by phone at 1-877-444-6777. Since our cabin reservation program began in 2005, users have overwhelmingly requested an on-line reservation system and now that service is a reality. Recreation.gov is also an excellent reservation resource not only for our Refuge cabins, but also for Kodiak NWR, Chugach National Forest, and many other public lands' recreation cabins as well.
A new cabin addition to the Refuge is the historic Big Bay Cabin on the south central shore of Tustumena Lake. Big Bay Cabin marks the 16th cabin to be included in the Refuge's Public Use Cabin Program and the 4th on Tustumena Lake. The restoration of the cabin took place during summer 2011. Through the joint effort of the Refuge Cabin Crew and Youth Conservation Corp not only was the safety and comfort of the cabin improved, but also it was also carefully restored following exacting historical standards.
I personally have enjoyed renting Refuge cabins over the years on my days off. One especially memorable trip happened in this September. My husband, Walter, and I had a wonderful stay at the Pipe Creek Cabin on the northern side of Tustumena Lake. The cabin served as a base to explore the eastern portion of Tustumena Lake. We especially enjoyed the Tustumena Glacier Flats where we saw trumpeter swans in their brilliant white plumage highlighted against the bright reds and yellows of fall foliage.
Every evening we returned to our home base at Pipe Creek Cabin appreciating the comfort of the site provided by the hard work and dedicated efforts of Refuge staff. I recalled the deteriorated state of this cabin on my last visit to the site over twenty five years ago and it seemed a miracle that its rehabilitation had been so successful.
The last day of our trip, we encountered 30 mph winds from the north making our trip back to the Kasilof Boat Launch a wet and wild adventure. The grandeur and power of Tustumena Lake wilderness is world class and having a cozy cabin to retreat to each night was a rare treat!
I hope you will consider a cabin adventure of your own on Kenai NWR. Remember that cabins can be booked 180 days ahead of time. So, if you have a summer date in mind, you can begin booking cabins for June in January at www.recreation.gov.
Candace Ward has worked at Kenai National Wildlife Refuge as a park ranger for 27 years specializing in visitor service and wildlife education. She enjoys hiking and recreating on the Refuge and other Kenai Peninsula public lands on her days off with her family. Check out our Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/kenainationalwildliferefuge.


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Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Criticisms of Barack Obama
Watching the inauguration of President Barack Obama today, I was struck by what an amazing country America is. Here we have one group of people with all the power, and they willingly and peacefully hand that power over to another at the decision of the electorate. A stable democratic system in the context of a liberal society (by which I mean a free society) can certainly be a blessing. It's unfortunate then, to note on this day of triumph for American electoral democracy, that we have used it to elect for ourselves a leader who is likely to wield more power than any who preceded him, and to do so in favor of an ever-expanding, more intrusive government.
President Obama ran a campaign on the theme of hope, using the slogan "Yes we can!" At a time when Americans desperately needed words of hope and optimism, Obama convinced America that he was the candidate of hope. We were duped. Listen again to the words of his campaign- it was a cynical campaign, utterly bankrupt of genuine hope. Obama's message to America was "No you can't! No you can't provide for yourselves. No you can't create new jobs and wealth on your own. No you can't thrive and prosper without handouts from the government. You are helpless and inept. You need a powerful, charismatic leader who is smarter than you are and knows what's good for you and how to spend your money better than you do."
The central note of the Obama-Biden Campaign was not hope, but despair. They capitalized on our fears and stoked them with alarmist rhetoric about our future. It was a lie of Orwellian dimensions- they said the exact opposite of what they really meant- and it worked. And as President, Obama and Congress are likely to continue saying together, "No you can't." No we can't keep the wealth we create; it will have to be taxed to fund Obama's make-work programs. No we can't choose how to save and invest our own money for our own retirement; the government knows better and will "keep it safe" for us in a Social Security account. No we can't voluntarily choose to be virtuous and care for the needs of the less fortunate; we will have to be forced to do it. And no we can't choose to be selfish; Obama is arrogant enough to force us to do what he considers to be the right thing.
Also consider Obama's staff and administration as further evidence of his cynicism. Selecting Joe Biden, a long-time Washington insider, as his running mate created a glaring inconsistency with Obama's campaign message of reform. Obama didn't have enough hope in his vision of reform not to select the same tired old faces from Washington to populate his administration, the same people who have been part of the same problem for years and even decades. The Obama administration looks eerily like the Clinton administration. At every level from his Vice Presidential pick, to his cabinet level positions, and down through the Executive hierarchy, Obama has failed to suit action to words in his hope for change and reform. Make no mistake- the same old politics are now at work in D.C. and Barack Obama is the same old kind of politician.
At a time of celebration over our new president, when an overwhelming majority of Americans approve of the Obama administration, I am proud to number myself among the minority of Americans who see increasing regulation, spending, inflation, and centralized power in the hands of a corrupt and inept government, and who mourn rather than celebrate, who grieve over the death of liberty and the decay of civil society.
5 comments:
- AnonymousJanuary 21, 2009 at 9:03 PM
I think that people who voted for Obama because they sincerely believed that everything (or at least the important things) in the country are broken and that he's the most likely to fix it will likely be sorely disappointed.ReplyDelete
That said, I did vote for Obama, and it leads me to this question.
Obama almost certainly believes that he will do his utmost to help the country and that he really is an agent for change. And if that's the case, then why fault him for the promises he's making? It's not like he's being dishonest.
Granted, you don't think his policies will help (and will in fact most likely hurt) our country, but wouldn't the blame for those policies then be placed on those (like myself) who voted for him and not the man himself?
I wouldn't be at all surprised if you agree with that statement as it seems to me as being very libertarian-esque (it's every person's individual responsibility to thoroughly research their candidates) so I'm not leaving this comment to begin a debate, but rather to qualify.
No doubt you'll have a response of your own.
Interesting. Please excuse my late reply, and thanks for your comment- it's very well thought out. I'm curious to know why you voted for Obama while recognizing he won't fix this country's problems. I'm guessing you think he at least won't worsen matters as much as McCain would have?ReplyDelete
To answer your first question, I definitely recognize that Obama thinks he's doing what's best. I'm not so shallow and partisan as to believe that he's some kind of villian who wants to hurt America. But all those good intentions are worthless if he paves a road to economic and political hell with them.
I'm pointing out that his ideas are wrong, not because I want to condemn Obama, but because I believe his ideas are harmful despite his best intentions and I feel conscience and duty bound to say so and to persuade others that there is a much better way.
I do agree with you that the people who voted for Obama share in his achievements or his blunders to some degree and are responsible for his policies to some extent. But ultimately I'm not interested in placing blame on anyone. I just want my country to be free, flourishing, enlightened, and happy.
- AnonymousJanuary 28, 2009 at 9:58 PM
Oh, it's not that I don't think Obama won't fix any of our country's problems. I think he will do good for our country, especially compared to McCain.ReplyDelete
I just realize that it's simply not possible for him to deliver on every single campaign promise he's made because the office of President just doesn't allow him the power.
Ah, I see. Well thanks for reading my blog and caring enough to offer a thoughtful comment. You're of course, welcome to comment anywhere else, even to voice your disagreement with my assertions.ReplyDelete
Im an African african whos keenly following the political & economic events in USA with interest. l note that USA is a much freer society than most nations & that considering what Bush was offering, how the economy was performing,what McCain represented with the hopeless Sarah Palin effect, Obama together with his proposals offered the best hope.ReplyDelete
Undoubtedly Obama needs our help in fine tuning some of the policies, to get things working again--the problem is that is is not in the interest of rival politicians to assist him but to denigrate, decampaign, demoralise & destabilise. What is really important is to point out errors, offer corrections & responsibly critic a current President till the next election. Come another plebiscite then stand up as a rival politician & challenge him with concrete alternatives. The tone of this commentary smacks of sour grapes & political challenge. l would rather welcome unpoliticised comments that ask genuine questions & offer viable alternatives not complain complain complain like all other losers.


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I think about 14 NCAA schools athletic programs had excess of revenues over expenditures last year. In the world of profit accounting, their athletic department made a profit. So, let's see…if about 1,000 schools belong to the NCAA and 14 schools made a profit then…98.6% of schools had to rely on at least some institutional support last year to survive.
Without ever studying the numbers (but relying on my 20 years in college athletics experience) I will venture a guess that most schools provide at least 90% plus of the funds an athletic department needs to function. Those of us with small arenas (arena is a funny haha word – more like gymnasiums) have a limited ticket revenue stream. And then there is that silly thing called winning which contributes to the equation. Let's face it, those of us who have to budget need to assume the team will have a losing season without much walk-up game-day business. When there is success then the "extra" revenue can be used for "extra" things rather than for the business of running the department.
Have you noticed that no expense is going down? Funny thing! While we experience flat line budgets things like transportation, equipment and the biggest money sucker of all, officials, are going up like a skier on a tow rope. I call officiating an unfunded mandate. While it's tempting not to pay them…well…you know…
Here is another thing about institutional support. The ability (and willingness) to fundraise can change the amount and percentage of institutional support. This was something I worked hard to educate folks about during our current self-study. For our example our fictional school has a general student ratio of 45% men and 55% women. Let's say the Men's Table Tennis team has a coach who is a prolific fundraiser. He is a world champion and has an international following. He receives donations which he uses for team travel and recruiting and the players are decked out in the newest clothing and have state of the art equipment. The Women's Table Tennis team has the exact budget as the men at the beginning of the year, $250,000. The men spend $300,000 and women spend $275,000 but the men's deficit is covered by their booster money. In spending dollars the men outspent their female counterparts by $25,000 bringing the balance to 52% male and 48% female. OH NO! But wait, there's more! In reality the actual institutional support is $250,000 for the men and $275,000 for the women now showing the actual balance at 48% male and 52% female. Ahhh…much better…
Here is another question: should the men's program be limited to how much they can spend even though they work hard to raise it? Is that really what we mean when we say "gender equity?"
As we embark on a complete organizational review at our school, part of the new initiative begun by our new president, I have to remind the committee that if they are looking at athletics as a profit making venture they are going to have to move to one of those rare 14 schools that flipped their program last year.
Life is good!
Twitter: MidMajorMom
Twitter: JudeCaserta


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The USGenWeb Archives Digital Map Library
The Tennessee Digital Map Library
Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or comments. Our goal is to make available to genealogists, useful, readable, high quality maps. If you do not see the map here it is because we do not have the mapThe Tennessee State Map Coordinator: Mary Hudson .


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I promised in my blog earlier this week, the one about research on cooperation among colleagues, to write about another interesting presentation we heard from a candidate for an assistant professor job in management: Eileen Chou of Kellogg Business School at Northwestern.
Chou's presentation -- with the cutesy title "The devil is in the details" -- presents some experiments challenging the common view that contracts with more specific contract terms are better than those with less specific ones. Some of the experiments were done in the lab, and others involved recruiting people for a job on the website mTurk. (The site is usually used to recruit real people for jobs they do at home, and has become an increasingly popular tool for academics who wish to study psychological phenomena.) Chou looks at the effect the specificity of contract terms has on the performance of the person who has signed the contract. The contracts she considers are employment contracts, and she looks at them from the perspective of the employee. In the experiments, she manipulates some of the terms of the contracts to make them more or less specific.
So, for example, in one experiment the two versions are "we will check the responses of 25 percent of the employees" vs. "we might check some employee responses." In another, the alternatives are a group that meets "two days a week (on weekdays)" vs. "a bi-weekly focus group." In a third, participants will speak "for two to three minutes" vs. "for a couple of minutes." What she found is that the less specific contracts increased employee persistence, creativity and organizational commitment compared with the more specific ones. Chou argues that this occurred because the less specific contracts increased employee intrinsic motivation, which research has shown is related to a person's feelings of competence and autonomy. She suggests that lack of detail may be interpreted as a vote of confidence in the employee's competence, and that fewer constraints, and incentives that may not be well specified, promotes a feeling of autonomy. These experiments touch on age-old issues in government contracting and in how to promote good contractor performance. In some sense, these results are more consistent with the "trust/cooperation" view of how to organize contracting than with the "adversarial/monitoring" view.
Of course, it's a real stretch to go from these results to definite conclusions about government contracting. First, it should be noted that all the specific terms involved either inputs or monitoring -- the experiments did not include performance demands ("do your best" vs. "keep the system up and running 99.5 percent of the time"). Second, the experiments looked at effects of specificity on the behavior of individual employees in one-on-one contracts, and it is unclear whether or to what extent these findings would apply to employees if the contract is between a government agency and a service provider. Nonetheless, it is an interesting contribution to debates on government contracting from an unlikely source.
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 at 7:27 PM
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I agree with the sentiment here. If you need a system and try to write a work statement that identifies that the system shall do x and perform y and look like z, then yes, it will be a very painful process and the end product is not likely to look like what you identified up front. There are 2 reasons for this: 1. Requirements and design is likely to be part of the process and to include the requirements and design in the work statement pre-supposes that part. 2. Time. Things happen, life happens, and what we need today will very likely be different from what we need tomorrow. My recommendation, be very very specific, but be specific about the right thing. You are not buying a system in that contract. You are buying services. Write the work statement to correctly account for what it is you are buying. Don't waste any energy trying to identify the "What" but rather focus on the "How". For an application, how many requirements sessions will you need? What does a model requirements gathering session look like? What are the artifacts of that process? This is how I structure my work statements, and I have been on-time, on-budget, on-scope, on-quality and most importantly, on-satisfaction with my projects since adopting this approach.
Herr Professor:
You should run a column on the Booz Allen layoffs and what they mean for the contracting industry.
Just a thought.
Thanks all, for these interesting and thoughful comments.
In 2010 Ms Chou co-authored an article entitled, "The Hidden Costs of Contracts on Relationships and Performance." It's available here: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1612376. Here is the abstract:
"Rather than acting as a safeguard, contracts may actually damage relationships. Using field and
lab studies, we assessed the effects of contracts on contract formation, implementation, and
ultimate outcomes. Studies 1 and 2 showed that the presence of a contract led people to
anticipate more contentious interactions, which then led to a reduction in their actual cooperative
behavior. Studies 3 and 4 showed that contracts that included sanctions led to poor team
performance." Fascinating paper, and instructive.
The findings as described by Steve, while not about government contracts specifically, seem to be consistent with the findings of Stewart Macaulay in the 1960s. See "Non-Contractual Relations in Business: A Preliminary Study," American Sociological Review, Vol. 28, No. 1, February 1963, available at http://law.wisc.edu/facstaff/macaulay/papers/non-contractual.pdf. See also the paper that Ralph Nash and I wrote for the Procurement Round Table, "A Proposal for a New Approach to Performance-Based Services Acquisition," Defense Acquisition Review Journal, Vol. 14, No. 2, September 2007, available at http://www.dau.mil/pubscats/PubsCats/ARJ45_Edwards.pdf.
Any attempt to write a detailed statement of work for a long term (one year or longer) and complex (multi-function or multi-task) service contract will fail, because "the devil is in the details" and the details cannot be known in advance. Trust, cooperation, teamwork, and ad hoc decisionmaking, not contract language, are the keys to success.
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Popular or folk medicine
For most of history, ordinary people could not afford the services of a university-trained physician when they became ill. Their first port of call would have been local healers. These were not elite doctors, but claimed medical expertise nonetheless. These healers came from many different backgrounds: in Rome, for example, they were often slaves, ex-slaves or wise women. Historians call this once thriving and influential tradition 'popular' or 'folk' medicine.
Across different times and places, these popular healers tended to believe that the body existed in a delicate balance with nature, the heavens and the spirits. Their advice and remedies reflected this. They often gave ill people an amulet in order to ward off evil spirits. These could be employed along with natural remedies derived from plants that were physically similar to the affected part of the body, a theory known as the doctrine of signatures. Just as often though, a popular healer may well recommend a remedy based on the opposite of symptoms. Headaches, for example, were thought to have arisen from excessive heat, so sufferers were told to bathe their feet in cold water.
From at least as far back as the 1600s, elite, university-trained doctors sought to discredit this common tradition. Yet it was not as removed from elite medicine as they claimed - nor was it as ineffective as they liked to think. Folk healers throughout Europe used small quantities of smallpox to immunise people well before this practice found elite favour in the 1800s as vaccination. Modern investigations have also revealed the medical effectiveness of many of the herbal remedies that folk healers employed.
Related links
Techniques and Technologies:
L I Conrad, M Neve, V Nutton and R Porter, The Western Medical Tradition, 800 BC – 1800 AD (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995)
R Porter, The Greatest Benefit to Mankind: A Medical History of Humanity from Antiquity to the Present (London: HarperCollins, 1997)


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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Lipscomb track and field posted four school records and a host of strong marks on Day One of the ETSU Niswonger Invitational, Friday.
Sophomore Tucker Peabody continued his impressive sophomore campaign, breaking the school 60m record with a 6.86s mark. That mark placed him fifth overall out of 12 heats and over 60 runnres. The run qualified him for tomorrow's final.
Peabody continued his record-breaking performance later in the 200m, qualifying third overall with a 21.58s mark. He shaved nearly two-tenths of a second off his previous school indoor-best of 21.77s.
"Tucker looked sharp again today," said Lipscomb head coach Bill Taylor. "He really energizes our team and continues to get better each week."
Freshman Matthew Deery started the day with an 8.67s mark in the 60m hurdles, breaking Dillon Seigenthaler's previous mark of 8.89s. He finished 15th overall.
The 400m dash team continued to impress, winning two of the 13 preliminary heats in the event. Freshman Colin Dempster broke the school record with a 49.18s mark, qualifying for Saturday's final with the second-fastest time overall.
Junior Bobby Bassett also won his heat with a 50.99s mark, finishing 19th but not qualifying for the final.
In the field, junior Logan Ray finished fourth in the long jump with a 14.06m (46' 1.50") mark.
Freshman Brenna Thompson finished ninth in the 400m with a 59.58s mark.
Freshman April Terry finished just shy of advancing her school shot put record. Her 11.40m (37' 5.0") toss finished a centimeter shy of tying her school mark, and earned her a 15th-place finish. Junior Taylor Mason established a new indoor personal-best in the shot put with an 11.11m (36' 5.50") toss; she finished 21st.
The distance runners finally got their first chance to shine in 2012, and a group that was last seen winning an A-Sun cross country championship last fall did not disappoint. Sophomore Katie Bunker led the Lady Bison with a fifth-place, 2:17.24s mark.
"I was very happy with our 800m runners today," Taylor said. "They each performed very well to have only had a week of practice.
"I'm very excited to see our longer distance runners tomorrow. In the longer distances, raw speed will have an advantage; even without as much practice, I think we'll put up very good times."
Competition in Johnson City continues tomorrow, with relays, distance events, sprint finals and the remaining field events still to be decided.


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This Day in Sports History — June 22
Here are just some of the notable sports moments that happened on June 22:
1889 — The Louisville Colonels baseball team of the American Association set a major league record with their 26th consecutive loss. (More info.)
1937 — Joe Louis knocked out James J. Braddock in the eighth round of their heavyweight fight at Comiskey Park in Chicago to become the first black boxing champion since Jack Johnson lost to Jess Willard in 1915. (More info.)
1938 — Joe Louis knocked out Max Schmeling in the first round of their fight at Yankee Stadium in New York to retain the heavyweight boxing title. (More info.)
1946 — Future Hall of Fame executive Bill Veeck purchased the Cleveland Indians. (More info.)
1949 — Ezzard Charles beat Jersey Joe Walcott in 15 rounds at Comiskey Park in Chicago for the heavyweight boxing title. (More info.)
1979 — Larry Holmes scored a technical knockout of Mike Weaver in the 12th round of their fight at Madison Square Garden in New York to retain the heavyweight boxing title. (More info.)
1981 — Using the phrase 'You cannot be serious,' tennis great John McEnroe erupted at Wimbledon umpire Edward James during a first round match. McEnroe defeated Tom Gullikson. (More info.)
1982 — Pete Rose doubled for his 3,772nd career hit, which allowed him to pass Hank Aaron and move into second place on the all-time hits list. (More info.)
1986 — Argentina's Diego Maradona scored the "Hand of God" goal — the ball was allegedly punched into the net — against England in the World Cup quarterfinals at Mexico City to help his team to a 2-1 win. (More info.)
1987 — New York Mets' pitcher Tom Seaver officially retired from baseball with 311 wins. (More info.)
1990 — The Atlanta Braves replaced manager Russ Nixon with general manager Bobby Cox. (More info.)
1991 — The Quebec Nordiques selected Eric Lindros with the first overall pick in the NHL Draft. (More info.)
1993 — New York Mets pitcher Anthony Young tied a major league record when he lost his 23rd straight decision. (More info.)
1994 — The Houston Rockets beat the New York Knicks 90-84 in Game 7 of the finals to win the NBA championship. (More info.)
1994 — The United States soccer team upset Colombia, 2-1, for their first World Cup win since 1950. (More info.)
1996 — Michael Moorer beat Axel Shultz in 12 rounds at Dortmund, Germany for the IBF heavyweight boxing title. (More info.)


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Nicole Marie Wilson of Estherville and Robert Earl Tifft of Terril were married Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011 at Estherville Lutheran Church with Pastor Douglas Burton officiating.
The bride's parents are Rick and Peggy Wilson of Estherville. The groom's parents are Martha Tifft of Terril and the late Roger Tifft.
Maid of honor was Shannon Blair of Estherville, friend of the couple. Best man was Scott Tifft of Louisa, Va., brother of the groom.
Article Photos
Nicole and Robert
Bridesmaids were Lindsey Devore of Terril, friend of the couple, and Sally Garrelts of Estherville, friend of the couple.
Groomsmen were Travis Wilson of Estherville, brother of the bride and Justin "Pud" Johnson of Worthington, Iowa, friend of the couple. Honorary groomsman was Nathan Wilson, brother of the bride.
Flowergirl was Emily Tifft of Louisa, niece of the groom.
Ringbearer was Brannon Tifft of Virginia, nephew of the groom.
Ushers were Eric Nygaard of North Liberty, cousin of the bride; and Leo Schultes of Superior, friend of the couple.
Pianist was Marcia Klingbeil of Estherville.
Vocalist was Heather Miller of Minneapolis.
Following the ceremony, a reception was held at the Elks Lodge in Estherville.


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Our Lima office opened its doors in early 2016 and is our most recent addition to BCG's presence in South America. The new Lima base combines pioneering experience in emerging markets with the support of the whole BCG structure. Our Lima team is already expanding footprints in a wide range of industries.
BCG in Lima opened in February 2016 in the San Isidro district of the city. San Isidro is the major financial district, which boasts numerous gardens and parks and plenty of appealing restaurants, bars, and shops.
The Lima office partners with Peruvian and foreign multinationals companies in a broad range of industries, including mining, consumer goods, financial services, industrial goods, and telecommunications.
BCG in Lima has a familial and entrepreneurial atmosphere where everybody takes an active part. Our culture is made of collaboration, professional challenges, continuous development, and open communication. We enjoy working together to build our success!
From the very beginning, BCG has supported my personal and professional development by giving me the opportunity to learn from great leaders.
I have learned at BCG that diversity leads to better and more innovative results.
Buenos Aires


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What a great way to start a new year - with a trip around the world!
In honor of the Sukkot holiday, The Jewish Agency for Israel launched a campaign to find the Number One Sukkah in the World. The competition, dubbed "Sukkathon 2013," invites Jewish individuals and communities around the world to submit photos of their sukkahs for consideration by a panel of judges.
The judges include the South African-Israeli architect Pam Davidson, UK art critic, curator and art history lecturer Julia Weiner, and artist Betina Schnaid, a recent immigrant to Israel from Brazil, who has participated in The Jewish Agency's Ulpan Etzion program in Jerusalem before representing Israel at the 2013 London Biennale.
We have received images from Buenos Aires, Jerusalem, Johannesburg, Krakow, New York,and many more communities from our global Jewish family.
Executive Director of the Jewish Community Center of Krakow, Jonthan Ornstein submitted a photograph of himself and their rabbi, Avi Baumol at the entrance to their brightly-colored sukkah. Ornstein calls the Krakow JCC, which enjoys 5,000 montly visitors, a "fascinating experiment." The Center reaches out to those who were afraid to be Jewish or who are only finding out from their parents or grandparents about their Jewish backgrounds.
The JCC also serves Krakow's older Jewish community of Holocaust survivors, providing them with a warm, welcoming space and full slate of social, educational and religious activities. "Our Krakow JCC and our beautiful sukkah - created by community members of all age - are located an hour's drive from Auschwitz but they are both colourful, hopeful, and optimistic and help tell the world that our people is not defined by the tragedy that befalls us but rather how we move on," Ornstein says.
Children from The Jewish Agency's Ye'elim Immigrant Absorption Center in Be'er Sheva also submitted a photo of themselves in the absorption center sukkah, which they helped build and decorate. Hundreds of new immigrants living in the absorption center are preparing to celebrate their first Sukkot in Israel, as are thousands of other immigrants at Jewish Agency absorption centers around Israel. Some 350 individuals reside in Ye'elim, including some 130 children.
Photo submissions will be welcomed until, and including Monday, September 23, and the winner will be announced on the Hoshana Rabbah festival day, Wednesday 25 September.
Sukkathon photos may be submitted via email (to firstname.lastname@example.com) or on Twitter or Instagram, using the hashtag #Number1Sukkah.
For more details about The Jewish Agency Sukkathon 2013/5774, click here.
We invite you to join in our journey with a sneak-peak of some of the submissions we have received so far - all contending for the title of Number One Sukkah on our Facebook page.
Which sukkah is your favorite?


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If you're a Jewish young adult looking for a meaningful, life-changing experience filled with fun, learning and self-discovery, then Aardvark Israel is for you.
Aardvark Israel was founded in Feb. 2010 by Keith Berman and Debbie Goldsmith to maximize the number of young Jews coming to Israel. With more than 150 years of combined experience in Zionist educational endeavours, the staff of Aardvark provide a dynamic and exciting program that allows students to connect more deeply with their homeland.
Deena Hassan, recruitment co-ordinator, said Aardvark Israel is a unique program that deserved a unique name.
"We looked at names and youth culture and determined that unusual names were popular – Lady Gaga, Glee, Avatar," Hassan said. "
Also, we see the aardvark as an animal that is grounded – close to the earth in a way we want to see our students connected to the land of Israel."
The premier program of Aardvark is the Aardvark Israel Gap Year. It's a nine-month university program for students ages 17 to 20. The Aardvark Israel Semester Program offers a five-month option to students ages 18 to 22 who can't spend a full year away from their home campus.
The Aardvark Israel Gap Year combines immersion into Israeli society, service to the community through volunteer work and internships, and learning about Israel and Judaism through formal academic and informal educational encounters.
As a fully accredited university program, students may earn college credit for their coursework.
Hassan said that of the 70 students currently enrolled in Aardvark Israel, 11 are Canadian. In recent years, there has been an upsurge in interest in gap-year and semester programs as high school graduates are being encouraged to invest in personal growth for a year before entering university, she said.
Recent studies have shown that students are better prepared for success in university if they spend a year maturing and learning about themselves after high school, Hassan said.
The Aardvark experience provides a forum for students to decompress, do something different, foster independence and creativity, and prepare for university life.
The Aardvark Israel programs are based out of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Participants live in furnished apartments in desirable neighbourhoods, spending six months in each city.
Students have the opportunity to shop for groceries, cook their meals and clean their apartments under the supervision of qualified counsellors, Hassan said.
"Tel Aviv was just voted by the Lonely Planet [website] as the third-best city in the world to visit. It is such a vibrant, dynamic city, and Aardvark is virtually alone in offering our students a chance to live there."
Hassan said students regularly participate in excursions throughout Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as well as the northern and southern areas of the country.
These field trips include visits to museums, historical sites, a variety of communities and nature reserves. Different excursions are offered to students who have little prior experience in Israel and to those who have previously toured the country.
As part of their responsibilities as participants in the program, Aardvark Israel students are expected to contribute to Israeli society, Hassan said. Between 12 to 16 hours per week are dedicated to internships, community service and volunteer projects.
Students are given a range of choices and are placed at sites that match their interests and skills. Options include working with the ambulance service Magen David Adom, teaching English in schools and helping out in soup kitchens, animal shelters and retirement homes.
"Students interested in career journalism are able to volunteer in media and political think-tanks, which help them formulate their academic interests when they go on to college," said Hassan.
"Similarly, students interested in social justice, environmental causes and special needs learn from each other's experiences and about themselves and how they fit into the bigger Israeli picture."
With programs that include a volunteer portion, students learn the importance of giving back to their community and often see direct results. Once the students return to their university campuses, they will have memories that will positively affect the rest of their lives, she said.
Fundamental to Aardvark Israel's establishment is the commitment to offer programs at affordable prices in order to make high-quality Israel experiences accessible to as many young adults as possible.
All Jewish recent high school graduates and university students are encouraged to apply. For more information, visit www.aardvarkisrael.com.


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Texas Fashion Collection - 4 Matching Results
Search Results
- Hat
- Turban-style hat created of henna colored wound silk rope stitched to form the hat. Net backing/lining. At front of hat is a oval spiral of same material, from which extends a spray of cinnamon colored feathers. Label sewn inside: "John Frederics Inc / New York"
- Chauffer's Uniform Greatcoat
- Man's chauffeur's uniform greatcoat of black wool with black astrakhan (3 day old lamb) fur collar. The full-length overcoat is double-breasted, with long sleeves and a flap pocket at each hip. Torso lined in heavy brown muton. Maker's label inside pocket, part printed, part filled in by hand: "Lexington / National Tailoring Co., Inc / Better quality uniforms / 851 Lexington Ave., N.Y. / Name: John Forsythe / Date: 10/31/34 No.: 9622" NRA "Blue Eagle" label inside pocket Stamped on inner side of lining: "Taskinlamb"
- Hat
- Hat of chocolate colored mink fur. Somewhat in a pillbox shape, but much larger, the slightly domed crown fully covers the head. Brown corduroy lining trimmed with grosgrain ribbon. Labels: Designer's label: "Mr. D" United Hatters, Cap and Millinery Workers International Union label.
- Hat
- Casual hat in baseball cap style of blue wool felt. Matching grosgrain bow and ribbon on bill as trim. Crown formed from four panels. Retailer's label stamped on inside headband: "Neiman Marcus Co. / Dallas"


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Without a land base, agriculture in Connecticut would perish. Located between the large metropolitan areas of Boston and New York City, Connecticut has seen a steady increase in land values and development pressures over the last 40 years. During this time frame, two pieces of legislation critical to the safeguarding of Connecticut's agricultural land base were passed. One in 1963 (commonly referred to as Public Act 490) and one in 1978. The 1978 legislation established the Department of Agriculture's Farmland Preservation Program. This program purchases the development rights to prime cropland thus keeping said land in production agriculture in perpetuity.
Other important sections of the Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) that sustain and maintain Connecticut as a state favorable to agriculture are as follows:
Also, listed below is a link to the bulk of Connecticut's agricultural statutes (Title 22) and a few of the more commonly asked about statutes:
Property Tax Exemptions and Abatements (agriculture)
Property Tax Abatements (a municipal option)
C.G.S. Sec. 12-81m. http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/pub/Chap203.htm#Sec12-81m.htm Municipal option to abate up to fifty per cent of property taxes of dairy farm, fruit orchard, vegetable, nursery, nontraditional or tobacco farm or commercial lobstering business operated on maritime heritage land. Must be approved by municipality.
Property Tax Exemptions
All farmers must file a personal Property Declaration Form with assessor (Form M-15 or town may have their own form) listing all taxable personal property they own in order to claim any farm exemptions. C.G.S. Sec. 12-81. The following-described property shall be exempt from taxation:
Property Tax Exemption for Farm Buildings, and Farm Machinery
Up to $100,000 in value for equipment and machinery. An additional $100,000 for machinery if municipality votes to approve such an exemption and an additional $100,000 for farm buildings used actually and exclusively in farming, also if municipality votes to approve.
In order to receive any of above exemptions, you must derive at least $15,000 in gross sales or demonstrate $15,000 in expenses on farm. You also must declare to Town by October 31 (within 30 days after assessment date) these exemptions on Form M-28.
The Department of Agriculture is in the process of adding existing or current regulations to this page. Below are some of the most frequently requested as well as some of the most recently adopted regulations, please check back if you can not find what you are looking for or call, call George Krivda at (860) 713-2573.
State of Connecticut Disclaimer, Privacy Policy, and Web Site Accessibility Policy. Copyright © 2002-2019 State of Connecticut.


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[Produced by The Awesome Sound]
[Willy Wonka:] It's a Wonkavator. An elevator can only go up and down, but the Wonkavator can go sideways, and slantways, and longways, and backways...
[Charlie Bucket:] And frontways?
[W:] ...and squareways, and front ways, and any other ways that you can think of. It can take you to any room in the whole factory just by pressing one of these buttons. Go ahead, Charlie
[C:] Me?
[W:] Here it goes! Hold on tight. I'm not exactly sure what's going to happen
Faster, faster... faster, faster...
[Hook x2]
(sideways, and slantways, and longways, and backways...)
We going
(sideways, and slantways, and longways, and backways...)
We going
(sideways, and slantways, and longways, and backways...)
We going
(sideways, and slantways, and longways, and backways...)
In-in my wonkavator, in-in-in my wonkavator
[Verse 1: XV]
Damn, why you gotta be so bad?
Yeah, I know just what she gon' ask:
"Vizzy, how many ways can we go?"
Up, up, down, down, left, right, cheat code
Never know where I landed
If it was Neptune, I didn't plan it
Man, I guess it's ambidextrous
Cause I dealt with what I got handed
I didn't care cause I wanted it all
Never sold base but I wanted to ball
And I just wanted it (Faster, faster...)
So I chased it (Faster, faster...)
I brought a little trap in all of these nerds
Put a little black in all of these 'burbs
Green backpacks on all of these backs
Cause all of my raps is kind of absurd, word?
Tell me they isn't; bars, no prison
Coming off the lot with a car, no ribbon
Pin-up models is all I'm pinning
L7 niggas, aren't we winning?
Prove that I aren't, and I'll move to the part
Of the city where niggas who lose go
I don't lose, though
Catch a dub like Nick, get an A on the track, I'm fool's gold
Got new clothes to be dressed in
New girls in my section
Ask where I'm going, I never am knowing
I'm going in all directions, like...
[Hook x2]
[Steve Butabi:] And I was like, Emilio!
[Verse 2: Emilio Rojas]
Wait-wait-wait, hold the shit
How the coldest spic get a hold of the only golden ticket
In the middle of a city where they hold the sticky
And the hoes only pose and they going for pictures
Flash, flash, with the kodak
Yeah, clap clap from the po' gat
Now, if you don't duck then it go black
Everybody 'round hear the sound, they get low fast
And the scene wilder than Gene Wilder
Like Johnny Depp, they gon' ruin it
And them females, they ain't even fly
But they want it all, like that Veruca bitch
And I'm moving in for the kill
My ex is loving me still
I don't fuck with it, cause there's other fish
That don't swim with blood in they gills
And I got women that are strung out on them pills
They pop birth control like they vitamins
And then Plan B like they vicodins
And them mollies just cause they like the shit
Huh, and see the candy man
For the percocet and that ativan
They at rock bottom, dropping top dollar
For the gobstoppers that'll have to last
And I have to laugh
When I'm looking at a motherfucker that I know I used to go to school with
And they acting like we best friends and I never been cool and I never even knew him
They mad, they picking out ties
That'll never even have to tie my own loops in
And I'm 'bout to hit the top floor, looking down
On y'all, that's what my view is
[Hook x2]
(sounds of TV static)
[Peter Gibbons:] What would you do if you had a million dollars?
[Lawrence:] I'll tell you what I'd do, man: two chicks at the same time, man
(sounds of TV static)
[Michelle Tanner:] You got it, dude
The 9th track off of XV's mixtape "Popular Culture." Features Emilio Rojas and is produced by The Awesome Sound.
This song is heavily centered around a "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" motif, and includes samples from the movie


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Move Collection
Designed to move, truly. The MOVE collection of portable speakers begs to keep you company whether you travel over mountains, through city streets, or just into the backyard. Grab the signature cord and hang it anywhere you like. The protective silicon sleeve keeps these speakers shockproof for safe travels and the rechargeable 8hr battery allows you to roam free from outlets.
Studio 5
Bluetooth Speaker with Lightning Dock
Not just visually bold, the 2.1 home speaker delivers rich, powerful sound too.


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Cheryl Cole, the gorgeous English singer from the pop band Girls Aloud has quickly made a name for herself worldwide. Being a judge on the well known British star singer search TV show "The X Factor" only contributed to Cheryl Cole's increasing fame. Her incredibly gorgeous facial features, slim figure, beautiful hairstyles and fashion style made Cheryl a style icon. She has been a great source of inspiration for many women worldwide when it comes to personal appearance and style. Cheryl Cole hairstyles contributed to her gorgeous and lovabl... Read More


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b. March 21, 1909, District of St. Mary, Dundee Scotland
Elizabeth Dewar Spalding Fender Duncan was a woman that came to the United States from Scotland as a teenager. Her father and older brother came to the US first in steerage and during that journey her father decided that her mother, herself and my great aunt Edna would travel first class when they moved across the pond. My grandmother came to the US aboard the Adriatic leaving Liverpool England on December 27, 1924 and arriving in New York on January 9, 1925.
She worked in a dental lab in Akron. She took the bus there every day and she never drove, she never had her license. She lived on West Exchange Street just down the street from Clix? (Clicks, Cliks), it was a very large five and dime sort of place. She smoked a lot, Tarryton cigarettes, and she knit. I knit now. She was fantastic with a sewing machine and I remember she made a lot of her clothing just for the pure enjoyment of doing so. She had a singer machine that set into a sewing table the size of a card table and that was always put up in the corner of her bedroom but it would come down on our visits so a mattress could be put there for my sister and I. We LOVED bunking in with her and on the weekend, one of us got to sleep with her, it was such a treat.
She was a fabulous multi-tasker.. she would sit in her chair, catch the evening news, talk to us, knit and smoke -- all with me in her lap. She was very tolerant of my need for her attention and my adoration of her, lol. She liked her occasional "wee ticky" of scotch when my mother was there to enjoy some too. She drank her coffee black. She would pour a bit into the saucer to cool it and then poured it back into the cup until the liquid cooled enough. I remember the shape of her hands and fingers and I remember holding her hands and pressing my fingertip against the filed edge of her nail. Every morning she had a soft boiled egg and toast with unsalted butter for breakfast. I remember what the egg cups looked like that held her eggs. When we were visiting I would sit and watch her eat her breakfast; I was her company as she got ready to go to work. She always had a box of sugared donuts for us on arrival and chocolate milk.
She had a temper... I have one too. Hers was not a horrible temper but a stubbornness that would say very clearly she would not do anything she didn't want to and she would speak her mind. She was very intelligent and I remember she would put my biological father in his place with a set of her jaw that he did not argue with. Too, she was compassionate. I was not his favored child and he was cruel to me on many occasions and she tried to assure me that it was not me but him. She was my life raft. I would have given anything to live with her.


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March 6, 2013
This speedy pear crisp is a quick, easy and delicious recipe that calls for just five ingredients — pears, granola, lemon juice, apricot jam and a pinch of salt.
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The return to winning ways by Rail Trip in Saturday's Grade II San Diego Handicap gave a big boost to owner Samantha Siegel , trainer Ron Ellis, and the entire Ellis stable.
It was the first victory for Rail Trip, a 7-year-old gelded son of Jump Start, in more than two years and the first in three starts since the 2009 Hollywood Gold Cup winner was returned to Ellis' care late in 2011 after an unsuccessful 13-month campaign in the East.
"I said if he won this race we'd consider the Pacific Classic and we'll certainly give it some thought," Ellis said after the victory. "We'll see how he trains and how we go forward but it's going to be a consideration."
With the automatic entry into the Dirt Mile, and an additional $10,000 travel stipend, the $1 million Breeders' Cup race becomes a long-term goal
"That's a big possibility," Ellis said. " I've always thought he would be an excellent miler. We worked real hard stretching him out to a mile and a quarter, but I always thought he would be a real good middle-distance horse.
"We'll see. Anything's an option now, but I like our chances of going in the right direction."
Rail Trip came out of the race fine, Ellis' stable foreman said Sunday morning. Ellis attended the wedding of TVG analyst Christina Olivares to trainer Dan Blacker on Saturday, then returned to his base at Hollywood Park .
The other on-the-board finishers from the San Diego Handicap also came out of the race well and were commended by their trainers.
"He ran super. He ran too great to lose," Carla Gaines said of runner-up John Scott. The 5-year-old California-bred gelding and Harris Farms Inc. color bearer led for the first three quarters and continued on gamely after Rail Trip took the lead to finish only a half-length behind the winner.
Gaines said she'll consult with owner John Harris before deciding on a possible next start.
John Sadler said the lack of early pace and late running space compromised the chances of third-place finishing Kettle Corn. "He finished up well, anyway," Sadler said. "We'll have to look at the Pacific Classic (as a possibility) unless something else comes up."
Trainer Don Warren said that Acclamation, successful defender of his Grade I Eddie Read title on July 21 and being targeted for a TVG Pacific Classic defense on Sunday, August 26, will work on the turf course Thursday. Acclamation's stablemate, Norvsky, who defended his California Dreamin' title on July 22, will also exercise over the Jimmy Durante layout.
"It's pretty close to what I did last year," Warren said. "I worked (Acclamation) a couple of times on the turf and a couple of times on the Polytrack before the Pacific Classic."
The Old English Rancho and partners stable stars will work five furlongs separately – Acclamation under either former jockey Fernando Valenzuela or Warren's assistant/exercise rider Tim Reavey, Norvsky under former jockey Kenny Black.
Fleet Treat Stakes winner Starlight Magic came out of the race in good shape, trainer Mark Glatt said Sunday morning. The 3-year-old California-bred daughter of Marino Marini notched her second victory in five 2012 starts, her fourth in nine career races, and the $ 110,000 winner's share of the $200,000 Fleet Treat purse boosted her career earnings to $322,900.
It was the first Del Mar stakes victory for the 39-year-old Glatt.
While there are three listed stakes for 3-year-old fillies remaining this meeting, two of them – the Sandy Blue and Grade I $300,000 Del Mar Oaks -- are on the turf. The $100,000 Torrey Pines on September 2 is one mile on the Polytrack main surface, 220 yards longer than the Fleet Treat.
"We think our best option is to keep her on the main track," Glatt said. "The flat mile near the end of the meeting looks like the best possibility."
Zafeen's Pearl, winner of Saturday's seventh race under Chantal Sutherland, went through the Paddock Sale at Del Mar for race-ready horses, conducted by the Barretts Equine Ltd. sales company, as Hip No. 40.
"She was bought back for $130,000 (after bidding fell short of the reserve price)," said Kim Lloyd, Barretts general manager. "She worked very well the day before the sale, (5 furlongs in 1:01.60) and she loves this Polytrack."
Twenty-five horses were purchased in the inaugural sale. Lloyd considered it a success.
"It's an event. We're really excited about coming down and having it again next year," he said.
A field of five has been entered for Wednesday's featured $100,000 Graduation Stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds.
It is topped by Mike Harrington owned-and-trained Just Call Me Al and Steve Knapp-trained Strong Wind, the third and fourth-place finishers in the Grade III Hollywood Juvenile Championship on July 12 at Hollywood Park.
The racing office was in the process of completing the draw for Friday's $200,000 Real Good Deal Stakes. Eight were entered, among them 2011 California Cup Juvenile winner Rousing Sermon.
CLOSERS – Jockey Chantal Sutherland is in her native Canada today to ride Awesome Fire in the $250,000 Wonder Where Stakes at Woodbine. The race is the final leg of the Triple Tiara series for 3-year-old fillies foaled in Canada. Awesome Fire is owned by Hugh Sutherland, Chantal's brother, and trained by Nick Gonzalez … Rafael Bejarano is at Monmouth Park in New Jersey where he has mounts in five stakes races, most notably Paynter, the 3-2 morning line favorite in the $1 million Haskell Invitational for trainer Bob Baffert … Horses eligible for Ship And Win bonuses on today's card include: Move Over (1st, trainer Mike Machowsky); Lime Ricky (4th, Dallas Keen); Bench the Judge (5th, Justin Evans); Flaming Strike (6th, Dallas Keen); Budidinha (9th, Dean Pederson); On Time Again (9th, Mike Mitchell).
Trakus Facts of the Day for Saturday, July 28
While the overall pace of the San Diego Handicap was notably slow, it enabled fast closing fractions. Strongest to close was Take Control, who came home with the fastest final quarter in 22.71 seconds, 0.12 seconds faster than winner Rail Trip, and a final eighth in 11.19 seconds, which was 0.26 seconds than the next fastest horse.
Jockey Joe Talamo did everything possible to help longshot Montego Bay take the fifth race on Saturday. In the field of eight, Talamo guided the gelding to the rail, covering the shortest trip over 8.5 furlongs on the grass, finishing the race having traversed 5,666 feet. Robbie's War and Gab Power, the second and third finishers, covered 19 and 17 feet more, respectively. The extra ground they covered was more than their final margin of defeat.


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(I am just collecting my thoughts here; I do not require anything like this right away.)
A useful framework for security should provide:
Authentication - verifying that the user is indeed who he claims to be.
Authorisation - verifying that the user is indeed allowed to do what he wants to do.
Auditing - recording the attempt to do the intended action, its outcome and whether the action was indeed done.
The authentication framework should be able to able to plug into various authentication mechanisms (OS-based, LDAP-based, etc.), be flexible enough to accept various types of credentials (username/password, PKI certificate, etc.) and reliably establish the "Identity" of the user.
The authorisation framework should allow the specification of:
Rights - what is allowed.
Roles - who is allowed to do it.
Realms - where are they allowed to do it.
Role-based authorisation allows for the maximum flexibility compared to the direct checking of the Rights of the given Identity. An Identity could be associated with multiple Roles. Realms establish domains of privileges - for example, a person has administrator privileges on his desktop PC but is just an ordinary user on the LAN. Rights could be positively stated ("Allow Foo") or negatively stated ("Disallow Bar"). Authorisation could be inclusive (at least one Role associated with the Identity has the Right) or exclusive (no Role associated with the Identity should be denied the Right). I personally favour positively stated Rights and inclusive authorisation.
The auditing framework would be used for non-repudiation, so it should have integrity (only the auditing framework could have written out a given audit record) and an almost transactional association with the respective action (record an action if and only if it was actually done).
Of course, in real "enterprise" software we end up with various degrees of compromise on each of these aspects.
Peer to Patent
The US Patents and Trademarks Office will soon try out Peer to Patent as a pilot project. This is great news. It is really important for silly patents to get rejected upfront than be granted and then used to bully everyone into either paying up an extortion fee or engaging in costly lawsuits. Unfortunately, there is still the problem of lots of such silly patents having already been granted and used for corporate "defence funds" (an equivalent of the "Mutual Assured Destruction" strategy) or towards unscrupulous ends.
The Economist has a nice set of balanced articles on patents and other IP-related topics.


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Nope, Nazzy didn't receive what he was asking for.darren wrote:And he got it. That sure helped, didn't it?Strangelove wrote: And I distinctly remember Marcus going public with his request for protection.
I believe it was before Steve Moore took him out.
And why was he asking for protection??
Maybe Marcus Naslund knows more about hockey than you do? Just a thought.


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John Deere's new S-Series combine, launched this week in Indianapolis, showcased an all-new cab designed to be the ultimate man cave. The last time John Deere came out with a new combine cab was in 1989, when it introduced the 9000 Maximizer series. This year, the company totally revamped the cab to incorporate premium comfort features and simpler controls.
First you'll find more space. Interior space was increased by 30% to give you room to stretch your legs. Visibility was also improved by narrowing the corner posts, adding more glass, and reshaping the window to the cab so you don't have to lean forward to see the unloading auger.
The cab is loaded with many premium features to improve driver comfort. First, there's a new premium operating seat and heated seat option. For the ultimate in comfort, a refrigerator is now tucked underneath the buddy seat so you don't have to worry about lugging around a cooler. The buddy seat folds up to create a work surface for those times you need to multitask.
Also added are new controls and displays. A new, slimmer, digital corner post display takes up less space than previous displays and adds to visibility. A 7-in. touchscreen display comes basic from the factory. For the first time ever, one display gives you control of all harvesting functions.
Outside the cab, eight lights come standard, along with optional HID lights to improve visibility at night. The lights provide a wider and longer sight line so you can see the full width of a new 40-ft. draper head and 16-row corn head.
You can get a tour of the new combine cab in a video coming soon to farmindustrynews.com. In the meantime, you can find more information at www.johndeere.com.


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There is so much that we do at Flinn's that you almost need to stop and see the changes we make with the seasons.
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Stop in and browse our 12,000 square foot greenhouse. We grow our own flowers and plants that will spruce up your home or yard for the summer.
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Shelly Johnson and her team specialize in creating exceptionally beautiful designs for weddings and corporate events. Please call for your free consultation today.


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Cancer Prevention and Survival Kit Learn the facts that point to choosing a vegetarian diet to help prevent cancer and improve cancer survival.
Food choices can help prevent cancer and, when cancer has been diagnosed, nutrition can improve survival. These links between diet and cancer are nothing short of dramatic. And with the information in this kit you can learn how certain dietary patterns help people diagnosed with cancer live longer, healthier lives.
You might also consider:
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(The Root) — It's important to remember that for Jesse Jackson Jr., it didn't have to be this way.
There were choices made and choices that would have to be lived with, and there was no chance for continued procrastination. And he'd seen both the right and wrong paths, demonstrated in his passionate, charming but heavily flawed father, the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.
He had a choice.
But denial is the worst of all false coping mechanisms. It convinces you that the problems aren't problems. That they're "What problems?" And you find yourself lying to yourself, saying that Uncle Sam will understand why you spent campaign-finance funds on Bruce Lee memorabilia. Or maybe he won't. But it doesn't matter, because it's not really happening.
I'm totally in control. I'm always in control. And I know exactly what I am doing, and I can always go back and fix it later.
The worst that could happen can't happen to me. Can it?
I know what it's like to live on borrowed sanity and to infuse my disasters with bipolar logic.
My name is Danielle Belton. And just like Jesse Jackson Jr., I have bipolar disorder type II.
Keeping Up Appearances
Jackson Sr. had good reasons for hoping his son might succeed where he had failed. Jackson Jr. was viewed as bursting with promise. In 1997, two years after he won a special House election, Newsweek named him one of "100 people for the new century … whose creativity or talent or brains or leadership will make a difference in the years ahead." But by 2008 he was in counseling with his wife over an extramarital affair. —Jill Lawrence at National Journal
I'm sure at the time it made sense.
A $43,350 Rolex watch here. Some Michael Jackson memorabilia worth thousands there. A $4,000 cruise; $60,000 dropped on restaurants and nightclubs; and more than $7,000 for two taxidermied elk heads.
But someone was bound to notice. A congressman's annual salary of $174,000 can get you to the upper-middle-class range only if you don't have bothersome things like "a spouse," "personal debt" and "kids." Blowing more than $100,000 on a Rolex and restaurants goes beyond living above your means. Jackson Jr. and his wife were living in someone else's means, someone for whom money wasn't an object. Maybe Chicago rapper Kanye West's means, although Kanye can probably purchase quite a few Rolexes before it becomes financially debilitating.
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Maybe they were trying to keep up with the Obamas? But more than likely, they were trying to keep up with an appearance, both real and imagined.
The Jackson name is a famous name, associated with civil rights and public service, but it's not a name like "Kennedy" or "Bush" that comes with a compound and generations of family wealth. But Jackson was now in the world of those sorts of people, being the son of a former Democratic presidential contender and Martin Luther King Jr. confidant. He had to mingle, network and move in the same circles.
Now, some are able to keep themselves rooted once they step foot in Washington, D.C.'s mecca for the well-dressed, power-mad nerd. Others rent their houses, put all their money on their backs, threaten whom they have to for inaugural-ball tickets and live in fear of their cars being repossessed.
Still, for those who typically showboat their way into the poorhouse in Washington, they got there honestly. They took out loans and blew through credit cards thinking they could pay it all back if it led to a political windfall down the line. Jackson Jr. chose a different route — outright fraud — and deluded himself into thinking it wouldn't come back to get him. He sustained this delusion even though he had the same target affixed to his back as every political scion of a civil rights legacy who is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus.
I'm sure what hurts the most is that he knew better and did it anyway.
Being Bipolar
"Sir, for years I lived (off) my campaign," Jackson Jr. told U.S. District Judge Robert Wilkins when entering his plea. "I used monies that should have been used for campaign purposes, and I used them for myself personally, to benefit me personally. And I am acknowledging that that which the government has presented is accurate." —the Chicago Tribune
I lived and worked in Bakersfield, Calif., as a newspaper reporter for five years, and other than some great friends and wonderful work experience, I had nothing to show for it. I was broke, again. And I couldn't tell you where the money went. Restaurants? Clothes? Prince records? It made me long to have a substance abuse problem.
It's easier to explain how you can blow your salary on nothing if cocaine is somehow involved.
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I returned to my parents' home in 2007 with only three pairs of shoes and two tons of self-loathing that I pushed around in some Sisyphean quest to accept defeat. My mother told me that living with me when I was alternating between being hysterical and completely comatose was like living with an alcoholic who wasn't drunk.
All the selfishness with a lot less booze.
Bipolar sufferers, when at their lowest and most self-pitying stages, are like smarmy reality-show contestants — we aren't here to make friends. Depending on how it manifests (because everyone is awful in his or her own special way), you might be alternately too smelly, rude, angry, sad, violent, neglectful, selfish or obnoxious to love. Which is tragic, since typically the best indicator of being able to survive this disease is being able to care about something or someone bigger than yourself and how horrible you feel.
Even though I feel unconditional love, I always fear no one else does. Therefore I believe I have to earn the love I receive from others. I'm like a houseplant that lets you know it needs to be watered by throwing an elaborate party in your honor, then cleaning your house.
The only thing that kept me from being an a—hole was that I was convinced my mother and father wouldn't put up with it and would abandon me.
Even though they explicitly said they never would.
I still pulled myself together by 2009 anyway. Just in case.
Not an Excuse
At a press conference following the hearing, Jackson Jr. attorney Reid Weingarten said Jackson's health problems contributed to his crimes. "It turns out that Jesse has serious health issues," he said. "Those health issues are directly related to his present predicament. That's not an excuse, that's just a fact." —the Chicago Tribune
When it was revealed that the Great Missing Jesse Jackson Jr. Mystery of 2012 was about the Mayo Clinic and bipolar disorder, I heard my fair share of people scoffing. And that was to be expected. People often conflate mental illness with the word "excuse" instead of "explanation."
You don't have to be bipolar to spend money that isn't yours, lie to those closest to you, cheat on your spouse, be grossly irresponsible and blunder your way into one of Illinois' many corrupt governor scandals, but it certainly doesn't hurt.
And you can be bipolar and hold down a job; be a productive citizen; help many people; be brilliant; and be successful, envied and admired.
Bipolar and success. Bipolar and failure. They aren't mutually exclusive. One doesn't cause the other; one is simply present no matter what environment surrounds it. One simply provides the shades of color the other comes in.
Some people deal with failure by saying "better luck next time." Others drown themselves in alcohol. Others cut themselves. Others only think about cutting themselves constantly until they become too afraid to own knives.
That's what the disease is. That extra paintbrush that covers even the prettiest of pictures in shades of bull crap.
It's the great party ruiner. It makes perfect the enemy of the good. Then that perfect is poisoned by a mind that loves to lie to you.
It Never Gets Easier
Asked whether he understood what was happening, he answered, "Sir, I've never been more clear in my life." Leaving the courtroom, Jackson Jr. told a reporter, "Tell everybody back home I'm sorry I let 'em down, OK?" —the Chicago Tribune
February has always been a bad month for me. Even when I was a child. Anxious for school to begin each year, I would hit the halls in late August with ferocity, taking on extracurricular activities, acing my classes, pushing myself with the hope that the feeling of invincibility and possibility would never end.
By Christmas break I was burned out. And by February, all the ferocity and optimism was gone. I was exhausted, and school would become an endurance test as I tried to keep it together until spring break and then, finally, a welcome summer vacation.
My aggressive hand in September was always writing checks I wearily couldn't cash come the winter.
I've done this dance all of my life, and it never gets easier. With every year, it only gets harder. I spent the fall of 2012 in New York City, working 12-hour days on a TV show, barely sleeping or eating, then having it all go away as quickly as it came.
Talking to a close friend who knows my situation, he worried that my career was what was making me sick, and said I needed stability and to live in a city that didn't trigger my crippling anxiety. But when it comes to my career I'm like a child, up long after her bedtime, still playing, promising my mother I will go to bed in a few minutes.
A few minutes become an hour. An hour becomes four years since my last hospitalization. And I realize this February isn't like the Februarys of my youth, or even recent ones during which I was moody and bleak but fine by the time spring came. This was an old "bad" February from before I was diagnosed, the kind that would give way to severe depression by spring, insomnia by summer and a complete breakdown by fall.
I promised myself, when I was hospitalized in 2009, that it would be the last time for a long time. Forever, if I could do it. I owed it to my parents.
So you spend your last $200 on the doctor and get back on your meds. And you're not a drunk, but you think like one, so you go through the Big Book and make your amends. Even if they're just to yourself.
I'm sorry I let you down.
Danielle C. Belton is a freelance journalist and TV writer, founder of the blog blacksnob.com and editor-at-large of Clutch Magazine Online.