text:
A Texas woman accused of killing a young mother and abducting her 3-day-old boy had suffered a miscarriage and intended to "adopt" the newborn as her own, authorities said Wednesday.
Verna McClain, 30, is charged with capital murder after confessing to killing the new mother and grabbing tiny Keegan Golden from outside a pediatrician's office in suburban Houston. Keegan was found unharmed hours later with McClain's sister.
The Montgomery County sheriff's office said Wednesday that McClain — estranged from her husband, with whom she had raised three children — had told her fianc� she was pregnant and had given birth to his child. Instead, McClain had miscarried, Capt. Bruce Zenor said.
McClain's sister, Corina Jackson, told authorities that she had talked about needing to "do the adoption" soon after taking Keegan.
Her fianc�, who was not identified Wednesday, is being interviewed by authorities.
Officials said they did not believe anyone else was involved in the shooting and abduction.
Sheriff Tommy Gage said Kala Golden had placed Keegan into her pickup truck Tuesday afternoon after leaving Northwoods Pediatric Center in Spring, about 20 miles north of Houston. The suspected shooter was parked next to her, Gage said.
During the confrontation, the woman repeatedly shot Golden, then snatched the child from her truck and drove away, according to witness accounts. The dying woman leaned into the vehicle and tried to take the boy back, screaming, "My baby!" but her attacker sped off.
Two detectives spotted a vehicle later Tuesday outside a nearby apartment complex that matched witnesses' descriptions, Gage said. Though McClain's apartment was empty, she later arrived and talked to authorities.
"During her interview with detectives, information was obtained which led detectives to a residence in Harris County where her sister lives and a possible location of the child," Gage said. McClain was later arrested. Police say she admitted carrying out the attack.
"I don't understand that, her taking a child," her estranged husband, Theo McClain of San Diego, told The Associated Press. The couple had two children together and raised a third from a previous relationship of his.
"That doesn't make sense. We have three kids. And then to shoot somebody? I've never known her to hurt anybody."
Investigators said McClain's statements included information only the shooter would know and indicated she attacked the mother Tuesday as part of a wider plan to kidnap any child and that Golden was simply a convenient target.
She was being held without bail.
The baby has been returned to family members, according to Keith Schuchardt, who said he had been married to Kala Golden for three years.
He told the Houston Chronicle that he learned of the shooting because as Golden lay dying, she asked another woman to call him and explain the attack.
Asked by reporters what he would tell his wife now, Schuchardt said, "I wish you were here with me to get me through this."
Schuchardt told the AP that officials were initially concerned about his criminal record, which includes felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance and burglary of a coin-operated machine.
McClain is a vocational nurse, a job that involves providing basic nursing services under the direction of registered nurses and doctors. She does not work at the pediatric center, according to a clinic receptionist, Jackie Longoria.
McClain, who has vocational nursing licenses in both California and Texas, has not faced disciplinary action in either state, according to licensing boards.
Golden's mother, Linda Golden, told the AP that she had been baby-sitting when someone at the scene called her using her daughter's cellphone. She rushed to the clinic but was unable to see her daughter because paramedics were trying to save her.
"I wanted to kiss her before they put her in the ambulance," Linda Golden said.
Linda Golden said she had no idea what could have sparked the slaying and abduction.
"That's the hardest she's ever fought," she said. "She died trying to save her baby."


text:
This holiday exchange was a far cry from the typical cookie or white elephant gift swap.
Instead, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department swapped guns for gift cards Saturday outside the Mira Costa Community College in Cardiff.
People turned over 899 handguns, shotguns, rifles and one live hand grenade in exchange for Wal-Mart gift cards, no questions asked. Handguns earned $100 each, while long guns were handed in for $150 gift cards.
U.S. & World
For Dep. James Steinmeyer, the event holds personal significance. On Feb. 20 of this year, he was shot in the head as he tried to arrest a man suspected of stealing a vehicle.
That suspect had gotten the gun illegally.
"I think that is an event in my life that makes this relevant," said Steinmeyer. "Like I mentioned -- the gun being illegally obtained -- any time there's a gun in a household where they don't know what to do with it, they don't really want it around, there's a potential that that could fall into the wrong hands, and that's what we're trying to prevent here today."
Steinmeyer said he still has several birdshot pellets lodged in his head, and his partner, Dep. Colin Snodgrass, is still recovering from buckshot wounds to his knee from the same shooting.
Gun owner Joyce Saria came to the event because she felt uncomfortable keeping an unneeded gun around her home.
"I don't know how to use the gun, so that's why it's better for us to just give it away and have a peace of mind that I don't have anything in my house," said Saria.
The sheriff's department paid for $15,000 worth of gift cards through asset forfeiture funds, and the San Diego District Attorney's Office donated $5,000 in forfeiture funds to the cause as well.
All the collected firearms will now be destroyed.
Lt. Mario Zermeno with the San Diego Sheriff's Department said the gun buyback attracted roughly three times more gun owners than they expected.
If any gun owners missed the event Saturday but still want to get rid of their firearms, Zermeno said they can always turn them into any sheriff's station or police department during business hours. However, they will not receive a gift card.
The sheriff's department partnered with the Carlsbad, Oceanside and San Diego police departments to host the event.
The last sheriff's gun buyback was held last May in San Marcos. There, people turned in 208 guns, including two assault-style rifles and a military smoke grenade. Two of the firearms had been stolen, and the sheriff's department handed them over to the appropriate agency.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
MGM Home Entertainment has announced a special edition of David Lynch's Wild At Heart which stars Nicolas Cage, Laura Dern, Willem Dafoe and Crispin Glover. The film will be available to own from the 7th December this year, and should set you back around $24.98. As well as a new digitally remastered anamorphic widescreen transfer and Dolby Digital 5.1 track (both of which were supervised by Lynch), the disc will include a brand new thirty-minute making of documentary, an original promotional featurette, extended interviews with the cast and the director and sixty-five animated behind the scenes photos with music.
..as for the interviews w/ lynch ..are they new or are they vintage [like the blue velvet SE ]...?
i can deal w/ the cover i guess ..sorta reminds me of the blue velvet one..maybe it will have a slip case also....
MGM has officially announced the DVD release of the Wild at Heart: Special Edition for 12/7 (SRP $19.98 ).
How come isn't this for pre-order at amazon? Shouldn't be already there?
Review of Wild at Heart dvd:http://www.lynchnet.com/wah/wahdvd.htmlThank god. Now I can finally throw out my VHS.
Wild at Heart David Lynch Interview Clip Posted Online MGM has posted a quick clip from the interviews section of their Wild at Heart DVD featuring David Lynch speaking about the new transfer. You can check it out by clicking below. Windows Media Player is required.http://mfile.akamai.com/28/asf/mgm.download.akamai.com/28/heg/WILDATHE_ftte1_300K.asx


text:
For discussions about all PhotoWiz plugins see the PhotoWiz General forum. You may find some explanations there that are not available in this forum.
Click here to visit the PhotoWiz General forum:
http://graphicsgalaxy.com/forums/theplu ... m.php?f=26
Also have a look at the PhotoWiz General forum
ColorWasher specific discussions
1 post • Page 1 of 1
- Plugin Guru
- Posts: 3361
- Joined: Fri Mar 08, 2002 1:00 am
- Location: The Plugin Site
- Contact:
1 post • Page 1 of 1
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


text:
Cooperative learning using LLEAP with a task trainer
A LLEAP Fundamentals license allows you to conduct training using task trainers and standardised patients with a simulated patient monitor.
LLEAP Fundamentals gives learners the power to conduct peer-to-peer training independently, without the support of additional teaching staff.
By following standardized scenarios, LLEAP Fundamentals can guide a learner through a training session. A learner's performance can be tracked by their peers and logged for debriefing. Using scenarios in this way allows for easy access to a controlled experience when it's convenient for faculty and students.
LLEAP Fundamentals can guide a learner through training sessions using...
LLEAP Fundamentals allows instructors to elevate the training environment with human interaction and communication.
Use a simulated patient monitor to change the standardised patient's vital signs and capture intervention in the timestamped data log.
Peers can work with a task trainer and a LLEAP Fundamentals scenario will guide them through a simulation.
Logging the events enables built in scoring and controls the scenario's progression. Students receive feedback immediately after the scenario ends and the debriefing log is available for instructor review.
Use a PC or an existing simulated patient monitor to enhance the simulation.
You could also embed video, images, multiple-choice questions, and more into the scenario and display this on the monitor.
A full LLEAP license unifies the control of all PC operated Laerdal simulators and brings simplicity to running simulation training.
LLEAP Lite is free to download and allows you to practice using LLEAP and bench test your scenarios from the comfort of your own PC.


text:
MAAC Tournament PreviewPosted by rtmsf on March 5th, 2010
Ray Floriani of College Chalktalk is the RTC correspondent for the MAAC and NEC conferences.
LYNDHURST, NJ – The MAAC tournament begins on the men's side on Friday at the Times Union Center in Albany. The distinction has to be made as the women tip off on Thursday. The MAAC showcases both the men's and women's events at the same locations giving fans the opportunity to see the respective programs of all ten members. Siena is a clear cut favorite. The homecourt advantage and rabid following doesn't hurt but Siena is a talented, battle tested and well-coached club. They have one loss in the MAAC, a late season setback at Niagara which might have been a blessing in the long run.
The bracket:
All conference honors went to the following:


text:
Posted: Dec 07, 2012
RIVER FALLS, Wis. (Blugolds.com) — After suffering their first loss of the season last weekend, the UW-Eau Claire men's hockey team got back on track Friday night against UW-River Falls with a 5-1 victory.
After falling to UW-Stevens Point in overtime last weekend, the Blugolds (11-1-1, 7-1-1 NCHA) came out and set the tone against the Falcons (4-5-2, 0-5-2 NCHA) in River Falls.
The teams were scoreless through most of the first period, until Ross Andersen (So.-River Falls, Wis./River Falls), who was returning to his hometown, broke through at 18:37 and gave the Blugolds a 1-0 lead.
The Blugolds struck again in the second period. Midway through the stanza Chris Heineman (So.-New Boston, Mich./Traverse City Central) gave the Blugolds a 2-0 lead with an assist by Jon Waggoner (Jr.-Fairbanks, Alaska/Lathrop).
At 15:53 the Falcons broke through for their lone goal of the game on a shorthanded tally. That's how the period ended, but the Blugolds put the game away in the third.
Andrew McCabe (Sr.-Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial) started the scoring at 4:02 of the third. Just 0:24 later, Isaiah Bennis (Sr.-Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial) gave the Blugolds a three-goal cushion.
With the game in hand, Brian Nehring (Jr.-Hopedale, Mass./Milford) scored the fifth goal of the night for the Blugolds with assists to Mark Pustin (Jr.-Northridge, Cal./Granada Hills) and Jack Callahan (So.-Red Bank, NJ/Christian Brothers).
Brandon Stephenson (Sr.-Saline, Mich./Saline) made 28 saves on 29 shots to pick up his ninth win of the year in goal. The Blugolds peppered Falcon's goalie, Scott Lewan, with 41 shots. The Blugolds were 0-for-4 on the power-play as were the Falcons.
The two teams will play again Saturday night at River Falls. It will be the final game of 2012 for the Blugolds as they will break for about a month for the holiday season. They will return to action in 2013 on Jan. 4 to take on St. John's at Hobbs Ice Center.


text:
Speculaas Gevulde is Dutch, comprised of an almond paste center and a top and bottom layer of spiced shortbread. There apparently are famous cookies, bearing the traditional shapes of their Dutch (or Belgian) counterparts. This piqued my interest. Some of the only non-homemade cookies I remember at my Gram's house were perpetual boxes of "Windmill Cookies". They were almondy and brittle thin, slightly spiced and excellent when dunked in milk. In fact, many cookies in my possession went submerged too long and turned into that miraculous cookie sludge in the bottom of my glass, that I happily drank after no doubt negotiating more cookies to replace them. Perhaps that wasn't far off from the speculoos spread that Leibovitz heralded...
It appears that "speculoos" and "speculaas" refer to the same thing, names bound by a common Latin moniker I'd imagine, and used by citizenry of different countries. What little online research I did prying into the past of speculaas didn't confirm much in the way of how a brittle spice cookie turned into a semi-soft, layered confection. The term "gevulde speculaas" is Dutch for filled speculass, which is what this cookie-cake is called. It really makes no difference to me how it came to evolve, because this little cake was actually very easy to make and incredibly delicious!
Maybe 2 days before actually baking the speculaas, I mixed up the spice mixture and then the dough. Using my food processor, which seemed to be the easiest and least messy way of cutting a good amount of butter into a floury spice mix, I had speculaas dough in short order. I think the time in the fridge was good for marrying the spicy flavors as well.
One of the most interesting things about this challenge was the combination of spices. Having never tasted the real thing, I relied on the formula our host provided. In additions to mandatory inclusions like cinnamon, cloves, and ginger, optional spices like nutmeg (mace, nutmeg's weblike exterior coating, interestingly was also a mandatory spice), coriander, and white pepper. Francijn suggested the parts of spice, but it was basically individual taste that dictated the final flavor. I added extra ginger powder, but next time I'd like to increase the "spicy-hot" factor by adding more white pepper, and perhaps by using cassia cinnamon which has a hotter profile than Ceylon cinnamon.
Speculaas Spice Mix
(enough for several batches of gevulde speculaas dough)
- 2 t. cloves
- 1 t. mace
- 1 1/2 t. ginger powder
- 1 t. cardamom
- 1/2 t. coriander powder
- 1/2 t. anise seed, crushed to a powder
- 1 t. nutmeg
- 1/2 t. white pepper
Speculaas Gevulde Dough (Francjin, via The Daring Kitchen)
- 250 g. (1 3/4 c.) AP flour
- 1 t. baking powder
- 150 g. (3/4 c. packed) brown sugar
- pinch of salt
- 2 T. speculaas spices, see above
- 175 g. (3/4 c. or 6 oz.) butter, cut into pieces
- enough whole milk to hold it together, about 2-3 T.
Transfer the dough to a plastic bag, form into a disc, and refrigerate at least two hours, and up to several days. The dough can also be frozen for several months.
Assembling the final Speculaas Gevulde:
I really enjoyed this cake as it aged. I stored it in my new obsession: these reusable, beeswax coated, hemp and cotton flats that can be made into envelopes around food. I can't thank Deena enough for sending me a package of them - I had never heard of them, and I really love them! The wrapping kept it moist and dense, and I feel like the flavors deepened as the days passed.
I'm so pleased with the way this challenge went. An elegant, petite spice cake, spiked with almond and nearly endlessly adaptable to your liking? How could I feel anything but pure love for this dessert? Thank you to Francjin for a wonderful challenge selection! Be sure to check out the original recipe, and a short history of the spice trade and the Netherlands role in this confection!


text:
It's nothing but the best for the body of late singer Whitney Houston. After being flown from L.A. to New Jersey via Tyler Perry's private jet, she was taken to the Whigham Funeral Home in a golden hearse. It was announced today that Houston's funeral will be held on Saturday, February 18 at the New Hope Baptist Chuch in Newark, where she first sang as a child. Photos have surfaced of the tub—still full of water—in which Houston was found.
Whitney Houston's Baller Hearse


text:
The Great Wall
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Red Dawn
The Bourne Legacy
State of Play
Michael Clayton
The Bourne Ultimatum
The Bourne Supremacy
All Tony Gilroy photos
All Tony Gilroy films
Movies.com, the ultimate source for everything movies, is your destination for new movie trailers, reviews, photos, times, tickets + more! Stay in the know with the latest movie news and cast interviews at Movies.com.
Copyright © 2019 FANDANGO MOVIES.


text:
Michelle Obama's inaugural outfits sent designers to their drafting tables to design knockoffs and droves went to J.Crew to get those snazzy leather green gloves. But not everyone is happy with her choices. The Black Artists Association is chiding the First Lady for not choosing any African-American designers.
They will send a letter to the First Lady's office and appeal to her to include items from black designers in her wardrobe. BAA Cofounder Amnau Eele, who was a former runway model told Women's Wear Daily:
"It's fine and good if you want to be all 'Kumbaya' and 'We Are the World' by representing all different countries. But if you are going to have Isabel Toledo do the inauguration dress, and Jason Wu do the evening gown, why not have Kevan Hall, B Michael, Stephen Burrows or any of the other black designers do something too?"
Wu didn't find out Michelle O. was wearing his dress until he saw her on television Tuesday night. And aides said FLOTUS didn't even decide until hours before her big night.


text:
Home Mortgage Deduction
Use this calculator to assess the potential benefits of a home mortgage deduction.
You are viewing this website at a small screen resolution which doesn't support calculators. Click here to view this calculator.
Share |
Related Content
The Facts About Income Tax
Millions faithfully file their 1040 forms each April. But some things about federal income taxes may surprise you.
What the New Tax Bill Means for You
What does the Tax Reform and Jobs Act mean for you?
Tax Management Strategies
Learn more about taxes, tax-favored investing, and tax strategies.


text:
Heroes & Generals – PAX East 2013 Interview
Nick speaks with Peter Fleckenstein about the hugely ambitious WWII shooter/RTS Heroes & Generals at PAX East 2013!
Press Play UNCUT is a series of raw interviews (no gameplay footage, images, etc, just the facts) that we post immediately from an event, allowing us to get you the information you want in a very timely manner while we edit our signature episodes. In short, Press Play loves you!
Click here to see more Press Play @ PAX East 2013!


text:
The Division of Occupational Safety and Health of the California Department of Industrial Relations ensures safe and healthful working conditions for California workers (except for federal employees, who are covered by the United States Department of Labor). The Division enforces all laws, standards and orders protecting worker health and safety on the job; in addition, it has jurisdiction over elevators, standards or mining and tunneling, pressure vessels, aerial tramways, and movable amusement rides. The Division also inspects business posing higher-the average potential risk to worker safety or health.
Complaint jurisdiction:
Unsafe or unhealthful working conditions; serious worker injury or illness; worksite fatalities; failure of an employer to monitor and measure harmful substances subject to CAL/OSHA standards; failure of an employee to notify employees of on-the-job exposure to harmful substances in concentrations higher than CAL/OSHA standards or limits.
Complaints outside jurisdiction:
Problems concerning federal employees; benefits; wage disputes; workers' compensation; employment discrimination; child labor laws; farm labor contracts.
Department of Industrial Relations Division of Occupational Safety and Health
455 Golden Gate Avenue, Room 9516
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 557-0100
(415) 557-0123 Fax
See Also: Labor


text:
Peter has lived his life in Little Rock, graduating from Central High. His career profile always included the creative arts which he applied while training in cosmetology. Hair became his focus, and he never failed to continue that education when possible.
In 2000, he ventured to Paris and Great Britain to study with Jo Hansford, the legendary European color specialist. While in London, he observed the early trends in vibrant hued highlighting, helping him be on the 'cutting edge' of color when he returned home.
After serving clientele at some of the leading salons during the 90's, Peter opened Breathe in 2002. He spends his spare time relaxing with his two daughters on the lake or traveling.
Click here for driving directions.


text:
Tenue du jour / Outfit of the day: "sf design"
[Click on the picture to enlarge]
Style, Photography: Perry Proudhon
Review and Credits after the jump!
This is an announcement from Solange Cerveau, owner of "Solange! Fashions" and "The Silk Raven":
"It's the Ides of March and that means The 3rd Annual Solange! Silk and Fantasy Sale starts today!
All silks and fantasy designs for men and women are marked down 50% until Wednesday, 4.22.09. This sale ONLY happens once a year, don't miss it!
Xstreet SL and Gift Vendors in the store are NOT marked down, DO NOT USE THESE IF YOU WANT THE 50% OFF SALES PRICE!
This sale is ONLY available at the Dream on Bay SOLANGE! SUPERSTORE!
(Items on the What's New wall are NOT included in the sale)"
This is the link to Solange's items featured on Slmen.
Message from Hoorenbeek:
"Come to discover our incredible EASTER FREE GIFT.
You wont believe what we have for you.
Come with your friends and have a great day!
Drop by and see for yourself the most trendy clothing in SL!
The [ hoorenbeek ] Team"
Gift available b the end of the week-end, after it'll be too late ;-)04/09/2009
To let people know about the quality of its updated range of hair, Madesigns Hair offers to the members of its group a sample of each hair in one color.
It's so better than a demo, because you will be able to adjust the hair perfectly to see of you like them, then buy your favorites colors!
To get the free hair, just open the search window, Groups tab, type "Kmadd Enterprise" then hit "search". Join the group, it's free, and look in the notices to get the free gifts.
Aitui Akeyo Argrace Artilleri Body Politik Boon Cake Casa del Shai Civvies Damiani Desert Moon Clothiers Dutch Touch Exile Flesh Peddlers Fnky Form Guillaume pour homme Hoorenbeek JCS Kalnins Kalrau KangarOOs Little Heaven Madesigns Minnu Model Skins Moderno Muism Mystikal Philotic Energy PixelDolls PXL Creations Redgrave Renegade Robin (Sojourner) Wood SF Design Shiny Things Simone Stellar Designs Studio Sidhe Styles of Edo Style Starts Here The Good Life Truth Zada Zona Cero
WP Cumulus Flash tag cloud by Roy Tanck requires Flash Player 9 or better.
[Click on the picture to enlarge]
Style, Photography: Perry Proudhon
Review and Credits after the jump!


text:
How Do I Treat Duckweed?
Tim – Rock Hall, MD
Duckweed is a very small floating plant about the size of a pencil eraser. It has shoe-sole shaped leaves with a small, hair-like root hanging below. Since duckweed floats on the surface of the pond, it is commonly mistaken for and treated as if it is algae. Unfortunately, algaecides have no effect on duckweed but there are a couple treatments you can do to keep the prolific duckweed at bay.
The Short-Term Solution
To treat duckweed as well as other aquatic weeds on a short-term basis, you can use Ultra PondWeed Defense® . This product is great for a one-time treatment or for spot treating. These are, however, only short-term solutions for duckweed. Due to their aggressive nature, duckweed can grow back in as little as 3 to 4 weeks. This is why we suggest a longer-term solution.
The Long-Term Solution
One of the only products on the market to provide long-term, season-long control of duckweed and other aquatic weeds is called Sonar™ A.S. Instead of having to spray the plant directly, Sonar™ A.S. is sprayed directly into the water. Sonar™ A.S. works by preventing photosynthesis in aquatic plants and by doing so causes them to slowly parish. Treating duckweed and other aquatic plants in this fashion allows for complete control of the entire water body for the season instead of just a few weeks.
Filed under: Duckweed, Pond & Lake, Season-Long Control | Tagged: Duckweed, duckweed killer, fluridone, pond weeds, sonar, sonar a.s., sonar as, ultra pond weed defense |


text:
Your Entry
Our Employees Are Our Success
We will offer you an opportunity to grow through performance and self-empowered actions. For this reason, we will advance your professional and personal development. Our goal is to provide working conditions and a leadership culture that create satisfaction on the job. For your benefit and ours. Because this is what has made Stabilus the uncontested world market leader.
- We will recruit seasoned specialists and managers and create the conditions for long-term employee retention.
- We will advance your development and that of your team. We will motivate you for tomorrow's tasks and equip you with the necessary tools.
- You will work for a mid-sized company with flat hierarchies and fast decisions.
- You will work in an international environment, for Stabilus has sixteen plants in nine countries on almost all continents.


text:
Do you have any good tips for teaching children about photography?
Use a cheap point and shoot camera use nature this is the best way to make kids awareness of their surroundings you will also be teaching mindfulness and stillness. Teach them about light and the how sun shines at different times of the day. Photography is a great source to teach kids science.


text:
D10: Ari Emanuel Takes on Silicon Valley and Internet Piracy
At the All Things D conference Wednesday night, Ari Emanuel, co-CEO of talent agency William Morris Endeavor, suggested that Northern and Southern California—Silicon Valley and Hollywood—would eventually find common ground on preventing piracy of intellectual property. He spent much of his time, however, berating Google, AT&T, and Verizon for enabling such piracy.
Above: Ari Emanuel, co-CEO of talent agency William Morris Endeavor
Southern California isn't great with its insistence on SOPA, he claims, but Northern California hasn't been good either in working with the content owners. He would like to see Google and the others get to the table and negotiate with the studios so they filter out international sites that are stealing Hollywood content. "One day, they are going to figure out that they are just big pipes and eventually they'll want premium content, and will try to figure that out," he said.
Conference hosts Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg asked why this is the responsibility of Google, AT&T, and Verizon and Emanuel answered that those companies do filter some content, so they must have the technology. "We can filter properly domestically, but internationally there has to be some method to filter people who steal content," he said.
During a question session, the famously combative Emanuel got into a heated argument with Josh Topolsky of The Verge about Topolsky's analogy that asking Google, Verizon, and AT&T to block those sites is like asking people to block the roads when someone is breaking into your house. "You need to sit down because it's a bad example," Emanuel said. It's a poor analogy, he argued, as those companies already block things such as child pornography. "Stealing is a bad thing and child pornography is a bad thing," Emanuel retorted.
On the current economics of cable and satellite, Emanuel believes the TV model in which people pay for bundles of channels will last for a long time. Ratings for individual shows have declined because things have spread out among more channels, but overall more people are watching more than ever before, even though people watching are multitasking. There are also new markets such as Netflix and Hulu that help the economics of TV.
Millennials and others will be watching more through DVRs, phones and tablets, and devices like Roku and Apple TV.
Mossberg pressed him, saying people were willing to pay for content, but they want to get it when they want it, where they want it, and without the bundles offered by the existing cable and satellite providers.
Overall, from subscriptions to advertising, the market is about $100 billion now, while moving to à la carte pricing might only get $40 billion, which would be a major inhibitor, he said.
The à la carte model may work in some places, he said, noting that Glenn Beck has 230,000 subscribers paying between $10 and $100 a month, but you don't get shows like Family Guy, Homeland, or Entourage in that model.
When asked how important it is that Google and other sites are now paying for original content, he said his firm represents a number of channels on YouTube, and there is a place for that.
"Who knows what will happen, so we have to stay ahead of the game there," he said. He had talked with Larry David about doing webisodes when he wasn't sure about a fifth season of Curb Your Enthusiasm, but he added that the big market was still traditional TV, including syndication. "When you get a big TV show like Two and a Half Men, you're talking tens of millions of dollars," he said.
"Cord cutting is not happening," Emanuel said, but Mossberg disputed his claim, believing that a lot of young people are not signing up for cable. Emanuel said eventually those people would get older and stop stealing content.
Moving on to the movie business, he said the current practice of "windows"—where movies typically appear first in theaters, later on premium cable and DVD, and only much later on other services—would remain. The decline in the DVD and Blu-Ray business has really hurt margins in the movie business.
On the other hand, television is doing great. In 1995, there were four networks, and now there are many, so the market for TV shows has dramatically increased.
"You're going to have more great programming coming out of television than there ever has been," he said, and with more competition internationally. His agency represents 230 shows on television right now, including 94 scripted shows, and a larger number of unscripted ones.
He talked about how Friday Night Lights went from a movie to a TV series and then maybe back again, wondering aloud if he could raise the money from something like the show's Facebook fans to fund the movie.
Emanuel was asked if the TV business would go through the same changes as the music business and he answered that the stupidity of the music business was not doing a deal with Napster then. Instead, it made a deal with Apple, which was great for Apple but not as great for the music companies. He doesn't know the business model that would allow for a similar platform for TV, as each episode costs $2.5 to $3 million to create. He isn't convinced about the pricing on iTunes, but at least Apple made a deal.
He then brought the conversation back to the issue of video piracy, saying, "If Google, Verizon, and AT&T don't stop piracy, I'm worried about our industry."
Going forward with things like social media, he said the music business would be impacted in a positive way because artists, and even authors, can go direct. He hasn't thought much about representing game developers, but he did say he thought there was market for great educators.
His business has invested in a number of digital companies, such as a digital advertising agency, a social gaming company, and several Internet startups. It is spending a lot of time up in Silicon Valley talking about how it can connect the two worlds. For instance, there are creative unscripted shows that could star Internet startups such as Uber and Airbnb, and a number of new companies are looking to celebrities to give them a boost. "We're a talent agency," Emanuel said. "We're going to continue to change to enable our clients to fulfill their vision across any platform."


text:
Universities make emergency alert changes
Two Nebraska universities have changed its emergency alert systems in hopes of getting more people enrolled in the system and aware of news when the unexpected happens on campus.
Instead of enrolling in University of Nebraska-Omaha's Emergency Alert System, people will now have to opt out. When students, facility and staff log into Mavlink, it now asks for an email address and a cellphone number to text.
"We want to be inclusive. For sure given the tragic events that have taken place in the country, it's important that we learn, and at UNO, we're trying to be proactive in being at the very edge of best practice," said Dan Shipp, associate vice chancellor of Student Affairs.
Email and text alerts will reach more than 10,000 people instead of a couple thousand, according to Shipp. Students said the change was a good idea.
"I believe we should all get the same kind of update on that," said student Rob Toth.
Staff at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln said they also updated their alert system. As of Jan. 17, the system no longer makes phone calls with emergency alerts. Instead, emails and text messages are sent. However, students at UNL do have to enroll in the system.


text:
We're bending over backwards for people with breast cancer! Support our team and Living Beyond Breast Cancer and the money we raise will help LBBC continue to connect people with trusted breast cancer information and a community of support. Their vision is a world where no one impacted by breast cancer feels uninformed and alone.
Since its launch in Philadelphia in 2002, Reach & Raise has attracted more than $3 million in individual support! In 2017 alone, they served more than 530,000 people through their comprehensive website, informative webinars and publications and in-person conferences. With your help, they can increase their reach and help even more people impacted by this disease.
Join us today by registering to be part of our team or donating to one of our teammate's fundraising pages!
In 2017 LBBC received Charity Navigator's 4-star rating for strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency. This is the thirteenth consecutive year we have received this, the highest possible rating, a feat attained by less than 1% of charities in the US, setting LBBC apart from its peers and demonstrating to the public its trustworthiness.


text:
Google Fixes Several Serious Vulnerabilities in Chrome
An update to the Google Chrome beta and stable channels brings the browser up to version 6.0.472.59 and fixes 10 vulnerabilities. Updates are available for the Windows, Mac, and Linux versions, and for the beta of Chrome Frame.
Only one of the vulnerabilities is rated "critical" and it applies only to the Mac version. Six are rated "high," which probably means that it's a serious problem, but mitigated by Chrome's defenses such as the sandbox. Three issues are rated "low," including one that is Linux-only.
Google pays "bug bounties" to researchers who report vulnerabilities to the company and handle them responsibly. This release, they gave away $4,000 in bounties in $500 and $1000 chunks. No word on whether Microsoft Vulnerability Research got any money for the Chrome vulnerability it reported.
Originally posted on PCMag's Security Watch blog.


text:
Randy Jackson: I'm leaving 'Idol'
Dawg, he's no longer in it to win it.
Randy Jackson, the musician and producer who has been a judge on American Idol since Season 1, says he will not be coming back to the panel for Season 13 next year.
"Yo! Yo! Yo!" he said in a statement released by his publicist. "To put all of the speculation to rest, after twelve years of judging on American Idol I have decided to leave after this season. I am very proud of how we forever changed television and the music industry. It's been a life changing opportunity but I am looking forward to focusing on my company Dream Merchant 21 and other business ventures."
Fox declined comment.
The "speculation" Jackson refers to is Idol's drifting fortunes this season, with friction between panel-mates Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey, and ratings down double digits year over year. The situation has spurred conjecture and some unsourced reports that Fox is planning an overhaul for next spring's cycle.
With Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul, Jackson was part of the original 2002 judging trio that helped turn Idol into the country's biggest TV show and a pop culture phenomenon. Jackson and host Ryan Seacrest are the only on-air originals who remain.
MJ Santilli, who follows Idol and other singing competitions on MJ's Big Blog (www.mjsbigblog.com), speculates that Jackson is trying to get in front of any possible panel restructuring. She calls his planned departure "a mixed bag."
"It probably is time for him to go because his critiques have gotten a little rote. But on the other hand, he is such a part of Idol history," she says. Jackson and Seacrest "are the links to the history of Idol, which is really what Idol has right now. ... They really do need a major overhaul at this point, but it's going to be a loss because it's a big piece of Idol history."
She describes the chemistry of this season's judging panel, which also includes Carey, Minaj and Keith Urban, as "awful," saying the apparent animosity between Carey and Minaj has been "poisonous."
"What they need to do next time is some chemistry testing before they hire anybody," Santilli says.
Idol is averaging 15.2 million viewers on Wednesdays and 14.7 million viewers on Thursdays, a far cry from the glory days of Seasons 5 and 6, when it averaged more than 30 million viewers per show.
"This is not the linchpin it used to be," says Brad Adgate of ad firm Horizon Media. "The days of it being a dominant show is coming to an end or came to a close this year."
Adgate says Idol's ratings drop worsened after the arrival of other singing competitions, including NBC's The Voice and Fox's The X Factor.
The Idol finale airs Thursday, May 16, 8 ET/PT on Fox.


text:
Nutrition Facts
Percent Daily Values (DV) are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Servings and Times
Cups of Fruits and Vegetables Per Person: 2.0
Ingredients and Preparation
- Place the mint in the bottom of a pitcher. Gently crush with a wooden spoon, until you can smell the fresh perfume of the mint.
- Add the grape juice, lemon juice, and the grapefruit juice. Stir until well-blended, then cover and refrigerate.
- Also refrigerate the grated fresh pineapple in a covered bowl, as well as the ginger ale.
- When ready to serve, place 4 or 5 cubes of ice in some tall glasses.
- Divide the pineapple equally into each glass, than do the same with the refrigerated juice. Fill each glass with ginger ale.


text:
The article does not think a higher education institution can produce quality material because the institutions "do not have the systems, incentives, processes, and skill sets and so forth of publishers." Basically, you can't compare a $1,000 book to a $150,000- $1million dollar book. Further, the author does not expect faculty to do work for little or no pay forever and if we have to rely on the schools we will only see increase in tuition to compensate for OER initiatives. Also, relying on philanthropists is never a guarantee and the ability to produce curriculum would be dependent on attracting donors.
The OER movement does have some good examples out there -- Connexions comes to mind as one of those models moving in the right direction. However, there seem to be more poor examples than good ones -- and beyond quality, there are accessibility issues to consider as well. In addition, if the future of course materials is digital, interactive, linked to student learning outcomes, etc., then is paying faculty to reproduce traditional print textbooks without the editing, vetting, and other elements that go into creating many of today's course materials really going to have the expected impact? Cheap textbooks -- but at what educational cost? Are there better ways to spend our innnovation dollars that reduce course material costs while maintaining or even improving student learning outcomes? That is the solution we should be looking for rather than reinventing stone wheels.


text:
A Bunch of Improv at The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) will celebrate their one-year anniversary at the Manayunk venue this Tuesday with a show featuring improv from Deleted Scenes, Rosen & Milkshake, Bed Savage, and Cock Hat. The show will be hosted by Ryan Carey and will also feature a new installment of Web Cereal, their monthly sketch comedy video.
This Thursday Comedian Deconstruction returns to L'etage (624 South 6th St.) for their "Couples Therapy" show featuring stand-up from Chip Chantry, Chris Rich, Alison Zeidman, and Joe Bell with improv from Bed Savage and Cake Bear.
This Friday Grammy-award-winning comedian Lewis Black will bring his Running on Empty tour to the Academy of Music for a one-night-only performance. The comedian is known for his "unfiltered and frank rants about the absurdity of politics and the world around us". Tickets can be purchased online.
We Can All Change, a new monthly show from hosts Dan Scully, Mike Logan, Setoiyo, and David Piccolomini at O'Neals Pub (611 S. 3rd St.) will debut this Friday with a show featuring performances from Jared Rosado, Elise Thompson-Hohl, Lou Misiano, and Pat Barker.
The Tough Stuff Comedy Show will also debut this Friday at Headhouse (122 Lombard St.) The show will feature stand-up performances from Alex Grubard, Mary Radzinski, John Nunn, and H. Foley. After their sets, the comedians will sit down with hosts Sidney Gantt and Kevin Ryan, where they will share "their most embarrassing and crazy stories." Tickets are available online.
ComedySportz Philadelphia presents: BeatBox Philly this Friday at The Playground at the Adrienne Theater (2030 Sansom St.) The show will feature some of your favorite members of the ComedySportz Philadelphia team performing a mix of improvised scenes and freestyle raps. Tickets can be purchased online.
This Friday at The Arts Parlor (1170 S. Broad St.) The Sideshow presents: The 2013 Oscars Improv Jam. For the third straight year comedians from around Philadelphia will get dressed up and enjoy a night of improv, parody videos, food, and BYOB drinking. Following the jam there will also be a showing of film sensation The Room.
The Captain Action Comedy Show is this Saturday at the Conshohocken Cafe (521 Fayette St. Conshohocken). This month's show will feature performances by Anton Shuford, Michael Donovan, and Elise Thompson-Hohl with a Captain Action Comedy Quiz Show and more from co-hosts Sidney Gantt and Dave Terruso.
Comedy Corner at Broad Axe Tavern (901 W. Butler Pike, Ambler, PA) will feature stand-up from Andy Nolan, Jim Ginty, and Alex Pearlman with guest sets from Chris Dolan, Caitlyn Feeney, and Dave Topor. Tickets can be purchased online.
This Sunday Chase N' Laughs presents: A Night of Comedy at Jollie's Live (822 N. Broad St.) The show will feature stand-up from Miles Green (BET's Comic View) and Philly's own Craig McLaren. More information can be found online.
The crew from the Comedy Food Sports podcast were given press passes to Wing Bowl 21 and used their access to create this video of the goings on from the event.
Submissions for the 15th Annual Del Close Marathon are now open. The improv festival will take place June 28-30 on multiple stages throughout New York City. The marathon is known for bringing improvisers from around the country together for a few days of performances ranging from traditional improv institutions to crazy, late-night shows. The deadline to submit is April 2.
The early application deadline for this year's Duofest, to be held right here in Philadelphia from June 6-9, is this Friday, February 22. Interested improv duos will have until then to take advantage of the lower application fee of $22. The final deadline to submit is March 2 (at a price of $32). More information can be found online.
Philly Improv Theater is currently holding sign-ups for auditions to add three new improv teams to their roster. One team, directed by Ralph Andracchio, will be cast as a PHIT House Team and will perform on Saturday nights at the theater. The other two teams, directed by Rob Gentile and Alex Newman will be PHIT's first Harold Teams, and will perform on Tuesday nights. Auditions will be held March 9-10 and to secure an audition you can email your name, phone number, a preferred audition time, and details of your past improv training (if you have not completed PHIT's Improv 201) to email@example.com.


text:
Not sure what to search for?click here to find out more
Fabulous risers, this collection offers a classic yet charming display solution. Available in 2 heights and 2 styles these pieces will complement any presentation table.
Select item group:
White Cake Stand6800EL00233cm x 10.2cm H (13" x 4" H)
White Rnd Stand6800EL00436.8cm x 19cm H (14 1/2" x 7 1/2" H)


text:
The Concierge team at Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni is pleased to be at your disposal for any info and tips you may need whilst staying with us.
We will provide you with info on what to see and do in and around Bellagio, arrange a private car or motorboat from our private jetty for an exclusive excursion on the lake, babysitting, shopping and more
We wish you an enjoyable stay!
Your Concierge Team


text:
FAA investigating report of drone spotted near NYC
Was that a drone flying over metro New York Monday?
That's what a pilot for Italian carrier Alitalia reported seeing from the cockpit of a flight landing at New York's JFK Airport. The pilot informed the air traffic control tower, and now his spotting has drawn the attention of both Federal Aviation Administration and counter-terrorism officials.
"The FAA is investigating a report... he saw a small, unmanned or remote-controlled aircraft while on final approach to Runway 31 Right," FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown says in a statement quoted by CNN. "The sighting was approximately four to five miles (from) the airport at an altitude of approximately 1,500 feet."
TODAY IN THE SKY:Check out our commercial airline blog
New York's Joint Terror Task Force also is investigating, according to both ABC News and the New York Post report. Both cite unnamed sources.
"He was very clear as to what he saw," a source tells the Post about the pilot's account of "a black drone."
Other than the pilot's sighting, the Alitalia flight landed at JFK without incident.
An aviation expert tells the Post it's possible the unverified flying object was an enthusiast's model aircraft. However, the expert – also unnamed – said he couldn't recall any other incidents in which such a model veered so close to a commercial aircraft.
Even if it was a remote-controlled recreational model, FAA guidelines say such objects may only fly to 400 feet high and must alert air traffic control if they are going to fly within three miles of an airport, according to CNN.
The object reported by the Alitalia pilot was at about 1,500 feet, ABC News' sources say.
CNN adds that "flying unmanned aerial vehicles is illegal for most business purposes; however, governments and public entities such as police departments can apply for permission to operate them."


text:
- 2 Beds
- 2 Full
- 1,422 +/- Sqft
Property TypeResidential – Townhome
SubdivisionPersimmon Woods Th
Listing Date02/08/19
Year Built1982
Lot Size0.08 Acres (3,485 SqFt)
Parking1 Car Garage, Surface
Property Description
This beautiful, updated and light-filled 2 BR + loft town home with wood burning fireplace in Persimmon Woods has views from the deck toward Vail's Game Creek Bowl and Arrowhead Mountain. A short walk to the Sonnenalp Club and Harvest Restaurant makes the location ideal in the sought after Singletree community. Close to skiing at Beaver Creek and Vail Ski Resorts. Home has storage and a one-car attached garage. The skylight lit loft can be used as a third bedroom, office or den.
Presented By
- Golf Course
- Golf Course
- Mountains
- Ski Slopes
- Clubhouse
- Community Center
- Cross Country Trails
- Fitness Center
- Golf Membership Option
- Hiking/Pedestrian Trail
- Cable Available
- Deck
- Fireplace - Wood
- Multi-Level
- Patio
- Skylight
- Vaulted Ceilings
- Wired for Cable
- Cable TV
- City Sewer
- City Water
- Electricity Avail.
- Phone Available
- Satellite
- Snow Removal
- Trash Pickup
- Baseboard
- Natural Gas
- Dryer
- Washer
Financial Information
About Singletree
Singletree is the perfect example of a community that embraces its natural surroundings. With a landscape of sage brush, on the sun-soaked northern side of Interstate 70, Singletree has large home sites, duplexes and single-family homes, many of which feature a Southwestern style of architecture that fits in with the surroundings. The 18-hole Sonnenalp Golf Club is one of the valley's most challenging and scenic courses, with a clubhouse that features a pool and restaurant. As you drive up the hill from the Edwards exit, it's hard to find a Singletree home without a view of something beautiful, be it the Sawatch Range, the valley below or ski runs in the distance. This community truly has something for everyone, all within a short distance to everything the entire Vail Valley has to offer.
Area Market Data
3 Beds 3 Baths
4 Beds 4 Baths
We get asked this question a lot. Below is a tool that gives you the ability to see what the market is like in your community. Find out what homes like your own are selling for right in your back yard. Simply enter in your address, choose the proximity of the search and find out market data for other homes that are selling near you.
While we'll provide you with plenty of information, this is a snapshot of your market data and there are real people behind the high-tech and automated tools. If you would like more detailed information or help in understanding the results we are here to help.
Until then, enjoy the tools!
The data relating to the real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of the Vail Multi-List Service, Inc.
Copyright © 2019 Vail Multi List, Inc. (VMLS). The information displayed herein was derived from sources believed to be accurate, but has not been verified by VMLS. Buyers are cautioned to verify all information to their own satisfaction. This information is exclusively for viewers' personal, non- commercial use. Any republication or reproduction of the information herein without the express permission of the VMLS is strictly prohibited.
Listing courtesy of Engel and Volkers


text:
Future Energy (Silicon Valley - Fall 2013)
Ultra Light Startups®
Wednesday, October 9, 2013 from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM (PDT)
Future Energy is a series of startup-investor pitch events that connects entrepreneurs, researchers, and private investors in the energy and clean-tech industries to develop and commercialize radical solutions to the world's energy challenges.
The venue for this event, Public Works, requires that all attendees be 21 or older with ID.
Parking is limited. See this link for nearby parking garages.
Contributing Communities
Media Partners
Ultra Light Startups brings together the world's most innovative technology entrepreneurs, in monthly events and accompanying online communities. Events feature pitching, networking and interactive, moderated panel discussions with leading industry experts.
Topics covered: design, technology, marketing and finance
In order to purchase these tickets in installments, you'll need an Eventbrite account. Log in or sign up for a free account to continue.


text:
LONDON, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- The British costume drama "Downton Abbey" is to return for a fourth season next fall, ITV announced Friday.
The season will include eight episodes and an extended Christmas 2013 special. It is to begin shooting at England's Highclere Castle and Ealing Studios in February, the British network said.
"The opening and closing episodes will again be feature-length with Series 4 continuing the story of the Crawley family and their servants in the early 1920s," a synopsis said.
"Viewers can look forward to more drama, comedy, love, hatred, jealousy, rivalry, ambition, despair and romance," Gareth Neame, managing director of Carnival Films -- the show's makers -- and executive producer of "Downton Abbey," said in a statement.
"We're thrilled to welcome back a drama series that has become a much anticipated part of all our lives every autumn and achieved success around the globe," said Laura Mackie, ITV's director of drama. "Creator, writer and executive producer Julian Fellowes and the production team, led by Gareth and the producer Liz Trubridge, never rest on their laurels and have exciting plans for the fourth series."
Starring Hugh Bonneville and Maggie Smith, the program recently wrapped up its third season on ITV. Season 3 is to premiere in the United States Jan. 8 on PBS.


text:
Spain is one of the 25 biodiversity hotspots in the world and considered one of the most biodiverse countries in the European Union. Spanish coastal waters possess a high level of biological diversity, with the southern Iberian Peninsula being especially important in terms of biodiversity and endemic species. The country's geographical diversity is extremely varied, consisting of landscapes and ecosystems that include intertidal zones, beaches, cliffs, dune systems, salt marshes, saline steppes, etc. Spain also covers four biogeographical regions (Mediterranean, Atlantic, Alpine, Macaronesian) comprised of habitats that have favoured the development of a great assortment of vegetation types, to which a variety of fauna communities is associated. The country is also rich in freshwater habitats. Although generally small in size, wetlands are however very important centres of biological diversity. Forests and wooded zones cover 32% of the country's territory.
Intense human activity, erosion, introduction of invasive species, extreme natural events, over-exploitation of species of economic interest, desertification, soil degradation, forest fires and climate change are factors contributing to habitat degradation and biodiversity loss. Marine species are especially threatened by the alteration and pollution of certain coastal zones, fishing, chemical pollution, physical alteration and the eutrophication of habitats and intensive urbanization of the coast. The increase in alien flora in many regions of Spain, as well as the emergence of species with invasive behaviors, are affecting areas of high ecological value. The biodiversity of inland water ecosystems is also significantly impacted by invasive alien species; aquaculture and the connections between large artificial basins are important risk factors for the exchange of fauna.
In September 2011, the Council of Ministers adopted the Strategic Plan on Natural Heritage and Biodiversity, approved by Royal Decree 1274/2011, which is the national response to the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, as well as a fundamental element in support of the Law on Natural Heritage and Biodiversity 42/2007 adopted on 13 December 2007. It includes a number of goals, 39 objectives and 281 actions for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and also considers the targets set out in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2020. Targets relate to improving the knowledge base on biodiversity and ecosystem services; protecting, conserving and restoring Spain's natural capital while reducing the main drivers of loss; fostering the integration of biodiversity into sectoral policies, particularly in regard to agriculture, fisheries, water management, forestry and tourism, and enhancing synergies with climate changes policies; conserving global biodiversity and contributing to poverty alleviation; promoting the participation of the people and the private sector in nature conservation while strengthening awareness and commitments; reinforcing environmental governance for biodiversity conservation; contributing to green growth and mobilizing financial flows from all sources for achieving biodiversity objectives. The timeframe for implementing the Spanish Strategic Plan is from 2011 to 2017.
Trends in protected areas have been positive. Between 2009 and 2012, there was an increase of 3.1% in the surface covered by protected areas. Protected areas in Spain cover 17.3 million hectares and are established under different legal regimes: terrestrial protected areas represent 92.45% of this protected area estate, while marine protected areas represent 7.55% of this total area.
Significant progress has been made with regard to furthering legislative and administrative developments in response to the objectives set out by the Law on Natural Heritage and Biodiversity 42/2007. It incorporates new instruments such as the Strategic Plan on Natural Heritage and Biodiversity, which will guide biodiversity priorities, as well as the Spanish Inventory of Natural Heritage and Biodiversity. The Inventory contains various catalogues that are mandatory for increasing knowledge and understanding of biodiversity in Spain (this includes catalogues on habitats in danger of disappearing, wild species under the special protection regime, invasive alien species, along with inventories of protected natural areas, wetlands, forestry statistics, zoos, game and fish species, and related traditional knowledge).
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment is responsible for monitoring international initiatives on environment and biodiversity, as well as the adoption of basic legislation and environmental policies with a territorial dimension (e.g. water, coasts, biodiversity). A Spanish Biodiversity Monitoring System for assessing trends of biodiversity at the state level is being developed. The Environmental Sector Conference exists as the high-level political body which links, and promotes cooperation among, the environmental departments of the central and autonomous governments.


text:
Academy Award winner Philip Seymour Hoffman, one of the most acclaimed character actors and ambitious performers of his generation, was found dead of an apparent drug overdose inside his New York apartment on Sunday, police said. He was 46.
A business associate discovered Hoffman in his bathroom with a needle stuck in his left forearm at about 11:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, police said. Two glassine envelopes containing what was thought to be heroin were near his body, and five empty envelopes were found in the trash, police said. The city medical examiner has not yet determined a cause of death.
Hoffman rose to fame through his pinpoint-precise movie portrayals of oddballs, schemers and misfits, often physically transforming himself for the roles. He won an Oscar portraying author Truman Capote in the 2005 biopic Capote.
A bear-like, perennially rumpled presence known as an actor's actor, Hoffman displayed considerable range during a career that spanned more than 20 years and nearly 60 films. He worked with top directors — including, repeatedly, the Coen brothers, Paul Thomas Anderson and Bennett Miller — and appeared opposite a constellation of Hollywood's biggest stars. The work brought him four Academy Award nominations, three Tony nominations and an Emmy nod, not to mention critics association accolades.
"He gave performances of sacred and terrifying intensity," said noted stage director Peter Sellars, who worked with Hoffman in productions of Shakespeare's "Othello" and "The Merchant of Venice." "Phil burned so brightly and with such unrelenting love — it made him one of the great theater performers of his or any generation."'
Despite his command of the dramatic arts and work ethic, the protean actor — a father to three young children — battled with long-term addiction. He publicly acknowledged that he had undergone treatment for substance abuse problems.
"Anything I could get my hands on," Hoffman said of his drug and alcohol dependency on "60 Minutes" in 2006. "I liked it all."
The versatile actor, who starred in such films as The Master, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Charlie Wilson's War and Boogie Nights, reportedly checked himself into rehab last year for 10 days after relapsing in 2012.
Famously self-effacing, Hoffman gave little public indication he was wrestling with his demons, recently attaching his name to a string of high-profile movies and television projects.
Just last month, Hoffman traveled to the Sundance Film Festival in Utah to promote the drama A Most Wanted Man, set for release this year, in which he portrays a grizzled counter-terrorism operative.
"We spent some time together only two weeks ago and he seemed in a good place despite some issue he had to deal with," said Anton Corbijn, director of A Most Wanted Man, without elaborating further.
Hoffman served as an executive producer and was set to star in the upcoming Showtime comedy "Happyish," for which a pilot had been filmed and 10 episodes were being written.
Hoffman also was scheduled to direct the Prohibition-era drama Ezekiel Moss starring Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Hoffman appeared in a supporting role in last year's The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, which grossed $860 million worldwide and stands out as the most commercially successful movie of his career. He had filmed scenes for two sequels in the blockbuster franchise, which are still in production.
His work was "substantially complete" on The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part I and he had seven shooting days remaining on Mockingjay — Part 2, according to a person close to the films who was not authorized to talk to the media. The actor's death will not affect the films' scheduled release in November 2014 and 2015, the person said.
"Philip Seymour Hoffman was a singular talent and one of the most gifted actors of our generation," Lionsgate, the studio behind the Hunger Games films, said in a statement. "We're very fortunate that he graced our Hunger Games family. Losing him in his prime is a tragedy, and we send our deepest condolences to Philip's family."
Hoffman is survived by his children Tallulah, 7; Willa, 5; and Cooper, 10, and his longtime partner, Mimi O'Donnell, artistic director of New York's Labyrinth Theater Company.
"We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Phil and appreciate the outpouring of love and support we have received from everyone," Hoffman's family said in a statement. "Please keep Phil in your thoughts and prayers."
On Sunday evening, the area surrounding Hoffman's Bethune Street apartment building in lower Manhattan remained cordoned off by crime scene investigators and medical examiners. Hoffman's body was wheeled out of the building at 6:45 p.m. EST and driven away in a medical examiner's van. As soon as police opened the street to the public, mourners began to leave flowers on the stoop.
"I felt like a magnet was dragging me down here," said Holly Kenny, 53, of Fairlee, Vt., who was at a trade show when she heard about the actor's death and arrived on scene clutching a bouquet of white flowers.
Hoffman was raised in a middle-class household in Rochester, N.Y., by his mother, a civil rights activist turned judge. He showed early promise in wrestling and baseball until a neck injury derailed his athletic career.
He began acting at age 15 and studied theater at New York University, graduating in 1989. Soon afterward, at 22, the actor checked himself into a rehabilitation program for alcohol and drug addiction.
"I had no interest in drinking in moderation. And I still don't," Hoffman told the British newspaper the Guardian in 2011. "Just because all that time's passed doesn't mean maybe it was just a phase. That's, you know, who I am."
Indelibly, Hoffman embodied Capote, the In Cold Blood author, as a lisping narcissist. He brought stunning specificity to a variety of roles, playing a messianic cult leader in his turn in The Master (2012), a mouth-breathing sycophant in Boogie Nights (1997), a Machiavellian political consigliere in The Ides of March (2011), a kind-eyed nurse in Magnolia (1999) and a maverick CIA operative in Charlie Wilson's War (2007). He received supporting actor Academy Award nominations for his work in both The Master and Charlie Wilson's War, as well as for his role in Doubt.
"It's amazing that this is my life as an actor," Hoffman told The Times last year. "Twenty years ago, I would never have said this would be my life. I don't think anyone would. I'm a very lucky man."
Hoffman was nominated for an Emmy for his performance in the 2005 HBO miniseries "Empire Falls." A journeyman stage actor, he had served as artistic director of Labyrinth Theater Company and was nominated for three Tony Awards, including one for his 2012 portrayal of Willy Loman in the Broadway revival of Death of a Salesman.
Robert Falls, artistic director of the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, directed Hoffman in a production of "Long Day's Journey Into Night" in which the actor portrayed an addict. Falls recalled Hoffman's ability to channel real-life experience into his performance.
"He was well acquainted with the tragic pull that drugs have," Falls said. "In the rehearsal room, there was a cost. Phil couldn't fake it. He lived through it."
Public figures ranging from New York Mayor Bill de Blasio to Chelsea Clinton to Judy Blume took to Twitter on Sunday to register their shock and grief. Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres hailed Hoffman as a "brilliant, talented man," and "Girls" creator Lena Dunham observed, "We have lost so much joy to something so joyless. RIP PSH."
Times staff writers Meredith Blake and Tina Susman contributed from New York, and staff writers Amy Kaufman, David Ng and Yvonne Villarreal contributed from Los Angeles.
©2014 the Los Angeles Times
Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com
Distributed by MCT Information Services