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AMMAN (REUTERS) - Rivalry between Qatar and Saudi Arabia has fuelled wrangling within the Syrian opposition that threatens to prevent a united rebel delegation attending international peace talks next week.
Sources in the Syrian National Coalition and diplomats from foreign powers backing the rebels said it remains unclear whether those divisions can be overcome by Friday, when the 120-member Coalition is expected to vote on whether to take part in the conference in Switzerland, known as Geneva-2.
However, some expect that Qatar, which has raised its profile in diplomacy by being quick to back the Arab Spring revolts, will not in the end risk angering Riyadh, Turkey and Western states by having Doha's allies on the Coalition force a boycott of talks that are supported by the other powers.
Earlier this month, 44 members, mostly with links to Qatar, walked out of a Coalition meeting to underline their rejection of attending talks without assurances that key demands would be met. They were also angered by the re-election of Mr Ahmad Jarba, a Saudi-backed Syrian tribal figure, as head of the Coalition.
Diplomats said Qatar's role, which includes supporting some militant Islamist brigades in Syria, had been discussed at a meeting in Paris on Sunday of the Friends of Syria, a group supporting the opposition, which was attended by US Secretary of State John Kerry and other Western foreign ministers.
"The message was that everyone needed to be on a new page in support of Geneva and stop backing militants," a person who was at the meeting said.
"There were strong hints that the onus falls on Qatar for a Coalition decision to go to the talks."
Qatar's foreign minister insisted in Paris that the Gulf emirate was not backing one opposition faction over another.
Few members of the Coalition, a body comprised largely of exiled political leaders, are enthusiastic about the meeting, organised by international powers anxious to end the conflict which has destabilised the Middle East for three years.
Coalition members see little prospect of President Bashar al-Assad's delegates making big concessions, let along agreeing to their demand of a transitional administration that excludes Mr Assad from power. As a result, they fear attendance could further undermine their legitimacy within a Syrian opposition that is increasingly dominated by rebel fighters on the ground.
However, a failure to show up next Wednesday would dismay most of the opposition's foreign backers. They might scale back their support for a body that has failed to prevent much of the rebel force in Syria becoming dominated by Islamist militants.
"The Coalition is being asked to go to Geneva without a hint that the talks will result in anything even to save face before the Syrian people," said Mr Nasr al-Hariri, spokesman for the 44 members who walked out this month.
"The only way for the Coalition to function as a coalition is by expanding it to restore balance and find a consensus president."
Even those close to Saudi-backed Coalition chief Jarba say they are reluctant to go to Switzerland without some assurance of winning concessions, such as the release of prisoners or the lifting of sieges around rebel-held suburbs of Damascus.
The National Coordination Body (NCB), a coalition rival comprised of centrist politicians who include some members still living in Damascus and tolerated by Mr Assad, said in a statement on Wednesday that it will not attend the peace talks.
The group cited what it described as failure of Russia "to make any worthwhile effort" to pressure the Syrian authorities to take conciliatory steps and lack of US efforts to form a "balanced and convincing" opposition delegation.
Russia, which has shielded Mr Assad from rebel and Western insistence that he step aside, and the United States have discussed such demands as co-sponsors of Geneva-2 but it is unclear that Assad is ready to offer such concessions.
Though allies in other respects, the Gulf monarchies of Qatar and Saudi Arabia have ended up backing rival forces in some Arab states where power has changed hands since 2011.
For example, Qatar backed Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, Saudi Arabia the military that toppled the Islamist president last year.
In Syria, with the country at the heart of the region fragmenting into competing spheres of influence, Qatar carved an influential role by being quick to help the rebels and, later, by helping set up the Coalition a year ago with the aim of creating a credible alternative to Mr Assad.
Last year, however, Qatar found itself under pressure from its much larger neighbour and from the United States over the way the war was going, and notably over the rising influence on the frontlines of Islamists hostile to the West and to its allies in the Middle East - like the Saudi royal house.
An expansion of the Coalition to 120 seats diluted Qatari control and handed leadership to the Saudi-backed Jarba. On the ground, however, Qatar is still a force, through groups like al-Tawhid, part of a new Islamic Front that controls large areas and coordinates with the Al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front.
"There are military groups in the opposition that are more influenced by Qatar than Saudi Arabia. But within the Coalition Saudi Arabia is stronger," said Mr Abdelrahman al-Haj, a senior official in the Syrian National Council. The SNC is a component of the Coalition and opposes taking part in next week's talks.
A Gulf source with knowledge of Qatari policy said the new emir, in power since June, wanted a lower profile than his father who had strongly backed the Arab revolts. The new emir was also more open to Western requests to stop supporting militants, though Qatar still believed that arming rebels was needed to force Mr Assad to compromise, however, the source said.
Diplomats involved in negotiations with Doha say Qatar still appears lukewarm toward Geneva-2. Some note that its ally in Syria, the Islamic Front, issued a statement supporting those members who had walked out of the Coalition.
Personal differences are also playing a role in the wrangling over whether to attend the meetings at Montreux.
People who know both men said that Mr Mustafa al-Sabbagh, Qatar's point man on the Coalition, and Mr Riad Hijab, who ran against Mr Jarba for the presidency, could give their blessing to participation at Geneva-2 - if they and their allies secure a suitable presence in the delegation to the talks.
One senior member of the Syrian opposition familiar with the factional in-fighting said Qatar may not be willing to risk the Saudi and Western backlash that could follow a failure of the Coalition to send a cohesive delegation to the meetings.
"Qatar has carved itself a powerful niche by supporting the Islamic Front and using it as a pressure tool on the coalition," he said. "But at the end of the day Qatar will not defy Saudi Arabia and the United States.
"Its people in the Coalition need its financial and political support and so will do what Qatar asks."
However, Mr Ahmed Kamel, a pro-opposition Syrian political commentator, said Qatar might fail to persuade allies on the Coalition to negotiate with Mr Assad's team: "Part of the crisis is the standoff between Saudi Arabia and Qatar," Mr Kamel said.
"But there is a genuine problem that faces even Jarba - because the Coalition is being asked to go to a peace conference without any conditions, without guarantees and without an agenda."
Western diplomats, however, are pressing hard for the Coalition to attend, stressing the lack of alternatives to the main international initiative to end three years of fighting that has killed over 100,000 people.
One said: "No one wants to think of the alternative if the Coalition fails again to agree."


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When Margot was born, there were certain things I couldn't wait for. I mean I loved the whole wee baby thing but I daydreamed about her toddling around the garden with me and I couldn't wait to witness her uninhibited self-expression.
The greatest art apron of all time: the tie and neck loop are all one piece and adjusts with one hand to fit any sized kid
Buckets are out of reach for smallest kids and shelf is out of reach for small kids (or so I thought).
Sure we always have a little supply of pencils and crayons but new tools generate new enthusiasm. Many of our favorites come from Walking Stick Toys and I am happy this cool, environmentally-friendly, family-owned, Missoula-based business is a new sponsor!
Also, it's handmade with flour, cornstarch, seaweed, natural and organic fruit, plant and vegetable extracts from beets, spinach, paprika, carrots, purple sweet potato, red cabbage, blueberries and tomatoes. In other words, when Ruby inevitably puts it in her mouth, it's totally ok.
A lot of the time I just dig through what we've got. 'New stuff' doesn't necessarily have to mean brand new, purchased at the store. And while I don't might investing in high quality art supplies, I do not like buying craft store tsotchkes that end up in the trash. Ball point pens, dad's carpenter pencils, shaving cream with food coloring, fabric scraps, dried grass. It more about re-purposing something, finding new use. In the summer we take our paint outside and paint rocks (easy to do with paint made from food). Mudworks is a fabulous book with more than 100 recipes for making clay, dough and sculpting material.
Speaking of sculpting material, play dough is a favorite in our home. It has endless possibilities for cramming into containers, shaping, cutting, stacking, stabbing. We just open up the kitchen utensil drawer and have at it. Play dough is never boring.
Best Kid Gift of All Time: Last year Margot received a birthday gift of homemade play dough and this play kitchen utensil set. Play dough is a snap to make. It lasts way, way longer than the store bought stuff and eliminates all that packaging. Best play dough recipe here.
I won a Hello Kitty coloring contest when I was six and got to have BREAKFAST WITH HELLO KITTY. I loved coloring books just as much as the next kid…but…blank paper allows for so much more. Kids don't draw a sun like a circle and lines coming out the sides until they are told or shown that is what it is supposed to look like. I want to avoid this kind of imitation. I want to see how Margot sees the sun.
A side note: I am becoming increasingly agitated at all the pre-fabricated kid toys out there. Everything is a kit. It's hard to find a box of legos, you have to buy a particular truck and then build it just like the instructions tell you to. Remember legos and making up your own truck never to be duplicated?

subset: commoncrawl


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Katie Roiphe: Stop Calling Women Sluts (But Pinch Their Asses All You Want)
Sex troll Katie Roiphe has taken yet again to Slate to bravely and counterintuitively slay a liberal shibboleth about human sexuality. This time, she is reminding self-satisfied lefties that Rush Limbaugh isn't the only "slut shamer" on the block. Democrats shame sluts, too. Stop shaming them!
I guess you'd call it slut-shame-shaming. Roiphe is sick of pious liberals imposing their bourgeois values on sexually confident women. Proud, willful ladies should be free to discuss their erotic lives as they wish without the "vicious or catty bursts of rage, or calm-holier-than-thou reflections on other people's sluttiness or condescending screeds about how pathetic or sad or distasteful or lonely or sleazy it is to live so outside of conventional life" that so many liberals reflexively resort to. Spare us your screeds! Let us live our lives free of your condescension!
That sounds sort of reasonable, I suppose. I mean, it's sort of unfair to ask women to constantly face down jibes and epithets just because of their sexuality, right? What kind of world are we living in if we let powerful people constantly direct hurtful remarks at "sexually voracious" ladies?
Let's ask Katie Roiphe, shall we?
Is the anodyne drone typing away in her silent cubicle free from the risk of comment on her clothes, the terror of a joke, the unsettlement of an unwanted or even a wanted sexual advance, truly our ideal? Should we aspire to the drab, cautious, civilized, quiet, comfortable workplace all of this language presumes and theorizes? At this late date, perhaps we should be worrying about different forms of hostility in our workplace.
That's Roiphe writing in the New York Times, four months ago, rushing to the aide of accused sexual harrasser Herman Cain. The piece was entitled "In Favor of Dirty Jokes and Risqué Remarks."


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With highchairs, a super-spacious loo that's accommodating of prams and a finger foods-friendly menu, little ones will love newly opened Heirloom on Hollywood Road. Stop in for a piece of their delicious cake and a coffee, or to munch on some of their famed tacos, and you're sure to go away happy. Just one word of warning – the best space for free-range toddlers is upstairs, so you may want to leave the stroller at home… Read on for Ale's full review!
Often when such a big hype is made about a new restaurant, you create such an unrealistically amazing image of it in your head that when you actually get round to trying it, you're terribly disappointed. Fortunately such was not the case with the highly praised Heirloom Eatery on Hollywood Road.
Even before you enter this charming two-storey restaurant, you know it's going to be special; mismatched tables and chairs adorned with makeshift vases and colourful flowers spill out over the open-fronted downstairs, where smiling guests watch their delicious tacos being prepared in the open kitchen, or ogle at the tower-high cakes freshly baked earlier that day.
Heirloom classes itself as neither a café nor a fine-dining restaurant, but rather as an eatery, serving "food we love to eat", a motto which is emblazoned in neon lights in the second floor window. Owned by Mexican Ashton Winkler and Indonesian Vivian Herijanto (also owner of Corner Kitchen which I reviewed here), these two lovely girls put real passion into replicating recipes that have been lovingly passed down the generations in their respective families.
We began our evening with some unique cocktails. The Sheung Wan Sour, a local take on the much-loved Pisco Sour, was delicious, whilst the Suzy Wong (similar to a Mojito but made with vodka, Thai basil and ginger ale) was perhaps a little too sweet for my liking, although it went down a treat with the boys.
Noticing our inability to narrow down a few selections from the delicious-looking menu, Ashton approached our table, asking if we trusted her and offered to order for us. Obviously we knew she would order only the best dishes on the menu, so we gleefully accepted and awaited our feast.
First up was Ashton's Guacamole: chunky and delicious, bizarrely made the more so by the addition of pomegranate seeds.
The pumpkin and foie gras terrine, served in an old-school glass jar with thin slices of baguette, was so light that it was hard to believe it contained rich foie gras.
All over Hong Kong, people are raving about Heirloom's tacos. Try them and you will understand why. We tried the carnitas (pulled pork) and the Balinese fish tacos (accurately described as a 'festival of flavours'). Palm-sized morsels of utter delight piled upon homemade corn tortillas, these tacos will not disappoint.
A bowl of hearty chilli con carne and rice is the perfect comfort food for these cold wintry days. At Heirloom you can taste the passion that is put into this dish; from the punch of the chilli to the sweetness of grated chocolate, this chilli definitely hits the spot.
A dish to rival the tacos is Mexican street corn, glazed with a delicious blend of coriander-mayo, cheese and chilli. I think I could possibly live off this dish.
I would be lying if I said that the evening went by without a disappointment, so I must confess that we weren't hugely impressed with the coq au vin. Perhaps taken out of the context of the rest of the meal, it would have been adequate, but compared to the other delicious dishes, here it just seemed a little on the bland side. The truffle buttered noodles (or farfalle pasta in fact), however, were divine.
On to desserts, we selected all but the vaguely healthy-looking option. That's three desserts (which are each designed to serve two) shared between four. Oops. The DIY s'mores are a first in Hong Kong and are a fun and tasty idea; melt a marshmallow over your Bunsen burner-style flame, add Willie's chocolate (from cacao beans grown in my native country of Venezuela) and sandwich with graham cracker – what could you not like about this?!
Dessert number two took me back to childhood days; a plate of freshly-baked gooey chocolate chip cookies served alongside a bottle of fresh milk. Unfortunately the bottle meant we couldn't dip our cookies into the milk, but we did find a rather less classy way of dripping milk over the cookie from the straw.
Less amazing was the chocolate brioche bread pudding. Similar to the coq au vin, outside of this delicious feast, it might have passed the test. Beside the s'mores and cookies, however, it was just a bit plain.
Service at Heirloom is first-rate. Both Ashton and Vivian are on hand to make sure all their guests are happy, explaining the origins of each dish as they are served by smiling waitresses. What is even better is that service is not included, so you can give whatever you feel the waitresses deserve. Why can't all Hong Kong restaurants adopt this approach?
Total bill for all the above plus a bottle of vino came to just over $1500, which isn't a price to scare us away from coming back. In fact I fully intend on going back as soon as I possibly can. So forget the post-Christmas detox, go easy on the Chinese New Year banquets and make some room for a night at Heirloom instead!
Heirloom Eatery, 226 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, 2547 8008
Read more about Alejandra's adventures through food (and love of yum cha) in Hong Kong on her fab blog, The Dim Sum Diaries!


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The DOJ was initially established to ensure the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, which is equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries all over the world.
Ever since it's establishment, the Department of Justice has been running programs and activities that could potentially improve the law enforcement system in the United States.
This post is aligned with a network of sites interested with the intersection of small business, the philanthropic sector and government in creating healthy and sustainable communities.
Find additional information and resources on nonprofit information, educational grants and Civic Engagement programs from around the world.


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Thursday, 24 July 2014 07:07 PM EDT
Two of the detainees are Jason Rezaian, the Tehran correspondent for The Washington Post, and his wife Yeganeh Salehi, a correspondent for the United Arab Emirates-based newspaper the Nation, the CPJ said in a statement.
"We call on Iranian authorities to immediately explain why Jason Rezaian, Yeganeh Salehi, and two other journalists have been detained, and we call for their immediate release," said CPJ Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator Sherif Mansour.
"Iran has a dismal record with regard to its treatment of imprisoned journalists. We hold the Iranian government responsible for the safety of these four."
Rezaian, 38, has dual U.S.-Iranian nationality and has worked for the Post in Tehran since 2012. The Post reported that Salehi "has applied for U.S. permanent residency".
U.S. State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said Washington was aware of the reports of the detention of three U.S. citizens in Iran.
"We are not able to comment further at this time due to privacy considerations. Our highest priority is the safety and welfare of U.S. citizens abroad," she said.
Iran does not recognize dual citizenship.
Names of the other two detained journalists have not been revealed but the Post said they were "freelance photojournalists".
"We have received credible reports that Rezaian and his wife Salehi were detained on Tuesday evening in Tehran," said Douglas Jehl, foreign editor of The Post.
Besides the four, there are 35 journalists in prison in Iran, according to CPJ.
U.N. special rapporteur for human rights in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, said in March that Iran was holding almost 900 political prisoners, "including people persecuted for religious activities, lawyers and journalists."
In his latest report to the U.N. Human Rights Council, Shaheed said there were 379 political activists, 292 religious practitioners, 92 human rights defenders, 71 civic activists, 37 journalists and bloggers and 24 students held as what he defined as political prisoners.
Iran denies Western allegations that it is trying to stifle dissent by arresting elites, including senior moderate politicians, activist students, lawyers and journalists. The government says it welcomes constructive criticism and upholds the principle of free speech.
Pragmatist President Hassan Rouhani's landslide election win last year raised hopes among activists that he would create a freer society, but analysts and rights activists say so far Rouhani has failed to fulfill his campaign promises on political freedoms.
Iran detained four Iranian-American academics in 2007 for four months for allegedly spying. An Iranian-Canadian journalist, Maziar Bahari, and an Iranian-American journalist, Roxana Saberi, were detained in Iran for four months in 2009 on spying charges.
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text: CARLSBAD Natural Ash/Ivory 5 Pc. Queen Bedroom Set w/ Chest, 86"L X 63 1/2"W X 60"H, 529.1lbs. Displaying a natural wood design, this bedroom set embodies an atmosphere of timeless style and comfort. Matching hardware paired with a nailhead trim headboard perfectly accompanies the natural ash finish. Features: Transitional Style Platform Bed Flax Fabric H/B Felt-lined Top Drawers Solid Wood, Wood Veneer, Others Natural Ash Finish w/ Spotted Stains


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Pirates, Marauders to play at renovated McKechnie
Major renovations have taken place at McKechnie Field since the advanced Class A Bradenton Marauders of the Florida State League concluded their season late last summer, and the Pittsburgh Pirates can't wait to show off the new and improved facility during Grapefruit League play this spring.
The vast majority of the exciting renovations were focused on providing additional fan amenities, and the most striking changes can be found out in the outfield. For instance, the ballpark now features bleachers beyond the left-field wall for the first time, which is one of reasons seating capacity has increased from 6,500 to approximately 8,500. In addition, the scoreboard -- which used to stand alone in left-center field -- is now part of the outfield wall.
The most prominent addition out that way, however, is a boardwalk that spans from the left-field line to the right-field line, transforming McKechnie Field into a 360-degree facility. Fans will now be able to walk all the way around the ballpark and view the game from additional vantage points. A 60-seat, full-service bar will be the featured attraction on the boardwalk, and fans will also be able to watch the game from tables and drink rails out in that area. In addition, fans can see the pitchers warm up from the boardwalk because the new bullpens -- for both the home team and the visitors -- are now located behind the outfield fences. Plus, the Pirates' new half field, new batting tunnels and new agility field can be seen from the opposite side of the boardwalk.
"We're always trying to make sure everyone has a great experience at the ballpark, and I'm sure the new boardwalk in the outfield is going to be an extremely popular place for our fans to congregate during games," Pirates president Frank Coonelly said. "We can now provide fans with additional options and opportunities to have a good time while catching a game and enjoying the outstanding weather we have in Bradenton."
Besides the 19,000-square-foot boardwalk that stands 12 feet off the ground, those options will also include a new two-tiered party deck down the left-field line with extensive food and beverage options for groups of up to 80 people. In addition, a patio with four-person tables and fixed seats that swivel are a new option along the left-field wall.
What's more, every seat in the ballpark was removed and replaced with new, more comfortable seats that are the traditional baseball flip-up style. Plus, permanent roofs have replaced what were formerly temporary shade coverings above infield seats along the first- and third-base lines. The new outfield bleachers are also protected from the sun.
Another major change that has taken place at McKechnie Field is in the Fan Plaza behind the seating areas on the first-base side. Specifically, the concessions stands that were underneath the grandstand have been converted into restrooms. Meanwhile, new and expanded concession stands with all new equipment will now be in operation on the opposite side of the plaza, making the entire area more spacious and free flowing.
"There are more points of sale and more options for food, and plus we now have additional restrooms for both men and women," Coonelly said. "Shorter lines make the ballpark experience more pleasant. We really want to cater to families in Bradenton just like we do at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, and we want them to enjoy the fan-friendly and affordable experience that is Minor League baseball."
McKechnie Field is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, and the $10 million renovation was the most extensive it has undergone since 1993. The project was a joint effort by the City of Bradenton, Manatee County and the Pirates. Design and construction were performed by Fawley Bryant Architects and NDC Construction, both of which are Manatee County businesses.
"This could not have happened without the cooperation of all three parties -- the two local government entities and the ballclub," Coonelly said. "We have a great relationship with the city and the county, and they both saw a real opportunity to expand McKechnie Field, generate jobs during the construction project and additional longer-term jobs at the ballpark, which is now utilized more often with the Pirates' decision to bring the Marauders in three years ago."
The Pirates -- who have made McKechnie Field their Spring Training home every year since 1969 -- are scheduled to play the first of their 16 home Grapefruit League games this Sunday when the Atlanta Braves visit for a 1:05 p.m. ET contest. The Marauders' first home game will take place on Friday, April 5, when they face Fort Myers.
"We're excited to open up the gates on the brand-new McKechnie Field experience," Pirates chairman of the board Bob Nutting said on Wednesday, when the renovations were unveiled to the media. "I think we found the perfect blend of old-ballpark charm and new amenities that our fans will appreciate."
"Not only is this a professional baseball facility now, but it's the most fan-friendly ballpark anywhere in Florida," Bradenton mayor Wayne Poston added. "That was one of the goals we insisted on, and I couldn't be more pleased with how it turned out. It's great stuff."


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Shaping Alaska's Future
Accountability to the People of Alaska
Here's a quick snapshot of some achievements accomplished thus far
- UA partnered with the legislature to support the University Building Fund—a more efficient approach to using space and facilities
- UAF's renovation of the Wood Center represents the first public-private-partnership, or P3, for the university, an innovative approach to funding services for students.
- Continued electronic process improvements, such as the new travel expense management program, electronic timesheets and ongoing effort to incentivize employee participation in automatic payroll deposit, eliminate waste and cut down on personnel costs
- Prioritization processes ongoing at Statewide and all UA campuses—recognition of budget challenges ahead.
- UA health-care costs have actually gone down, systemwide. Leadership believes our investment in wellness and supporting healthy lifestyles is a leading factor.
We owe it to Alaskans
Alaskans told us clearly that their future is deeply invested in the entire education continuum, K-16. Every Alaska school district, business and community is a potential partner, beneficiary and contributor toward UA's comprehensive effort to meet state education and workforce development challenges.
Shaping Alaska's Future is a comprehensive initiative to pursue much improved and
measureable student outcomes at every level, to create greater academic and economic
value, and stimulate a greater state return on a significant state investment.
Issue and Effect Statements
The Issue statements below address compelling concerns raised by Alaskans through more than 80 listening sessions. The Effect statements associated with each Issue statement express what UA intends to achieve as a high-performing education institution.
ISSUE A: The higher education environment in which UA operates is changing rapidly. Effecting the associated cultural shift that is needed can only occur as a result of widespread faculty and staff support, commitment and leadership at every level.
Effect: UA leadership, faculty and staff articulate our future direction, discover pathways to achieve the vision and are empowered to effect the changes required.
ISSUE B: Diversity is one of Alaska's strengths. Yet, the richness of what our university can offer to students, employees and the state of Alaska will not be achieved until UA more fully embraces Alaska Native and other minority cultures and enhances their professional development opportunities.
Effect: The diversity of UA faculty, staff and administrators reflects the diversity of Alaska's peoples.
ISSUE C: Before UA requests additional buildings, it must ensure current facilities are fully scheduled and fully utilized.
Effect: UA facilities are efficiently utilized to meet student, academic, community and research needs.
ISSUE D: UA is often judged, not by the quality of its education, research or outreach, but rather by the personal experience that an individual encounters when accessing those programs. Similarly, employee effectiveness and morale depend upon their own personal experiences when they need assistance from another employee or group within the university system.
Effect: UA values, supports and delivers excellent service at every level.
ISSUE E: Alaska's forecast fiscal condition will increase expectations of the UA Board of Regents, legislators and other community leaders that UA will further address revenue generation, cost-effectiveness and cooperation across the UA system.
Effect: Greater efficiency, effectiveness, quality and revenue generation result from UA-wide collaborative decision-making and cooperation.
ISSUE F: Five years of consistent state funding has significantly reduced the rate of increase of deferred maintenance. However, the deferred maintenance backlog continues to grow and there is no funding commitment after 2015 to address UA's needs. Deferred maintenance is the UA Board of Regents' first capital priority because the risk posed by the backlog is unacceptable.
Effect: UA's deferred maintenance backlog is reduced to an acceptable level.


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Taking on a new assignment is exciting. But it's not easy. Here are three common mistakes people make when moving to a new job and how to avoid them:
- Forgetting about the people. Most people start a new job with a plan for success. But you can't forget the people. Know who you will need to rely on to get your work done and focus on building productive relationships with them.
- Failing to listen. You may be eager to introduce yourself and your plan, but don't dominate conversations. Listen to others so their input can guide you.
- Relying on old power dynamics. Every organization has a way of operating. Don't assume what worked in your last company will work in the new one. Understand the new dynamics and how to establish your authority.
Adapted from "Get Ready for Your Next Assignment" by Katie Smith Milway, Ann Goggins Gregory, Jenny Davis-Peccoud, and Kathleen Yazbak.
Visit Harvard Business Review's Management Tip homepage


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UPDATE: I totally forgot to include a great resource put out by the Presbyterian Church (USA), Gun Violence, Gospel Values: Mobilizing in Response to God's Call. [DOWNLOAD PDF]
First please watch this video . . .
Now before anyone starts flaming this post and/or does the "What would you do?" taunt, please know that our family has been touched by gun violence, we have lived in neighborhoods where gun violence is very real and we have NEVER felt that the best response for an individual or a community is to have more guns. I am 100% certain that my wife and I will never own a gun . . . NEVER, so that argument with me is a non-starter.
I also know that I am posting this on July 4th knowing that some may deem venturing into the messy conversations about guns and my challenge to how we use and see them in this country is somehow "unpatriotic." But I would push back and say that one of the ways I understand my own patriotism is to be thankful for this nation-state where we have the freedom to passionately and openly debate the very nature of what it means to be patriotic, so talking about owning guns seems particularly appropriate today.
Two arguments about gun ownership that are often extolled are, "Bad people will always do bad things, so don't punish the good people" and "Guns don't kill people, people with guns kill people." While there are many arguments about gun ownership that I simply do not buy, with these two I very much agree. Society will always have individuals who will make choices that bring about pain, suffering and violence upon the larger community, so with this in mind we must be vigilant in creating a culture that makes sure handguns cannot so easily be acquired by people who should not have them. I am not even getting into the debate about rifles and hunting arms, but just handguns that are so easily attained in most states and used in so many murders and suicides.
I am not 2nd Amendment scholar, but I believe that our individual right to bear arms should be challenged if society deems that we do not have the psychological capacity to make good choices about the use of those arms. Sure, there are those out there that don't really care about the ramifications of loose gun laws and see any restriction on any form of fire arms is an assault on American liberty, but let me be clear in saying that allowing this kind of blind distribution of guns in our communities is an assault on my liberty and the liberty of my family.
One thing that I hope reasonable people can agree upon is that we must better deal with the ways in which guns are bought and sold. There is too much evidence of irresponsible gun purchasing for us not to have rigorous background checks in all states. One way that some communities have responded is to encourage – and pressure when need be – gun dealers to adopt a "10 point voluntary code for firearms retailers" that is being advocated by a groups such as Pennsylvania's Heeding God's Call and Mayors Against Illegal Guns.
Could not reasonable people agree that this is a good idea? Heck even Walmart has signed on and is part of this movement and, for many folks, you can't get more "American" than that. Take a read of the 10 points below . . .
The 10 points of the Responsible Firearms Retailer Partnership are:
- Videotaping the Point of Sale for All Firearms Transactions. Participating retailers will videotape the point-of-sale of all firearms transactions and maintain videos for 6 months to deter illegal purchases and monitor employees.
- Computerized Prime Gun Trace Log and Alert System. Mayors Against Illegal Guns will develop a computerized system that participating retailers will implement over time to log crime gun traces relating to the retailer. Once the program is in place, if a customer who has a prior trace at that retailer attempts to purchase a firearm, the sale will be electronically flagged. The retailer would have discretion to proceed with the sale or stop the sale.
- Purchaser Declaration. For sales flagged by the trace alert system, participating retailers will ask purchasers to fill out a declaration indicating that they meet the legal requirement to purchase the firearm.
- Deterring Fake IDs. Participating retailers will only accept valid federal- or state-issued picture IDs as primary identification. Retailers will utilize additional ID checking mechanisms.
- Consistent Visible Signage. Participating retailers will post signage created by the Responsible Firearms Retailer Partnership to alert customers of their legal responsibilities at the point-of-sale.
- Employee Background Checks. Participating retailers will conduct criminal background checks for all employees selling or handling firearms.
- Employee Responsibility Training. Participating retailers will participate in an employee responsibility training program focused on deterring illegal purchasers. The Responsible Firearms Retailer Partnership will create an online training system based on WalMart´s training program.
- Inventory Checking. Participating retailers will conduct daily and quarterly audits. Guidelines will be based on WalMart´s existing audit procedures.
- No Sales Without Background Check Results. Participating retailers would prohibit sales based on "default proceeds," which are permitted by law when background check has not returned a result within 3 days.
- Securing Firearms. Participating retailers will maintain firearms kept in customer accessible areas in locked cases or locked racks.
Now I understand that any restrictions or regulations voluntary or otherwise, make some people cringe, but honestly, these seem like pretty reasonable practices and would not be that difficult to enact. Not only would I think any firearms dealer who adopts these would create better relationships with the community, but would also be able to rent knowing that they are helping to prevent death.
Now again, there are many more issues that need to be dealt with around guns and violence in the United States: disproportionate amount of violence in poor and/or communities of color, recent decisions about violent video game accessibility to minors and how society in generally understands the roots causes of conflict and struggle. But this day, it is my hope that many can at least agree when it comes to who is allowed to own handguns in the United States, in order to have liberty and freedom for ALL, those who see that freedom and liberty as a free pass to perpetuate situations of violence and death have perverted the very nature of that liberty.
And finally . . . for individuals, families and communities who daily struggle though living with the impact and pain of violence in their lives, may you find some glimpse of peace and hope this day.


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It's Hard to Keep a Good Vampire Down, by Brian Righi
(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)
For many of us, the mere mention of the word "vampire" evokes images of pale Romanian counts with thick Eastern accents, slicked back hair, and tuxedo suits complete with opera capes. Younger generations might instead picture handsomely brooding teenage vampires more in keeping with a modern interpretation of the Byronic hero of older literary traditions. In either case, our images of the creature are often culled from the movies with which we grew up and that, for the most part, shaped our understanding of the archetype. Yet, whether we grew up loving or hating them, we often see vampires as either the product of entertaining fantasy or as a part of the colorful yet outdated mythos of our ancestors. We like to think that we've tamed the vampire this way, laid them to rest, if you will, in our modern age of science and reason, and that we can confidently scoff at the idea of a creature that drinks the blood of the living. Given such a view, it might surprise you to learn that in some parts of the world today the belief in real vampires or vampire-like creatures continues as strongly as it ever has.
For instance, in certain regions of the American Southwest, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, local inhabitants believe in a bloodthirsty creature known as el chupacabra, which in Spanish means "the goat sucker." Eyewitness accounts claim that the elusive beast stands approximately four feet tall, with grey, reptile-like skin, glowing red eyes, sharp fangs, and is often accompanied by a foul, sulfuric stench. It's frequently reported in rural areas, where it preys upon livestock during the night, attacking its victims and draining their blood. In most cases little remains as evidence of the attack other than three odd puncture wounds on the chests of the animals and unidentified three toed tracks at the scene of the crime. While its victims are primarily smaller livestock, such as chickens, goats, and sheep, they have been known to prey on cattle and other larger animals, with even a few unconfirmed reports of attacks against humans.
The first recorded sightings occurred in rural areas of Puerto Rico in March of 1995, but rumors of the creature are said to date back to the 1960s. Perhaps the most sensational claims occurred in the fall of 1995, when reports of bizarre attacks began surfacing from the town of Canovanas in northeastern Puerto Rico, where as many as one hundred and fifty animals and pets were said to have been killed by the creature. Over time the bloody slayings continued, spreading to other parts of the world, including the United States (in the spring of 1996 numerous animals were reported drained of blood in a rural area northwest of Miami, Florida). Soon after, sightings flooded in from the Rio Grande Valley of southern Texas; Juarez, Mexico; and even as far away as Queensland, Australia. In each case the facts are the same: livestock are found dead with strange wounds and obvious blood loss, area residents are stunned and frightened, and the shadowy creature known as el chupacabra has disappeared back into the night from which it came, leaving in its wake mysterious deaths and puzzling tracks. The prevalence of such sightings has become so widespread, in fact, that renowned writer and cryptozoologist Loren Coleman states that el chupacabra is "the single-most notable cryptozoological phenomenon of the past decade."1
While early beliefs in vampirism found their most fertile ground in the dark woodlands and bleak mountain villages of eastern Europe in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, vestiges of the age-old superstition still leak out today from remote rural areas barely touched by modern urbanity. In 2004, in the tiny hamlet of Martotinu de Sus, Romania (just one hundred miles southwest of Bucharest) a man named Gheorghe Marinescu was arrested for desecrating the corpse of his brother-in-law Petre Toma, who he believed was a revenant returned from the dead to prey upon the living. According to Dr. Timothy Taylor of the University of Bardford in England, who investigated the case first-hand for an article entitled "The Real Vampire Slayers," Petre Toma died shortly before Christmas 2003 at the age of 76 years old. By most accounts he was thought to be a good man, but like most farmers he was given to strong drink and a hard life. After his death members of the Marinescu family became unexpectedly ill, and Toma's niece Mirela Marinescu claimed that she suffered from nightmares in which her dead uncle visited her at night and fed from her heart.
Determined to save his family from the evil menace, Gheorghe and five relatives, fortified with homemade schnapps, disinterred the body of Petre six weeks postmortem. After finding the traditional signs of vampirism, including fresh blood in the body and around the lips, they cut the chest cavity open with a scythe and removed the heart with a pitchfork. From there Dr. Taylor reports "[t]he men took the heart, spiked aloft, to the crossroads outside the village. There they roasted it over a brazier and, as far as I could understand, stuffed glowing coals into the ventricles. Held up to the night sky, the heart shed charred flakes that were caught in a tea towel."2 The ashes were ground up and mixed with water for the niece to drink, after which it is claimed she made a full recovery.
Macabre scenes such as this were not new to the region, but when the daughter of Petre Toma complained to authorities the police arrested Gheorghe and the other participating relatives and sentenced them to six months in jail for the unlawful exhumation (their sentences were later commuted). The group of "vampire slayers," on the other hand, believed they had committed no crime and claimed instead that they were saving lives and following an ancient tradition handed down to them from their fathers and practiced still in many other villages throughout the region.
Yet, we would be remiss if we thought that tales of vampires only occurred today in rural, faraway places ruled by peasant superstitions. A case in point occurred in late December of 2005 in the Ward End area of Birmingham, England. Rumors began to circulate that a man, later dubbed by the press as the "Birmingham Vampire," was stalking the environs of Glen Park Road biting people. The story goes on to claim that the vampire bit a man walking down the street and then several other pedestrians who came to his aide. One woman was said to have chunks missing from her hand after the attack. Following the incident the vampire was said to have walked down the road knocking on doors and biting anyone who answered.
While no police reports chronicling such an attack were ever filed and no one was ever admitted to the local hospital with the bites described in the alleged attack, the populace nonetheless flew into a panic. The local newspaper, the Birmingham Evening Mail, stated that they were inundated with calls from terrified residents who believed that they had caught a glimpse of the vampire yet none of which provided any solid leads.3 People refused to answer their doors unless they knew the caller, and parents escorted their children to and from school personally. For days the Ward End was ripe with tales of vampires in what today has been dismissed as a classic example of mass hysteria and shelved away by authorities as an urban legend.
This, however, wasn't the first account of vampires roaming modern-day England. On February 6, 1970, a letter to the Hampstead and Highgate Express from a man named David Farrant, who claimed to have seen a grey figure wandering the cemetery of Highgate, London at night, touched off a flood of reports from local residents who believed the burial grounds haunted. Soon after, a second man, Sean Manchester, claimed that the figure was that of a vampire who had been buried in the cemetery long ago and was recently raised by the ceremonies of modern Satanists who had infiltrated Highgate.
The media loved the story, as both men went on to make claims that they would seek out the lair of the vampire and end its evil reign on exactly March (Friday) 13th, 1970. Other vampire hunters, eager to get in on the action, also arrived on the scene and broke into the cemetery, causing a great deal of vandalism despite the best efforts by local police to keep them out. Both David Farrant and Sean Manchester went on to write books emphasizing their role in the macabre affair, and the story is even believed by some to have inspired the Hammer Horror film Dracula A.D. 1972 with Christopher Lee as Dracula and Peter Cushing as Van Helsing.
We like to think that vampires are merely the stuff of bedtime boogeymen meant to titillate and entertain on cold, dark nights, but never the real flesh and blood monsters that our pitchfork- and torch-carrying ancestors feared. Yet, as we have seen, the image of the vampire is indeed alive and well, and continues to be feared as a real threat in certain regions of the world today, popping up in some of the most unexpected places. The belief in vampires is as old as humankind itself, and the notion that they can so easily be resigned to the realm of mere entertainment is a foolish one indeed. After all, it's hard to keep a good vampire down.
Source Notes
- Herman, Marc. "El Chupacabra." The Cryptologist: Accessed November 29, 2011.
- Taylor, Timothy. "The Real Vampire Slayers." The Independent, October 28, 2007.
- Jefferies, Stuart. "Reality Bites." The Guardian, January 18, 2005.
Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2012. All rights reserved.


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Sunday, December 09, 2007
Series Challenges: 1st and Onward
The Rules:
The Challenge runs from January 1, 2008 - December 31, 2008.
Read 12 books that are the first in any series(new authors not required).
You may read your chosen books any time during the year.
My 1st in the Series Selections:
1. Blood Ties by Lori G. Armstrong - Julie Collins, a secretary in a sheriff's office and part-time private investigator, in western South Dakota
2. Goodnight, Irene by Jan Burke - Irene Kelly, a newspaper reporter in Southern California
3. Killing Floor by Lee Child – Jack Reacher (ex-military policeman) Suspense/Thriller Series
4. Murder on a Girls' Night Out by Anne George - Patricia Anne "Mouse" Hollowell, housewife and Mary Alice "Sister" Crane, country-western bar owner in Alabama
5. Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison – Rachel Morgan Urban Fantasy Series
6. Blood Price by by Tanya Huff - Victoria Nelson, Blood Series
7. Katwalk by Karen Kijewski – Kat Colorado Mystery Series
8. Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon – Guido Brunetti (Police Commissario) Series
9. The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett – Discworld Series
10. Deja Dead by Kathy Reichs - Temperance Brennan (forensic anthropologist) Mystery Series
11. Everywhere that Mary Went by Lisa Scottoline – Rosato & Associates, an all-women law firm in Philadelphia, PA
12. Desert Noir by Betty Webb - Lena Jones of Desert Investigations in Scottsdale, Arizona
Not too long ago, I mentioned that I am participating in Kathrin's Series Challenge, which began the first of the month and will continue through to the end of May, possibly being extended beyond. After much thought and consideration, I am not going to make a list other than to refer you to my Serial Offender: Guilty As Charged List. I will be reading books from that list. I am leaving the number open to whatever I can manage.
The Rules:
1. There is no set number of books you have to read, you just have to read the books in order to be all up-to-date with the series.
2. Post your review of the books on your blog, no matter how long.
3. Post a comment at Kathrin's when you have finished a series, and when you have finished all the series you wanted to finish for the challenge.
4. Always remember this is for fun!
21 comments:
The 1st in a Series challenge sounds really fun. I love reading series' because if you like the first book, there are always more to read.ReplyDelete
Wow, another new challenge! Have to dig into my pile and see if there's anything that fits into the theme, hehe...ReplyDelete
I really enjoy Lee Child's series. I finally read Deja Dead a few months ago myself and I'm looking forward to continuing with that series. Hope you enjoy both of themReplyDelete
Trisha - I went back and forth on whether to join in on this one, but decided to go ahead. It will be a good match to the TBR challenge and offer me a little lighter reading amongst some of my heavier selections.ReplyDelete
Melody - I do hope you'll join in!
SuziQ - I've heard such great things about both Child and Reichs, so I figure it's about time I give them a try instead of just talking about it. :-)
err...Melody, there lot of series and you not even picking the series books that *I* recommend LOLReplyDelete
literary feline - Did you know that Kathy Reichs books have been turn into TV shwo sereis? It became a favorite of mine and my niece Trish. The show is call "Bones". They change the characters but the show is more funnier than the book itself. imo. Please let me know what you think on Kathy's first book.
Also, let me know how you like Lee Child's Killing Floor. I read it and thought it was good :)
Good luck with your reading. I'm a HUGE fan of series books
Hey Julia! I do picked up some of your recommendations, you know...LOL! ;P And of course I know you are a HUGE fan of series books, hehe. Thanks again for your recommendations.ReplyDelete
Melody - I know you do...on some of books! Just kidding with ya :)ReplyDelete
I made boo boo on the previous post on this comments above...shwo sereis should have been *show series"....
I think I'm going to take a break from challenges for a bit. I get confused who's hosting what and then I forget to check the host's blog so I miss deadlines. Maybe my new year's resolution will be to get my challenges organized and start some new ones.ReplyDelete
Hooray and welcome to the 1st in a Series Challenge! It's so nice to see your hat in the ring. :)ReplyDelete
I hope all your choices are winners!
Ooh you've got some on here that I want to read too, especially Dead Witch Walking and Goodnight, Irene.ReplyDelete
I think I'm going to join this challenge too. I love mysteries and always start with the first in the series so I should be able to complete this challenge! Great, I probably just jinxed myself - ha,ha.
Nice choices! I have never heard of Death At La Fenice. I am looking forward to the reviews.ReplyDelete
I have got to do this because I just have too many series that I've been wanting/needing to start for too long!ReplyDelete
These challenges are great, but it'd be really unwise of me to try and squeeze in any more, even though there are many series out there I really want to read.ReplyDelete
I'm glad you're reading Discworld! I hope you enjoy it! The first 2 or 3 books in the series are probably my least favourite, but they are fun all the same. So if you don't like The Colour of Magic all that much, remember it gets MUCH better later on :P
Hey! Just stopped by and wanted to leave a comment to say hello! This sounds like an interesting challenge. I look forward to your reviews.ReplyDelete
I have had a spell away from recreational reading which I never like but sometimes have for one reason or another however I am now rareing to get back into it and have some good books to start with. Your reviews are always full of passion about the books you have enjoyed, there really is no better way to explore a story than by reading it in the pages of a book is there.
Hope you are very well, bye for now!
This sounds like fun! I think I might join this one. I have several series I've been thinking about starting (or at least reading #1). I notice you've got Desert Noir on the list. I picked up a signed copy at a bookstore in AZ and have yet to read it. I like to read series set in the Southwest (I'm from AZ). My husband has wanted me to read Terry Pratchett's Discworld series and I know I'll love it. Great list you've got!ReplyDelete
BTW, did you catch any of that snow this weekend? We went out to Beaumont and then to Cabazon (at the foot of San Gorgonio (sp?) and just about froze. On the way home we suddenly found ourselves driving on snow on the I-10 somewhere before the 10 meets the 60.
You're going to love Lori Armstrong's books! They are fantastic (and I would say that even if she hasn't become a good friend).ReplyDelete
Also the Lee Child books are super, and it's so great to see Karen Kijewski on your list! She wrote a great series and then just disappeared. I've loved her books!
Yay, I'm in that challenge, too! I started early, though, this week, instead of waiting until January.ReplyDelete
Julia - I love reading series as well. :-) I am looking forward to sinking my teeth into these "new" series. :-)ReplyDelete
I do know about the show Bones and have seen it a couple of times. I'm afraid I didn't care for the episodes I watched.:-(
Nikki - I understand. :-) That was my plan too, at least to limit my challenge participation considerably, but I caved with the 1st in the Series Challenge and one other one I haven't yet formally announced my participation in. I had always planned to do the TBR Challenge again though. That's the list I'm struggling with the most.
Subscribing to blogs has helped me stay on top of the hosts' blogs more or less. Thank goodness for Google Reader! The ones that offer extra credit though tend to be my downfall.
Iliana - I hope you will join in! I've been seeing Jan Burke's name everywhere lately and so bumped another series so that I could start on hers. And I've been trying to get to Harrison's books for quite a while, but never seem to manage it.
Jaimie - Thanks! I have a friend who loves Donna Leon's series and she's been getting on me to read it.
Ladytink - That's about where I stand too!
Nymeth - Too much of a good thing can take away some of the fun.
Thank you for the warning about the Discworld books. :-)
Dancin' Fool - Hey back at you! And thank you so much for the kind words!
Sometimes we get drawn in other directions though and reading takes a backseat. I hope you are able to find some great books to get you back in the reading mood.
Terri - A friend recommended Betty Webb's series to me quite a while ago. I also like the Arizona setting. :-)
I missed the snow! When I left my office this afternoon, I noticed there was snow on the mountains, but I didn't see any snow this weekend.
Karen - I had hoped to get started on Lori Armstrong's series this past summer but couldn't fit her in. I'm determined to do so this next year though. Even without your recommendation, her books sound right up my alley. I'm looking forward to reading her books.
I've had Karen Kijewski's books on my shelf forever. I was initially drawn to her books because of the setting. Your mention of her in your blog post reminded me that I needed to dust her books off and read them.
Dewey - Haha It's hard not to start early with this one!
I read your mention of the Series challenge yesterday, and it looks doable. I didn't think I had many series ongoing, but I think I have more than I thought.:P And the rules are pretty lax, in a good way.ReplyDelete
I love your post Guilty as charged post.
I'm definitely staying away from the 1st challenge.
I have already signed up for the second of the series challenges which I have just started by finishing Foxmask. I forgot I need to post on her site that I finished that series now so thanks for the reminder! Might sign up for the other one as well as I have a bunch of new series I am looking forward to getting into including Rachel Morgan and Vicky Nelson series (I love Blood Ties, they are showing the first series over here at the moment).ReplyDelete
Elizabeth - I'm very grateful for the flexibility of the series challenge! I think it takes some of the pressure off. :-)ReplyDelete
Rhinoa - I have quite a few new series I want to read too. I'm excited to finally be making time for Harrison and Huff's series. I've heard such great things about them. I haven't yet seen the TV show, Blood Ties, but I want to.
Thank you for taking the time to visit Musings of a Bookish Kitty. Don't be shy! I would love to hear from you. Due to a recent increase in spam, I will be moderating all comments for the foreseeable future. Please be patient with me as it may take a few hours before I am able to approve your comment.


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There's something I've wished for on both the iPhone and iPad for years: a true, universal,dedicated game controller. iOS 7 has granted my wish: indeed, one of the small but very significant additions to the next mobile OS announced at WWDC allows for third-party controllers. It's funny this happened to be announced during E3, because it just might be the trigger to change the mobile gaming industry.
Why it's big
Third-party accessory-makers have tried making game controllers for iOS devices for years. The results have been messy, to be kind. The iCade worked by pretending to be a keyboard; other controllers with analog pads, like the Duo Gamer, only worked with a tiny subset of games.
Now that iOS 7's allowing game controller accessories into the MFi program (the program that's used to create officially-certified accessories for iOS devices), at long last we can hope to see game controllers that will work with a wide variety of games, and not feel disposable.
The game controller spec for MFi partners is a framework, according to those familiar with Apple's plans. It's a template for one of two specific sets of controller types: a "standard" controller with a d-pad, four buttons and left/right shoulder buttons, and an "extended" game controller with two analog pads and two sets of shoulder buttons. You can see examples of each above. Either spec could be designed as a snap-on case accessory connected via Lightning, a stand-alone wireless AirPlay controller, or whatever other design an accessory-maker saw fit.
Game developers will be able to access APIs for these controllers, inserting support into their games. Apple wants touch to be mandatory, and the "standard" controller to be supported first before the "extended," so that anyone purchasing any accessory could still play the games. So, a first-person shooter that would support analog sticks would have touch, standard and extended controller settings.
Logitech and PowerA are two hardware makers confirmed to release iOS game controllers, but there will be more. We just don't know what these devices will look like. "We're excited to support Apple's new MFi game controller framework, and look forward to delivering compelling controllers that appeal to all types of iOS gamers," said PowerA president Eric Bensussen via a predictable press statement. He promises controllers by the fall. Logitech provided a similar statement when contacted for a comment: Ehtisham Rabbani, general manager of the Logitech gaming business group, said it's an "important step for iOS based gaming."
The Nvidia Shield, an Android gaming device coming this month, has its own controller.
(Credit: John Chan/CNET)
Nvidia Shield, and the age of physical game controllers in mobile
Android's had game controllers out there for well over a year from companies like Nyko, and the soon-to-be-available Nvidia Shield bonds a control pad right into a Tegra 4 Android gaming device.
Shield wirelessly (or via HDMI) works as a TV-connected game system, too. The physical controller, in a brief play session I had with it recently, made me forget I was playing a mobile game.
Sony's ill-fated Xperia Play phone had the right idea, but the wrong execution. With accessory-makers all possibly competing to make universal game controllers with a set template, the landscape for great accessories will open up without a weird flood of differently-functioning products.
A unified front for Android and iOS developers?
The two model designs given by Apple have different button layouts, but it's the dual analog-stick stand-alone AirPlay controller that's the real game-changer…so to speak. From the dual shoulder buttons to the button layout, it matches the standard feel of any normal console controller.
This mean game makers could more comfortably explore bigger, bolder, less touch-dependent games that control similarly on Android and iOS. Companies like Nyko have been trying tocreate a unified tablet-gaming accessory landscape since last E3, and now these companies might have their wish.
Big-scale games are already here…they just need the controllers
What's the limiting factor in iOS/Android games? It isn't graphics, and it isn't developer effort. It's control. Grand Theft Auto, Max Payne, Sonic the Hedgehog or Knights of the Old Republic are just the tip of the gaming iceberg, and most of these ports use awkward touchscreen virtual controls. Use a real control pad, and suddenly the problems wash away.
FIFA 12 is an excellent iOS sports game, but using the virtual analog pad's still a hindrance. It would be excellent with a controller. "The new Apple game controller provides an interesting opportunity and is something we're committed to exploring," said Bernard Kim, SVP of Mobile Publishing at EA. No doubt: it would enable ports of handheld and console franchises like Need for Speed and reinvigorate games like Madden, which never found its way with touch controls.
The iCade Mobile had the right idea, but imagine it with better design and more buttons.
(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
The iPhone and iPod Touch could become unstoppable gaming handhelds
The iCade Mobile was an attempt at creating a snap-on controller for the iPhone, adding buttons and a d-pad and connecting via Bluetooth. Its build quality and game support was spotty. But imagine a hard-connected accessory with its own battery pack and analog sticks, something that would add real physical game controls. Suddenly, the gap between iOS and the Vita and Nintendo 3DS would close. This matters more on iOS than Android because the hardware's more unified, and accessories can be built to a limited set of designs. Also, iOS gaming's been a more lucrative landscape, which means it'll continue being more attractive for big-developer players like EA, Capcom, and others.
Apple might even be working on its own game-control hardware, too.
Apple TV just got its console controller
All Apple TV needs is games and a controller to become a type of console alternative. These upcoming third-party game controllers, the first of which should be arriving in the fall in time for iOS 7's release, should also be capable of supporting AirPlay gaming to the Apple TV.
Remember the Nvidia Shield, and how it can play games on a large-screen TV? The Apple TV and an iPhone or iPad with iOS 7 should be able to do that too with controllers. Multiple controllers will be supported as well, via a party play mode.
We'll know more in the fall, but this has become my most-anticipated feature of iOS 7 by a longshot.


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MTSU student Nathan Simpkins found the perfect major when the university started its mechatronics engineering program in 2013, a pursuit practically guaranteeing him a high-paying job in an increasingly automated manufacturing industry.
DETROIT (AP) – If you're in the market for a Japanese car, March is a good time to buy.
Unlike U.S., European and Korean automakers, which end their financial year on Dec. 31, Japanese companies such as Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. close their books on March 31. In order to hit their annual sales targets, Japanese automakers usually ramp up the promotions and deals in March.
I can't help but get fired up for a college football game between Tennessee and Virginia Tech in front of 150,000 people at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Hot sales of small and midsize SUVs drove auto sales higher last month as General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Fiat Chrysler and Nissan all reported U.S. sales gains.
Several of the companies reported their best April totals in years. Overall, sales were mostly in line with analysts' predictions of a 6 percent increase compared with a year ago. All automakers were scheduled to report sales on Friday.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Nissan Motor Co. announced plans Tuesday to build a new $160 million supplier park at its Tennessee assembly plant that the Japanese automaker projects to attract more than 1,000 jobs.
Despite low gas prices, a backlog on road projects and prevailing winds for fuel-tax reform, Gov. Bill Haslam is pulling back from a gas-tax increase this session.
After floating the possibility of raising the tax in December, the Republican governor appears to be changing course, in part because of his loss in a Senate committee on Insure Tennessee, the Medicaid expansion alternative that failed to make debate in the full House or Senate.
Five years after the Great Recession rocked the nation and nearly destroyed auto manufacturing in Tennessee, the Midstate's industry is booming again.
Nissan's growth is no small part of that, largely because of the company's confidence in the state of Tennessee and Gov. Bill Haslam, according to José Muñoz, executive vice president of Nissan Motor Co. and chairman of Nissan North America, which is headquartered in Franklin.
CANTON, Miss. (AP) – Nissan Motor Co. says it wants to produce 507,000 vehicles a year at its Mississippi plant by 2017, an expansion that would add about 1,000 employees to the current 6,300 workers at the complex.
DETROIT (AP) — Two U.S. senators are calling on regulators to issue a nationwide recall of cars with faulty air bags made by Takata Corp., questioning why automakers have been allowed to limit recalls to only certain locations with high humidity.
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – A Nissan Motor Co. contractor has begun seeking applicants for 500 workers as part of the automaker's buildup to begin producing a new model in Mississippi.
Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Nissan and Toyota all posted October sales increases as the U.S. auto industry rebounded from a lackluster September.The gains signal that automakers made it through the 16-day partial government shutdown relatively unscathed. All automakers reported October sales on Friday.
Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Nissan and Toyota all posted October sales increases as the U.S. auto industry rebounded from a lackluster September.
The gains signal that automakers made it through the 16-day partial government shutdown relatively unscathed. All automakers reported October sales on Friday.
Len Hester is a project manager for Grinder Haizlip Construction Co., a general contractor that specializes in industrial and commercial projects and has worked on high-profile projects such as the Wright Medical Technology Inc. headquarters in Arlington, New Ballet Ensemble, the Grizzlies Sportsplex and the renovation of Memphis Theological Seminary.
DETROIT (AP) – Price cuts at Nissan and strong demand for pickup trucks helped U.S. auto sales rebound in May after a slight dip in April.
General Motors reported its strongest monthly sales since September of 2008. Chrysler, Ford, and Toyota also reported increases. Nissan Motor Co. notched its highest May sales ever after cutting prices on seven popular models early in the month. Only Volkswagen said sales fell compared with May of last year.
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Pro-union workers said Tuesday that Nissan Motor Co. has threatened to close its Canton assembly plant if workers vote for the United Auto Workers to represent them, though the company denies such threats.
Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Co. announced Friday it will add a third shift at a vehicle assembly plant in Tennessee, adding more than 800 jobs.
DETROIT (AP) – Surprise! The top-performing stock among automakers in the U.S. this quarter is General Motors.
The company, which endured management upheaval during the quarter and announced that it would lose substantial cash in Europe, saw its shares rise almost 18 percent from July through late September. The gain was the best since the first quarter of this year, when the stock climbed about 23 percent. GM posted strong profits in that period.
DETROIT (AP) – From mini cars to monster pickups, sales of vehicles charged higher in June and eased concerns that Americans would be turned off by slower hiring and other scary headlines.
DETROIT (AP) – Appealing small cars, low interest rates, truck deals and unseasonably warm weather helped the auto industry achieve its best monthly performance in almost four years in March.
DETROIT (AP) – Small cars sold big in February.
With gasoline prices spiking 30 cents last month, demand soared for compact cars like the Focus and Civic. That lifted U.S. sales for Ford, Honda and other major automakers that reported February sales on Thursday.
DETROIT (AP) – U.S. auto sales are off to a strong start this year, continuing their brisk pace from late 2011.
Chrysler had its best January in four years while Toyota got a boost from its new Camry. Volkswagen, which wants to aggressively expand in the U.S., reported much higher sales. One sour note was GM, where sales fell compared to a strong January a year earlier.
WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. manufacturing output fell in November for the first time in seven months.
The decline was largely because factories made fewer autos. But production of home electronics, appliances and business equipment also dropped.
DETROIT (AP) – Subaru of America is recalling three of its car models and Honda Motor Co. is recalling some motorcycles, all because the brakes can malfunction.
DETROIT (AP) – People are finally replacing the cars and trucks they held on to during the economic slump, giving a boost to U.S. auto sales in November.
Chrysler, Ford and Nissan were among the companies reporting double-digit gains from last November, which is normally a lackluster month because of colder weather and holiday distractions. This November, buyers were lured by good deals, improving confidence in the economy and the need to trade in older cars.
BLUE SPRINGS, Miss. (AP) – Toyota celebrated the start of Corolla production at its newest U.S. auto plant Thursday after a lengthy delay that the car maker blamed on a weak economy.
The ceremony formally marked the start of production last month, almost five years after Toyota Motor Corp. announced in February 2007 that it would build a sprawling facility in Blue Springs, a tiny town in the sparsely populated hills of north Mississippi.
DETROIT (AP) – Car buyers were out in force in October, snapping up trucks and SUVs and taking advantage of deals on Japanese cars.
U.S. car and truck sales were expected to top 1 million in October, a surprising number for a month when sales are usually slow. When adjusted for seasonal factors, that would be the best pace since the "Cash for Clunkers" program in August 2009.
Nissan North America Inc. has renewed its 413,000-square-foot lease in Southeast Shelby County.
DETROIT (AP) – Pickups and SUVs boosted U.S. autos sales in September as dealers offered promotions, gas prices fell and contractors replaced aging fleets of work trucks.
Truck sales at General Motors, Chrysler and Ford grew in the double digits, outpacing cars. The September increases built on a healthy performance in August, when new models, cheaper financing and pent-up demand lifted the industry after several disappointing months.
WASHINGTON (AP) – Despite opposition from Democrats and some tea party Republicans, the GOP-controlled House on Wednesday took up $3.7 billion in disaster relief as part of a bill to avert a government shutdown at the end of the month.
STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. (AP) – Jeff Swanson was in the market for a new car just a few weeks ago. Then the stock market went crazy.
So Swanson, 25, decided to keep his 10-year-old Pontiac Grand Prix for at least another year. Gyrations in stocks and talk of a weakening economy rattled Swanson's confidence about taking on another payment, even though his new job running a home for mentally disabled people seems to be secure.
DETROIT (AP) – Car shoppers worried about the U.S. economy last month and that kept sales in a funk.
U.S. sales of new cars and light trucks are expected to rise only slightly in July. The weak economy and high sticker prices kept Americans from buying more. Automakers are scheduled to report last month's sales on Tuesday.
BEIJING (AP) — America's debt crisis and economic malaise are shaking confidence in its global leadership.
Many governments see Washington's paralysis as political theater ahead of a presidential election and wonder how American hardliners can be allowed to hold up a deal and bring a globalized economy to the brink.
A row of four electrical outlets with cords in the Peabody Place garage Downtown are a first for the city's hospitality industry and retailers in general – charging stations for electric vehicles.
WASHINGTON (AP) – Businesses requested more airplanes, autos and oil drilling equipment in May. The jump in factory orders after a sluggish spring suggests supply disruptions stemming from the Japan crisis are fading.
DETROIT (AP) – Gas prices have hit a sweet spot for U.S.-based automakers. They've fallen enough to spur pickup truck sales, yet remain so high that newer small cars are selling as well.
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Obama administration is telling American automakers that it would like cars and light trucks to average 56.2 miles per gallon by 2025 – a boost to fuel economy that would save consumers money at the pump and help with global warming but drive up the cost of automobiles.
DETROIT (AP) – U.S. auto sales cooled off in May as dealers started running short on some popular, fuel-efficient models and buyers were turned off by sharply lower incentives.
Deals aren't likely to come back until the end of this summer. Some experts are advising people to delay their purchases if they can.
WASHINGTON (AP) – Fewer people applied for unemployment benefits last week, resuming a downward trend that signals stronger job growth ahead.
Applications for unemployment benefits fell to a seasonally adjusted 403,000 in the week ending April 16, the Labor Department said Thursday. The decline partially reversed a jump in applications from the previous week, which economists said was largely the result of a seasonal quirk.
DETROIT (AP) – General Motors Co. said Monday it will raise car and truck prices by an average of $123 per vehicle to make up for its increased oil and metal costs.
DETROIT (AP) – U.S. sales of new cars and trucks rose in March, helped by a brighter jobs outlook and rising sales of fuel-efficient vehicles.
New vehicle sales rose 11 percent at General Motors, 16 percent at Ford, 23 percent at Honda and 27 percent at Nissan, all aided by sales of smaller, more efficient cars and crossovers, which look like truck-based SUVs but are more fuel efficient and nimble because they are built on car underpinnings.
DETROIT (AP) – General Motors Co. led automakers with a 49 percent U.S. sales jump last month, aided by sweeter financing and lease deals and strong demand for newer models.
DETROIT (AP) – U.S. sales of cars and trucks rose in January, a strong start to what the auto industry hopes will be an extension of last year's recovery.
In another good sign, sales to individuals were better than sales to fleet buyers such as rental-car companies, which are far less profitable for automakers
WASHINGTON (AP) – General Motors, in another sign of its progress since a government-led bankruptcy, said Thursday it is withdrawing its application for $14.4 billion in federal loans it had sought to help build more fuel-efficient cars.
DETROIT (AP) — U.S. auto sales sputtered back to life in 2010 and car companies expect them to keep climbing this year as the economy recovers and buyers grow more confident.
With sales of around 11.5 million new cars and trucks, 2010 was still the second-worst year in almost three decades, after 2009. And car companies are starting to wonder if they will ever reach the heights they saw in the early 2000s, when credit was cheap, incentives were rampant and sales topped 17 million.
WASHINGTON (AP) – The new cars and trucks sold in 2025 may be required to average 62 miles per gallon as a group, far surpassing the fuel efficiency of current high-mileage stars like the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic hybrids.
DETROIT (AP) — It will take a couple of years for taxpayers to get back the billions they spent bailing out General Motors, but the company has a goal of returning the money, GM's new CEO said Thursday.
DETROIT (AP) – Automakers posted higher U.S. sales last month, a sign that Americans are still willing to buy big-ticket items even though concerns linger about the economy and hiring.
After a sluggish June, sales rose slightly for General Motors Co. and Chrysler. Foreign-based companies such as Toyota and Honda posted bigger gains. Ford, meanwhile, had flat sales.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Nissan is recalling 51,100 of its Cube hatchbacks in the United States and Canada because of possible problems with fuel spilling during rear end collisions.
In documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Nissan Motor Co. said Monday tests conducted by NHTSA safety regulators found more fuel spilled than federal standards allow. The spillage occurred during rear end crash tests at 50 miles per hour where the vehicle also spun onto its side.
TUPELO, Miss. – Oh, what a wait. This month marks a year since Toyota delayed the start of operations at its new $1.3 billion vehicle manufacturing plant off U.S. 78 in Blue Springs.
The delay has put on hold nearly 2,000 jobs and an expected economic boom for Northeast Mississippians, who are biding their time as Toyota continues to reaffirm its commitment.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The renewable energy sector has been among the most promising areas of discussion while on a trade mission to China, Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen said Tuesday.
Bredesen said in a conference call from Hong Kong that the trip has been highlighted by visits to Shaanxi and Zhejiang provinces and meetings with their governors and business officials. Both provinces are larger than California, Bredesen said.
WASHINGTON (AP) – Cash for Clunkers generated nearly 700,000 new car sales and ended under its $3 billion budget, the Transportation Department reported Wednesday.
Releasing final data, the government said dealers submitted 690,114 vouchers totaling $2.88 billion. New car sales through the program ended late Monday, and dealers were allowed to submit paperwork to the government until late Tuesday.
NEW YORK (AP) - All three U.S.-based automakers are doing a better job of satisfying their customers than they were a year ago, according to a recent survey.
General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Group LLC all posted significant gains in this year's American Customer Satisfaction Index released Tuesday by the University of Michigan.
SMYRNA, Tenn. (AP) - Nissan's automotive manufacturing plant southeast of Nashville has been honored by the Environmental Protection Agency for energy efficiency.
The Smyrna plant won the Energy Star award for 2008. The award recognizes superior energy-efficient operations that have cut pollution, lowered energy consumption and reduced costs.
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) - Cultivating the next generation of fuel-efficient vehicles, the Obama administration said Tuesday it would lend $5.9 billion to Ford Motor Co. and about $2.1 billion to Nissan Motor Co. and Tesla Motors Inc. in a government-industry partnership to build green cars.
CANTON, Miss. (AP) - Nissan Motor Co. will invest $118 million to retool its Mississippi auto plant to produce its first commercial vehicle made in the United States.
NEW YORK (AP) - Toyota Motor Corp. is reacting to the slump in U.S. auto sales by further cutting North American production, slashing executives' compensation up to 30 percent and offering buyouts to about 18,000 workers.
DETROIT (AP) - U.S. Sen. Bob Corker said Tuesday he doesn't regret voting against a bailout for General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC last month because he and other Republicans had a plan to help the carmakers succeed.
DETROIT (AP) - After a year in which U.S. auto sales tumbled 18 percent and GM had its worst year in nearly a half-century amid slack demand fueled by a terrible economic outlook and growing job worries, automakers are reluctant to predict when a recovery might occur.
PHOENIX (AP) - Economists believe that American consumers as a whole pocket a billion dollars every time the price for a gallon of gas drops by a penny. Given that retail gas prices have dropped by $2.44 per gallon since July, there should be a lot of money flowing back into the economy.
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (AP) - Detroit automakers got public reassurance Monday from President George W. Bush that short-term government help for the industry is in the works and could come soon.
WASHINGTON (AP) - With Congress gridlocked and the economy flailing, the Bush administration declared Friday it would step in and prevent the "precipitous collapse" of the U.S. auto industry and the disastrous economic impact of the hundreds of thousands of job losses sure to follow.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Prospects for a $14 billion auto industry rescue bill dimmed Thursday amid growing opposition in both parties and despite urgent appeals by both President-elect Barack Obama and President George W. Bush.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - A UAW local president at the General Motors plant in Spring Hill said Republican U.S. Sen. Bob Corker is "playing politics with 110,000 jobs" in his home state by opposing the auto industry rescue package.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Nissan Motor Co. and Renault SA Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn said Wednesday that he expects the current crisis in the auto industry will soon lead some carmakers to consolidate.
Factory orders dropped for the second straight month in September as businesses cut back on purchases of steel, computers and other equipment amid the economic downturn, the government reported Tuesday.
DETROIT (AP) – General Motors' October U.S. sales plunged 45 percent and Ford's dropped 30 percent, as low consumer confidence and tight credit combined to scare customers away from showrooms.
NEW YORK (AP) - The auto industry is preparing to report yet another month of rapidly slowing sales – possibly the worst in decades – as the same toxic combination of the credit crunch and the careening economy continue to keep consumers away from dealerships.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - A Nissan spokesman reported a "good response" to an employee buyout offer expiring Friday, but declined to say how many employees are taking the money.
Nissan North America Inc. spokesman Steve Parrett said Friday that the number of employees accepting the offer would likely be revealed sometime later.
DETROIT (AP) - Nearly every major automaker saw its U.S. sales drop in August, but many are seeing signs that the worst slump in recent history may have bottomed out.
Most upbeat were executives from General Motors Corp., which posted a 20.3 percent sales decline from a year ago but a 31 percent improvement over July's dismal totals.
DETROIT (AP) - With another huge quarterly loss now in its rearview mirror, General Motors Corp. faces the ominous task of raising revenue by selling cars rather than trucks.
But even with plans to boost production of its hot-selling fuel-efficient models and cut output of unpopular trucks and sport utility vehicles, the company is running short on time if it keeps burning through more than $1 billion in cash every month.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Nissan North America Inc. said Wednesday it will offer buyouts to about 6,000 employees at the company's two Tennessee plants and eliminate a night shift at one plant because rising fuel prices and the economic downturn have slowed sales of trucks and sport utility vehicles.
CHATTANOOGA (AP) - Volkswagen picked Chattanooga over rival sites in two other states for a new U.S. assembly plant expected to create about 2,000 jobs.
Volkswagen Group of America Inc. will produce a new midsize sedan designed specifically for the North American consumer and invest $1 billion in the economy, the company has announced.
DETROIT (AP) - A last-minute no-interest financing offer and strong sales of some cars helped General Motors Corp. keep its U.S. sales over Toyota Motor Corp. last month, but it was still the worst June for the industry in 17 years and a harbinger of more misery ahead.
When the Japanese Prime Minister recently crooned a bar of "I want you, I need you, I love you" to Lisa Marie Presley in an impromptu serenade in Graceland's Jungle Room, the whole world saw it the next day.
Judge duct tapes defendant's mouth
A Lubbock, Texas, judge ordered a defendant's mouth to be taped shut after the man kept interrupting his lawyer and the judge during an aggravated assault trial.
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text:
Neurosurgeon Gives Thanks To His Science Teacher
As a middle-school student in the '80s, Lee Buono stayed after school one day to remove the brain and spinal cord from a frog. He did such a good job that his science teacher told him he might be a neurosurgeon someday.
That's exactly what Buono did.
Years later, a patient with a tumor came to see Buono. The growth was benign, but interfered with the patient's speech. "He can get some words out," Buono recalls, "but it's almost unintelligible. It's almost like someone's sewing your mouth closed."
"I'm talking to his wife, and we tried to lighten up the situation," he continues. "They started asking me about myself." They asked Buono who inspired him to become a surgeon, and he told them about his old teacher, Al Siedlecki, back at Medford Memorial Middle School in Medford, N.J.
Surgery was a success. The patient's powers of speech returned. "He's just excited and happy and crying and wanted to just hug me," Buono says. "You make sure you call that teacher," the patient said. "You make sure you thank him."
So Buono did.
"I picked the phone up and you go, 'Hey, it's Lee Buono,'" Siedlecki says to his former student. "'Lee, what's goin' on man? I haven't heard from you since you were in high school,'" he said.
"'I want to thank you,'" Buono replied.
"I was flabbergasted," Siedlecki says. "I said, 'Of all the people in your entire career, you want to thank me?'
"It was the same feeling I had when ... when my kids were born," Siedlecki says. "I started to cry. It made me feel really important that I had that influence on you."
Lately, Siedlecki admits, "I almost am afraid to say that I'm a teacher to some people."
Not anymore, he tells Buono, "because you called me. I'm a teacher, and I'm going to help as many people as I can to find their passion too."
Audio produced for Weekend Edition by Brian Reed.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


text:
A lawsuit that accuses Google, Apple and other top Silicon Valley companies of driving down wages by agreeing not to hire each other's workers can go to trial, a judge ruled on Friday.
The case alleges that executives including former Apple CEO Steve Jobs and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt agreed not to poach the other's workers during a period between 2005 and 2009. The alleged agreements would violate state and federal antitrust laws. Adobe Systems and Intel are also named as defendants.
Similarities among the alleged agreements, and the defendants' knowledge of them and other matters, provide enough evidence that a jury must decide if there was an overarching conspiracy, Judge Lucy Koh wrote in a ruling Friday at the U.S. District Court in San Jose, California.
A trial date has been set for May 27.
"These agreements were negotiated by a small group of intertwining high-level executives at the defendant firms," Koh wrote.
In one instance, Jobs contacted Google co-founder Sergey Brin, telling him, "If you hire a single one of these people that means war," Koh wrote in her ruling.
In another case, Bill Campbell, chairman of Intuit's board of directors, emailed Brin, stating, "Steve Jobs called me again and is pissed that we are still recruiting his browser guy," according to Friday's ruling.
Intuit has since settled with the plaintiffs, as have Lucasfilm and Pixar. Google, Apple, Adobe and Intel did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.
There's also evidence that the defendants shared confidential compensation information despite considering each other competitors for talent, Judge Koh wrote.
And evidence indicates there may have been other agreements between companies that are not defendants in the case, Koh said. For example, Jobs called Edward Colligan, former CEO at Palm, to ask him to be part of an anti-solicitation agreement and threatened patent litigation against Palm if it refused, the ruling says.
Some 64,000 technology workers could be affected by the suit, which was first filed in 2011 by five software engineers.
A case management hearing was held Thursday in San Jose, where attorneys for both sides said progress was being made toward a possible settlement.