text: The App Store's new category, Top Grossing Apps, highlights an iPhone trend: navigation apps bring home the bacon.Among the top 10 highest grossing apps, seven are games, one is for shoppers and three are navigation apps. TomTom U.S. & Canada ($69.99) is the highest-ranked navigation app, taking the number two spot. MobileNavigator North America ($69.99) holds the number five slot, followed by Magellan RoadMate 2010 North America ($79.99) at number 10.[ Check out ten great iPhone hobby apps, reports CIO.com. | What's stopping mobile apps from taking the next step? ]Of course, this doesn't mean navigation apps are all the rage. These apps are some of the most expensive apps in the App Store, while most gaming apps cost only a few dollars. It doesn't take many sales of a $70 navigation app for the software to break the top 10 grossing apps.RedLaser ($1.99), on the other hand, is the cheapest selling app in the top 10 grossing apps list at number nine. The app scans product barcodes and searches for lower online and local prices. Given RedLaser's low price and high gross, it's safe to assume that it's one of the most popular apps.Market researcher Gartner recently predicted that location-based services will be the second most important consumer mobile application for 2012, behind money transfer. Gartner says location-based services' user base will grow from 96 million this year to more than 526 million in 2012.The trend is spurred by location-based services' "perceived high user value and its influence on user loyalty," the Gartner report states. "Its high user value is the result of its ability to meet a range of needs, ranging from productivity and goal fulfillment to social networking and entertainment."Granted, navigation apps are only a slice of the location-based services pie, but they're a significant one. Only a few years ago, standalone navigation devices hit the market to great fanfare. The devices from the likes of TomTom and Magellan were pricey. By coming out with an iPhone app at half the price or less, these vendors face some cannibalization of the standalone market. (TomTom came out with its iPhone app, dashboard mount and adapter kit earlier this year.)Forrester analyst Charles Golvin predicts smartphone-based navigation will dominate the market by 2013. "All of these GPS-enabled mobile phones are potentially degrading [TomTom's] market," Golvin told me a couple of months ago. "It's a smart play on their part. Their core abilities are more based in software than hardware, so it makes sense to leverage that skill on other platforms."This doesn't mean navigation iPhone apps don't have their faults. Imagine relying on one of the iPhone apps while in the car when you receive a phone call. "If you get a phone call, then your navigation is going to stop," Golvin says. "Standalone devices won't do that."Tom Kaneshige is a senior writer for CIO.com in Silicon Valley. Send him an email at firstname.lastname@example.com. Or follow him on Twitter @kaneshige. Follow everything from CIO.com on Twitter @CIOonline.


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Fish Canyon Falls Is the Best Place to Hike with Your Dog
How do 3-tiered 80 foot waterfalls, ruins of cabins from the 1900s, and scenic paths filled with wildflowers next to a soothing creek sound? If this is your idea of a perfect weekend adventure, you are in for a treat in California's Fish Canyon Falls! These are the basics for this one-of-a-kind hike.
1. When is this place open?
Fish Canyon Falls is open to the public April – September 7 am to 7 pm & October – March 7 am to 5 pm, 7 days a week. Your furry friend is only allowed on Saturdays and Sundays, but that's the only time we can go adventuring anyway so it's not a problem for us!
The trailhead is located at the Vulcan Materials Plant in Duarte, CA so the hours of operations are strictly enforced and trail gates close when hours end. A good size parking lot is available at the trailhead and it is free.
2. The trail is well-maintained and easy to follow.
Fish Canyon Falls trail is well-maintained and clean. Awesome! Let's keep it that way. There are no side trails to get you confused on the way to the waterfalls. Friendly trail signs are there to guide you!
3. Do you like history?
Fish Canyon was a popular vacation spot during much of the 1900s. In the first half of the hike, you will come to signs like this telling you the history of Fish Canyon and its residents. It's fun to imagine what it would've been like back then!
4. Hike along the creek and indulge in the sounds and smells.
The first 1/2 mile or so of the trail is in the property of Vulcan Materials. Don't be discouraged by it. Once you pass the bridge, you will soon forget about the quarry.
5. Spring is the prime time to visit for the flowers.
I recommend all seasons for this hike except summer when the heat can be intense. But our favorite time would be the spring time. So many flowers to sniff!
6. When you need to escape the crowds, go early.
I like to enjoy nature in silence. If that sounds like you, I recommend you go early. This hike is popular due to the waterfall attraction. We started around 7:20 am and we were alone most of the time going to the waterfalls and were able to enjoy the nature at our pace. Another bonus is Xena can hike off-leash.
7. It's all worth it for the 3-tiered waterfalls.
You made it! Take a break and enjoy the waterfalls. And take some pictures with the waterfalls, of course!
Whenever you are ready, you can turn around and go back the way you came in. The total distance is 5 miles.
Happy Hiking!

subset: commoncrawl


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ABOVE PHOHTO: Media gather at the Kaufman County Law Enforcement Center in Kaufman, Texas, Sunday, March 31, 2013, in advance of a news conference, as the U.S. and Texas state flags fly at half-staff. On Saturday, Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, were murdered in their home.
(AP Photo/Mike Fuentes)
By Nomaan Merchant
associated press
KAUFMAN, Texas — A central Texas prosecutor and his wife were found killed in their house two months after one of his assistants was gunned down near their office, authorities said.
Investigators found the bodies of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, on Saturday, Kaufman County sheriff's Lt. Justin Lewis said. Police, FBI agents, Texas Rangers and deputies were part of the investigation.
Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse was shot to death in a parking lot a block from his office on Jan. 31. No arrests have been made in his death.
Lewis declined to say how the couple died or whether authorities believe their deaths are linked to Hasse's. He wouldn't provide further details. Kaufman County is 33 miles southeast of Dallas.
Kaufman Police Chief Chris Aulbaugh told The Dallas Morning News that the McLellands had been shot in their home and although investigators didn't know if their deaths were related to Hasse's killing, they couldn't discount it.
"It is a shock," Aulbaugh told the newspaper. "It was a shock with Mark Hasse, and now you can just imagine the double shock and until we know what happened, I really can't confirm that it's related but you always have to assume until it's proven otherwise."
Sam Rosander, who lives in the same unincorporated area of Kaufman County as the McLellands, told The Associated Press on Saturday that sheriff's deputies were parked in the district attorney's driveway for about a month after Hasse was killed.
Aulbaugh said recently that the FBI was checking to see if Hasse's killing could be related to the March 19 killing of Colorado Department of Corrections head Tom Clements, who was gunned down after answering the doorbell at his home.
Evan Spencer Ebel, a former Colorado inmate and white supremacist who authorities believe killed Clements and a pizza deliveryman two days earlier, was killed in a March 21 shootout with Texas deputies about 100 miles from Kaufman.
Hasse was chief of the organized crime unit when he was an assistant prosecutor in Dallas County in the 1980s, and he handled similar cases in Kaufman County. After Hasse was killed, McLelland had said Hasse was one of 12 attorneys on his staff, all of whom handle hundreds of cases at a time.
"Anything anybody can think of, we're looking through," McLelland said after Hasse's death.
McLelland graduated from the University of Texas before a 23-year career in the Army, according to the website for the district attorney's office. He later earned his law degree from the Texas Wesleyan School of Law.
He and his wife have two daughters and three sons. One son is a police officer in Dallas.


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Jackson Racing passes strict AT-PZEV emissions standard and receives CARB executive order
Yorba Linda, California (December 1, 2012) – World-leading Supercharger experts Jackson Racing are proud to announce their next generation supercharger system for the Honda CR-Z has been granted a California Air Resources Board Executive Order and is legal for use in pollution controlled automobiles in the state of California.
"We've worked very hard this past year to develop an bolt-on supercharger system for what is one of the world's cleanest PZEV vehicles. Our supercharger system includes Hondata ECU calibration and larger fuel injectors, and we are able to pass the strict AT-PZEV emissions standard. It was a challenge, but it is great to have a mean and clean package. This is the future of performance tuning!" says Oscar Jackson Sr., President and Chief Engineer of Jackson Racing.
The CARB EO# D-700 covers 2011-2012 "Factory Tuned" and "FlashPro Tuner" CR-Z supercharger systems for both 6-Speed Manual and CVT models.
The power and torque delivery of the Jackson Racing CR-Z is perfectly balanced with the Honda IMA hybrid system to provide a smooth, strong and sporty power delivery that will make you fall in love with your Honda again. The supercharger kit delivers an additional 50 horsepower and 45 ft-lbs of torque, an impressive 40% increase HP and 38% increase in torque. All while maintaining the excellent fuel economy expected from the CR-Z Sport Hybrid.
The Jackson Racing CR-Z supercharger system has been through extensive durability testing to ensure factory drivability is retained, while giving a substantial boost in performance. This testing includes track time by seasoned drivers, taking the car and supercharger system to the limit. The Jackson Racing CR-Z attended Super Lap Battle 2011, and on its first try broke the current Hybrid record by almost 6 seconds.
"We realize that performance tuning for the next generation of Hondas requires maintaining excellent fuel economy and adapting to new technologies," said Oscar Jackson Sr., President and Chief Engineer of Jackson Racing. "The Jackson Racing CR-Z supercharger system embodies the best of our 30+ years of experience in building quality performance upgrades for Honda and Acura automobiles."
Key Points:
• An additional 50 hp and 45 ft-lbs torque
• Maintains excellent fuel economy when driven normally
• Restores the performance "Honda" engine feel
• Works in harmony with Honda's IMA hybrid system
System Includes:
• Rotrex C30-74 Supercharger
• Jackson Racing Precision CNC-machined Components
• Jackson Racing Belt Drive and Tensioning System
• Jackson Racing Intercooler System w/ Aluminum Piping
• High Quality Metric Fasteners and Hardware
• Color Installation Manual
• Industry Leading Customer Service and Support
CVT Systems (+$200) Include:
• Jackson Racing CVT Transmission Tubing Bracket
• Jackson Racing CVT Transmission Oil Cooler System
• Jackson Racing Dual Cooler Intercooler Bracket
Pricing and Availability:
Tune It Yourself (TIY) Kit – $3995
– 8 PSI Jackson Racing CR-Z Supercharger System
– Engine Management Not Included
Factory Tuned System – $4495
– 8 PSI Jackson Racing CR-Z Supercharger System
– Hondata ECU Reflash (Shipping Included)
– High Flow Fuel Injectors
FlashPro Tuner System – $4995
– 8 PSI Jackson Racing CR-Z Supercharger System
– Hondata FlashPro
– Jackson Racing CR-Z FlashPro Calibration
– High Flow Fuel Injectors
The TIY kit is ideal if you already have engine management and want to do your own tuning.
The Factory Tuned system is our plug-n-play system. This system provides the same power and drivability as the Tuner kit without the added expense of the FlashPro tuning solution or hassle of flashing the ECU yourself. Install and enjoy.
The FlashPro Tuner system includes the Hondata FlashPro and the Jackson Racing CR-Z calibration. This system is ideal if you are looking for the data-rich features of FlashPro, and to learn more about your CR-Z.
More product details for the Jackson Racing CR-Z Supercharger System are available online at:
CR-Z Supercharger System | Jackson Racing
Q: Will my 6-speed manual need a clutch upgrade?
A: The Jackson Racing CR-Z has done over 30,000 miles including several track days all using the stock clutch. If you have an aggressive style of driving we would recommend a clutch upgrade.
Q: Is the kit available outside the USA?
A: Yes, the FlashPro Tuner system is available for international customers. Visit FlashPro CR-Z to view the supported ECUs.
Q: Will I be able to adjust and custom tune my calibration?
A: The calibration provided by Jackson Racing with the FlashPro cannot be modified.
Q: Will performance upgrades be available for the Jackson Racing systems?
A: Yes, performance upgrades are currently being tested and will be available.


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Article via New York Times
Federal health officials recommended Wednesday that hundreds of thousands of Americans at risk for AIDS take a daily pill that has been shown to prevent infection with the virus that causes it.
If broadly followed, the advice could transform AIDS prevention in the United States — from reliance on condoms, which are effective but unpopular with many men, to a regimen that relies on an antiretroviral drug.
It would mean a 50-fold increase in the number of prescriptions for the drug, Truvada — to 500,000 a yer from fewer than 10,000. The drug costs $13,000 a year, and most insurers already cover it.
The guidelines tell doctors to consider the drug regimen, called PrEP, for pre-exposure prophylaxis, for gay men who have sex without condoms; heterosexuals with high-risk partners such as drug injectors or male bisexuals who have unprotected sex; patients who regularly have sex with anyone they know is infected; and anyone who shares needles or injects drugs.
Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have long been frustrated that the number of H.I.V. infections in the United States has barely changed in a decade, stubbornly holding at 50,000 a year, despite 30 years of official advice to rely on condoms to block transmission.
Although there is no guarantee that gay men will adopt the drug regimen, federal officials say something must be done because condom use is going down. In a C.D.C. survey in November, the number of gay men reporting recent unprotected sex rose nearly 20 percent from 2005 to 2011.
Nevertheless, advocates for the drug regimen were elated at Wednesday's announcement.
"This is wonderful," said Damon L. Jacobs, a therapist in Manhattan who is HIV negative, has been on the regimen since 2011 and runs a Facebook page promoting it. "When an institution like the C.D.C. makes a statement, it makes a profound difference to the doctors who are ambivalent."
Dr. Jonathan Mermin, director of the C.D.C.'s national center for AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, said the new guidelines should save many lives.
"On average, it takes a decade for a scientific breakthrough to be adopted," he said. "We hope we can shorten that time frame and increase people's survival."
While many antiretroviral drugs could in theory be used for the drug regimen, the only pill approved for that purpose by the Food and Drug Administration is Truvada, made by Gilead Sciences.
Truvada, a mix of tenofovir and emtricitabine, is considered relatively safe with few side effects. Generic versions are made in India, and it has become the backbone of AIDS treatment in poor countries.
Common side effects include headache, stomach pain and weight loss. Rare but serious ones include liver and kidney damage.
Officially, the C.D.C. is endorsing the drug regimen only in conjunction with condoms. But health officials say they know that some people will stop using them. Many gay men, including Mr. Jacobs, report doing just that. That raises their risk of contracting other diseases, like syphilis and gonorrhea. But health officials argue that the benefits of taking the drug regimen outweigh the risks.
(Click to Purchase a FEARLESS TSHIRT)
"Making the perfect the enemy of the good is something we've got to get over," said Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the country's best-known AIDS doctor. "I strongly support the C.D.C. doing this."
Syphilis and gonorrhea can usually be cured with antibiotics, but H.I.V. lasts for life and is fatal if left untreated. Even those treated properly often develop early heart disease and other problems.
Since 2010, three separate studies using Truvada have shown that when taken daily it can vastly reduce the chances of infection. That held true for gay men, heterosexual couples and drug injectors. In the study of gay men, known as iPrEx, men whose blood tests showed they had taken their pill every day were 99 percent protected.
The new guidelines say patients should have an H.I.V. test before starting the regimen, to make sure they are not already infected. (Prophylaxis involves doses of two drugs, but anyone with the disease should be on triple therapy.)
Patients should be retested every three months to be sure that they are still H.I.V. negative, that they are not developing side effects from the drug and that they have not caught any other sexually transmitted diseases.
While many AIDS specialists endorse the drug regimen, it has not caught on among doctors as a whole.
A survey of 1,175 infectious disease specialists in the United States and Canada published in December showed that 74 percent supported it, but only 9 percent had actually prescribed it.
"There's a lot of inertia among doctors, and a strong statement from the C.D.C. will be pretty valuable for overcoming that," said Dr. Demetre C. Daskalakis, an AIDS specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York who has many patients on the regimen.
Also, the drug regimen has not caught on among gay men, who are by far the largest risk group.
By analyzing pharmacy databases, Gilead has tried to track how many Truvada prescriptions are for the drug regimen, rather than AIDS treatment. As of last September, the company said, it knew of only 2,319 — of which 49 percent were for women.
Advocates said there were several reasons there had been little clamor for the drug regimen. First, while many doctors prescribe statins as prophylaxis against heart attacks, for example, only AIDS specialists are likely to prescribe AIDS drugs as prophylaxis. But uninfected gay men have no reason to see AIDS specialists, and usually see general practitioners if they see doctors at all.
Also, Truvada is expensive. However, private insurers and state Medicaid programs have thus far generally covered such prescriptions, and Gilead has a program covering co-pays and giving Truvada to the uninsured.
"In my experience, it's a simple process to get the meds approved," Dr. Daskalakis said.
Another reason is that Gilead does not advertise Truvada for prophylaxis, even though the F.D.A. approved it for that use in 2012 and Gilead does advertise it for treatment, for which it was approved in 2004.
A company spokeswoman said it had no plans to do so, but it does make grants to gay organizations that espouse the drug regimen.
Not advertising helps Gilead avoid controversy.
Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, has called Truvada a "party drug" and argued that the drug regimen would encourage men to avoid condoms and thus increase the infection rate. He called the release of the guidelines "a shameful chapter in the history of the C.D.C."
That debate has played out on gay websites, where men favoring the drug regimen are often stigmatized as "Truvada whores." (The term was coined in a 2012 Huffington Post article whose author has since publicly regretted his stance.)
"People are reacting out of fear," Mr. Jacobs said. "Gay men who embraced the condom message and survived the trauma of 30 years ago have PTSD. This is a paradigm shift, and people don't like change."
Recently, a lash against the backlash has emerged, with a few men proudly wearing "Truvada Whore" T-shirts, just as others proudly wear "Queer" or "H.I.V. Positive" ones.
Adam Zeboski, a test counselor for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, makes and sells "Truvada Whore" T-shirts to raise money for the foundation.
"People are both very supportive and very offended," he said. "By reclaiming the 'Truvada Whore' term, we're taking the power away from those who use it against us."
Check out these related articles:
Open Letter to Weinstein by Kink.com's Peter Acworth
Why I Started a Petition to Remove the Head of AHF
Note: This article does not necessarily represent the opinions of Paul Morris or Treasure Island Media. We felt it right to post, allowing each of you to digest, and form your own opinion. We look forward to hearing what you think.


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CHLORZOXAZONE helps to relieve pain and stiffness in muscles and can treat muscle spasms.
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
Take this medicine by mouth with a full glass of water. If this medicine upsets your stomach, take it with food or milk. Take your medicine at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed.
Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.
Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.
If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.
Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.
Check with your doctor or health care professional if your condition does not improve.
You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medicine affects you. Do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Alcohol may interfere with the effect of this medicine. Avoid alcoholic drinks.
Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
This list may not describe all possible side effects.
Keep out of the reach of children.
Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Keep container tightly closed. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.


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TOTE Maritime, INTERSHIP unveil joint venture in P.R.
TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico and INTERSHIP announced Wednesday they have teamed up to form one of the largest, most experienced and most advanced terminal operating companies serving Puerto Rico.
The joint venture, called Puerto Rico Terminals, or PRT, includes combining two of the largest maritime operations and $38 million worth of existing assets at the Puerto Nuevo terminals near San Juan.
PRT will move more than 250,000 containers and autos annually in and out of Puerto Rico. Improvements in operations, safety and productivity sparked by the joint venture are expected to drive significant growth, said Anthony Chiarello, president and CEO of TOTE.
"We've taken two transportation and logistics companies with more than 80 years of combined experience serving Puerto Rico and blended their complimentary assets to form a partnership that will lead maritime operations in the commonwealth," Chiarello said. "This exciting move comes at a crucial time, and provides tremendous benefits to our customers and the people of Puerto Rico."
PRT customers will see improved vessel turn times, enhanced safety and security features and other technology-based service upgrades, Chiarello said.
TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico and INTERSHIP operated on adjacent properties at the Puerto Nuevo terminals east of San Juan. Together, the new PRT property covers 122 acres and includes eight newly renovated cranes, as well as eight inbound/outbound lanes and RORO/LOLO cargo handling.
PRT customers now get the benefits of the latest technology, safety features and service automation. With the deepest draft in San Juan Bay, PRT will be able to efficiently serve a wide variety of vessel types, company executives said.
PRT has contracted with longtime TOTE Maritime partner SSA Marine to manage stevedoring and terminal operations. SSA Marine's proven track record of industry-leading training, safety and security will be very attractive to existing and new PRT customers. The entire joint venture is part of TOTE's ongoing commitment to serving and financially investing in Puerto Rico, Chiarello said.
"Partnering with such talented organizations offers TOTE an expanded pool of technology, assets and safety protocols that allows us to deliver superior service to TOTE Maritime and the other ocean carriers who utilize PRT's service," Chiarello said.


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The U.S. government is keeping a wary eye on what it says is hacking collective Anonymous' growing interest in attacking critical infrastructure targets.
A DHS bulletin posted this week assesses the ability of the collective to inflict damage on industrial control systems that manage equipment at power plants, water treatment facilities, chemical plants and other potential targets.
The report downplays the near-term threat posed by Anonymous to such targets, but adds that experienced and skilled members of the group could "develop capabilities to gain access and trespass on control system networks very quickly."
The report says that Anonymous recently called on members to target energy companies. DHS said the call is likely to attract both members of the collective and the broader activist hacking community.
"Asset owners and operators of critical infrastructure control systems are encouraged to engage in addressing the security needs of their control system assets," the DHS said.
The bulletin was posted on Monday on publicintelligence.net, which describes itself as "an international, collaborative research project aimed at aggregating the collective work of independent researchers around the globe who wish to defend the public's right to access information."
The DHS National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC) bulletin is not classified, but is marked for official use only. It is addressed broadly to stakeholders within the cybersecurity and critical infrastructure communities.
In the report, the DHS cites several recent actions that point toward a growing interest by Anonymous in industrial control systems.
In July, it notes, Anonymous members released a report spelling out the collective's concerns about global warming and called for protests against the Alberta Tar Sands project in Montana.
The Anonymous report aimed to draw attention to what the group claimed was "boundless greed" of several energy and financial services companies.
In July, a known member of Anonymous also publicly claimed to have accessed multiple control systems.
"The posted xml and html code reveals that the individual understands the content of the code in relation to common hacking techniques to obtain elevated privileges," the DHS said. "It does not indicate knowledge of ICS; rather, it indicates that the individual has interest in the application software used in control systems."
The Anonymous post included administrative code used to create password dump files for a human-machine interface system from Siemens, and so-called "foundation code" that is used in server communication with programmable logic controllers, industrial controllers and remote terminal units, the DHS bulletin said,
The publicly posted code "indicates that the individual was able to recognize and post the portions of code that would ensure others knowledgeable in control systems would take notice," the DHS said.
The report notes that Anonymous has the ability to disrupt some systems within the critical infrastructure -- such as Windows systems and Web applications -- by using "rudimentary attack methods" such as denial of service attacks.
"Anonymous' increased interest may indicate intent to develop an offensive ICS capability in the future," it said.
The DHS assessment comes amid increasing concern about vulnerabilities in U.S. critical infrastructure. Last year's Stuxnet worm in particular drew massive attention to the possibility that cyberattacks could disrupt or take down critical infrastructure targets.
The DHS in recent months issued several similar alerts about the activities of Anonymous, which indicates that the loosely affiliated collection of so-called hactivists is seen as a serious threat.
Jaikumar Vijayan covers data security and privacy issues, financial services security and e-voting for Computerworld. Follow Jaikumar on Twitter at @jaivijayan, or subscribe to Jaikumar's RSS feed . His e-mail address is email@example.com.


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French illustrator Stephanie has been 2 things in her life before she was anything else: a reader and a drawer. She stills read a lot and that what makes her really happy to do cover work – she gets to be one of the first reader of the book! She first studied photography and later she entered the Ecole des Arts Décoratifs de Strasbourg (a rather famous school in France for its illustration course). After she graduated she went hunting for her first publisher, finding him at a children's book convention. That was Emmanuel Proust and together they published a couple of graphic novels together 2004 / 2005 ( Galathéa ). When her first comic book work was on the shelves, her work caught the eye of an art director from HACHETTE, and she hired her to created a few covers for their young adults books.
That's when she discovered she really loved cover art, because it was very demanding and forced her to become a better illustrator. She then started to create covers for most of the mainstream french young adult publishers and a few years later she had the chance to show her work to the international talent scout for MARVEL. She has been collaborating with them for 3 years now, on a more or less regular basis. She started also to work with BOOM and DYNAMITE as well as IDW. Stephanie loves old school illustration, like Bilibine, Mucha, Arthur Rackham, Angus Mc Bride as well as classical painting like Klimmt, Delacour, Le Caravage, and John William Waterhouse.


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It didn't take long for Danai Gurira to make her mark as zombie-killing warrior Michonne in "The Walking Dead." After all, the beloved character from Robert Kirkman's graphic novels can chop off a walker's head with one stroke of her katana sword.
Heads roll again in "Walk With Me," airing at 8 p.m. Oct. 28 on AMC, as Michonne and Andrea (Laurie Holden) keep on fighting for their survival in the zombie apocalypse.
"They have a beautiful bond just based on both being Alpha women who respect each other, compliment each other and have each other's backs," Gurira said at San Diego Comic-Con in July.
In Sunday's episode, the duo come face-to-face with another highly anticipated Season 3 character, the sadistic Governor (David Morrissey), who runs the town of Woodbury. During an August visit to the Georgia set of "Dead," I caught up with Gurira, who has been a recurring cast member on HBO's "Treme" and is a successful playwright who collaborated with Chicago's Goodman Theatre on her play "The Convert."
What was it like jumping into this character that people love?
I did my research and I read about her online somewhat, but I didn't know a lot. So what I went with was what the sides were and what I knew of the world, because I watched the first season as I prepped. I hadn't watched it before.
I just really approached it as creating and building a character. I could see aspects of her just from how she was described and even from how she's drawn. But also just building the multi-layers or the aspects of who she is has to come into play like how I would deal with any character building. And a lot of it was really clear on the page. They created a really brilliant dummy scene for the audition, so I really kind of built it from that.
Maybe there was a benefit to the fact that I didn't know too much. As you know about this show, they don't ever do exactly what's on the comic book page. Hence, it keeps everyone unable to predict anything. So I think with her there's a specificity to her arc that is true to the comic book but it's also new, and I got that from meeting with the show runner and his team of writers and what they were thinking about and then what I thought about as we built her and built the stories that they were building.
It's been a kind of a fresh approach along with a lot of what we already know about her, but it's also been a lot of love. You know what I mean? Like stepping into this character it was kind of like, "Whoa," because there is so much love around her, which I didn't know really at the time. But I thought it's such a fabulous thing. People are so excited to see her come to life and that's really cool. I've gotten a lot of love from folks who are just happy to see her alive or in flesh. So that's been really lovely.
Did you feel any pressure becoming Michonne because she is such a popular character?
Yeah, there is an aspect of that, but I feel like there's pressure with anything you embody. If you are embodying something from scratch, you have to try and make it something that pops and that people appreciate. You know what I mean? You want that to work and then if you're embodying someone whose already existed you want people to be happy with it. But at the end of the day, she is just gonna be what comes through. Do you know what I mean? So I have to just kind of let that go. Otherwise, you can't even be creative.
I think the thing that is great is that she kind of helps me in being her because she's so not a people pleaser. Not even to her fans, I would imagine. So I kind of like go with her lead and be like, "Michonne ain't a people pleaser, so I won't be either." ...
It's been intense, which is good. I'm an intense chick and I like intense. I like challenges. I like intense challenges. Even when I don't, I do because otherwise you don't feel like you're utilizing all of what you could possibly bring.
Let's talk about you sword training. Are you continually working on it?
Initially it was all about just working with the trainer, of course ... It was extremely intense at the beginning, extremely intense. I did not know those muscles were in the body. It hurt and it was exhausting. ... I work out but this was just a whole other thing. You do your little dumbbells and you're getting somewhere but the katana just totally will break you. And I love it for that. But it was a lot of work ...
Thankfully, I felt pretty comfortable with it by the time we started shooting, so I was able to actually contribute to how we put together a scene of killing zombies... That was great when I got to the point where I went from not lying on my back going [Wahhhh!], like crawling. I could walk a few steps. It's very enjoyable and exhilarating but it's extremely intense and there's so much to learn all the time. It's not like I'll ever be at the level of the guys we watch in the movies, and I've watched a lot of movies which is really, really cool to just see how they handle it.
After you did that initial training, did you continue certain types of workouts while filming?
I definitely have to do that and you just work it into your workout. ... They've given me like every type of sword--the hard plastic, the wooden and the real deal. They're all scattered around my house. They just become a part of what I do when I'm exercising. Yeah, you've gotta keep it going.
Have you surprised yourself after seeing your scenes where you're fighting?
Yeah, a little bit. I've just been like, "[Sigh of relief]." Yeah, because it's such a big part of her and you want it to work. Yeah, I have, thankfully, surprised myself in a good way.
How did Michonne learn the katana, or was it just a survival thing?
Yeah, it's a survival thing. You scour around for what you can survive with and that's what she came across and then she started to figure out how to make it work for us all. It was a big part of getting her; the reason why I think she's so connected to it, it got her through some stuff that was a connection that she developed with it. But she also found herself to be pretty good at it. Once you figure out how to use it effectively, she's effective and pragmatic and so is that weapon. And it's and economical. ... [Laughs.] You can take off so many heads.
Have you learned things about her that maybe have surprised you and that have made you think differently about her?
I think as you dig you start to realize how there are a lot of colors to a character and how she is functioning in the world and why. So I think digging into the why has really allowed her to open up more and more to me. Going back a little bit to who she was before it all went down [also helped]. ... She was somebody else before and sort of tapping into that and allowing that to start to come out in aspects has been a very interesting experience and realization.
She talked to a handful of visitors about Michonne and working on "The Walking Dead."
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It didn't take long for Danai Gurira to make her mark as zombie-killing warrior Michonne in "The Walking Dead." After all, the beloved character from Robert Kirkman's graphic novels can chop off a walker's head with one stroke of her katana sword.


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As to the issue of sharpening, there is no simple answer. Because sharpening is done "by the numbers" but instead is highly subjective, it seemed to me that at this early stage unsharpened was the way to display the comparison.
Hopefully this pre-review will not make the feeding frenzy ,frenzier!! Michael , could you please drop a line or two on the ergonomics ?Thank you
Coming up in my full report. In a word - typical Nikon. Grip is fin for me, with small hands, but those with large hands may find it a bit "short".Michael
I will say that in prints made with my usual input and then print sharpening, the difference seen and described relatively remain the same, so it's likely an academic issue at best. But I will do some further comparisons with appropriate sharpening.
Another issue raised is the false detail from a sensor without an AA filter. It seems to me that one approach to really investigate this rather than debate the theoretical aspects of it, would be to use a much higher resolution image to check to which degree there is false detail. This could be done by zooming in on high frequency detail by going much closer to the subject and stitch the pictures to a (very) high resolution picture where the false detail will be revealed in comparison. There may be other ways to do it. I know it would be quite work intensive to do this, but it may put an end to some of the discussion and make some conclusions about this issue. And see how the AA filter equipped D800 will fare in this comparison as well.
This more three dimensional look is what interests me very much, but i think you have to have two examples and print them first to find out? or can you see it on screen?
Perhaps a restored classic car with chrome bumpers would be a good demonstration?
In my experience, maxmax 5D and 3 MFDB's you can see it in all media: screen, printed or projected.
In my experience, maxmax 5D and 3 MFDB's you can see it in all media: screen, printed or projected. I hope Michael posts a still life comparing the two 800's. I found it most noticeable on round and shinny objects. Perhaps a restored classic car with chrome bumpers would be a good demonstration? Unfortunately I sent the 5d out had it modified and didnot think to take before and after shots. Attached is an example of the 3 dimensional appearance I took this shot shortly after the modification.Marc
The so-called 3D-effect is IMHO caused by the shape of the MTF curve
I'd be interested to canvas views on this. I own a couple of Sigmas and a NEX which have either no or very light AA filtering. I also have a Kodak 14n with no filter. Over the years of using these cameras, I have gradually become aware of something with respect to filter-less cameras: aliasing. Not the colour moire everyone likes to go on about, but luminance aliasing. I think it looks very characteristic between all the cameras, Foveon and Bayer CFA alike. I dislike it immensely, it renders like a strange noise pattern to my eye. What I'm talking about is the way that some thin diagonal lines (that are actually tubes) render as if they were made of lego bricks or separate planks of wood, like a laminate. I appreciate this is endemic in the digital picture structure and this is what you see if you zoom in 2000% or so but I'm not talking about simple pixelation. I'm talking about something that is easily visible at 100% as "jaggies" and "strange patterns" that turn smooth tubes into a rope-like weave and make straight edges ripple - if you know what you are looking for. At 200% it is blatantly obvious, even if this is for forensic rather than practical purposes. I find at realistic prints sizes the jaggies are rarely visible but it makes prints look both sharp and grainy/noisy at the same time in a way that doesn't quite look like noise. I like my little NEX, it should be a perfect lightweight landscape camera but I find the aliasing so obtrusive I've stopped using it. The huge rez of the D800e should make it much less of an issue but take a look at MR's Moire test shot of the tree. Look VERY carefully at the thin branches, especially those at different angles. Do you see the jaggies and ragged looking blockiness I see? Look using the full size version you get if you click. I need reading glasses to be sure. I'd be very interested to find out who sees it and who doesn't, and whether many are bothered by it.CheersDave
I plan on doing video comparisons, but I'm working the stills side of things for the moment. It might be a couple of weeks yet. Some quick and dirty video clips that I've shoot look very nice.
The simple way to demonstrate if there is any real resolution benefit, is to do an objective comparison of a star target like the free one I proposed. In its center it will demonstrate if the limiting resolution differs or (probably) not by the diameter of the center blur, and how the sensitivity for aliasing differs at various angles by diverging patterns (in color if the demosaicing fails), all in a single shot. That single shot can be an in-camera JPEG and a Raw file if you want to simultaneously verify the quality of the in-camera JPEGs.
Bart,I have the 800E on order, and would perform the test if I had the camera, but I don't and so I can't at present. Since Michael has both cameras, he could do us a great service by taking shots of the target and posting the images. One could gain a great deal of information with minimal effort.Hint, hint, Michael
I'll be up at my studio this weekend and will try and do it then.Michael
I appreciate this set of comparisons. For me, though, the real issue isn't whether or not the D800e would be sharper with no sharpening, or the same sharpening as the D800. The question for me is whether the 800e would be sharper if files from both cameras were sharpened to their maximum potential, especially using deconvolution.
The 800e files probably can take less sharpening before showing artifacts.
I wasn't clear on whether the second set of comparisons was done with identical sharpening or not. But to me it looks like the 800 file could handle more sharpening, especially for printing.


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It had been 1994 in the minuscule island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, a particular law was passed which made the area a lawful ward, permitting it to provide betting licenses. This law cleared path for online gaming and until the present time, most betting organizations would base their business in the nation to use their permit.
The gaming programming came a long time before the beginning of web based gaming. An Isle on Man-based programming organization called Microgaming fostered the principal completely operational online club programming which brought forth numerous internet betting locales. While Cryptologic, an online security programming organization, given the imperative programming which made web exchange protected, secure and useful. By 1995, the principal online gambling club was dispatched.
Just as as other activities that didn't have a smooth beginning, the dispatch of internet betting likewise met numerous deterrents. One significant issue it met en route was the lawfulness of the exchange. The overall thought and idea of web based betting was against and opposed by numerous and particularly in America.
Lately, on September 30, 2006, the united states Congress passed a bill expressing the it really is unlawful for banks and Visa organizations to cope with installments from US occupants to internet betting organizations. This bill later turned into a law which President Bush endorsed on October 13.
In any case, albeit web based betting have until now been battled against by numerous people, associations and surprisingly the public authority, many are as yet dazzled by the appeal of this dependence. Consequently whatever the multitude of questions, allies and players all throughout the planet are snared in taking part to web based betting. Most normal online betting games are:
INTERNET POKER, or Internet Poker, may be somewhat liable for the sensational expansion in the quantity of poker players around the globe. Online poker tables generally have rounds of Texas hold them, Omaha, Seven-card stud and razz, both in competition and ring game designs.
Online Casinos use the web to play club games roulette, blackjack, pachinko, baccarat and numerous others. Web gambling clubs may likewise be separated into three gatherings according to their interface: Online gambling clubs, Download-based club, and Live gambling clubs. Online gambling clubs are played with no need to download programming for messing around. Modules should be introduced in this program to oblige such games. Download-based gambling clubs expect customers to download programming to play and bet on the club games advertised. The merchandise associates with the club specialist organization and handles contact without program support. Though Live-based club permit online players to play and collaborate with the games played in true club. In this setting, players associated online could see, hear and cooperate with live sellers at tables in club studios all through the entire planet.…
It had been 1994 in the minuscule island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, a particular law was passed which made the area a lawful ward, permitting it to provide betting licenses. This law cleared path for online gaming and until the present time, most betting organizations would base their business in the nation to use their permit.


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Photographic Digital Fine Art in Commercial, Interior Design, Landscape, Urban & Street & Automotive Themes
Our Corvettes
Our Corvettes - The '99 Sebring Silver Six-Speed Coupe was our first. I claim it as mine. Red drives the '04 Commemorative Edition Z06 and calls it her own. These images are from Car Shows, travels and just funning around..Read More


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Municipal bonds allow cities to fund major projects such as roads, parks, facilities and other capital expenses. Bonds are issued and repaid over an extended period of time, similar to the way many buyers finance the purchase of a home. This strategy helps keep costs more equitable between current and future residents - after all, many of the people who will enjoy these amenities haven't even moved here yet!
Before issuing bonds which could potentially impact the tax rate, Texas cities are required to put any bond proposition to a vote. If a proposition receives more than 50% of the vote, bonds may be issued for the purpose specified on the ballot.
Show All Answers
In Allen, residents lead the charge to select and prioritize projects to be paid for by bonds, set proposed bond package amounts and determine what impact (if any) the use of bond funds might have on the tax rate. Discussions are guided by a knowledgeable citizen committee with a history of service to Allen, with presentations and supplemental information provided by City of Allen staff.
Every bond proposition is assessed for its potential impact to the tax rate. During the public input process, the Finance Subcommittee uses conservative projection data and financial forecasting to calculate potential tax rate impact based on the total bond package being proposed. These are only estimates and do not necessarily result in a tax increase.
For example, the 2016 bond propositions were estimated to have a potential tax rate increase of $0.004 (less than half a cent). Instead, City of Allen's tax rate has decreased by $0.1088 (more than 10 cents) since 2016.
In fact, over the last 30 years, the City of Allen has consistently decreased the tax rate while utilizing voter-approved bond funding for capital projects.
The City of Allen uses bond debt only when it's necessary to fund needed public infrastructure, facilities or capital investments that will service the city for 20 years or longer. Bond funding spreads the cost to as many residents and businesses as possible over an extended period of time such that future residents and businesses also help fund community assets that benefit them. We call it intergenerational equity.
The City of Allen will repay bond debt within 20 years of bonds being sold. In the past, the City has repaid bond debt sooner than the anticipated 20 years. The City also has refinanced the sale of a bond series to lower interest repayment or pay off the debt sooner.
The City of Allen will pay interest when the bonds are sold. The market determines the interest rates at the time the City sells the bonds; however, the City of Allen pays low interest rates due to excellent bond ratings. City of Allen's bond rating is Aa1 from Moody's Investors Service. The rating reflects strong fiscal management and the steady growth of our tax base. This rating provides significant savings to Allen taxpayers by qualifying the City of Allen for low interest rates.
Yes. In order to pay for significant capital investments and improvements, all cities must utilize bond funding. The City of Allen implements a public-led bond funding program to determine projects that will be proposed for funding over a period of five to seven years. This package of bond propositions goes to the Allen voters for approval. Even with voter approval, the City of Allen determines the timing for projects in a fiscally conservative manner based on economic conditions, impact to operations and other budget considerations.
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Georgetown Meditation Jan 12
January 12 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Thursday evenings
7pm – 8:30pm
@ Glen Williams Town Hall
with Gen Kelsang Kunden
Each class consists of guided meditations and teachings that we can contemplate and practice throughout the week. Each contemplation has a practical application to solve our daily problems. Through attending classes and putting effort into applying these teachings to our daily lives, we can make great progress increasing our own inner peace. Through engaging in meditation practice we can develop and maintain a peaceful mind all the time. If we have a peaceful mind all the time we will be happy all the time, regardless of whether our conditions are good or bad. Now is the time to train in inner peace and happiness by putting Buddha's teachings into practice.
Questions? Contact firstname.lastname@example.com
What to Expect in a Class
Our meditation classes are for anyone interested in learning how to meditate, regardless of background or beliefs. Classes are designed to give a broad introduction to Buddhist meditation, teachings, and practice.
Every class includes a chance to practise meditation. No prior experience, special equipment or special clothes are necessary for our onsite classes – just come as you are.
Classes are all standalone individual classes that are presented in a series. You do not need to attend the full series to attend a class.
New Topics this Winter
This winter, our series of classes from January to March are based on gaining control of our thoughts with mindfulness and gaining freedom from negative patterns of thought. Changing these negative patterns of thought is hugely liberating opening us up to a joyful, creative and game changing approach to experiencing our lives and our relationships.
Through gaining familiarity with correct thoughts, thoughts based on love, compassion and wisdom, we can gain control over our mind and bring meaning and harmony into our life.
Class Series Topics
The classes are presented in a series but each class is stand-alone. You do not need to attend the full series to benefit from the classes.
$12 drop-in | $40 for any 4 classes (series pass) | Free for members
Tickets can be purchased before class through Paypal, Eventbrite or at the door. No registration necessary
Upcoming Classes
Thursday meditation class in Georgetown - Reflecting the Beauty Within
Thursday meditation class in Georgetown - Reflecting the Beauty Within
Thursday meditation class in Georgetown - Reflecting the Beauty Within
Thursday meditation class in Georgetown - Meditations for Daily Harmony


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Published 12:00 am Tuesday, June 25, 2013
CHINA GROVE — "The Fabulous One" Jackie Fargo, whose cocky strut paved the way for the likes of Ric Flair and Jerry Lawler in the pro wrestling world, died Monday at 82.
He died just two days shy of his birthday.
At one time, Fargo was the biggest wrestling star in Memphis and the Tennessee television viewing area as a whole.
Prior to that, he and his brother, Sonny "Roughhouse" Fargo, created one of the original bleach-blond tag teams in wrestling.
They were the first tag team to draw 20,000-plus fans to New York's Madison Square Garden, according to Greg Oliver and Steve Johnson of SLAM! Wrestling.
The flowing blond hair. The strut. Earrings. Jackie Fargo was among the first wrestlers ever to have them as part of his ring persona.
In the book "The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: Tag Teams," Fargo said, "I had long, blond hair, and I wore a bone in my hair and would do anything goofy — pick up a big black lady and sit on her lap and kiss her, stuff like that, just a wild man."
Fargo also was among the first wrestlers who successfully made the transition in fans' eyes from a villain to a good guy. He did this while starring in Memphis.
"I was the person people loved to hate," Fargo said in the book, "but they loved me. As much as they hated me, they loved that Fargo strut. Boy, they'd boo the hell out of me, but they loved that."
Mike Cline, a longtime wrestling fan from Salisbury, said Jackie Fargo and Sonny Fargo also had a great routine whenever Jackie was getting beaten up by the bad guys in Memphis.
Jackie Fargo would make a big deal of calling "Roughhouse," who supposedly was in a mental hospital in North Carolina. The "crazed" Sonny Fargo — on loan from Jim Crockett Promotions in Charlotte — would come in to help Jackie out, while the fans really thought Sonny had a screw loose.
The Fargos won the regional tag team title in Tennessee in 1964.
Cline said Jackie Fargo, whose name remained big in the Memphis area for a long time, also began promoting himself as a mentor to new wrestlers.
Among them were Stan Lane and Steve Keirn, who were modeled after Fargo in their flashiness. With Fargo's consent, Lane and Keirn became known as "The Fabulous Ones."
Fargo was born in Concord as Henry Faggart, but he officially changed his named to Jackie Fargo years ago.
He started his pro wrestling career with Johnny Long around 1950. It was a tough circuit in those days, as wrestlers made as low as $7.50 a match, according to SLAM! Fargo eventually went to Cuba and wrestled before being drafted into the Korean War in 1952.
In his earliest incarnations, he went by Honey Boy Fargo and Wildman Fargo.
The original "Fargo Boys" were Jackie Fargo and Don Kalt of Pittsburgh, and SLAM! says they were the "hottest tag team in the country in the late 1950s and early 1960s, selling out arenas from New York to Alabama, strutting to the ring with world titles around their waists and setting the standard for every bleached blond tag team that would follow."
After Kalt left the team, he was replaced by Sonny, Jackie's real brother, and the pair also enjoyed considerable success. Later, Jackie pursued his career in Memphis.
Fargo won the National Wrestling Alliance Mid-America Heavyweight Championship three times and held tag-team gold championships 45 times in his career, according to one source.
Fargo is credited with bringing Jerry "The King" Lawler into wrestling, again as his mentor. As he got older, Fargo wrestled less and less, but SLAM! records his having appeared in "shows" as late as 2004 and 2006, when he was 76.
In his heyday, there were "Fargo Burgers" at a restaurant in Memphis, and Jackie once even tried a country-and-western singing career.
Several years ago, Cline said, he was waiting in line at Towne Pharmacy in Salisbury and struck up a conversation with Fargo, who was picking up prescriptions for his then ailing brother, Sonny.
Sonny Fargo became one of the most well-known wrestling referees after his days as a wrestler were over.
Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home said family and friends were with Jackie Fargo at his death Monday. He is survived by three daughters, including Brandy McKinney of Salisbury, and he has three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.


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FORDO, Iran (AP) — Not far from one of Iran's most secretive nuclear sites, villagers proudly declare a willingness to sacrifice their lives to defend their country's nuclear program from attack by the West.
If history is any judge, the pledges by residents of Fordo are more than bluster. The village is already enshrined in Iranian lore for suffering the greatest per capita losses during the 1980s war with Iraq.
"I lost four family members to defend Iran against Saddam. I'm ready to sacrifice my blood and the blood of my other children to defend nuclear facilities against foreign threats now," said 73-year-old Kazem Koohi in his walnut orchard on the outskirts of Fordo, about 37 miles (60 kilometers) south of the holy city of Qom.
Statements such as these are often lost in the international showdowns with Iran. Despite huge internal political strife — and disagreements about how to handle Western pressure — many Iranians view the nuclear program as a point of agreement and a source of national honor.
The village and the bunker-like facility to make enriched uranium are separated by more than 50 miles (80 kilometers). Iran's message in using the village as a namesake for the nuclear site is unmistakably one of defiance. It also speaks to the determination to protect and expand its nuclear self-sufficiency despite threats of even greater international sanctions.
The underground uranium enrichment site could begin the process of making reactor fuel by early next year.
The Fordo enrichment site, whose existence was first disclosed in 2009, could represent a look into the future of Iran's nuclear program. Its labs are burrowed deep in a mountainside as protection against attack and satellite surveillance.
During a rare visit to the village of Fordo by an international news organization, many people made a seamless link between the 1980-88 battles against Saddam Hussein and the current nuclear standoff with the West.
Government permission was required for the visit, and a Culture Ministry official accompanied an AP reporter and forbid any photographs to be taken.
"That Iran's crucial enrichment site carries the name of our village is a matter of great pride for us," boasted Esmaeil Karbalaei, a resident of Fordo — which had 104 battlefield "martyrs" in the Iraq war from a population of about 2,500.
The U.S. and its allies fear Iran's ability to make its own nuclear fuel will eventually lead to atomic weapons, because the technology offers a possible pathway to weapons-grade nuclear material.
Iran says it only seeks reactors for energy and research, but refuses to halt its uranium enrichment activities. It says it needs to keep the enrichment program to produce fuel for future nuclear reactors and medical radioisotopes needed for cancer patients.
Iran's Vice President Fereidoun Abbasi told a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna last month that Fordo facility would likely start operating within six months.
Buried under 300 feet (90 meters) of rock, the facility is a hardened tunnel and is protected by air defense missile batteries and the elite Revolutionary Guard, Iran's most powerful military force. The site is located about 12 miles (20 kilometers) north of Qom, the religious nerve center of Iran's ruling system.
Alarm bells rang in the West in June after Abbasi said Iran would triple its output of higher grade enriched uranium — 20 percent — and move the entire program to the secretly built facility.
Low-enriched uranium — at around 3.5 percent and even 20 percent — can be used to fuel reactors for electricity and medical research. But if uranium is further enriched to around 90 percent purity, it can be used to develop a nuclear warhead.
But why would Iran need a bombproof enrichment facility under a mountain?
To the West, Iran shouldn't need to build a secret enrichment site if its nuclear program is peaceful. And they conclude that Fordo is material evidence of Iran's nuclear weapons program.
Iran argues Israeli or U.S. officials refused to discount military action to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities. Iran's strategists also see the underground facility as a way to ensure continuity of Iran's uranium enrichment program under any circumstances.
Iran's main uranium enrichment site — in Natanz in central Iran — was assumed to be the first target of any possible military strike.
Analyst Mahdi Mohammadi says Fordo's strategic purpose is to deter an attack on Natanz.
"If the enemy knows that Iran has a facility to continue enrichment in case Natanz comes under attack, then the value of attacking Natanz is diminished to zero," he said.
Israel got the message almost immediately. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak noted in 2009 that Fordo is "immune" to bombings.
The most powerful "bunker buster" bombs can penetrate up to 66 feet (20 meters) of earth or six feet (two meters) of reinforced concrete.
"There is no bomb on earth that can penetrate 90 meters of hard rock. So, bunker busters or guided bombs are of no use to U.S. or Israel if they are to attack. Fordo is a non-penetrable facility to air or missile strike," said a senior Iranian military official on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media.
In Fordo village, Koohi said Iran has every right to master enrichment technology because it can't trust that the West will give nuclear fuel to Iran for its future nuclear power plants.
"If I'm capable of growing walnuts in my orchard, why should I beg for them from others?" he asked. "The Fordo uranium enrichment site is the symbol of Iran's resistance."