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Looking for Blood Drive volunteers
We are busy planning for this year's CHCA-Red Cross Blood Drive, which will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 22 from noon to 6 p.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 22 E. Chestnut Hill Ave. You may have seen the ad we've been running in the Local.
Our goal is to collect at least 50 usable pints of blood. Please donate! To set up your appointment, you can: (1) sign up online by going to redcrossblood.org and entering sponsor code 3609, or (2) call Noreen at 215-248-8810 as soon as possible.
We also need volunteers before and during the event:
1. We need volunteers to call previous blood donors to schedule their appointments to donate again. Please call Noreen if you want to make any phone calls. There's a brief script and it's easy!
2. We need volunteers on the day of the event to pick up refreshments that are being donated by various businesses in Chestnut Hill. Let Noreen know if you want to do this.
3. We need volunteers to work at the event itself with checking people in and being with them at the refreshment table after they donate. We'll have three shifts: Noon to 2 p.m., 2 to 4 p.m., and 4 to 6 p.m. Again, call Noreen to set up your shift.
Thanks in advance for helping to make our blood drive a huge success!
Jane M. Piotrowski
CHCA VP, Social Division
Super Bowl disrespect
As I watched the Super Bowl on TV while the national anthem was being sung, the cameras zeroed in on the players, and I noticed many players were not even paying attention. They were jumping up and down and looking all around the stadium.
That they did not pay proper respect to the flag of the greatest nation in the world (and I am sure many of the millions of fans watching would agree with me) was not only embarrassing, but an absolute disgrace!
Tom Woodruff
Praise for hospital
I am a lifelong resident of Chestnut Hill. There are many things to like about our neighborhood, but the place I want to mention is Chestnut Hill Hospital.
My recent stay reaffirmed my thoughts of how fortunate I feel to live close to such a wonderful community hospital. The staff includesdoctors, nurses, aides, food service and environmental personel who are all professional and kind.
Everyone I was in contact with showed consideration and a desire to ensure I was comfortable.
Chestnut Hill Hospital is improving all the time and shows its neighborhood daily that it wants to do all it can for its neighbors.
A special thanks goes to Mr. Brooks Turkel, CEO of the hospital, for making himself available to the patients and anyone interested in improving the hospital.
Kate Mc Carthy
Chestnut Hill
Outraged by Medicare penalty
Beware seniors contemplating Medicare Part B.
Seniors who, for one good reason or another, do not sign up for Medicare Part B upon eligibility are penalized for the lateness. For life!
It's outrageous that the part of the population — seniors — which can least afford it, should be smacked with a penalty for life in the twilight of their lives.
I was covered by my union health plan upon retirement, and when that ran out, by my wife's health plan. When that expired, I went to sign up for "Part B." After I went through everything to sign up I was made aware of the fact that late penalties are for life – 10 percent for each 12 months past the date of eligibility.
By comparison:
If you are late in filing income taxes, you pay a penalty – but not for life!
If you fail to take the Minimum Required Distribution (MRD) from your IRA account, you pay a penalty – but not for life!!!
If you are late in paying a traffic fine or drive without a license, you pay a penalty – but not for life!!!
Something needs to be done to rectify this matter, to include making this retroactive for those who are currently having a not insignificant amount subtracted from their hard-earned Social Security benefits each and every month for the rest of their lives.
Lawrence Geller


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Agilent (Keysight) DSO91304A
Infiniium High Performance Oscilloscope: 13 GHz
The Infiniium DSO90000 series boasts industry-leading technology that allows for superior oscilloscope performance that goes beyond the specifications. Custom software to speed your measurement tasks can be fully integrated inside the oscilloscope application for seamless operation. Hardware acceleration aids measurement speeds and throughput. And our RF and probing experts have ensured that you get the most accurate measurements every time with less scope noise to interfere and probes that operate to the full bandwidth of the scope. Superior Oscilloscope Signal Integrity - 13 GHz bandwidth. - 40 GSa/s on each of 4 analog channels - Standard 20 Mpts memory per channel, upgradeable to industry leading 1 Gpts Engineered for Unmatched Real-Time Measurement Accuracy - Industry''s lowest noise floor at 3.37 mV at 100mV/div - Deepest jitter analysis capability (PRBS^23) and most accurate real-time Tj and Rj characterization for data rates at 8.5 Gb/s and below - Hardware accelerated de-embedding allows easy compensation for probe, fixture, and channel effects. Get more details Pass Today''s Demanding Compliance Tests More Quickly - Over 30 software applications for compliance, debugging and analysis including: SATA 6G, PCI EXPRESS® II, HDMI, Ethernet, DDR, etc. Compliance applications - Our industry experts in key standards organizations ensure that our tools include the right measurements every time. - Predefined test suites and complete reports mean technicians can execute tests thus freeing valuable engineering resources. Debug Your Toughest Designs with Confidence - New User Defined Application allows for rapid automation of any scope measurement. Find and share user defined applications at Agilent Discussion Forum. - Customize your Infiniium oscilloscope using User Defined Functions, User Defined Application, and My Infiniium for more efficient operation. Find and share customization examples at Agilent Discussion Forum. - MATLAB® software available directly from Agilent for making your own custom measurement and analysis routines, user-defined filters, or instrument applications. MATLAB software for Agilent oscilloscopes

subset: commoncrawl


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In 2007, Todd Davis' face was everywhere. On billboards, buses, park benches- you name it. The CEO of LifeLock was featured in TV and print advertising, and he came with a bold claim that his monthly service would eliminate the threat of identity theft, or his company would back it up with $1 million of coverage. Then to really drive home the point, he displayed his social security number on all of the advertisements, essentially daring people to try and steal his identity. Since those ads begin to circulate, Davis has had his identity stolen 13 times, and possibly more.
If there is one thing you should never do, it's taunt hackers. It is like claiming that you have an "understanding" with grizzly bears, and that they would never attack you, right before- (spoiler alert)- you and your girlfriend are killed and eaten by a grizzly and a friend and documentary filmmaker turns it into a movie. To quote another animal based expression, "you mess with the bull, you get the horns".
The Phoenix New Times is reporting that the LifeLock CEO has had his identity purloined at least 13 times, possibly more, since posting his social security number. The LifeLock service was supposed to act as a guarantee that subscribers that paid the $15 per month would face a secure, identity theft-free presence on the internet. As to how the service worked- well, it kind of doesn't.
In March of this year, the Federal Trade Commission fined LifeLock $12 million and essentially declared the service to be a scam. The idea is simple, so simple that you could do it yourself,and if there is a specific threat, you should. When you think your identity has been stolen, you can call one of the three major credit companies, TransUnion, Experian or Equifax. Once you contact one of the three and tell them of the possible theft, the other two will be informed and a "fraud alert" is placed on your account. If a thief then attempts to start a credit card under the stolen name for example, the card issuers would then check the name with one of the three credit companies, and if there is a flag, they will contact the person whose identity was stolen. The fraud flag expires after three months. For $15 a month, LifeLock will call the credit companies every 90 days or so and make sure the fraud flag remains on the person's credit records indefinitely. That's it. They also offer a form of insurance of up to $1 million.
Since Davis' bold claims of immunity from online identity theft, he has accumulated a $500 loan, several unpaid cell phone bills, and thousands of dollars in credit card debt that were a direct result of identity theft. More thefts may have occurred that have not been reported as well.
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The Deloitte Center for Crisis Management helps clients uncover an unforeseen advantage by helping them prepare for, respond to, and emerge stronger from any major crisis.
At Deloitte, our ability to help solve clients' most complex issues is distinct. We deliver strategy and implementation, from a business and technology view, to help you lead in the markets where you compete.
Leadership perspectives from across the globe.
Learn how this new reality is coming together and what it will mean for you and your industry.
The connection you're waiting for is within reach. What impact will you make?
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The Life Sciences and Health Care industry group strives to support clients in addressing the challenges that impact today's industry. Deloitte member firms' global network engages with clients to develop innovative solutions to help them achieve their business missions.
Contact us via our online form.
Find a local office
Learn how Deloitte's Life Sciences and Health Care professionals help clients address the key challenges facing today's industry.


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Finals week for flowers
[media-credit name="CSU photo" align="alignleft" width="275″][/media-credit]
Extreme heat and a couple of hailstorms have put blooms to a severe test this year. Today (Monday, Aug. 1) at CSU's Annual Flower Trial Garden, they got their grades.
The garden is at 1401 Remington St. in Fort Collins — 1 block east of College Avenue (U.S. 287), just north of its intersection with Prospect Avenue. More than 130 volunteers — professors, master gardeners and consumers — braved the heat today to evaluate more than a thousand varieties of petunias, dahlias, geraniums, impatiens and other flowering annuals.
The three-acre garden is a popular gathering spot in Fort Collins, located in front of the university's performing arts center. "To see a place of beauty lifts your spirits and makes you feel better, physically mentally," said professor Jim Klett of the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and facility coordinator for the Annual Flower Trial Garden.
The best-performing varieties will be announced in mid-fall. See 2010 winners here .


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UN vote boosts Palestinian statehood aspirations, could lead to new pressure on US and Israel
JERUSALEM – The admission of Palestine as a nonmember state in the United Nations is far more than a symbolic vote. For the Palestinians, the move gives them an important boost of international legitimacy in their quest for independence. For Israel and its key ally, the United States, it is a diplomatic setback with potentially grave implications.
Here is a look at how key players are affected by Thursday's vote:
The vote benefits the Palestinians on many levels. Domestically, it gives embattled President Mahmoud Abbas a boost in his rivalry with the Hamas militant group. As peace efforts have flagged, Abbas has steadily lost popularity with the Palestinian public, while Hamas is riding high after battling Israel during an eight-day flare-up in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip this month.
Internationally, it puts Abbas and the Palestinian agenda back at center stage. The vote grants Abbas an overwhelming international endorsement for his key position: establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem, the territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war. With Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu opposed to a pullback to the 1967 lines, this should strengthen Abbas' hand if peace talks resume.
It also opens the door to the Palestinians joining U.N. agencies, most critically the International Criminal Court, where they could use their newfound status to press for war crimes charges against Israel for military operations and construction of Jewish settlements on occupied territories. On the downside, the vote does not change the situation on the ground — a point Israelis have repeatedly stressed in an effort to blunt any appearance of defeat.
The vote amounts to a massive international show of displeasure with Israel, particularly over its continued construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. While Israel is used to lopsided U.N. resolutions against it, even key allies are expected to abandon it this time around. Germany, Italy, France and Australia are among the Israeli allies expected to abstain or vote with the Palestinians.
Moving forward, the resolution could weaken Israeli claims to keeping parts of the West Bank and east Jerusalem, the section of the holy city claimed by both sides for their capitals. After four years of deadlock in peace efforts, the world seems to be laying the blame on Israel. If opinion polls are correct and Netanyahu, backed by hard-line, pro-settler allies, cruises to victory in upcoming parliamentary elections, he could find himself facing stiff international pressure to make concessions to get peace talks back on track.
The vote appears to reflect the world's frustration over President Barack Obama's failure to get Israel and the Palestinians to start talking. During his first term, Obama initially spoke out strongly against Israeli settlements and even coaxed Netanyahu into a partial freeze on settlement construction. But after that freeze expired, Netanyahu rejected Obama's calls to extend it and Obama dropped the matter.
The mixed messages ended up alienating both Israel and the Palestinians, leaving peace efforts in tatters. After failing to persuade the Palestinians to abandon their push at the U.N., Obama will likely face international pressure to make another diplomatic push in the region.
The Islamic militant group, which rules the Gaza Strip, has been emboldened by the performance of its forces in fighting against Israel this month and its growing acceptance among the new Islamist rulers rising in the fast-changing Middle East. Since capturing Gaza from Abbas in 2007, both sides have largely resisted attempts to reconcile.
Thursday's vote is an important reminder that Abbas is still the main address for the international community, and could put pressure on Hamas to reconcile. Perhaps sensing this changing constellation, Hamas lined up behind Abbas' U.N. bid, after earlier criticizing it.
Follow Federman at www.twitter.com/joseffederman.


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November 25, 2016, 11:39 am
Will Barton (personal) will not play on Friday.
Barton will now join Danilo Gallinari, Gary Harris and Juancho Hernangomez on the list of players not playing. Wilson Chandler and Jamal Murray to see a high amount of minutes and are now very interesting plays in DFS formats, but you can also expect to see more minutes for Nikola Jokic as well.
#Nuggets Will Barton also out tonight for personal reasons.
— Ally Sturm (@AllySturm) November 25, 2016
Fantasy News
January 19, 2020, 11:39 pmJacob EvansSG, Golden State Warriors
Jacob Evans (concussion) will be absent from Monday's game against the Blazers.
That makes three consecutive games that Evans has been forced to sit out. He has not been able to crack the Warriors depleted rotation for a consistent role this year, and it is safe to assume that it is not going to happen anytime soon. Evans is only worth owning in the deepest of fantasy leagues when he is healthy.
Source: NBA Injury Report
January 19, 2020, 11:36 pmAbdel NaderSF, Oklahoma City Thunder
Abdel Nader will miss Monday's showdown against the Rockets due to a left ankle sprain.
That'll be Nader's fourth straight game on the sidelines. He's been receiving minutes in the mid-teens lately and does not make much of them. Best to not bother wasting your fantasy memory space on Nader.
Source: NBA Injury Report
January 19, 2020, 11:31 pmChandler HutchisonSF, Chicago Bulls
Chandler Hutchison is probable to play against the Bucks on Monday due to a sore right shoulder.
The injury has not cost him any games yet, although there were some concerns when it first arose back on Wednesday. You should feel comfortable including him in your lineup if you own him. Hutchison has been on a roll in the steals department lately.
Source: NBA Injury Report
January 19, 2020, 11:27 pmRyan ArcidiaconoPG, Chicago Bulls
Ryan Arcidiacono (right elbow discomfort) is probable to face the Bucks on Monday.
Arcidiacono receives this designation all the time but does not seem to have any issue playing through it. You can assume he'll be out there on Monday, but he is not going to do much stats wise.
Source: NBA Injury Report
January 19, 2020, 11:21 pmJeremy LambSG, Indiana Pacers
Jeremy Lamb was able to play through his bruised left hip on Monday against the Nuggets, but it led to horrendous results with zero points (0-of-7 FG), one rebound, one assist, one block.
While it was nice to see Lamb play through the injury, this is not what we had in mind. Things will get tougher for Lamb once Victor Oladipo returns, but it is best to tackle that logjam once it becomes an issue at this point. For the time being, Lamb is worth having in your lineup in standard leagues.
January 19, 2020, 11:12 pmDomantas SabonisC, Indiana Pacers
Domantas Sabonis had a great performance to lead the Pacers to victory over the Nuggets, notching 22 points (10-of-16 FG), 15 rebounds, 10 assists and five turnovers.
The left knee soreness does not appear to be much of a factor right now for Sabonis, and it is a relief to see a swift bounce-back from the stinker he had against the Wolves on Friday. He played nearly 41 minutes against Nikola Jokic in this one and put up a nice imitation of the triple-double performances we've come to expect from the Serbian. Keep deploying Sabonis with confidence.
January 19, 2020, 11:05 pmMalcolm BrogdonPG, Indiana Pacers
Malcolm Brogdon continued his strong play on Sunday vs. the Nuggets, going for 22 points (8-of-17 FG, 4-of-4 FT), eight assists, three rebounds, two 3-pointers and two turnovers.
Brogdon has been excellent since returning from strep throat and lower back soreness. He is resembling the early-season production that had him returning early-round value, and while that may be too much for Brogdon to do over an 82-game campaign, he is going to be a mid-round asset, even when Victor Oladipo rejoins the fold for the Pacers. Justin Holiday had a decent line off the bench, going for 14 points, four rebounds, three 3-pointers and one block. The Pacers have a number of options off the bench, making Holiday more of a 16-team play.
January 19, 2020, 10:53 pmTJ WarrenSF, Indiana Pacers
TJ Warren had a solid outing on Sunday versus the Nuggets, totaling 22 points (7-of-13 FG, 8-of-8 FT), three rebounds, one assist and one block.
Thank goodness Warren had a solid night from the field and free-throw line to keep this line productive. Then again, that is the rub with Warren, who makes his living as a mid to late-round player thanks to his healthy scoring average (18 PTS) in combination with his strong percentages (.509 FG) (.813 FT) for the season.
January 19, 2020, 10:45 pmMichael Porter Jr.PF, Denver Nuggets
Michael Porter Jr. put up 10 points with eight boards in 23 minutes of action in a loss to the Pacers on Sunday.
Porter Jr. has been gaining some serious hype since he has started getting more minutes in the rotation. He has put up top-100 value over the past two weeks and should be picked up in all formats as he should see over 20 minutes per game for the remainder of the season.
January 19, 2020, 10:44 pmDoug McDermottSF, Indiana Pacers
Doug McDermott caught fire down the stretch on Sunday against the Nuggets, leading the Pacers' comeback with 24 points (9-of-10 FG), six 3-pointers, two rebounds and two assists.
This was McDermott at his finest as a sharp-shooter from long range, but we also saw the emptiness he is known for as he did barely anything beyond the 24 points and six 3-pointers. He is still just a 3-point specialist on a deep Indiana roster. He was able to snatch some minutes from Jeremy Lamb tonight thanks to his hot streak.


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View of Malaga and the port from high ground
In Malaga you'll find a city full of green spaces that are ideal for strolling and enjoying the sunshine. The largest are the 23-hectare La Concepción Historical-Botanical Gardens, situated on the outskirts, which boast an abundance of subtropical flora. As you stroll through the gardens, it will occasionally feel like you're in the middle of the jungle. There are also numerous parks and gardens in the city centre. Strolling through the Malaga Park area is a very pleasant experience and will also enable you to visit various nearby monuments such as the fortress, cathedral and Roman theatre. And while you're there, don't miss the Puerta Oscura and Pedro Luis Alonso gardens, extraordinarily charming places that are delightful for resting beneath the shade of the trees.
Have you found this information useful?


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Cookie Dough is Last Straw for Congress
Food Safety Reform Legislation Passes House, Heads to Senate
WASHINGTON—After years of outbreaks of foodborne illness connected to everything from peanuts to peppers to pet food, and most recently, cookie dough, legislation to reform the nation's food safety system has passed the House of Representatives and is headed to the Senate. The nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest hailed the House passage of the Food Safety Enhancement Act as an urgently needed step to help restore Americans' confidence in the food supply.
Under the current system, food manufacturing facilities might be visited by an inspector from the Food and Drug Administration only once every five or 10 years. The bill that passed the House today increases food inspections dramatically: every six to 12 months for high risk facilities; every 18 months to three years for low-risk facilities; and every five years for warehouses. The bill requires companies to identify hazards particular to the foods they produce, and to implement written food safety plans to control those hazards. The bill also gives the FDA authority to issue mandatory recalls of contaminated foods and provides for tougher penalties for negligent processors.
"Consumers want safe foods, and we are tired of having to ask whether the healthy foods we're buying for our families are contaminated with deadly bacteria," said CSPI food safety director Caroline Smith DeWaal. "FDA has been operating under the same law for 70 years and can do little more than respond to outbreaks after the fact. This bill gives the FDA more authority and real enforcement teeth to help prevent more outbreaks, illnesses, and deaths."
The bill is widely supported by a diverse coalition of consumer and health groups and is expected to come before the Senate in the fall.
Contact Jeff Cronin (jcronin[at]cspinet.org) or Ariana Stone (astone[at]cspinet.org).


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Dressed for a Kill Author, Brian Bianco, Sleuths in to Visit with Mike Angley
MA: Today I am pleased to interview Brian Bianco, author of Dressed for a Kill. Brian began writing in 2000, and he's presently working on books two and three. He says they are not part of any trilogy, and they not in the same genre. Brian spent 20 years is in the insurance industry, but he's not visited it again, for which he is grateful! Brian has lived in Vancouver and surrounding communities all his life.
So, Brian, tell us why you made the transition from insurance to writing.
BB: Since the late nineties, I had been itching to do something else with my life, rather than continue on in the insurance field, having worked for some of the biggest brokerage firms in the world. It was no longer gratifying. I've always considered myself to be creative by nature, drawing (representation under 'author' on my website) being a part of that creativity when I was younger but not so much younger. On my website under the link 'inspiration' you will find the true reason behind me deciding that I wanted to write. The story is true even if it sounds a little corny.
MA: Why novels? Why not Insurance for Dummies (chuckling)?
BB: Writing novels was something I thought I could do and be good at it. After writing my first novel, if I thought it wasn't good enough, the book, along with me would never have seen the light of day. I liked the challenge that writing presented to me personally—to be able to create something out of nothing other than what we as writers can think of and then somehow put it all together. Wow!
MA: What is Dressed for a Kill all about?
BB: My story revolves around a reporter for the Chicago Tribune, who aside from working on the biggest story of his life, is also confronted with problems at home. The following is what can be found on the back cover:
To Chicago Trib reporter Miles Fischer, it was just another rape and murder trial, until the two convicted felons are found dead in the muddy parking lot of a rundown bar just days after their surprising acquittal. His curiosity turns to suspicion after searching the archives where he discovers two more cases similar to the one in Tweeksbury. Is it a coincidence? Miles doesn't think so. In fact, he believes he knows who the killer is after a chance encounter. Miles draws the ire of the FBI and becomes tight-lipped when confronted to disclose what he knows after publishing an article connecting all three. He wants the story and the glory that goes with it, and believes he is the only one who can identify the killer. He sets his sights on Seattle and creates a game of cat-and-mouse with the FBI and an ex-cop turned private investigator, who is after the same thing but for different reasons. What he and the private investigator don't realize is just how deadly this game is about to become.
MA: That sounds exciting! So did you mold any characters from people you knew in real life, perhaps from your years in the insurance biz?
BB: I actually used some of the characteristics from me personally and transferred them over to the main character, Miles Fischer. I've had one person who reviewed the book call him, "a character you love to hate", which took me aback somewhat, believing Miles is a good guy. I've had others who read the book say they loved the character, Miles Fischer, but then again, the book is really not about me. It's about the fictional character, Miles Fischer. I would say the main character is both of these, 'love him' or 'hate him'.
MA: Hmmm, so a protagonist who may not or may not be so likeable…tell us more about his personality.
BB: His strengths are his beliefs in the truth and finding out what those truths are, no matter what the cost, even though at times he skirts the truth in order to get what he wants. I would also have to say he's not one to give up, again, no matter what the cost may be to both his family and his own personal safety. He's opinionated (but aren't we all?) and it's those opinions (beliefs) that keep him going while around him, his marriage falls apart. He sees things as black and white, no grey areas, so I would say this trait can be construed as both positive and/or negative.
His weaknesses are he can be drawn to a pretty face (some called him a 'womanizer') that can lead him into making the wrong decisions to his own detriment. He can also be sarcastic to a fault when the situation suits him. He hates rules when they tie his hands. He thinks highly of himself, but he's not as smart as he thinks he is, alas, the final chapters in the book which expose his failings with regard to his pursuit of the killer.
MA: Do you also have an antagonist who is as likeable/unlikeable as Miles?
BB: On the question of an antagonist, I would have to say it could be and probably is more than one. Bruno Carboni, the PI, is certainly the main one, since both he and Fischer are after the same thing. Agent Donlon is also an antagonist, since Fischer has no regard for the FBI as he pursues the killer with Donlon on his back. His wife, Erin, could also be considered in the same mode since she is against him in his pursuit of the story, wanting him to give it to someone else so that he can be at home with her while she delivers their first child. The problems going on in the marriage between Miles and Erin were taken from real-life. Mine to be exact.
MA: You told me you are working on two new projects. Tell us about them.
BB: Presently I'm working on two books; both are completely different from my first novel. One is written in the first person, my first attempt at what I think is harder to write. Therein lies the challenge.
MA: Thanks, Brian, for swinging by and chatting about your novel, Dressed for a Kill. To my readers, please stop by Brian's website for more information: http://www.brianbianco.ca
Read More


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The cocaine has a street value of about $45 million.
The cocaine is coming from two separate seizures at sea. On November 25, the Coast Guard along with the Caribbean regional law enforcement seized more than 2,000 pounds of cocaine off the coast of Dominican Republic.
The suspects tossed the bales of cocaine once they realized they had been spotted. The drug traffickers got away, but the Coast Guard still managed to picked up the 38 bales of cocaine that had spread out to a three-mile area.
Two days later on November 27, a second seizure of nearly 2,000 pounds of cocaine occured at sea from a sailing vessel which was also located south of Dominican Republic.
The two seizures are part of Operation Unified Resolve to detect and stop illicit drug trafficking in and around Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
"There's been a recent rise in crime in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. They suspect it's correlated with illegal drug trafficking, so they've recently ramped up Coast Guard presence hoping to stem that tide of illegal drugs," said Lt. Kjell Rammerdahl with the US Coast Guard.
Over the last five months of the operation, the Coast Guard has seized more than 20,000 pounds of cocaine and 6,900 pounds of marijuana as part of the operation. The street value of all of the drug seized is worth $262 million.
Meanwhile, the Coast Guard is unloading another big seizure Wednesday morning on the east coast in Port Canaveral. The Coast Guard Cutter Tampa, which is homeported in Virginia, unloaded 5,000 pounds of cocaine, valued at $55 million.


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A year and a half ago, on World AIDS Day 2011, President Obama committed the U.S. to getting "to zero" in the AIDS epidemic. This reflected earlier statements from Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, who called for the creation of an "AIDS-free generation" and said, "this goal would have been unimaginable just a few years ago." These statements also reflect the commitment of the U.S. to increase access to treatment and reduce new infection rates through the first National HIV/AIDS Strategy that had been adopted in 2010.
New evidence that using HIV drugs earlier can not only help people with HIV live longer and healthier lives but also help prevent new infections has influenced policy makers. These studies show that, in theory, the epidemic could be ended if enough people with HIV can be found, linked to treatment, and helped to lower their viral load.
On top of this commitment there has also been legislative action that could expand access to treatment and care for many people with HIV. Beginning in 2014, states will be allowed to expand Medicaid coverage to people earning below 138% of the federal poverty level (about $15,000 for a single person).
Interestingly, Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA, also known as "Obamacare") also accomplishes one of the earliest goals of HIV treatment advocates. Previously, Medicaid required that people have low incomes and a disability. This was a problem for people with HIV, since Medicaid required an AIDS diagnosis for access to the very drugs that can prevent AIDS. The health care reform law ends this foolish requirement.
Private Insurance
The law also requires changes to the private insurance market. It creates an insurance marketplace in each state that allows comparison shopping of insurance plans. It eliminates exclusions on pre-existing conditions like HIV, and prohibits yearly and lifetime caps on benefits. It requires people who are not eligible for Medicaid to purchase private insurance, but provides subsidies to help people who earn less than 400% of the federal poverty level do so.
In short, health care reform has the potential to allow tens of thousands of people with HIV to gain access to HIV treatment and care, particularly through Medicaid. It eliminates Medicaid's main barrier to HIV treatment and creates much greater access to the private insurance market for people with HIV.
These developments also come with strong incentives to find ways to prevent new infections. People with HIV are living longer and healthier lives, so their number has grown to more than 1.2 million in the U.S. As a result, the cost of their care has also grown. Dr. David Holtgrave, an expert in HIV funding and prevention from Johns Hopkins University, estimates that each case of HIV costs $355,000 just for treatment over a lifetime. As a result, the cost of the epidemic continues to expand. For Medicaid alone, funding has risen from just $10 million in spending in 1983 to over $6 billion in 2012.
The President verbally committed to ending the epidemic and created a plan with strong goals that move in that direction.
The goal of ending the epidemic is an extremely strong position. The President verbally committed to ending the epidemic and created a plan with strong goals that move in that direction. The ACA creates real access to treatment and eliminates barriers to care. New science shows that we can begin to prevent new cases of HIV (and lower costs) by strengthening treatment capacity. What could possibly go wrong?
Unfortunately, there has not been a similar level of commitment in Congress. The political goals of conservatives clash with those of the President over the level of government involvement in public life and the amount of overall federal spending. As a result there has been direct opposition to implementation of the ACA by conservatives. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives has voted to repeal the ACA almost 40 times. Additionally, the Supreme Court ruling on the ACA made Medicaid expansion optional, and nearly 20 states will likely decide not to expand. Many people with HIV in those states will continue to rely on other programs for treatment, notably the Ryan White Program.
At the same time there has been a strong effort to cut all government spending. Though our ongoing budget crisis had resulted in cuts to other programs, HIV research, treatment, and prevention had generally been flat-funded. This is because HIV is a policy priority of the President and both parties.
But this year is different. Under the Budget Control Act of 2011, Congress and the President agreed to automatic spending cuts to reduce the federal deficit by $1.2 trillion over ten years. The cuts, known as "sequestration," would be split equally between defense and non-defense spending. They were supposed to be so tough on both parties' priorities that Congress and the administration would be forced to negotiate a better deal.
Unfortunately, that did not happen and $26 billion in non-defense cuts were implemented, including much HIV treatment, prevention, and research. This means about 5% cuts for all HIV funding. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius has estimated that prevention cuts under sequestration would result in approximately 424,000 fewer HIV tests by health departments.
The Ryan White Program, the largest program for HIV care and treatment, is not immune from these cuts. In 2013 the program lost about $144 million out of a total of $2.4 billion. This is a real problem, since the program covers HIV care for at least half a million people every year who don't have health insurance. It also covers support services such as transportation, nutrition, legal help, translation services, and case management. And it contains a billion dollar program called the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) that funds drugs for people who don't have insurance or Medicaid. Secretary Sebelius has estimated that cuts to ADAP would result in 7,400 fewer people having access to HIV drugs. Clearly this is a public health issue that the community must immediately address.
Preserving Ryan White
The Ryan White Program is the most prominent legislative accomplishment of the AIDS community. It is named as a living memorial to Ryan White, a teen who became a celebrity as he battled HIV stigma.
The community has argued that Ryan White must be stable while people make the transition to other coverage through the ACA. Unfortunately, it is currently up for its regular review by Congress in a process known as reauthorization. Given the Affordable Care Act, the role of Ryan White has come into question. Some Members of Congress have asked whether Ryan White funding, particularly drug funding, duplicates funding in the ACA.
It is true that both Ryan White and the ACA do cover medical services, drugs, and support services. But Ryan White picks up where the ACA leaves off. In short, it will help to address gaps in care, ensure that care remains affordable, and provide HIV services to people left out of health care reform. It already interacts with Medicaid and private insurance in that way. About 75% of people who use Ryan White services have access to some type of health insurance.
Massachusetts, which expanded Medicaid and access to private insurance over the last ten years, is a good example. As reforms were implemented, some Ryan White resources were moved to cover premiums and co-pays and to cover other medical and support services not covered by Medicaid or private insurance. In fact, Massachusetts continues to use its entire share of Ryan White funding. According to the Treatment Access Expansion Project (TAEP), new HIV diagnoses fell by 46% in Massachusetts between 2006 and 2011. TAEP and others attribute this result at least in part to health care reform's expansion of coverage in Massachusetts.
Some legislators ask why HIV programs should be singled out to have extra coverage for insurance premiums, deductibles, and co-pays when other diseases do not. The community's primary answer is that HIV is an infectious disease with deadly consequences. Ensuring that people with HIV have access to treatment is a way to prevent its spread. The U.S. must remove as many barriers to HIV prevention and treatment services as possible.
The reauthorization of the Ryan White program has been seen as a sign of the HIV community's ability to exert leadership and for Congress to convey its support. Many people with HIV and others who work in the HIV community were concerned when the administration said that the next reauthorization would be delayed past September 30 (the date that the current authorization runs out) and even to the end of the year. Fortunately, the program will continue to exist without a reauthorization and will continue to be funded. And there continues to be relatively strong support from both Republicans and Democrats.
The current political climate is one of the reasons for the delay. It's difficult even for the most determined Congresspeople to move legislation through this highly divided Congress. The most recent Congressional session passed fewer bills than any Congress since the 1940s, and the current Congress may pass even fewer.
Advocates are also concerned about the turnover in Congress since the last reauthorization. In fact, 165 new members of the House of Representatives (38%) and 25 new Senators (25%) have been elected since the last reauthorization in 2009. Many of these new members do not see HIV as one of their top issues, and the community must make the case that Ryan White must be kept intact as the ACA is implemented.
The community is working hard to create a future vision of Ryan White as a public health measure that should be integrated into the ACA. Members of Congress must understand that merely being able to gain access to treatment does not mean we will be able to find more people with HIV and help them obtain treatment. Providing support and enabling people to make educated decisions about HIV will be more important than ever.
However unlikely Congress is to adopt it, the President's budget would be a good blueprint. It states, "... as the number of insured RW clients increase, RW grantees will more easily be able to use a greater percentage of their grants to support services not covered by public or private insurance but which are essential to getting people living with HIV into care and on medications that suppress the virus and help prevent the spread of the epidemic."
The vision of reaching the goals outlined by the President -- of getting "to zero" and to "an AIDS-free generation" -- is the best opportunity to move forward. Ryan White continues to have strong support from both parties. It will be needed both in states that expand Medicaid and in those that don't. The community must remain focused on maintaining and expanding HIV prevention, treatment, and research; ensuring Medicaid and private insurance expansion; maintaining Ryan White while the ACA is implemented; providing an imaginative vision of the future of Ryan White; and working to commit Congress to ending of the epidemic.
William McColl is Director of Political Affairs at AIDS United.


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Education Administrative Assistant
She has been employed at Emmanuel College since 1994 and has served as the Administrative Assistant full time.
Ms. Alice lives in Franklin Springs with her husband who is a History professor at Emmanuel College. She is available to assist Faculty, Staff, and Students that have all types of college related needs.
Click here to email Alice Black.


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All-in-one strategy
Major IT firms are noting, with growing concern, the rise of Total Cost of Ownership for servers. Marc Ambasna-Jones looks at how network managers are consolidating their server architecture.
While hardware costs are continuing to fall, the Total Cost ofotal Cost of Ownership for servers. Marc Ambasna-Jones looks at how network managers are consolidating their server architecture. Ownership...
Blockchain latest news: a state-owned quantum computer could break blockchains in as little as three years
Whichever government first produces a working device that can crack public key encryption will be 'master of the world'
Three reveals 5G roll-out plan but aims to focus on Home Broadband first
Three UK's 5G plan includes speed boosts for existing 3G and 4G infrastructure as it replaces Samsung 4G radio-access technology with Huawei
5G news: EE launches UK's first 5G network - beating Vodafone by a month
EE switches on the first sections of its 5G network in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast, Birmingham and Manchester
Systems administrator played crucial role in capture of "El Chapo"
Christian Rodriguez collaborated with the FBI to bring down Mexican drug lord
Ericsson apologises for O2 network outage
The data network crash, which affected millions of people worldwide, was caused by an expired software certificate


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MihaiM needed a new web page design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 14 designs submitted by 8 freelance designers.
I need a design for a hosting control panel.
Leave a logo space
Desired Style:
VHCS style
Accepted File Formats:
psd, jpg
Please create a design like http://demo.vhcs.net/fast_login.php?action=user or http://demo.vhcs.net/fast_login.php?action=admin
I don't want it to look too much the same, because people will say it is stolen.
Make it as modern and as user friendly as possible (you have the VHCS design as sample - it is pretty simple).
I want some samples in your designs for various texts, subtitles, tables and statistic images.
You may use any colors you want but make it look professional.
The structure is similar to VHCS.
If you can bring me a design as nice as the VHCS example, you win the contest!


text: Kevin Tran @kevin-tran active 2 hours, 31 minutes ago @christopher-l-breece Hello fellow MIS community member, I am messaging you for an assignment. Nice to meet you! View ActivityProfileSites 1Friends 2Groups 1 PersonalMentionsFavoritesFriendsGroups Show: — Everything — Updates New Sites Posts Comments Friendships New Groups Group Memberships Group Updates Sorry, there was no activity found. Please try a different filter. Share:EmailTweetWhatsAppCourseDepartmentFaculty/Staff e-portfolioProjectStudent e-portfolio


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What We Do
The department of public affairs and communications promotes the mission of CSU Bakersfield through the communication of news and information about the university - its achievements, programs and people - to our many constituent groups. The office is responsible for overseeing communication with a wide variety of audiences through publicity, public relations, publications, online systems, and other marketing efforts that uphold the image, integrity and mission of the university. Our projects are prioritized based on the university's mission and the potential impact on the university's institutional image.
A part of the division of University Advancement, the department manages projects ranging from the creation of marketing and informational publications to organization of major media and public relations activities. The office publishes Your CSUB magazine, the alumni magazine, and major institutional publications; manages media relations; and serves as a professional communications resource for students, faculty and the administration. We invite you to browse the pages of our website where you'll find the most current CSUB information, learn about upcoming events, view recent publications and see how to effectively use CSUB's visual graphic identity system.
By raising CSUB's visibility, the department of public affairs and communications helps the university attract and retain a diverse, pool of academically talented applicants and students. Effective visibility efforts also attract and retain top faculty members while garnering the respect and support of donors and other philanthropic entities.
If you have any questions, please use the right hand links for further information or contact our office at (661) 654-2136.
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Adopt-a-School: Wishing Tree finally starts to deliver
When they painted the Wishing Tree in the main hall of Queen Alexandra elementary school some years ago it was for children to place wishes in the foliage as if affixing their heart's desires to a mural might somehow create its own magic.
Improbable as it sounds, it seems to have worked, although not in the way anyone at the time imagined.
"There are wishes on the tree for world peace and to have no hunger in the world," said teacher Jamine Hickman.
But there are also more personal wishes from children seeking things for themselves or their families as if trying to wish away the effects of poverty in their lives, she said.
Well, thanks to the Vancouver and District Labour Council and The Vancouver Sun's Adopt-a-School campaign the Wishing Tree is going to deliver – not world peace, unfortunately – but some help for families struggling with poverty.
The Wishing Tree's trunk covers a small doorway in the main hall – easily overlooked even if it wasn't obscured by a mural – that was once the entrance to the vice-principal's office but has long since been used as a store room.
Now the room has been converted into an in-school community store, the only one of its kind in B.C., where families in need will be able to get emergency access to food, clothing,
hygiene supplies or such things as transit tickets. "It's something we've wanted to do for a long time," said principal
Cheryl Matthews.
"We have been distributing supermarket food vouchers to needy families but one of the problems is those families often don't have the money for transit to get to the stores. This way they can come here when they bring their kids to school and discreetly get what they need."
"We will have basic, non-perishable food supplies, things like soaps and hygiene items such as lice shampoos and combs, which are expensive. We'll have boots and rainwear for kids because some come to school and aren't dressed for the weather. If they were to go out to play in the rain they'd come in soaked, so we want to prevent that.
"We'll try our best to give parents what they need," said Matthews.
As wonderful as the concept is, there's no escaping that a school in the middle of Vancouver finds it necessary to resort to such extraordinary means to alleviate what – for its teachers and principal – is intolerable poverty.
It was poverty that first attracted the attention of the labour council to the school 18 years ago.
"When we first went there it was to introduce some of the families to what Vancouver has to offer," said labour council president Joey Hartman.
"We wanted to take them to parks and other facilities because many of them didn't have the resources to get out of their own four walls and see what was in the community," said Hartman.
It wasn't long before labour council volunteers realized that hunger was an even more immediate need.
"Kids were getting dropped off early at the school because parents needed to get to work. They couldn't stay outside and they needed food to get them through the day because they were hungry. The principal at the time wanted to feed them and so we decided to raise money for a breakfast program," she said.
Since then the labour council has provided breakfast to thousands of kids at the school at a cost of about $150,000 in donations, an act of social justice quietly done.
But this year the fortunes of Queen Alexandra have improved, thanks to The Vancouver Sun's Adopt-a School campaign and the generosity of donors such as private investment banker David Sidoo and his wife, Manjy, who came forward to relieve some of the strain on the labour council.
This year breakfast at the school is being provided by the Sidoo Family Foundation as the result of a $10,000 donation – matched by The Vancouver Sun Children's Fund in 2011 – leaving the labour council to fund the Wishing Tree store with the $11,000 it raised at its annual dinner for delegates on March 23.
(The Vancouver Sun Children's Fund matched this $11,000 donation. In addition the Children's Fund also granted the school $15,000 for other anti-poverty initiatives in 2011.)
In the last couple of years Hartman had detected some signs of donor fatigue among delegates of the council's 115 member unions.
"Normally we'd raise $9,000 to $10,000, but last year it dropped to $6,000 . This year Adopt-a-School was able to infuse energy back into the campaign and we were able to raise $11,000, which was delightful," she said.
The school had asked the labour council if it would be willing to shift its attention to the Wishing Tree store.
"They came up with the idea of a small community store, which we really like because to get into it you have to go through the Wishing Tree and up half a set of stairs, which is like going into an attic. Parents will be able to receive for free, or at minimal cost, the essentials they need for their families. I've never heard of anything like it before," said Hartman.
As for the breakfast program that, too, is being upgraded.
With the extra money, Matthews said there will be more variety of food and more protein on the menu.
"It's been mostly toast, cereal, granola and fruit but we'll be able to add eggs, yogurt and milk and we'll now be able to extend it to family members," she said.
The school has 185 students, of which about 70 come each day for breakfast.
But there are hungry parents, guardians and siblings, too, and the school has been unable to feed until now.
"They shouldn't be left hungry. With parents and siblings we'll be up to about 100 breakfasts a day," said Matthews.
"Without the help of the labour council, The Vancouver Sun's Adopt-a-School and the Sidoo family we'd never to able to do all this."


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Find the perfect home for sale in Montevallo, Alabama. Let RE/MAX Alabama help you locate Montevallo, AL real estate, as well as condos and townhomes.
Information is provided in part by the IDX Program of the Birmingham Area Multiple Listing Service. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified.


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After some long hours of deep thinking and discussion, Caryn and I — along with the guidance of my MS medical team, of course — have come to a decision as to what to do next as to disease modifying medication for my multiple sclerosis. This is not a decision that we made lightly nor is it the path for everyone. I wanted to take some time to discuss my choice; not to influence anyone's choice of med but rather to illuminate the process we went through to come to the decisions we made.
Before I get into what we decided, I figured a recap of where I've been might be in order.
When I was diagnosed with MS in April of 2001, there were only three drugs on the market; Avonex, Betaseron & Copaxone — the famed "ABC" drugs. My diagnosing neurologist recommended that I see a leading specialist in the field of MS treatment and research to help me make up my mind as to which med to begin. I'm pretty sure that I didn't make an effort to look into the therapies before that next appointment (some 3 months later), as I wasn't aware of how intricate the decision was to be…
I had, however, done a lot (a LOT-a lot) of research into the disease. When I met with this new doc (and an MS Fellow who was training under him), I asked loads of questions and spoke with language obtained in years of study and practice of science (albeit food science; the lingo isn't really different). Acknowledging my understanding of biology and the body, we discussed the way in which each of the drugs was thought to work. I was sent away with a massively thick binder of information to digest and make my decision.
About two weeks later, I got in touch and told him of my decision to go with Betaseron. Arrangements were made for a nurse to come by and teach me how to mix my shots (yes, these were the days before pre-mixed medication, pre-filled syringes, and even before the auto-injection aids now available), how to inject myself, and how to care for both site and whole body after the every-other-evening ritual.
I spent a little longer tittering my dose up, as I had read the stories of side-effects and wanted to give my body as long to adapt as I could. I think it was just over a month before I was using a full dose.
In the ensuing 18 months, I experienced six relapses and was put on six different 3-day courses of steroids . I was 100% compliant with my shot schedule - never in that year and a half missing a single dose.
Still, my disease progressed.
My doc and I decided that, since my MS was getting aggressive, that it was time for us to get aggressive. Though there had been the addition of Rebif to the list of FDA approved MS meds, the only "big gun" available to us was Novantrone, a chemotherapy agent approved for use in the US for "breakthrough" disease &mdash meaning MS that wasn't responding to the (now) "ABCR" drugs.
We made the call to begin a 60-day "wash-out" from Betaseron in order to prep for my new regiment of medication. Within a week of stopping treatment with the interferon med, I felt better than I had in nearly two years. I hadn't realized the cloud of flu-like symptoms under which I had lived for so long. It wasn't just me, my live-in girlfriend even noted that I seemed more "alive" once I stopped taking my shots.
Thus ended the first phase of MS medications for me.
I had intended to make this a 2-part blog, but I now see that it will have to be split into thirds…
Please feel free to share your initial decision and experience choosing your therapy. We all learn from one another here at the Life With MS Blog!
Wishing you and your family the best of health.
Don't forget that you can also follow me via our Life With MS Facebook page, on Twitter, and our new group on MS Connection.org. Check out our bi-monthly blog for the UK and look for our Very Special new monthly blog for the National MS Society.


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わっとぽーAkiba ~ Watpo Akiba
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Sen. Lieberman on Gun Debate After Sandy Hook
Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman joins the Markets Hub to discuss renewed calls for gun control following the Sandy Hook school shooting. Photo: Getty Images.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... I ... all this ... Treasurys most ... and that we must change ... we will be told that because of such violence are complex the ministry ... no single wall ... most of loss ... can lemonade ... people from the world or prevent every senseless act of violence in our society ... in the coming weeks of use whatever power ... this office holds to gauge my fellow citizens from long Forstmann ... the metal health professionals parents and educators ... in an effort ... aimed at preventing more tragedies like this ... that was President Obama new town Kinetic it last night in a vigil ... for the people massacred on Friday afternoon Friday morning morning everybody welcome to markets of mine Paul vignette ... for falling in the story in Yukon Canada on Connecticut obviously ... that is the top three wanna redo a couple of headlines just crossed the wires a little while ago reported by Wall Street Journal ... that the Sandy Hook Elementary School has been closed indefinitely ... that the suspected shooter Adam Lanza had no prior contact with Newtown police ... and investigators they say they are digging into the suspects past ... as a poke Quantum quote starting and the date of birth so those of the latest headlines coming of the Wall Street Journal this morning ... you heard present Obama few minutes go ... some strong language they're ... talking about on the response to the massacre on Friday ... this is ... obviously that the worst thing is is how the families of being affected that is the worsened by ... this point ... gun control is becoming an issue again really must and we have with this today ... Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman who is not talk about this issue of gun control Sara Lee and I appreciate you taking the time to come with us I understand that this issue ... hits ... hits home with you especially if your home state ... I'm I'm I'm a cellphone to Fairfield University silly deeds and to close story for me to ... her ... on ... as much as we can just talk about the issue gun control ... how does Congress respond to what happened on Friday ... old timers through bond so you could ... do with the president did was neither party was superb because she not only ... brought home for up to Newtown Connecticut less but Neuberger is all ... so these purchases ... must and we can't over it and we're not exactly the same ... attitude I hope will have in ... Congress the the the unfortunate fact is to look back ... as a series ... of similar ... acts of mass parlance ... of going back to combine ... enthralled in ... the global ... insurers are open to ... the event Friday with twenty children being killed ... um unfortunately ... not much has really happened ... to to to ... try to act ... in Congress to do something to ... make such ... a riffic a bit less likely ... and that I think the president ... the Reverend ink and with the proper adherence ... to make sure that that's not the reaction to the sublime that were proposed in the morning ... we look at the National Commission the with the same thing to ... to ... to ... take her and an angry between two miles I went up and down ... and make sure those dissipated and legislative gridlock were ... purchased a lot of corporate America means the action ... I wanted to be a commission to be an excuse for not acting now ... that the president to do things with executive Eric congressman who will ... have to get something to the mom from the area was composed of birth control ... but the the the the ... the the history of congressional reaction to such tragedies ... it is is painfully devoid of any ... real constructive ... action Sts ... I'll ... what happened in Newtown Friday obviously was the worst thing that has happened last week ... but it wasn't the only incident involving guns over the past several days ... doing the shooting in Oregon there were shots fired California ... Pacira Alabama ... on the events of the last week ... you're on Twitter aam on Twitter ... to tell you what I've seen him for from talking to people and so to me yet I mean this event has been really really shaken people ... how how can anyone in Congress ... justifying not reacting in some way ... to what happen on Friday ... for the big ... winner in question ... and and it did to kill the of the road and it is a regression particulate for people ... who tend to believe for a ... change in our drug laws that nobody wants to take guns away from people ... who have a common sense question of ... do we really need to be selling these small welcome to the American summer with automatic weapons that were really made ... by the U S military preview Fusion ward not ... you don't need them to ... defend yourself and your family or go hunting or ... target shooting aam and and and I think we've got to engage ... people ... who have traditionally oppose gun control laws ... these tend to cover station has been working here the protecting ... them and their children just watches were talking about protecting you with me ... and our families ... and our children but that the that time ... for the tragedy and death and that the plan to do something this out we have ... an assault on we had a ban on assault weapons expires in two thousand and four Senator Dianne Feinstein this in the first in the new Congress ... she will introduce a bill to move to ban them again ... would you support that ... for sure whether I'm in the press them working on repairing so Emma couldn't be there but I hope my colleagues who picked it up really good ... than planned and coming back with the the numbers in total the polar bear quite clear ... that the during that ten years in which the government for weapons and there was a noticeable drop ... in the depths from ... was gone ... and though it did ... it to me this is just what's coming down ... so we got to confront people with ... guns are not the only problem obviously ... there's a pattern of most of these ... acts of mass loans which are young men who were mentally trouble ... very often involve some kind of well into our entertainment culture ... food and gain access to guns and commitments ... for a protective window for Europe to intervene ... it is with that with with a medal hopes that the that that ... that has to be ... people the troubled people before they come killers would vote against or to cover station about ... well into the entertainment culture of EU cannot read whether you put the viral video game becomes a killer ... but what ... the the the social plant was pretty clear that this ticket is for people who are vulnerable ... because the two have no problems ... the violent to Bernard chemical to stimulate them ... up at the oven and when the gun control on ... the strength of them and that with the agenda as they are ... we just have to talk about it ... and and not just for looking for work and pensions ... to get something done because the president of less ... than ... what the new town should do some reading is that this ... great country or is failing ... and what you think would be one of its most ... fundamental ... natural responsibilities which is to protect the safety of our children ... this ... surly over and over the last year of gun rights lobbyist groups of in the three million dollars to Congress ... gun control groups a four thousand dollars ... is money doing the talking down Washington DC ... Portland money goes to a commitment to going out we're a fish for the Supreme Court this week and told him about money though both to be on Monday the truth ... then a lot of work in this country ... um ... people aboard the will of the second over of the percentage of their constituents it ... doesn't want them to support gun control ... Millward has the political power ... of the of the gun rights movement ... not so much the money in my opinion and that will ... confront directly to ... the tothe but of the of the ... children of God or are just ... as much as it is to buy the twenty oh six children and ... I think we got engaged and ... confront them and then hopefully reach some agreement that this something we can do ... here are the Berlin should be no brainer this ... far without taking ... away from anybody who who who who ... write about because the dawn of a criminal record with no problems or ... issues of violence ... Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut appreciate the time so ... thanks Paul picture ... here and obviously we'll be continuing coverage of this tale I got to do is to dot com state of use to line will be continuing to come to this ... for quite awhile ...


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Digital conflicts are more like conventional conflicts than we think, scholar says.
LAS VEGAS -- If the United States' goal is peace and security in cyberspace, officials should think less about cyberwar and more about cyber diplomacy, a scholar from the Atlantic Council said on Thursday.
For all of the talk about lightning attacks that come out of nowhere and the often inscrutable language of experts, cyber conflicts at the national level tend to mirror traditional conflicts much more than you'd expect, Jason Healey, director of the council's Cyber Statecraft Initiative said during the Black Hat security convention here.
By the time a major attack, say, against the U.S. financial system is being dealt with at the top levels of government, the stakes and strategies are very similar to a traditional national security crisis, said Healey, who was director for cyber infrastructure protection at the White House from 2003 to 2005.
"What's happening here is not that different from a coup in Pakistan," he said. On a tactical level, government responders will be calling up bankers and trying to help secure their servers rather than securing embassy staff. But, at a strategic level, the response should be similar, he said.
That means "the president needs to get on the phone with Mr. Putin," or whichever leader is likely behind the attack, and figure out a way to make it stop, he said.
Healey was editor of the Atlantic Council book A Fierce Domain: Conflict in Cyberspace, 1986 to 2012. While individual cyberattacks may happen with lightning speed, large cyber conflicts such as Russia's 2007 attacks on Estonia and the Stuxnet attack, reportedly launched by the U.S. against Iranian nuclear facilities, tend to unfold over time and allow for thoughtful decision-making by top leaders.
Cyber diplomacy, he argued, can also be strategic and thoughtful. Some of this diplomacy has taken place in multilateral contexts, he said, such as recent discussions about whether the laws of war apply in cyberspace. More often, it will happen in a bilateral context such as the recent agreement between the U.S. and Russia to install a cyber hotline.
(Image via Vectomart/Shutterstock.com)


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This M.I.Y.O. Monday question is extra special – it comes from a reader of DCF.
Hole-in-the-wall restaurants are a unique breed of eating place. The food is as straightforward as one can get, it's cheap, and it takes some imagination to describe any of them as having any "ambience." I'd like to say that holes-in-the-wall serve food fast but I've been to some where that's not the case.
One of my posts this week is about my favorite hole-in-the-wall so I won't say too much here. But do tell me where YOUR favorite hole-in-the-wall is and please say what you eat there. We eat and share on Dessert Comes First, after all.
And yes, if you have ideas for future M.I.Y.O. Monday questions, shout it out. Any and all suggestions are welcome.


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I found this answer on StackOverflow for calculating total CPU usage: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1420426/calculating-cpu-usage-of-a-process-in-linux/4497769#4497769
But how do I calculate that as a proportion of the total available CPU cycles? I'm trying to do it without having to spawn another process - just with syscalls and files.
I thought that number would just be the
total property of the information provided by
glibtop_cpu (as it seems to be
user + nice + sys + idle, but it actually changes over time.
I thought that might just be because the cycles will naturally vary from second to second, but in that case why does it report different numbers to
top? If I spawn a new tab in Firefox and load up a page,
top, shows Firefox using about 35% of one core for a couple of seconds - but the following code just shows a consistent 7.24%:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <time.h>
#include <glibtop/cpu.h>
#include <unistd.h>
float // Get CPU usge as a decimal percentage.
get_cpu(glibtop_cpu *cpustruct) {
return 100 - (float)cpustruct->idle / (float)cpustruct->total * 100;
main(void) {
glibtop_cpu cpustruct;
unsigned int sleepfor = 5000;
float usage;
for(;;usleep(sleepfor)) {
usage = get_cpu(&cpustruct);
printf("%.2f\n", usage);


text:
Double Fine Productions
Double Fine Productions is an award-winning, game development studio founded in 2000 by games industry veteran Tim Schafer. Located in San Francisco's South of Market district, Double Fine is committed to making high-quality games with an emphasis on originality, story, characters, and fun.
Our Games
Since releasing our first title, Psychonauts, in 2005, Double Fine has created umpteen award-winning games, spanning a mind-boggling array of styles and genres; From the fire and chrome of the heavy-metal-album-cover-inspired lands of Brutal Legend, to the cuddly, happy and felted faces on Sesame Street.
In 2014 we started to help small independent developers to publish their games under the umbrella of Double Fine Presents.
Contact Us
If you aren't having any luck getting a reply to your email, you can always nudge us on Twitter, which is usually the best way of getting hold of us!
Frequently Asked Questions
- I love your games so much! Double Fine is the greatest company of all time!
- No really, I love Double Fine. How can I get more of your awesomeness?
- Where does the name "Double Fine" come from?
- Can I publish videos of your games on the internet?
- Are you guys making sequels to Psychonauts or Brütal Legend or any other games?
- Hey, why did you never answer my mail where I asked for advice about getting into the games industry?
- Can I send you my idea for a game?
- Are adventure games dead? If yes, then what killed adventure games?
- Are games art?
- Are you guys hiring?
- Do you guys have an internship program?
- Can I write a glowing feature, review, or preview about Double Fine or its games?
- What's up with the Psychonauts Meat Circus?
- What is the Secret of Monkey Island?
- Wait, you didn't answer my question!
That is not a question, but something about the way you talk tells me that you are a person of exceptional intelligence and good looks. I kind of understand why everyone likes you so much now. I predict an excellent year ahead for you and your family.No really, I love Double Fine. How can I get more of your awesomeness?
Well you could always follow Double Fine on Twitter at @doublefine, or me, Tim, at @TimOfLegend, and there's always our Double Fine Productions Facebook page. Plus, we've got this great Tumblr blog you can follow. Oh man, we're everywhere!Where does the name "Double Fine" come from?
It comes from a sign on the Golden Gate Bridge that, until recently, said "Slow to 45 mph – Double Fine Zone." I ingeniously selected the name Double Fine so that when people drove over the bridge they would see the name "Double Fine" and think, not just that we had purchased ad space on what must be the most expensive billboard in California, but that we owned the city and all of San Francisco had been declared to be a "Double Fine Zone." I believe it did work for many years, confounding and intimidating our many, many foes. But for absolutely no good reason, the old sign is now flashing the less awe-inspiring message, "Speed limit 45 mph – Auto toll $5." I mean, how are you supposed to name a game company after that? Don't people even think these things through?Can I publish videos of your games on the internet?
Yes! You may even monetize them if you wish! Have fun with your walkthroughs and your Let's Plays and your blogs and vlogs and clogs. That's "cyber-logs", it's gonna be the next big thing.
But please, when streaming our games, refrain from making racist, sexist, homophobic--or any kind of stupid, bigoted, dumb-ass discriminatory comments on top of them. Do we really even have to say that? Do we really even have to tell people not to be the worst people in the world? Apparently. But you're better than that. I know you are. You can be edgy and funny without standing on the necks of people less powerful than you, right? You know the difference between punching up and punching down! Right?? Yes! We believe in you!Are you guys making sequels to Psychonauts or Brütal Legend or any other games?
We're making Psychonauts 2! If anyone out there has a few million dollars burning a hole in their pocket, and would like to help us make an excellent sequel to Brutal Legend, please let us know!Hey, why did you never answer my mail where I asked for advice about getting into the games industry?
Because I'm a jerk, that's why. I have a ton of mail just like yours piled up in my inbox and I am deeply ashamed and more sorry than you could imagine. I don't even want to talk about the old info line. We had a mail account that we tricked interns into reading for us but then they left and I forgot the password and so no one has opened the info line in YEARS. It's all full of viagra spam and amazing offers from publishers to fund games I'm sure.
Anyway, about you and your totally reasonable plea for advice: I've put off responding because I've been working on this one, big, all-encompassing "how to get into the games industry" article for years. I just can't seem to finish it. But it's going to be awesome. In the mean time, here's some advice: Don't be a fool, stay in school!Can I send you my idea for a game?
You should hang on to that idea until you're ready to make it yourself. Because if you send it to us, our lawyers will jump on it like a hand grenade and not ever let us see it, for reasons only they understand. I'm sure your idea is great, though, and you should really try to make it some day. So stop showing it to people or else it's going to get ripped off (by someone far less scrupulous than us).Are adventure games dead? If yes, then what killed adventure games?
Here. Also, the next person to ask me this gets a punch in the mouth.Are games art?
Zzzzzz. Oh, sorry, could you repeat the question? I fell asleep.Are you guys hiring?
Holy shit we are hiring. Dude, why don't you work here? Double Fine is, I can objectively say, the greatest place to work in the universe. We have a small team, everybody gets to contribute to the design, the sodas are free, and no one has ever been permanently killed on one of our ski trips. We have health care, vision, dental, and sometimes pie. We don't care what you do, if you are awesome, we want you. Pick the job that best fits, and apply!Do you guys have an internship program?
Not officially, but somehow interns keep sneaking in the door. And then, a few months later, they run out again screaming. But what the heck, if you love Double Fine, but you hate money, why not mail our internship hotline. (Shhh! It's really just our regular jobs mail address. Don't tell them. Interns are easily fooled!)Can I write a glowing feature, review, or preview about Double Fine or its games?
You sure can! Email our press contact address for any requests!What's up with the Psychonauts Meat Circus?
What's up with Meat Circus is that you're a big baby. Sure, sure, invisibility is very important when Raz's dad is trying to knock you off those tight ropes. And your shield will bounce the knife thrower's blades right into those spinning target wheels. And also you can throw a confusion grenade at that bunny and then just go pick it up, instead of trying to grab it with Telekinesis. Those things are also true. But the main point I'm trying to make here is that first one, about you being a big baby.Why is there so much collecting in Psychonauts?
All good people like to collect things in games. I might be a little biased right now as I am currently re-obsessed with Animal Crossing and if I don't complete my fish collection soon I'm going to kill myself. Seriously, when I caught my first Coelacanth I started screaming. It's a mother effing living fossil my friend, and it lives in my house now. And you know, anyone who is incapable of feeling that sort of happiness, the pure joy of collecting, is not just dead inside, but rotting and putrid and crawling with maggots inside, except the maggots aren't really crawling, they're just swaying slightly in the wind, because even your maggots are dead.
But that's just my opinion as a player. As a professional game designer, there is one thing that I have always believed: The player is always right.
But that doesn't mean they are likeable, or smart. Oh sorry. Where was I? I'm still kind of wound up from that whole Coelacanth thing. I don't know what I'm saying. Anyway, the point is, in summary, that I am right.What is the Secret of Monkey Island?
You know who you should ask about that is this guy. He loves that question. He'll pretend not to answer the first few times, but keep asking! Don't give up!Wait, you didn't answer my question!
If you have a question not already answered here, why not try contacting me, Tim, on Twitter? I'm @TimOfLegend and Double Fine is @DoubleFine. I sometimes reply. Unless you ask about Psychonauts 2 or Brütal 2, etc., in which case I will just send you back to this FAQ page. Hopefully you will only go through three or four loops before you figure out what is happening and not get stuck in some horrible/wonderful Twitter/Double Fine feedback loop. If you are, then you've probably read this sentence 1,000,000 times.


text:
Shelley Widhalm
Steve Stoner
A year in video : Visit reporterherald.com to view Loveland's 2012 year in video.
Read about past events: Also, visit the online article at reporterherald.com to find links to events this past year.
And now it is time to look ahead to the hearts, festivals, art, music and snow sculptures of 2013.
The snow sculpture competition was moved from December to Feb. 5-10 to coincide with Valentine events because February is historically a colder month and the snow lasts longer, according to Kristine Koschke with E.L. Events (formerly Engaging Loveland). The event is now sanctioned and includes 12 teams this year over last year's six. A WinterFest will celebrate the month of Valentine's Day with daily activities from the library, museum, Rialto Theater and area malls, she said. "Although if the weather stays like this, we might have to hold a snow-dancing event downtown," Koschke joked.
The artists and writers of the official Loveland valentine will be unveiled in January. The "stamp camp" for children will take place at the museum Feb. 6 and 9.
"We are hosting two big shows this spring (at the Rialto Theater)," said Erica Lehman, marketing coordinator. Danu, a Celtic band from Ireland, will perform traditional music on March 2. A VIP pre-show cocktail hour will allow residents to meet the members of the band in a private atmosphere.
Actor Tim Behrens will perform one-man comedy acts called "Scrambled McManus" by Patrick McManus, about several inhabitants of a fictional town in Idaho. "(The script) is know for bring audiences to tears," Lehman said.
The Loveland Museum/Gallery will launch "Thoroughly Historic Thursdays" in which guest lecturers, presenters and events will dive deeper into historic topics. The first one will be on the Civil War, on Jan. 10. Lehman said that the talks will likely be offered every three months. She said the museum will also start "Curator on the Loose" where the public will have a chance to meet curators of the museum offsite at Anthology Book Co. or local restaurants. The curators will share wacky and weird objects from the museum collection for speculation and discussion.
Exciting exhibits at the museum include Francisco Goya Las Caprichos, with a series of 80 etchings. "This is the most influential series of graphic images in the history of western art," Lehman said. Caprichos delves into political satire and poked fun at the church and monarchy during the Spanish Inquisition.
While the church tried to punish him for heresy, the monarchy enjoyed his work and purchased many of the pieces. The exhibit travels around the United States and will be in Loveland June 14-Sept. 22.
The Governor's Art Show and Sale will be April 27 to June 2. The 22nd annual show presented by the Loveland Rotary Club will depict many of Colorado's best artists, Lehman said.
E.L. Events is adding two new items to its host of signature events.
"Spirits at Sunset" will explore the spirits of local distilleries, breweries and wineries with savory food and jazz music against the Colorado sunset, Koschke said. The experience will kick off the summer on June 21. "At E.L. Events, we're really trying to revitalize downtown and bring these signature events to Loveland," Koschke said.
Loveland will join other area cities and host an OktoberFest-ival in late September. The event will bring brats, German polka music, dancing, pretzel-eating contests, family activities and more to a Sept. 20-21 weekend event.
Paintings of vibrant landscapes by Joellyn Duesberry will grace the museum Oct. 5 to Jan. 12, 2014. Duesberry is a contemporary oil painter who doesn't paint the old and historic west. "She captures it as it is now," Lehman said.
And we can't forget E.L. Events' other community celebrations. Loveland Loves BBQ, Bands and Brews is slated for July 12-13; the annual Cherry Pie Festival will be July 20, and the Old-Fashioned Corn Roast Festival will be Aug. 23-24.
The annual weekend of art — Loveland Sculpture Invitational, Sculpture in the Park and Art in the Park — will be the weekend of Aug. 9-11. For details on them, visit , or lincolngallery.com.


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There's no doubt that StarCraft II's release has been breathlessly awaited; twelve years have passed since the original was released to much acclaim and fanfare and a lot has happened in that time. That's why we thought it would be interesting to trace the history of the franchise to this point, in order to shed some light on how the franchise became such a phenomenon, and why the sequel is so highly anticipated.
Like Wings of Liberty, the first StarCraft launched into an atmosphere drenched with hype, excitement, and fervor. Thanks to the success of Warcraft II, fans had sky-high expectations for the sci-fi RTS title, and those expectations were, for the most part, met, and in some cases exceeded. The game received high scores across the board and would go on to win several end-of-year awards from various publications like PC Gamer and Computer Gaming World.
The game's popularity grew quickly, but the overall brand temporarily became a victim of its own success as fans began clamoring for more content; unfortunately, Blizzard has always been notoriously careful when releasing new titles. To address the demand, they outsourced the development of an add-on pack called Insurrection: Campaigns to a now-defunct company called Aztech New Media. Released in the summer of 1998, the expansion was quickly skewered by the press. Gamespot reviewer Greg Kasavin found the mission pack to be, "a hasty and unprofessional single- and multiplayer supplement…designed to prey on those who cannot wait for the forthcoming official add-on, Brood War."
Another add-on, titled Retribution, was developed by WizardWorks Software and released later in 1998. Although it wasn't as critically panned as Insurrection, most regarded it to be an average addition. Blizzard swiftly silenced the naysayers by releasing their own add-on, Brood War, a few months later. The expansion debuted to similar critical acclaim and financial success thanks to its new campaigns, music, extra units for each race, map tilesets, and unit/building upgrades.
With the brand back on track, Blizzard expanded their reach by tapping into the burgeoning console market with a port for the Nintendo 64. Many felt it was a worthwhile version, despite the N64's limited hardware; the console wasn't quite up to the task of running a real-time strategy game smoothly, and the overall presentation suffered as a result. The controller was also a poor substitute for the tried-and-true keyboard-mouse combo despite a specialized interface. Still, the game was fairly successful, garnering an aggregate Metacritic score of 80.
Years later, Blizzard would push further into the console space with StarCraft: Ghost, a third-person action/stealth game made exclusively for consoles. But the title suffered many production delays before it was finally shuttered. Blizzard cited a lack of technological advancement for Ghost's "indefinite hold" status, and while we may never know the true reason for Ghost's cancellation, it was no doubt affected by the memory of those lackluster add-on packs released prior to Brood War. Thankfully, this allowed Blizzard to focus on the core StarCraft brand, and it's since been reported that development of StarCraft II began around the time of Ghost's cancellation.
As the years passed, StarCraft continued to enjoy a consistent level of popularity; it became a staple of LAN parties across America, and the monolithic Battle.net service, which helped popularize concepts like tournament ladders and game-type filters, helped foster a booming online community. This was especially true in South Korea, where StarCraft blossomed into a national obsession; a thriving cottage industry that included snack products, a competitive gaming league, and its own television channel rose up around it.
StarCraft's popularity would go relatively unchallenged until Blizzard's next RTS title, Warcraft III, was released in July of 2002. It would take close to five years for the franchise to blaze its way back to relevance: on May 19th of 2007, Blizzard officially announced the development of StarCraft II during the Blizzard Worldwide Invitational in Seoul, South Korea. While the announcement generated significant buzz, with the loudest, most earthshaking response predictably coming from South Korea, where the news drew chaotic cheering from fans who attended the unveiling.
The fanbase's excitement would be dampened by a few surprise announcements, however. In 2008, Blizzard revealed that StarCraft II would be released in three installments, with the Terran-focused Wings of Liberty releasing first, followed by a Protoss campaign and a Zerg-centric third release. Then, in June of 2009 Blizzard's Rob Pardo announced that LAN (local area network) support would not be included; the news was upsetting for a significant portion of the community, and it became clear that Blizzard and Activision were counting on the newly revealed Battle.net 2.0 to act as a form of piracy protection. Of course, these issues were quickly forgotten when Blizzard released a multiplayer beta in early 2010. The beta proved massively popular, generating a ton of interest, and even though it was an early build meant to test server loads and unit balance, it gave everyone an invigorating taste of the forthcoming sequel.
That's where we stand today, with the memory of the beta still fresh in our thoughts. Looking back at the history of the franchise, it's clear that Blizzard has a lot riding on the success of StarCraft II. The last title the company released was World of Warcraft back in 2004; while the game has been immensely successful, Blizzard obviously needs another hit. StarCraft II's success will also be critical in deciding the viability of its burgeoning Battle.net 2.0 service. With twelve years of substantial history behind it, the anticipation for StarCraft II has been honed to a razor's edge. It faces an uphill battle as far expectations are concerned; it's also impossible to discount the intangible air of disappointment that arose from the many controversial decisions Blizzard made regarding the game's release. But time will be the true arbiter in determining whether StarCraft II can overcome the hype and angst surrounding its release. Regardless, it's safe to say that every fan can agree with the nameless Marine featured in the game's teaser trailer when he says, "It's about damn time."
Critics' Ratings for Starcraft
- Metacritic Aggregate Score: 88
- GamePro: 4.5 out of 5.0
- Gamespot: 9.1
- PC Gamer: 92%
- Computer Gaming World: 5 out of 5.0


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|Defined by simplistic designs and contemporary interiors,
the Navarat Heritage is the perfect choice of hotel when visiting Kamphaeng Phet
city "Land Of World Heritage". Navarat Heritage Hotel embodies the spirit
of hospitality, cultures and modernity's that define the city known
worldwide as the "Gate Way of Northern Thailand ". The hotel is over
looking a panoramic view of Ping River and just a short walking range
to Queen Sirikit Public Park where you can enjoy the delights of the
city and a great view of sun setting. The hotel provides convenient
access to many cultural sites and attractions. All combine to deliver
an unforgettable personal experience.
|Navarat Heritage, an intimate property with a total of 59 rooms is built in contemporary Thai style with well-equipped suite and internet access satellite TV, air conditioning, small refrigerator, hair dryer and coffee / tea with making facilities.
|Superior Room
Garnet Cafe Terrace Open : 6.30 - 24.00 hrs.
Karaoke Have a VIP rooms with karaoke.
|Meeting Room
Much of Navarat Heritage complements the business lifestyle with modern facilities for hosting a successful corporate retreat. Customize your business seminar, hold a theme party or celebration at Navarat Heritage, accommodates from 20 up to 500 guests with panoramic views of Ping River and the city.
Pailin Capacities 100-120 people
Morrakot Capacities 20-30 people
Enjoy variety of international fusion food, including Chinese dishes and Thai dishes at Garnet café Terrace which designed by contemporary Thai Creation for unwinding from the day's stresses.
Fitness Room Open : 6.00 am. - 20.00 pm.
|Pailin Room
|Pailin Room
|Pailin Room
|Morrakot Room
|Morrakot Room
|Fitness Centre
|Internet Service


text:
BLM's focus on oil and gas production
The Bureau of Land Management was established in 1946 to properly manage multiple resources and uses of the vast quantity of US public lands, mainly in the West. Responsibilities include a balanced use of mineral resources, fish and wildlife, grazing, and public access for recreation.
But, under the direction of Bush appointee, Kathleen Clark, BLM Chief from 2001 to 2006, the emphasis of land and use management shifted drastically to oil and gas production. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Piceance Basin in Western Colorado, where 95% of BLM land, which is owned by the American people, has been leased to the oil and gas industry. Currently, the basin is littered with an incredible number of gas wells, yet less than 30% of the leased BLM has been drilled. It is estimated that within the next 15 years, as many as 50,000 additional wells may be drilled.
The crown jewel of Piceance Basin is the Roan Plateau. Located between Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction, it rises dramatically above the valley floor, and is home to pure strains of native cutthroat trout, mule deer, calving grounds for elk, unique plant species that are only known to grow there, and a topography that is found no where else. A sportsman's paradise, it has for years been considered for wilderness designation. But, it is currently unprotected from the greed and gluttony of the oil and gas industry.
Every city and town in Garfield County has passed resolutions opposing drilling on the Roan Plateau. 98.5% of the public comments sent to the BLM, have supported protection. So, why hasn't the BLM ruled against drilling on the Roan?
The question is, if drilling is allowed, will anything be left when the boom is over. That is what balance is all about, not allowing the oil and gas industry to simply take whatever it wants, but also ensuring that we protect this spectacular place. The Roan Plateau's pristine landscape, wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities, would be irreparably harmed by widespread natural gas drilling.
The time has come to hold the BLM accountable for it's mismanagement of our public lands, to insist they stop bowing to political and industry pressure, and return to an appropriate balance on public land use. BLM, the time has come to just say NO to drilling on the Roan Plateau.
This letter was not edited.