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OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) For a team whose recent history includes a Super Bowl title and playoff runs, reaching.500 midway through November would seem like a modest goal.
After the way this season started for the New Orleans Saints, it was a cause for celebration.
Drew Brees threw three touchdown passes and Malcolm Jenkins returned an interception for another score to help the Saints get back to even after an 0-4 start by beating the Oakland Raiders 38-17 on Sunday.
``It's been a journey,'' said tight end Jimmy Graham, who caught Brees' first TD pass. ``It's been an uphill battle to be .500. I never thought I'd be so happy to be .500 in my entire career. We're excited because things are moving the right way for us.''
Lance Moore caught two touchdown passes and Mark Ingram ran for a score as the Saints (5-5) won for the fifth time in six games and are in position to make a late-season playoff run despite the season-long distraction from the bounty scandal.
Getting back to even was just the first step. New Orleans' next three games come against teams currently in first place, starting with a home game next week against the Bay Area's other team, the San Francisco 49ers, followed by games against Atlanta and the New York Giants.
``We're on our way,'' Brees said. ``Had you told us or anybody after 0-4 we'd be looking at 5-5 at some point, I think a lot of people might have looked at that and said that's pretty unrealistic. But here we are. We stayed the course, we didn't overreact. ... We just knew that things were going to turn for us if we just continued to do things the right way, good things were going to happen. And we did that.''
The Raiders (3-7) lost their third straight game under first-year coach Dennis Allen as their banged-up defense got picked apart by Brees' precision passing. Oakland has allowed 135 points in those defeats - the most in a three-game span for the franchise since allowing 141 in the first three games in 1961.
Owner Mark Davis made a rare appearance in the locker room after the game and said he wasn't happy with what he has seen the last few weeks.
``I'm patient. But I want to see progress,'' he said. ``I don't want to see regression. Nobody does. And that's why I'm unhappy today.''
Carson Palmer threw one interception that was returned for a score and another in the end zone, the Raiders left receivers open all day and Oakland struggled to tackle in another thorough beating. The Raiders have been outscored by 56 points the past two games.
The Saints did just about everything starting with an efficient opening drive by Brees that set the tone for the game. Brees finished 20 for 27 for 219 yards, extending his own records by throwing a touchdown in his 53rd straight game and completing 20 passes for the 46th straight game.
Even New Orleans' much-maligned defense got into the act. The Saints got the two big turnovers in the first half that got the blowout started and held Oakland to one touchdown until garbage time.
``I feel better than where we were,'' said safety Roman Harper, who had the interception in the end zone. ``We're making plays now. We're making turnovers, we're making big plays. We're not allowing big plays.
Vitt's biggest complaints were the 11 penalties for 109 yards, including a celebration call on Jenkins and Harper after an interception and a taunting penalty on Ingram after his score.
The only bright spot for the Raiders was fullback Marcel Reece, who rushed for 103 yards and added 90 yards receiving as he started at halfback in place of injured Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson.
Brees broke open a close game late in the first half when he found Moore all alone in the end zone behind Michael Huff and fill-in safety Mike Mitchell for a 38-yard touchdown pass in the final minute of the first half to make it 21-7.
Travaris Cadet then returned the second-half kickoff 75 yards and Ingram ran it in from the 27 on the next play and the rout was on. Brees and Moore connected one more time in third quarter to make it 35-10.
``It doesn't make you feel good,'' Allen said. ``I know we're better than that, and I know we can play better than that. And we'll continue to work, and we'll get better.''
NOTES: Brees has won his last seven starts against the Raiders with 16 touchdowns and no interceptions. ... The Raiders failed to score in the final 2 minutes of the first half for the first time this season. ... Former Raiders coach Jon Gruden lit the torch honoring late Oakland owner Al Davis.
Online:http://pro32.ap.org/poll andhttp://twitter.com/AP-NFL

subset: commoncrawl


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WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO CHANGE TO AN IP ADDRESS IN GERMANY? Well, perhaps:
- You are a German citizen wishing to access German websites as if you're at home.
- You are an Internet entrepreneur wanting to review your marketing campaigns in Germany.
- You are learning German and desire to surf the Internet as if you are located in Germany.
- You are a German traveler and your bank only allows online access from within Germany.
- Etc, etc, etc.
First, a legal note:
We are not lawyers, and we do not have the resources to answer questions about whether any method on this page will allow you access to a particular website. There are many "grey" areas (e.g. Does a German citizen with a physical server located in their own country have the right to access otherwise restricted services? Or does a German soldier have the right to view their online bank account, or watch a sporting event in his or her home country, while stationed overseas?). These issues will vary from website to website, and country to country. The fact is that if a website is absolutely serious about blocking all and every non-local visitor, they'll be able to do so. Given the plethora of websites that restrict geographic access to some degree, it is up to you to get permission, read the terms of use, consult with a legal advisor, or do whatever else it takes to determine whether or not you are acting within a website's acceptable use policy by utilizing any of the information or options listed on this page.


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'The Longest Ride' plans rodeo extras work benefiting local charities
This July, a few days at the rodeo could mean helping out a local charity.
"The Longest Ride" features a character, played by Scott Eastwood, who is a competitive bullrider. For four days of upcoming rodeo-set scenes, Marty Siu Casting is looking for up to 1,000 local residents per day to fill the bleachers. Three days of filming will be done in Jacksonville and one day will be done in Winston-Salem.
For each person that shows up, the film will donate money to a local charity. To sign up, the organization must contact Siu. If approved, they can then recruit people to attend the shoot, a list of which will be submitted to the film. To apply, email firstname.lastname@example.com with "Charity Organization Interested in Rodeo Scenes" in the subject line.
Although the extras work, which could last up to 12 hours per day, is unpaid, volunteers who attend will be eligible for prize giveaways and be fed while on set.
"If someone knows that their 10 or 12 hours of extras work helps a charity, they are going to be happy to stay and (be a part of filming)," said Siu.
Organizations will be asked to supply their volunteers' names, emails, phone numbers, age groups (adult, teen, or child no younger than 10) and how many days they can attend. Information about meeting dates and times will be sent in the coming weeks.
To apply to be a paid extra in the film, you must register at wwww.makescenes.com and follow Marty Siu Casting's Facebook page for up-to-date casting calls.


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In the following image, you can see a screenshot of the current look of a "Contacts" panel I created. In the area I have highlighted (bottom) there are two buttons to add and remove contacts respectively. I am having certain doubts as to whether the users will find this technique visually appealing and/or friendly.
First of all is the current technique of making certain actions available to users working?
In any case, what alternatives are there?
How can I boost the user's experience through the alternatives? Why?
In the same way, is there a better way of offering a "return" or "cancel" action other than by inserting a button in the panel's header? (This doesn't apply to the Panel shown).
Any help would be appreciated.


text:
100% Handmade Organic Soaps & Products
You have no items in your shopping cart.
Availability: In stock
HIGH STANDARDS OF QUALITY* Manufacturing License No. 016* Not Tested on Animals* 100% Handmade* 100% Vegan* 100% Organic Ingredients* 100% Recycle* 100% Cyprus Product* 100% Reverse Osmosis Water * Toxic Free * GMO Free * Cruelty Free
* The Award-Winning 100% Handmade Organic Soap HANDY SPA contains organic therapeutic ingredients without any dangerous chemical-toxic substances or toxic colors, fragrances and allergens that cause damage to your health.
Rub the bar soap to your skin to build lather. Rinse with water and repeat until a nice creamy foam has been worked. Apply the foam to your body, face and hair. Leave the foam to your skin for 1-2 minutes and then rinse well with water and dry. Rinse well with water and dry. Keep soap bar dry between each use to extend its useful life.
For external use only. Avoid contact with eyes.
Handy Spa Soaps are based on a secret ancient healing recipe of Indian Apache.
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100% Handmade organic soap with organic olive oil, organic coconut oil, jasmine essential oil.
INCI: Olea Europea Fruit Oil, Aqua, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Jasminum Officinale Flower Oil, Benzyl Benzoate.
There are no products matching the selection.


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Hawksworth: just a year old and already a Canadian classic
If you ask any foodie in Vancouver for their top five restaurant picks, it's likely that Hawksworth will be on every list. One of Vancouver's most ritzy restaurants, Hawksworth is in the deliciously decadent Rosewood Hotel Georgia. I first ate there just over a year ago, a few months after it had first opened, that meal was inspirational. Deft touches of molecular gastronomy, everything beautifully-considered and oh! deep, rich flavours and exciting food combinations. Chef David Hawksworth and his team deservedly scooped a brace of 'Best New', 'Most Exciting', 'Most Fabulous Opening' awards after that first year. But a year on, what next?
After a glittering opening, expectations are high but all those 'Best New...' awards can't be won when you're no longer the new kid on the block. I went back recently for dinner; less showy than that first meal, I feel like Hawksworth has taken a mature direction. The new kid grew up fast. My sense is that instead of concentrating on culinary fireworks, which dazzle then fade away, what's happening over at Hawksworth looks set to become a Canadian classic. What do I mean? Well, their angus beef tenderloin was hands-down the most delicious I'd tasted. No molecular gastronomy flashes, no glitz, just meltingly-soft with a purity of flavour that left me wishing I could eat it every single Sunday as a roast for the rest of my life.
There's an authority to the food at Hawksworth, nothing feels try-hard. The desert menu seems to be the place that Chef is allowing his more mischievous side to come out – chocolate, lime and avocado appear together along with a vanilla custard 'buddha's hand' with pink grapefruit and sesame.
It's kind of refreshing, in a city that seems to pop its collective cork over every new opening, to walk past Hawksworth and see a busy room on almost any night in the week. The smart set haven't moved on. Hawksworth was one of the most exciting places to eat in Vancouver when it opened, and for my money, it absolutely still is. So cheers, here's to a new Canadian classic.
I ate as a guest of Hawksworth, however, my views are 100% my own.


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'Namely this is a camera anyone should be able to quickly get to grips with, indicating that while it may not offer everything the photo enthusiast might desire, the FZ100 will hold appeal for families who don't just concentrate on one sort of subject - but who will want a device that does everything and anything.'
'The FZ100 is quite a speedy camera. '
'new super-zoom digital camera'
'The gurus over at PhotographyBLOG have been testing its every feature for the past few days, and they drew some rather positive conclusions. '
'Look and feel of a more advanced, DSLR camera. '
'The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ40 super-zoom digital camera brings a healthy serving of awesome to the table.'
'Quick focusing.'
'Too many pixels for too small a sensor. '
'People will be very happy with such a camera.'
ReviewGist helps you find the best products to buy by making sense of online reviews.
We are currently aggregating 376,500 reviews
covering over 29,477 products.
© 2019 ReviewGist.com. All Rights Reserved.


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26 September 2013 at 3.33pm | 18 Comments
It's a common dilemma - wanting to fully understand the intricacies of plot in a ballet or opera without spoiling a thrilling twist in the drama. There are also productions that are a complex reaction to the work, the enjoyment of which may be increased by knowing something about the work become attending a performance.
Should we read up about a piece in advance or experience the performance 'blind' and in the moment?
The Royal Opera House offers a range of contextual information through our own website, YouTube and social media channels, as well as richly detailed programme articles. These methods of enriching artistic experiences are popular, but there seems to be a question mark over how much we should reveal (and how much people should have to read or watch) before, during, and after performances. Ahead of two ambitious and complex Royal Opera productions Les Vêpres siciliennes and Parsifal – let us know what you think using the comments field below:
Do you like to read up before a performance, or do you think it is important to see a production fresh, with no sense of what is in store?
A selection of your comments from Twitter:
@RoyalOperaHouse I don't prepare too much for performances - I want the thrill and shock of plot twists/murders/romance etc #ROHdebate
— DaveTriesBallet (@DaveTriesBallet) September 26, 2013
@RoyalOperaHouse #ROHdebate it's good to do a bit of refreshing on oldies, new work is best taken in without programme notes
— Maria Elner (@MariaElner) September 26, 2013
@RoyalOperaHouse Definitly read up before! Then I can enjoy the moment instead of constantly wondering what is going on.
— Ronnie Boehm (@ronnieboehm) September 26, 2013
@RoyalOperaHouse I prefer to read story & background in advance, then I can lose myself in the music & performance.
— Carol Newton (@ROHvCotswolds) September 26, 2013
@RoyalOperaHouse Love the surprise of a new show - had to read up on Swan Lake & Mayerling afterwards though to make sense of them!
— artsworth (@artsworth) September 26, 2013
@RoyalOperaHouse #ROHdebate I like to have an idea of what I'm seeing, like the blurb on a book cover, outline info with no spoilers.
— Little Angelic Rose (@LilAngelicRose) September 26, 2013
@RoyalOperaHouse Always try to know the story beforehand, otherwise I can't fully enjoy the music which, I think is the most important part.
— Marilyn Coombs (@CoombsMarilyn) September 26, 2013
.@RoyalOperaHouse #ROHdebate: The answer doesn't matter. Main thing is that ROH/creatives have to cater for both approaches.
— DanceTabs (@DanceTabs) September 26, 2013
Les Vêpres siciliennes runs from 17 October – 11 November 2013. The performance on 4 November will be screened live in cinemas around the world.
Parsifal runs from 30 November - 18 December 2013. The performance on 18 December will be screened live in cinemas around the world.


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Integrated forest management and monitoring plan for sustainable fire prevention
Forests in Lebanon have suffered a continuous and marked degradation process, which has led to intense fragmentation of forests, a major loss of ecological integrity and the increased vulnerability of the livelihoods of rural resource-dependent communities. According to FAO data, between 1990 and 1995 over 30% of Lebanon's forests disappeared or were burned. The year 2007 was a particularly severe for forest fires in the eastern Mediterranean, with particular impact on the devastation of large forest areas of Greece and Lebanon.
Despite this severe degradation, Lebanon is one of the countries of West Asia with high plant diversity and richness of forest resources. Forest cover in Lebanon, which according to recent studies by the Ministry of Agriculture and FAO is approximately 13.5% of the country, is an element of great singularity and importance within the markedly arid environment of the southeastern Mediterranean. The great geomorphological variability (predominantly Jurassic and Cretaceous calcareous and sandstone), the altitude and climate of the mountainous territory of Lebanon, stretching from the coast inland along the border with Syria, gives rise to a diversity of forest ecosystems. These types of woodland provide important direct and indirect benefits from the mitigation of climate change, accumulation and regulation of water resources, development and protection of soils, and non-timber products (fruits, herbs, medicinal and culinary, honey) and recreational, cultural and spiritual services.
The restoration post-fire and the prevention and combating large forest fires in relation to global change is a priority for the Lebanese government and within the IUCN Programme, with special reference to the innovative approach of "Forest Landscape Restoration" developed by IUCN / WWF and adopted globally by several governments and international agencies. The project provides the tools to develop a national post-fire restoration strategy, following IUCN "Forest Landscape Restoration" approach, as well establish a pilot forest area in a high conservation value mountain (El Chouf Forest Reserve) involving resource-dependent communities.
Objectives and results
The project objective is to review the national strategy for fire risk reduction, prevention, and response, and restoration forestry in Lebanon.
The project outcomes are the following:
- Lebanon's national strategy for fire risk reduction, prevention, response and recovery of the forest has been reviewed and approved by the National Committee, including a programme of long-term action that clearly identifies the needs of financial and human resources, training, infrastructure and equipment, and the operating mechanism of the central control unit.
- Lebanese representatives of public institutions and civil society involved know the principles and methods of "Forest Landscape Restoration" and have applied the knowledge to develop a restoration plan that will serve as pilot to raise awareness and promote its adoption in the various initiatives post-fire restoration planned in Lebanon.
- National NGOs: Association for Forest Development and Conservation (AFDC).
- Universities and research centers: Universidad de Córdoba, Lebanese University.
- Public Institutions: FAO, Lebanese Ministry of Environment, Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture.
- The main cooperation and development organizations and agencies operating in the region, to complement efforts.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AECID).
Duration and budget
September 2008 – October 2011
Total budget: 188.160 €
For more information: [email protected]
IUCN-Med receives core financial support from the Ministry of Environment of the Junta de Andalucia, the Ministry of Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) among others


text:
20 U.S. Code § 6381 - Statement of purpose
§ 6381.
Statement of purposeIt is the purpose of this subpart to help break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy by—
improving the educational opportunities of the Nation's low-income families by integrating early childhood education, adult literacy or adult basic education, and parenting education into a unified family literacy program, to be referred to as "Even Start"; and
(2) establishing a program that shall—
be implemented through cooperative projects that build on high-quality existing community resources to create a new range of services;
assist children and adults from low-income families to achieve to challenging State content standards and challenging State student achievement standards; and
(Pub. L. 89–10, title I, § 1231, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title I, § 101, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1555.)
LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.


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2009-05-03 Dorkbot
dorkbot vienna #7
Sun., May 3, 2009 / 7:00 PM @ Metalab
hosted by monochrom (j grenzfurthner) and coded cultures
nOtbOt is an automated game-player which is controlled and deranged by reactions to it's own virtual environment, caught in a vicious force-feedback loop...
The installation consists of a hacked up human-computer interface in which the feedback system, originally intended to provide tangible interaction for a human player, is now used as input data to control a 'first-person' videogame. Human interaction with the game/controller becomes obsolete, resulting in a completely erratic form of [art]ificial intelligence. The observer of the installation, however, can literally try to 'get a grip' on taking control of the system...
»Walter Langelaar's "nOtbOt" is a self-playing videogame; to be specific, it is a mechanized Logitech "Wingman Force" joystick that has its robotic maneuvers projected in real-time in front of it. In certain ways, Langelaar's installation recalls the similarly automated works of Paul Johnson, but where Johnson's games are vacuum-sealed, seen but not touched, "nOtbOt" allows viewers to actually grab hold of the controller. In the process of trying to, as Langelaar cleverly puts it, "get a grip" on the device, players confront their own metaphoric role in a feedback loop that no longer requires them -- where the real object of obsolescence is not the technology, but the players themselves.« (from: Gameworld exhibition catalogue)


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Steven Claydon
Steve Claydon is an artist and musician. He studied at Chelsea School of Art in the late 1980s and then Central Saint Martins in the late 1990s. He was a founding member of the band Add N to (X), with Anne Shenton and Barry Smith who worked together in what they saw as part of the lineage of electronic innovation forged since the 1950s by the likes of Edgar Varese, Kraftwerk, Bruce Hack, Walter Carlos, Grandmaster Flash, Leon Theremin and Emerson, Lake and Palmer. They coined the term 'avant-hard' to describe their electronic output. Add N to (X) were released on Mute records until they disbanded in 2003. Claydon was then involved with the band Relaxed Muscle and recently teamed up with Mark Leckey and Kieron Livingstone to perform as 'Jack to Jack'. Claydon made a body of art work in collaboration with artist Neil Chapman, until recently when he began working on solo projects. Claydon has exhibited at greengrassi, Hoxton Distillery and HOTEL in London.


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In what seems to be a pattern of departing Green Bay Packers lobbing verbal grenades over their shoulder on the way out of town, former Green-and-Gold icon Charles Woodson seemed to pen his own obituary as a Packer.
"It's not going to be tough. My last team will most likely be the Oakland Raiders and so that's who I will retire with. That won't be a tough decision at all. A couple of years ago I signed an extension here in Green Bay. I figured that this will be the last team that I played for and I looked forward to that, but it didn't happen. So now I'm in Oakland and that's where I'll retire." - WFRV
It would seem to be a very direct dismissal of his time in Green Bay, winning a Super Bowl ring, and resurrecting his flailing career when he departed the Oakland Raiders. Naturally, Packers fans took the stinging remark as a shot to the heart, as naturally happens when a former beloved player disses the hometown team.
Not that Packer fans have had any experience with that over the last five years or so.
It what appears to be a throw-away statement, Charles Woodson seemed to have forgotten how much Packers fans loved and idolized him. The idea of signing a one-day contract with the Packers isn't an option right now. There could be several reasons for this sudden burst of lemon juice in the wounds already festering by the fans feeling the loss of one of the greatest defensive leaders the team has ever had.
Perhaps he wants to ingratiate himself with his new/old team and their fans by pledging allegiance. Perhaps he has some resentment towards the Packer brass for not letting him finish his career in Green Bay.
Or, maybe, he's just crazy.
Oh, not crazy as in "clinically insane". I mean crazy, as in "desperate". Woodson is at a spot in his career where not a lot of players get to reach--even though the Packers appear to have had more than their share, lately. Charles is dealing with the fast and sudden deterioration of his skills on the field, and like so many other grizzled veterans before him, might be having trouble accepting it.
What are the first stages of coping with loss? Denial, anger, blaming all come to mind. Like Favre and Driver before him, we fans are more worried about preserving an aging player's legacy with the team. But for that player, who has known nothing else besides football over the first thirty-odd years of his life, there's a desperation to hang on to the only world you know. The money, the fame, the mastery of your craft: all of these come to a screeching halt because you've lost half a step, and there are hungry young kids ready to take your spot.
The patterns aren't pretty. Perhaps the most iconic Packer of all time, Brett Favre, took umbridge to any suggestions that he was no longer the player he once was, and was willing to implode his entire legacy as a Packer in order to get himself to a place he felt he could hang on to that way of life...the only way of life he's ever known. Even Donald Driver stretched out his career one year too long, sitting on the inactive list and also flirting with wearing another team's colors, just to put off his retirement for one more year.
At this point in a career NFL football player, blaming your own body for your demise is hell. You've survived that first 53-man roster cut, the battles in your first few years with other young players' challenging you, the career-ending injury. Not many get to this point, when the average length of an NFL player's career is just three or four short years.
And to be only in your thirties and to be looking at the end of the only career you've known? Some players go behind the mic. Some players try to get into coaching. But most end up out of the game with just their pile of money to live off of until they figure out their lives. The divorce rate for athletes post-retirement is between 60 and 80 percent, while roughly 78% end up bankrupt. Add to that the literal crippling effects of a lifetime of pounding on the body, and its no wonder these Peter Pans never want the story to end.
And in those moments of desperation, you'll say anything to convince someone to let the dream continue for one more season, one more game, one more play, and stave off the silence when the cheering has stopped.
The good news is, however, that this craziness is temporary. Someday, like most athletes, Woodson will come to his senses when his playing days are over and realize where his true legacy lies. The saga of Brett Favre, while perhaps the most extreme of examples, tells the tale of what Woodson will face.
In 2008, with clear signals that the Packers were ready to move on with Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre executed one of the most dramatic divorces in NFL history. His storied skills were no longer wanted, and no matter the efforts of the team or the fans to preserve his legacy, Favre was willing to do anything to continue playing. And, eventually, he got his wish, joining Brad Childress and wildly cheering fans in Minnesota, much to Packer fans' chagrin.
But even at the time, you had the feeling that the Minnesota fans weren't in love with Brett Favre, but the very idea that he might be a messiah, bringing the magic they had so often watched from the sidelines. They thought they could stab Packer fans in the heart by stealing one of their most iconic treasures. They didn't go through the drug addictions, the death of his father. They couldn't name every member of his family or how old his daughters were, as Packers fans could easily rattle off.
Vikings fans didn't love Favre. The loved the idea of Favre.
When the cheering stopped for ol' #4, Brad Childress and most of the players he revived his career alongside were gone. And, slowly, Favre has gotten hit with a hard slap of realization where his legacy survives, damaged though it is. You never hear of Favre Days in Minnesota, where they gleefully, yet temporarily cheered his name. He isn't throwing out first pitches for the Twins or acting as honorary captain for the Vikings. Favre is just another failed messiah in a long line of failed messiahs in Minnesota.
Thus, we have the continued pokes and prods by the Packers' organization to see if the fans are ready to welcome Brett back. You know there's been conversation by both sides, that Favre's craziness has subsided, and he realizes that no one claims him as their legend other than the Packers. He knows it, and has given some contrite statements expressing his regret over how he handled himself in those rocky years.
He was crazy then. But, now he's realizing his mistakes he's made, and where his home really should be. The prodigal son is waiting to return.
The same is true for Woodson. Maybe he'll say some more crazy things between now and the end of his career, throw more potshots at the Packers as he tries to hang on in the twilight of his career. To a degree, you can't fault him. He's a better athlete than 99.99998% of everyone else in the world, but the loss of that 0.00001% is the difference between being an All Pro cornerback and a liability on the field.
The fans in Oakland will welcome him back, for now. It must be a weird feeling for them, now cheering for a guy who was allowed to leave the team almost a decade ago, labeled injury-prone and a burgeoning locker room cancer. To see him move on and become an icon with the Packers must have been difficult for them to swallow.
The Raiders are in love with the idea of Woodson, hoping just a little bit of that Super Bowl magic will rub off on them. And Woodson will buy into it, hook-line-and-sinker, because all he wants right now is to keep extending that career just another season, another game, another play.
Eventually, probably sooner than later, Woodson's skills will erode to the point where he will, again, be considered a disappointment in Oakland, and he again will leave the team without the fanfare that he so desperately craves. Except this time, it will likely be for good, and his playing days will be over.
And, when the cheering has stopped, he'll come to his senses. He'll realize where he was truly loved not only for what he did on the field, but who he was off the field. And he'll look back on his comments made this past Friday and regret them, and come back to Green Bay to make it right, and to live among the legends we all so revere.
And we will cheer for him, the way we should cheer for one of our icons. Even if he went crazy for a little while.
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Written By:
Chuck Hester, iContact Communications Director
As Facebook crosses the 500 million user mark and Twitter becomes the darling of late night media, the subject of how social media will eventually replace Email Marketing as the primary way to reach your target audience often comes up. A recent article in eMarketer suggests that Email Marketing is still strong when compared to social media channels.
The article (available here http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1007829) states that "most internet users studied in April 2010 engaged with brands only via marketing emails, but nearly a third subscribed to emails in addition to being fans of brands on Facebook. The vast majority of social media fans or followers were also email subscribers."
As the channels of communications become more accessible, it's interesting to see how instead of cannibalization there is, in fact, an overlap of these channels.


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Just a crummy modeller (i hope thats spelled right) if theres any paying work for graphic design/3d modelling. I know a program called Wings3D that is pretty compatable with a lot of 3d programs out there. Also i am making a valiant effort to learn blender, but i wouldnt test me out on that one entirely yet haha. Also i know photoshop and illustrator. need money for college and i want to get a grip for this business. lol
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From DDwiki
Any opinion on changing all the traits to their corresponding tag?
e.g. instead of "Cursed" -> Cursed
There was a section on Plants at the bottom, but when bringing up the edit page that section was not visible. After editing the page to show the Advanced monsters that section disappeared. Since the monsters are more important I decided to do it anyway. --FDru 16:04, 2 February 2013 (CST)


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Friday, July 19, 2013
Money, research, and politics: Murphy and Boxer
Let me preface this by reminding people that the other day I praised Bob Murphy's written testimony for his Senate hearing. I only ribbed him a little for knocking the published social cost of carbon estimates for not being sufficiently nationalistic (and I honestly am curious about why he did that and why he didn't use the opportunity to rebuke the OMB for making that recommendation in the first place - but that's small potatoes). In the best possible way it was actually extremely boring analysis: discount rates and who's costs you count matter a lot when evaluating costs and benefits. We all know this! But good solid analysis is often lacking in Washington, which is why it's so important for people like Bob to keep reminding politicians of these sorts of things.
Let me also preface this with a quick statement of my views on Koch funded people before you try twist this into me saying something I'm not. I have happily defended Koch funded researchers on numerous occasions. This is a nice post that collects several of these instances with a summary of my views with a defense of (1.) Bob, (2.) Dan Klein, (3.) Don Boudreaux, and (4.) GMU faculty generally. I've competed for Koch money myself, actually (I didn't get it, unfortunately). So I don't think the Koch brothers are some evil empire and you can't trust the people it funds. I do think they provide resources to people that are already on the same page as them, that in many cases they are promoting bad ideas, so Koch is a "bad influence" in the sense that it gives bad ideas more influence. Of course the Koch brothers promote a lot of good ideas too (I wouldn't have gone after some of their money if they didn't!).
Money, research, and politics
Something people have been talking about on facebook and in blog posts is the fact that in the hearing that Bob participated in, Sen. Barbara Boxer raised the issue of the funding sources behind IER (Bob's organization) as well as the other Republican witnesses. As with a lot of non-profits that choose to keep donors under wraps, IER's funding is a bit of a mystery. It's clear that they've gotten a lot of money from the Koch brothers, from Exxon, and from KBR (former subsidiary of Haliburton with big contracts in Iraq that has been accused of corrupt practices - if you're wondering why that made the list with Exxon and Koch). The numbers I've seen reported from these organizations still leaves a lot of the funding sources unidentified.
Boxer noted that it was fine that they got money from these sources but that she thought that information was important for people to know, particularly given the scientific consensus on climate change.
I agree (on both counts - that it's fine to take money from energy companies and military contractors and that it's important to know where you're getting money to do research) and I think it's a big mistake for people to treat this like some kind of cheap-shot from Boxer.
I really hope I'm stating the obvious here. Imagine if you wrote a report paid for by the local Chamber of Commerce arguing that local businesses were financially sound after recent negative publicity. Shouldn't you disclose that the Chamber of Commerce funded the report? It's not a question of whether you were objective as a researcher or not - there's a potential conflict of interest here and you ought to disclose it. Bob Murphy made this very point with respect to Fred Mishkin. I agreed with him on that (although I pointed out that "Icelandic Chamber of Commerce" was emblazoned on the front of the report). Now what the best form of disclosure is depends on the funding structure of the organization you're working for obviously. I think everyone knows what a "Chamber of Commerce" is. It's clear what the conflict of interest is. "Institute for Energy Research" is a pretty vague name. It could be a liberal group, a libertarian group, or it could have nothing to do with politics. I'd say disclosure would probably require more details in that case, because you don't know what the potential conflict of interest is just by saying you were paid by IER. Maybe we could argue the point, but we should all agree about how critical disclosure is for research.
Reporting potential conflicts of interests is important because this is how crony capitalism and regulatory capture happen. I don't think Bob would have any trouble recognizing this if it were Goldman Sachs bankrolling studies advocating more quantitative easing from innocuous sounding policy organizations holding conferences at luxury hotels in Washington. I don't understand why this is so controversial with energy companies doing the exact same thing.
The point isn't that any of these researchers are doing anything wrong. Like I said, Bob reported some pretty standard stuff. I'd have to review tape, but I feel fairly confident saying that I agreed with every word that came out of Bob's mouth at the conference and every word of his written testimony*, and I'm positively disposed towards carbon taxes. It was not radical stuff and that's not the problem. The problem is the potential for bad actors that are just hired guns for special interests, and particularly when this research is being presented in Washington the problem is that if this is a public debate it's important to keep the discussion open and honest.
A lot of funding sources people disclose are large, innocuous, philanthropic organizations that don't have much of an agenda - the big names you hear on PBS and that sort of thing. They still need to be disclosed on research precisely to foster this kind of open environment where conflicts of interest are identified.
This is the double-edged sword of non-academic policy research. You've gotta grub for money (academics do too, but often with a different sense of urgency) and you've gotta speak to practical policy debates. You can feel like you're doing a lot of good because you are providing objective research to an often irrational fight but you are also in a world of big stakes, and big stakes means that people who dip their toes into this world need to keep from being co-opted by special interests. One solution to that is being an open book when it comes to funding and influence.
Washington think tanks are an interesting mix of science and advocacy. I like to stay more on the science side of things, but there are a lot of smart people that value advocacy too, and they're worth working with and paying attention to. But scientists and advocates in Washington don't have symmetric interests in the think tank world. Advocates don't mind blurring the line with scientists at all. But if you care about the science it's critical (for your reputation if nothing else) to make a distinction between the two. It's fine to do advocacy, just keep the two distinct.
*- I know there was at least one word in his oral testimony I disagreed with: when he called SCC estimates "dubious"... not sure I would say that.
4 comments:
Sen. Barbara Boxer raised the issue of the funding sources behind IER (Bob's organization) as well as the other witnesses.ReplyDelete
I think the last two words of your sentence should be amended to "other Republican witness."Replies
I skipped to your testimony and then her immediate commentary. She mentioned insurance companies - I figured they were the other witnesses but honestly I didn't know the lineup.
Presumably this is something that matters for anyone to her, but I added "Republican" - in any case it wouldn't be wrong to add Republican, so why not :)
Well the reinsurance guy was her witness. The lady from the Manhattan Institute was not. Boxer specifically impugned the motives of the Mnahattan lady and me; I definitely don't recall her insinuating that we needed to be skeptical of the other 3 witnesses with whom she agreed.ReplyDelete
I'm sure she asks the same questions of all the Democrats who testify in favor of the policies she is in favor of, right? Weird how that escapes your attention...ReplyDelete


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News for Thursday 082814
By Dave Graichen
Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy will deliver his annual "State of the City" address on Friday. The address will come at 11:30 a.m. Friday in the City Council Chambers in City Hall as part of Roy's general press conference and preview of City Council issues. The public is invited to attend, and the State of the City address will be shown at various times on the public access television channel, which is Suddenlink cable Channel 4
Construction is set to begin next week on a major expansion of the emergency department at Rapides Regional Medical Center. The expansion which will cost upwards of $12.5 million dollars will nearly double the department beds, from 26 to 51, including four psych beds. It will add 16,370 square feet of space and renovate more than 6,000 of the department's current 20,000 square feet. Construction is scheduled to take about 18 months, with completion in early 2016.
Governor Jindal has filed a lawsuit against the federal government alleging the Obama administration violated the Constitution by using federal grant money to force states to adopt the Common Core education standards. Jindal says Common Core is the latest effort by the feds to have Washington D-C in control of everything. Jindal, a one-time supporter of Common Core, has taken steps this year to keep the new math and English standards out of Louisiana. US Education Secretary Arne Duncan has said Jindal's actions are about politics, not education.
The 16-year-old who sucker-punched another student at Natchitoches Central High School will be charged as an adult with manslaughter in connection with the death of another student in a fight. Principal Bill Gordy says they don't know much about 16 year old Timothy Ray Robinson, because he had just started at Natchitoches Central. Eighteen year-old Johnquaries Smith died Tuesday at a local hospital.
Following the second arrest of the star of the "Sons of Guns" show, the Discovery Channel, has decided to pull the plug on the series. In this latest charge, Will Hayden is accused of repeatedly raping an 11 year old for almost a year and a half. Hayden's bond is set for $250 thousand dollars.
The American Automobile Association says more people are traveling for the Labor Day Holiday than since the recession. AAA spokesman Don Redman says 34.7 million people are projected to journey 50 miles or more from home this holiday weekend.
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals allocates 18-million dollars to a Baton Rouge Hospital to keep its emergency room open. Baton Rouge General decided to close their Mid-City ER because they were losing money providing health care to an increasing number of uninsured patients. But DHH Chief of Staff Calder Lynch says this commitment should meet the ER's needs for the current fiscal year. Baton Rouge General says the increase in uninsured patients is due, in part, to the closure of LSU's Earl K. Long Medical Center.
Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says tourism is encouraging for 2014 following last year's record setting year. Over 27 million people visited Louisiana in 2013, a nearly 4-percent increase from 2012. That translated into dollars. Domestic and international visitors spent nearly 11-billion dollars in the state last year. Dardenne says there are no hard numbers available for 2014, as of yet. But he says the LouisianaTravel-dot-com website and their social media activity has been ranked number four among all tourism sites in the US.
Cliff Vannoy, who has been serving as acting head of the LSU Alumni Association in recent weeks, has been named the new president and Chief Executive Officer of the nonprofit alumni group. Vannoy took on the acting president role earlier this month, after former CEO Charlie Roberts retired amid a lawsuit that claims he had entered into a monetary arrangement with a former employee to keep secret a sexual relationship between the two.
A Baton Rouge television personality shot and killed in his home Wednesday afternoon was in the midst of a child custody battle and a federal criminal investigation that were both shrouded in mystery.
Attorneys and local prosecutors were tight-lipped about why a federal grand jury was convening around the same time 52 year old Scott Rogers was killed in what's being called a murder-attempted suicide. His business partner 36 year old Mathew Hodgkins is in critical condition.
Michael DiNardo, the son of former LSU football coach Gerry DiNardo, was arrested this week in Baton Rouge under felony drug and firearm charges. Michael DiNardo, a 21-year-old student at LSU, was booked Wednesday by the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office for the intent to distribute marijuana and possessing a firearm with drugs. He was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.
State health officials say testing has confirmed the presence of a killer amoeba in a water system serving three St. John the Baptist Parish towns. The Department of Health and Hospitals said Wednesday that the amoeba was found in the St. John Water District 1, which serves 12,577 people in the towns of Reserve, Garyville and Mt. Airy. Officials say there are currently no known cases of illness related to the amoeba in the parish or elsewhere in the state.
The ULM Warhawks kick-off their 2014 season tonight hosting Wake Forest in a nationally televised game on ESPNU. Head coach Todd Berry says this is a rare opportunity for the Warhawks to play in front of the home fans early in the season. Berry is hopeful tonight's crowd is rowdy


text: Find Events Event Views Navigation View As List Month Day Day Of Search Near Events for June 2, 2019 Day Navigation « Previous Day Next Day » 12:00 pm Cat Adoptions June 2 @ 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm|Recurring Event (See all) Petsmart, 7050 Arroyo Crossing Parkway Las Vegas, NV 89113 United States Come visit all of our cats available for adoption. All of our animals have been spayed/neutered, vaccinated, FeLV tested and microchipped. Find out more » Day Navigation « Previous Day Next Day » + Export Events


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This tool version is unpublished and cannot be run. If you would like to have this version staged, you can put a request through HUB Support.
Path Integral Monte Carlo
Path Integral Monte Carlo
Launch Tool
Archive Version 1.2.1
Published on 27 Mar 2008, unpublished on 23 Jul 2008 All versions
doi:10.4231/D3GT5FF39 cite this
This tool is closed source.
Published on
Path integral Monte Carlo (PIMC) simulates particles (often electrons and ions) by directly sampling the canonical partition function. In the path integral formulation of quantum statistical mechanics developed by Richard Feynman, particles get represented by closed imaginary-time trajectories of length h/kT. PIMC simulations are able to compute total energies, correlation functions, charge distribution, and linear response functions for thermal equilibrium. As in many quantum Monte Carlo methods, PIMC has efficient scaling with system size, often order N or N2.
Our application, pi or app-pimc, is well suited for modeling conduction electrons in quantum dots, quantum wires, and quantum wells. We have also tested it for ab initio calculations, but at this point only hydrogen and helium atoms work well. The app-pimc tool is a low-level wrapper for our application that allows the user to input a simulation description in XML, run the simulation in 1, 2, or 3 dimensions, and view results of scalar estimators. While this is an expert interface, we provide demo input files for quick simulations of a free particle, simple harmonic oscillator, and a hydrogen atom. The code is open source, so users have the option of installing a local version of the program on their machines if that better suites their research.
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pi: Open-Source Path Integral QMC
Open source path integral simulation program developed by the Shumway research group.
Sponsored by
Work supported by NSF Grant DMR 0239819.
- PIMC documention and disscusion on ASUWiki
- Also see the related tool, QWalk: Quantum Monte Carlo, for ground state QMC calculations.
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Because of Her
Previously "The Girl" Bella and Edward have a fairly normal life now, but that can easily change. *UPDATE!* I finally posted the sequel!!! Be sure to read it! It's called "Changes". Thanks guys!
Here I go! Tell me if you like it or not.
1. Chapter 1
Rating 5/5 Word Count 384 Review this Chapter
Bella's POV
Edward and I were walking through the huge mall, miles from Forks. Alice was scouring the store for clothing and acessories for me and of course, herself. Many of the girls and women in the mall stared incredulously at Edward and me, probably wondering how in the world I ended up together, and for that matter, so did I. We were to be married soon, and I was happier than I had ever been. He had gotten me a ridiculously huge ring, a princess cut diamond surrounded by glittering topaz. His ring was simply a golden band, yet he made it look even more gorgeous than my ring.
But most important, I would be a vampire in less than two months. I often dreamed about being together with him, forever, and worried sometimes that my angel vampire fionce' would leave me, but he had sworn to stay with me forever, and I believed him. for the most part.
Telling Charlie and Renee about the wedding had been difficult, but with Edward's help, we finally convinced them that we were getting married, and they approved.
"What are you thinking?" Edward asked me curiously, his voice like velvet, his eyes studying my dazed face. He had never gotten over the frustration that he could not read my mind, and he insisted that I should tell him whenever he asked.
"Just about the way things are, and that I'll be a vampire in two months." He sighed, and ruffled my hair. "So eager to sell your soul." "No, to be with you forever." I corrected him. He chuckled. "Silly Bella" he murmered.
Just at that moment, a young girl, about sixteen, came running in our direction. She had gorgeous blonde hair slightly longer than her shoulders, and as she came closer, I realized that she was no ordinary girl, she was a vampire as well. The purple bruise like shadows under her amber eyes and her incredibly pale skin gave her away. She reminded me of Rosalie, only younger, like a miniature version of her, only her eyes held no fury or resentment as Rosalie's often did. Instead, her eyes were panicked.
"Please!! You have to help me!" she said as she stopped fluidly in front of us, fear wild in her eyes. "You've got to stop them!! they're coming!!"
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Please select your meditation time
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DESERT HERMITS IN HIGH RISE APARTMENTS by Paul Harris
In the New and Old Testaments the desert has always had a special meaning and role for those on the spiritual path. It has always been a place where spiritual seekers retreated to find solitude, silence, stillness and closeness to God. The angels ministered to Jesus in the desert, St Paul spent time in the desert, and in the 3rd and 4th century men and women flocked to the deserts of Egypt to become hermits and live in monastic communities.
BEYOND OBEDIENCE from a letter to a Novice preparing for final Oblation - by Jim Green
A few more thoughts on Obedience. I'm not sure that they will amount to a coherent apologia, but we have to leave something for faith and hope to do, don't we?
First of all, I think the distinction between Power and Authority is absolutely key. We are all wielders of power, from Stalin and Gaddafi to somebody who is 'accidentally' more powerful in an intimate relationship than his/her partner. By the same token we are all victims of, or - at best - affected by, power.
Christmas – the experience of inner joy by Christopher Mendonca
The purpose of religious narratives in the Scriptures is not so much to be historical as to provide us with starting points for our own spiritual journey. It is with this in mind that we might not only read the scriptures to gain insights for ourselves, but rather allow ourselves to be read by them.
MISTAKEN FOR GOD by Jim Green
A wise man once said to me, after I'd shared some ongoing agony about my romantic relationship, that, "…hmm, it's possible you've mistaken your girlfriend for God".
This stopped me in my tracks. I've often returned to the mystery of that utterance, with much heart-scratching and head-searching, over the years since it was made.
ON STARTING A GROUP by Paul Harris
Twenty two years ago (1989), on a park bench in London, I mentioned to Laurence Freeman that I was thinking of starting my first meditation group in Ottawa, Canada.He surprised me with a question: "Who do you think is going to profit most from starting your new group?"
Marriage and Monastic Oblation: Twelve Steps of Humility by Stefan Reynolds
"Are you still reading that book?" My fiancé asked me after she had seen 'The Rule of St. Benedict' travel with me on various journeys. I had to try to explain to her that it was one of those books which one never finishes. I became an Oblate in 1996.
THE SILENCE IS REST by Jim Green
I saw an advertisement on the back of a bus in Norwich the other day. It read: "Sunday – day of rest". But the word 'rest' had been gleefully crossed out in red by the ad's designer and – also in red – had been replaced by an excitedly scrawled 'Shopping!!!'.
Three Guides Along the Way (Plus One): Merton, Main, Freeman (and Charlotte) by Greg Ryan
This morning, our weekly meditation group help a three-hour introductory session on Christian meditation. We hold these every couple of years and always have a good group show up. Today was no exception. We focused on meditation in these troubled times, on Christ as the Source of all Peace and on meditation as a way to grow in that awareness.
So long Steve by Adriano Massi
Steve Jobs is dead. This might seem something pretty unrelated to Christian Meditation even if it's something sad to hear in itself. But if you think about all our web resources, our websites, our newsletters, nearly everything; you should know that most of it all has been created using Apple hardware.
The Ever-Changing Wilderness by James Bishop
"Hold on," I barely aspirated to my friend. I hadn't realized until now the sad state of my physical well-being. I had made this climb before, over twelve years before, and it hadn't been a problem. I had even been heavier then. Now, I was having trouble making it half-way up the hill.


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Abigail Forman donned a wedding dress, held a bouquet and posed for a photographer long before her actual wedding day—she was the cover model on Modern Bride's February/March 2006 and April/May 2007 issues. "I learned so much from the magazine!" Abigail says, and the knowledge came in handy when she married Ray Lee on October 7, 2007, at The Fearrington House, a dairy farm-turned-Relais & Chateaux inn located outside of Chapel Hill, NC. The couple worked with Gilda McDaniel, the inn's special events manager, and on-site florist, Mary Stevens, to create an elegant affair for 85 guests that combined customs from their Korean and Southern backgrounds and included many twists on tradition.
The event began with an intimate ceremony at the crabapple tree garden. Abigail walked down a winding aisle to a classical version of Nat King Cole's "Unforgettable," performed by Grammy-nominated jazz artist John Brown and his group. After the groom's cousins sang a traditional Korean love song, the couple participated in a customized version of the unity candle ritual: The wine lovers each poured from separate carafes into one glass.
At the cocktail hour, as guests sipped splits of champagne, they answered questions the bride and groom had written (like, "What's your advice for the newlyweds?") as a fun guest-book alternative. Inside the barn, Abigail and Ray's first dance to Elvis' "Fools Rush In"—the song that had been playing during their first kiss—kicked off the reception. Since the couple were born in the year of the pig and wed in the year of the golden pig, which signifies prosperity in the Asian calendar, they used little gold piggy banks inscribed with meaningful places as table numbers. The bride also displayed ones labeled "Hubby" and "Wifey" in front of the cake as an extension of the theme and a playful nod to the farm locale. Even the dinner buffet featured a whole roasted pig, served with Southern comfort foods like blackened catfish and fried green tomatoes, and kimchee, a traditional Korean vegetable. The event reflected "the core of our cultures," says Ray. Fittingly, the pair's past helped usher in their future. —Elaine Stuart
Learn From Abigail and Ray
Think Twice: The couple couldn't decide between reciting traditional Christian vows or writing their own, so they exchanged two sets during their ceremony. They also paired biblical readings with an excerpt from The Velveteen Rabbit.
Serve Strategically: Though the reception featured a buffet dinner, the bride and groom had the first course—goat cheese, black-eyed pea and red onion salad—plated and served to guests, to encourage them to take their seats. "We didn't want people immediately rushing the food stations," says Abigail.
Mix It Up: The wine-loving pair chose not to serve hard liquor at their wedding. They supplemented beer and wine with Moet & Chandon Nectar Champagne on ice, which satisfied guests in the mood for a sweet cocktail.
Groom's Suit
Paul Smith, paulsmith.co.uk
John Brown, johnbrownband.com
Ceremony and Reception Site
The Fearrington House, fearrington.com
Dasha Wright and Phil Mantas, mantaswright.com


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23 Kan. App. 2d 634
No. 75,268
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF HARVEY, KANSAS, Appellant, v. DONNA WHITEMAN, SECRETARY OF KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND REHABILITATION SERVICES, Appellee.
1. Mandamus is not an appropriate means to enforce a right which is in substantial dispute. Under the facts of this case, the county's right to recover the full amount of the detention expenses of a juvenile in SRS custody is in substantial dispute, and mandamus is not an appropriate means to resolve the issue.
2. Mandamus is not appropriate where an adequate remedy at law exists, unless the court is confronted with significant issues of statewide concern. Under the facts of this case, because K.S.A. 38-1616(b) provides the county with an adequate remedy at law and the juvenile detention cost issue is not of great public importance or significant state interest, mandamus is inappropriate.
Appeal from Harvey District Court; JAMES J. NOONE, judge. Opinion filed March 7, 1997. Affirmed.
Craig D. Cox, of Halstead, for appellant.
Ellen G. Neufeld, of Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, for appellee.
Before BRAZIL, C.J., RULON, J., and GARY L. NAFZIGER, District Judge, assigned.
BRAZIL, J.: The Harvey County Board of Commissioners (County) appeals the district court's dismissal of its petition for mandamus. The petition asked the court to order the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) to reimburse the County for the detention expenses of E.R., a juvenile in SRS custody. We affirm.
On October 22, 1993, the State filed a juvenile complaint asking the district court to adjudge E.R. a juvenile offender. On the same day, the County signed a juvenile detention temporary placement agreement with the Reno County Youth Services (RCYS) detention facility. The County signed a second such agreement on October 25, 1993.
On October 26, 1993, the district court held a detention hearing and found that E.R. was a danger to others and should be held in detention pending his adjudication. The court remanded E.R. to the custody of the Harvey County Sheriff for his return to RCYS. On October 28, 1993, the court held a pretrial hearing and ordered that E.R. remain in detention.
On November 1, 1993, the court entered an order changing the custody of E.R. and placing him in the temporary custody of SRS. Later that same day, the County signed another juvenile detention temporary placement agreement with RCYS. E.R. remained at RCYS until November 15, 1993, when SRS placed him elsewhere.
RCYS subsequently sent the County a bill for the cost of E.R.'s detention. RCYS charged the County $150 per day for the 14-day period between November 1 and November 15, and the County paid the charged amount. The County then requested reimbursement from SRS, but SRS refused. As grounds for its refusal, SRS cited its existing contract with RCYS, which provides that SRS shall pay $49.70 per day for detention provided to juveniles in SRS custody.
Unable to secure payment from SRS, the County filed a petition for mandamus and asked the district court to order SRS to pay for E.R.'s detention. The parties agreed to submit the matter on stipulated facts and their written briefs.
The court dismissed the County's petition, holding that mandamus was not an appropriate remedy because the County's right to collect the sought amount was in substantial dispute. The court held that the issue was not whether SRS had a legal duty to pay, but rather how much SRS must pay this particular provider in this particular instance.
K.S.A. 60-801 defines the nature of mandamus:
|"Mandamus is a proceeding to compel some inferior court, tribunal, board, or some corporation or person to perform a specified duty, which duty results from the office, trust, or official station of the party to whom the order is directed, or from operation of law."
In Long v. Board of Wyandotte County Comm'rs, 254 Kan. 207, 864 P.2d 724 (1993), the court explained when mandamus is an appropriate remedy:
"'This court has consistently recognized that mandamus is a proper remedy where the essential purpose
of the proceeding is to obtain an authoritative interpretation of the law for the guidance of public officials in
their administration of the public business, notwithstanding the fact that another adequate remedy at law
exists. [Citations omitted.]
. . . .
'. . . Issuance of the writ is discretionary with the court and a writ should not issue unless a respondent's legal duty is clear. [Citation omitted.] Mandamus is not available to require performance of an act that involves the exercise of discretion by the public official. This court has stated that "mandamus may not be invoked to control discretion and neither does it lie to enforce a right which is in substantial dispute, and further, that resort to the remedy may be had only when the party invoking it is clearly entitled to the order which he seeks." [Citation omitted.] The only acts of public officials that the courts can control by mandamus are those strictly ministerial, meaning the public officer or agent is required to perform based upon a given set of facts, in a prescribed manner, in obedience to the mandate of legal authority, and without regard to his own judgment or opinion about the propriety or impropriety of the act to be performed. [Citation omitted.]' State ex rel. Stephan v. Kansas Racing Comm'n, 246 Kan. 708, 716-17, 792 P.2d 971 (1990)." 254 Kan. at 211-12.
SRS argues that mandamus is not an appropriate means to decide this case because its duty to pay the amount the County seeks is not clearly established. The County contends K.S.A. 38-1616 requires SRS to pay the full amount of E.R.'s detention expenses. That statute provides, in relevant part:
" (a) How paid. (1) If a juvenile alleged or adjudged to be a juvenile offender is not eligible for
assistance under K.S.A. 39-709 and amendments thereto, expenses for the care and custody of the
juvenile shall be paid out of the general fund of the county in which the proceedings are brought. . . .
"(2) When a law enforcement officer has taken a juvenile into custody as authorized by subsection (a) of K.S.A. 38-1624 and amendments thereto and delivered the juvenile to a person or facility, other than a juvenile detention facility, designated by the secretary or when custody of a juvenile is awarded to the secretary, the expenses of the care and custody of the juvenile may be paid by the secretary out of the state social welfare fund, subject to payment or reimbursement as required in subsection (b), even though the juvenile does not meet the eligibility standards of K.S.A. 39-709 and amendments thereto.
"(3) When the custody of a juvenile is awarded to the secretary of social and rehabilitation services, the expenses for the care and custody of the juvenile shall not be paid out of the county general fund." (Emphasis added.)
The question is whether K.S.A. 38-1616(a)(2) clearly imposes a legal duty upon SRS to fully reimburse the County for the detention costs of E.R., a juvenile in SRS custody. If the County's right to full reimbursement is not in substantial dispute, then mandamus is an appropriate remedy.
This court recently addressed K.S.A. 38-1616(a)(2) in In re J.L., 21 Kan. App. 2d 878, 908 P.2d 629 (1995), rev. denied 259 Kan. (1996). The court considered whether SRS was liable for the detention costs of J.L., a juvenile in its custody. The court focused on K.S.A. 38-1616(a)(2) and held that the statute "creates a liability for SRS" to pay for J.L.'s detention costs. 21 Kan. App. 2d at 883. The court interpreted the statute in conjunction with its earlier holding in In re C.C., 19 Kan. App. 2d 906, 878 P.2d 865, rev. denied 255 Kan. 1002 (1994). In that case, the court held that K.S.A. 38-1616(a)(2) did not require SRS to pay for the expenses and care of C.C. because C.C. was not in SRS custody. See 19 Kan. App. 2d at 910.
E.R. was in SRS custody during his detention at RCYS from November 1 through November 15, the time period for which the County seeks reimbursement. According to the holding in In re J.L., K.S.A. 38-1616(a)(2) creates a liability for SRS to pay the detention costs of juveniles in its custody. Therefore, SRS has a clear legal obligation to bear the cost of E.R.'s detention.
Although K.S.A. 38-1616(a)(2) requires SRS to pay the expenses of E.R.'s detention, SRS argues that it is not required to pay the amount the County seeks, $150 per day. SRS contends that pursuant to its contract with RCYS, it is only required to pay $49.70 per day for E.R.'s detention.
SRS made a similar argument in In re J.L. SRS argued that it was not liable for the full cost of J.L.'s detention because "'SRS' practice of paying a less than total cost for per diem detention has been followed for many years.'" In re J.L., 21 Kan. App. 2d at 883. The court rejected this claim, reasoning that because K.S.A. 38-1616(a)(2) says nothing about partial payment, SRS was liable for the full amount. The court noted, however, that SRS had provided no authority in support of its claim. In contrast, in the present case SRS has a valid contract with the detention provider, RCYS. The case at bar is factually distinguishable from In re J.L. regarding whether SRS is liable for the full amount of the detention expenses.
K.S.A. 38-1616(a)(2) requires SRS to pay "the expenses of the care and custody" of a juvenile in its custody. The contract between SRS and RCYS establishes a set amount of expenses for the detention of juveniles in SRS custody. Construing the statute and the contract together, one could conclude that SRS is only liable for the amount of expenses provided by its contract with RCYS.
The County, on the other hand, argues that the "expenses" contemplated by the statute include the actual cost of the juvenile detention, in this case $150 per day. SRS and the County stipulated that SRS had not entered into any contract with the County regarding reimbursement for detention expenses paid by the County for juveniles in SRS custody. However, K.S.A. 38-1616(b) provides for reimbursement to the County. The statute states that the district court may hold a hearing on the question of requiring reimbursement by a person who by law is liable to maintain, care for, or support the juvenile. K.S.A. 38-1616(b)(1). The statute also provides that the County may bring a separate action for reimbursement against such person. K.S.A. 38-1616(b)(3). However, the statute does not state that the County is absolutely entitled to reimbursement; that determination necessarily rests on the facts of each case.
The parties have adopted differing positions regarding how much of the actual detention expenses SRS is legally obligated to pay. The viability of both positions leads to the conclusion that the County's right to recover the full amount of the expenses is in substantial dispute. Mandamus is not an appropriate means to enforce a right which is in substantial dispute. See Long v. Board of Wyandotte County Comm'rs, 254 Kan. at 211. Rather, "before an order of mandamus may be issued it must be found that a clear legal right has been violated. . . . Mandamus lies only to enforce a right in a clear-cut case." Lauber v. Firemen's Relief Assn. of Salina, 195 Kan. 126, 129, 402 P.2d 817 (1965). Unless a defendant's legal duty is clear, the court should not issue a writ of mandamus. Huser v. Duck Creek Watershed Dist. No. 59, 234 Kan. 1, 4-5, 668 P.2d 172 (1983). Because the County's right to recover the full amount of E.R.'s detention expenses is in substantial dispute, mandamus is not an appropriate means to resolve the issue. Cf. Huser v. Duck Creek Watershed Dist. No. 59, 234 Kan. at 3-5 (holding that because the enabling statutes did not make clear the watershed district's duty, mandamus was not a proper remedy).
Next, SRS contends that mandamus is not appropriate because an adequate remedy at law exists. As a general rule, "a writ of mandamus may not issue in any case where there is a plain and adequate remedy in the ordinary course of the law." Gray v. Jenkins, 183 Kan. 251, 254, 326 P.2d 319 (1958). See Stephens v. Van Arsdale, 227 Kan. 676, 682, 608 P.2d 972 (1980). Our Supreme Court has, on occasion, expanded the availability of mandamus "when confronted with significant issues of statewide concern." Stephens v. Van Arsdale, 227 Kan. at 682.
|"Courts will not accept jurisdiction of a mandamus action simply to give guidance to a public official or to settle disputes between public officials. It is only where an issue of law affects public officials, presents an issue of great public importance and significant State interest, and requires a speedy adjudication that mandamus is an appropriate and proper means to decide the issue." Long v. Board of Wyandotte County Comm'rs, 254 Kan. at 212.
In the present case, K.S.A. 38-1616(b) provides the County with a remedy at law. The statute states that the County may bring a separate action for reimbursement of juvenile expenses from the person responsible for the care and custody of the juvenile. K.S.A. 38-1616(b)(3). Because a remedy at law exists, mandamus is improper unless the juvenile detention cost issue is of great public importance and significant State interest.
The County argues that this case presents an issue of significant statewide concern and that mandamus is proper because the detention costs dispute between SRS and county governments is of a recurring and ongoing nature, see Stephens v. Van Arsdale, 227 Kan. at 683, and also because an authoritative interpretation of Kansas law is needed to guide the parties and establish SRS's legal duty to pay. See State ex rel. Stephan v. Parrish, 257 Kan. 294, 296, 891 P.2d 445 (1995).
Although the County presents the issue as having a broad scope and far-reaching implications, it is apparent that the core of the dispute is grounded in the particular and somewhat unusual facts of this case. The controversy in this case was caused by RCYS attempting to secure payment from the wrong party; RCYS should have billed SRS instead of the County. When viewed in that light, the matter hardly seems to present an issue of significant statewide concern or great public importance. Moreover, this court's recent decisions in In re C.C. and In re J.L. provide guidance by clarifying the obligations of SRS and the County regarding payment of juvenile detention expenses.
Because SRS does not contest the validity of the court's temporary order, we need not address the County's discussion of K.S.A. 38-1632 and K.S.A. 38-1664(b).


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Interview date: 05/29/2008
Run date: 06/09/2008
TV Home / Entertainment Channel / Bullz-Eye Home
David Morse is a familiar face no matter what your preferred genre of film. His first big break came via his role on "St. Elsewhere" as Dr. Jack Morrison, but film critics began to take notice of his abilities after teaming with Sean Penn for "The Crossing Guard" and "The Indian Runner," while mainstream audiences came to appreciate him via performances in "Twelve Monkeys" and "The Rock." Morse spends most of his time these days on the big screen, but in addition to a guest spot on "House" last year, he's recently caught the eyes of TV viewers for his performance as George Washington in the acclaimed HBO miniseries, "John Adams." Bullz-Eye spoke to Morse about what it takes to play the first President of the United States, how much fun it is to play a movie bad ass (and what the drawbacks are), and which of his roles has resulted in people coming up to him on the street and saying, "I hate you."
Bullz-Eye: How much of a history buff were you when you went into "John Adams?" Were you already familiar with the work of David McCullough?
David Morse: I really wasn't familiar with his work, actually. I'm from Massachusetts, and I live in Philadelphia, so I've lived in places that are kind of steeped in history, and I know about my family history. So I was aware and interested, anyway.
BE: How does a guy go about approaching playing someone as formidable as the first President of the United States?
DM: Well, I'll tell you, I only got the part about three weeks before filming, so pretty much from the moment I got the role, I read everything I could get my hands on about George Washington. I picked up a copy of "John Adams," but when I started reading it and realized how close it was to the script, I could see that wasn't going to be much help. So I talked to people who knew more about Washington than I did, and I studied portraits of him, to get the look right and to approximate the stance as best I could.
BE: I have to say, I was very impressed by the way they made you look so much like Washington. I mean, you could see David Morse underneath the make-up, but you did look remarkably like most portraits of Washington.
DM: I don't always know about that make-up when I look at it. My wife and some of my family and friends, people who know me, they see it and they're, like, "That's David, but he's got that fake nose and the wig." And it's hard for them to get past that. But the people who don't know me as well seem to accept it better.
BE: How much make-up time was required for you?
DM: It was about two, two-and-a-half hours every day.
BE: Were you impressed with the amount of historical accuracy that the producers strived to bring to the miniseries?
DM: It was really just awesome. They brought in craftsmen from around the world to make sure things were as precise as possible, because, of course, we weren't able to get our hands on a lot of the furniture from that era, so they had to make it. The attention to detail was just remarkable, even the portraits. I remember being on the set and noticing a portrait of Washington, but when I looked at it really closely, I realized that it wasn't just that, it was actually a portrait of me as Washington, that they'd made a point of making sure the portraits were of the actors as the characters.
BE: I would expect that getting the lighting right on some of those shots was rather challenging, given the attempts to reproduce the lack of light in a pre-electrical era.
DM: It was. The first day of filming, I arrived in Williamsburg and went to the set to meet Tom (Wilkinson), and when I got there, I saw everything that was going into it to make sure it was just so, to make it look just right. It was like a living painting.
BE: I know you'd already worked with him as an actor, but how hands-on was Tom Hanks as a producer? I know he made a point of making the rounds at the various premiere screenings, but I also know he's a busy guy.
DM: He's a very busy guy. In fact, I don't think I actually saw him at any point while we were filming the series. But he was very hands-on behind the scenes, and he was directly responsible for making sure that the historical accuracy was as significant as it was. We worked together on "The Green Mile," of course, and I remember we got to talking at one point where, you know, you're just talking about whatever, and he mentioned that he was at a point where he didn't necessarily want to keep reading a lot of books about a lot of different things. He was enjoying the opportunity to pick one thing and just learn everything he possibly could about that thing. And I think that comes into play when he's producing something like "John Adams" or, you know, "Band of Brothers" or any of the other things he's produced.
BE: I was going to ask you if you had a favorite episode of the miniseries, but then it occurred to me that you might not even have seen the whole thing yourself.
DM: No, I've managed to see it all, I think. And I think I have to agree with a lot of other people about that second episode, the signing of the Constitution. It's one of those events where it's been told so many times that you think you know everything, but the way it's presented, you learn so much more.
BE: I wanted to ask you about some of your other TV work. I was really psyched when the first season of "St. Elsewhere" came out on DVD; I was just on the cusp of my teens when it premiered. The experience is kind of strange, though, to see Denzel Washington in a small-screen role and, of course, to see Howie Mandel with hair.
DM: And me looking like a 13-year-old! I was glad to go back and revisit the show (for the retrospective featurette on the Season One DVD), but I have some mixed feelings about the series. It was a great bunch of actors to work with, and it was certainly a groundbreaking series, and I enjoyed working on it.
BE: But there's a "but" there…
DM: There is a "but," and…it was a behind-the-scenes thing, really. I mean, with any ensemble cast…and in the first season, we had, what, over 20 regular cast members?...it's always a struggle for the writers because they'll write for a character, and then they'll get tired of writing for that character and they'll focus on someone else. And no one's ever going to be happy 100 percent of the time, because of course you want the spotlight. And I think that's an issue on just about any show, but it's still something that can really cause turmoil behind the scenes.
BE: Do you remember how "Hack" was originally pitched to you? Because in my mind, I like to imagine someone just said, "I've got three words for you: crime-fighting cabbie."
DM: (laughs) That's funny. Actually, it wasn't even a pitch. I had talked to Les Moonves, and I met with him and Nina (Tassler), and Les asked if I would be interested in doing a series, and I really wasn't. I wasn't really excited about doing a weekly series, plus I was living in Philadelphia at the time and I had a family, and I wasn't interested in being away from them. So I told him that if I was going to be interested, it would have to be something that could actually be filmed in Philadelphia. Maybe New York, but I wasn't even sure about that, really. A little while later, I get two scripts: one for "Hack," one for…what's the show with Anthony LaPaglia? "Without A Trace." I read that one, and I think, "Oh, this is going be a hit. It's by Bruckheimer, it's got a formula, it's gonna last for seven seasons." And then I read "Hack," and I liked it, and what I like more about it was that it could go anywhere, really. You didn't know from the outset what direction it might go. I liked it, and I know a lot of people really loved it, but it never really reached its potential in my mind. It wasn't everything that I thought it could be. Part of that was the network, because they saw Andre Braugher and kept wanting to push it to be more of a buddy show, and that's not really what the show was.
BE: Did you enjoy your stint on "House?"
DM: I did. I love Hugh (Laurie). And David Shore was an executive producer on "Hack," too, and a lot of the "Hack" writers are now on "House," so that was great. But I'm getting kind of tired of people coming up to me on the street and tell me they hate me.
BE: C'mon, it's not like you never played a bad guy before.
DM: I know. But I guess they really took this one personally.
BE: You've worked with Sean Penn on "The Indian Runner" and "The Crossing Guard." Do you prefer one film to the other?
DM: I like them both, of course, but I think I'm more partial to "The Crossing Guard." When we were working on "The Indian Runner," Sean brought me this scene he'd written – it's the one in "The Crossing Guard" where Jack Nicholson confronts the guy – and he said, "What do you think?" I said, "I think it's great. What's it for?" He said, "I don't know, I'm working on something." And for a couple of years, he kept working on it, and he'd send me scenes here and there. And, eventually, several years later, we made it. And just being on the inside of the creation of that film like that, I think that's why I'm probably more partial to it.
BE: You're in two of my all-time favorite turn-off-your-mind-and-just-eat-your-popcorn flicks: "The Rock" and "The Long Kiss Goodnight." Do you relish the opportunity to be a bad-ass?DM: I do. It's a lot of fun doing films like that. And it's pretty amazing, actually, when you consider that I spent all that time on "St. Elsewhere," playing anything but a bad-ass. But now it's gotten to the point where that's what people know me for, so I have try and take a step back, I think.
BE: When you were doing "Dancer in the Dark," did you think, "Oh, man, this is gonna be an either-you-love-it-or-you-hate-it movie?"
DM: Oh, definitely. I didn't even want to do it. I loved Lars' (Von Tier) earlier films, but I just couldn't believe that he could take such a dark subject and make it work in that kind of a setting. But I'm grateful that he convinced me to do it.
BE: Do you have a favorite project you've worked on that didn't necessarily get the love you thought it should have?
DM: There's probably more than one, but the first one that comes to mind is "The Slaughter Rule." It was an independent film I did with Ryan Gosling. He's really a talented guy, a great actor.
BE: And do you have a favorite project that you were pitched but which never took off?
DM: You know, I'm not sure if I do. (considers the question) Actually, yes, I do: "The Legend of Pig Eye." It was based on a story written by Rick Bass, and I just loved the script. It was fantastic. But it kept hitting stumbling blocks, and it was proving to be a struggle to get financed. The director (Lauren Lee) was a woman and she was Asian, and…well, it just fell by the wayside, which was unfortunate.
BE: Thanks, David. It's been a pleasure talking with you.
DM: Thank you, same here.
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