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A bloody pillow, blanket and wipes were found in the room of a baby who died after she was allegedly assaulted by her Irish nanny, investigators say.
Aisling McCarthy Brady, 34, from Quincy, Massachusetts, is alleged to have been the sole carer for the one-year-old US girl on January 14 - her first birthday - when she suffered injuries "consistent with abusive head trauma".
The baby, Rehma Sabir, died two days later in hospital after suffering brain damage.
She was also found to have multiple healing bone fractures.
In court documents, police said they found a blood-stained pillow and blanket in a crib and bloody baby wipes discarded in a nappy pail.
Brady - who is living illegally in America - has been remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to assault and battery on a child causing substantial bodily injury.
However, further charges are anticipated following the conclusion of the final report by the Chief Medical Examiner, the district attorney's office said on its website.
Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone said: "This is an extremely troubling case where we allege the defendant violently assaulted a one-year-old child, causing a devastating head injury and broken bones.
"Children are our most vulnerable victims and where, as here, the offender has been entrusted with the care of a child who depends on them, the allegations are all the more egregious."
Irish priest, Kevin Fay, from Lavey, Co Cavan, said the family were "well-known and respected" in the area and that there is no foundation to the charges against Brady.
"Allegations are allegations - there's no foundation to them, no foundation at the moment to any of them," he said.
"Essentially, she comes from a very decent family," he added.
A farmer in Lavey where Brady grew up described her as a very nice girl.
A statement on the District Attorney's website said: "It is alleged that on January 14, the child was in the care of the defendant, her nanny.
"Through their investigation, including interviews with witnesses, police determined that the defendant had sole custody of and contact with the child during the time that she sustained injuries consistent with abusive head trauma."
Court documents filed on Tuesday described how a concerned neighbour heard the infant crying for almost an hour before it changed to "extreme crying", the Associated Press reported.
The woman said she knocked on the front door of the apartment for about 90 seconds, timing the knocks in between the baby's gasping so it would be heard by someone inside, but they were not answered.
Police said: "(The crying) started to slow and settle down before stopping completely."
Rehma's injuries could have happened at any time, Brady's lawyer told the Associated Press.
Immigration authorities said Brady arrived from Ireland in 2002 with a permit to stay for 90 days.
A spokeswoman for Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said: "We are aware of the case and have been in contact with the family.
"We are ready to provide any consular assistance if it is needed."
Rehma's father reportedly comes from London and her mother from Karachi, Pakistan.


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Arthur Cravan, Jacques Rigaut, Julien Torma, & Jacques Vachť
Atlas Anti-Classics 2
Writings by Arthur Cravan, Jacques Rigaut, Julien Torma & Jacques Vachť. With Introductions and biographical essays on each author.
This book, originally published by Atlas Press in 1995, has become one of our most sought-after out-of-print titles. This new edition is a corrected reprint in a new cover and slipcase.
These four took the nihilism of the movement to its ultimate conclusion, their works are the remnants of lives lived to the limit and then cast aside with nonchalance and disdain: Vachť died of a drug overdose, Rigaut shot himself, Cravan and Torma simply vanished, their fates still a mystery. Yet their fragmentary works - to which they attached so little importance - still exert a powerful allure and were a vital inspiration for the literary movements that followed them. Vachť's bitter humour, Cravan's energetic invective, Rigaut's dandyfied introspection, and Torma's imperturbable asperity: all had their influence.
This collection contains biographical introductions to each author as well as personal recollections by their contemporaries.
Site contents Copyright © Atlas Press 1999-2019
BCM Atlas Press, 27 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3XX, UK

subset: commoncrawl


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Welcome to Driftless Wisconsin
At the heart of Driftless Wisconsin Area are Crawford County and Vernon County, defined to their west by the Mississippi River and by the Kickapoo Valley which runs through each.
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Never touched by glaciers, the Driftless Wisconsin Area is characterized by its beautifully sculpted topography. Forested hillsides reach down to valleys cut into limestone bedrock by cold-water trout streams. Forests, prairie remnants, wetlands, and grasslands provide habitat for wildflowers and wildlife. Land is farmed by the descendants of those who first settled here, by the Amish who adopted the area, and by a new breed of organic farmer. Artists, who need look no further than their own backyard for inspiration, create works of infinite variety.
The great diversity of the Driftless Wisconsin area means something to suit the taste of every visitor. You can simply enjoy the peace and beauty of the countryside with a good book, a cup of coffee from a local roaster, or a glass of wine from a local vineyard. You can don your waders and hope to outwit a brook trout on a cool foggy morning. You can get on your bike and wind your way through magnificent scenery. You can shop for art, antiques, handmade furniture, artisanal cheeses, or locally-grown foods.
Whether for a weekend, a week, or longer, you'll enjoy your stay in Driftless Wisconsin.


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A black skyscraper with 2 tall antennas: the Willis Tower defines the Chicago skyline like no other building. This structure has 110 floors and stands an impressive 1,450 feet high. The view from the Skydeck is phenomenal. On a clear day you can see as far as 4 different states.
When the tower was inaugurated in 1973, it was the tallest building in the world. It was initially known as the Sears Tower and thus named after the company that built it: Sears Roebuck and Company. Even when the company moved out in the late 1980s, the tower was still known as the Sears Tower. In 2009 however, the tower was renamed the Willis Tower, due to a lease agreement with the Willis Group Holdings.
The 1960s were the golden days for Sears Roebuck and Co. At the time, the company was the world's largest retail producer and bursting at the seams. Therefore, Sears wanted its headquarters in downtown Chicago where they could accommodate 13,000 of their approximately 350,000 employees. The first plans were fairly modest, but the architects and brokers convinced Sears to build a tall tower with apartments on the upper floors.
In 1970, the company announced that it was building the tallest tower in the world. The Sears Tower was a little over 80 feet taller than the World Trade Center in New York City. For decades, the tower maintained its height record, but in 1998 it was surpassed by the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur. Today, the new One World Trade Center in New York is taller than the Willis Tower – thanks to the lightning conductor on the roof – and consequently, the 1 WTC is also the tallest building in the United States.
With approximately 25,000 visitors a day, the Willis Tower is one of Chicago's top attractions. A high-speed lift whisks visitors in no time to the 103rd floor where the Skydeck offers sweeping views over the entire city. With luck, you will be able to see 4 different states: Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin and of course Illinois itself. The Ledge is truly spectacular: 2 glass cubes protrude 4.3 feet out from the façade of the tower. The bottom of the Ledge is also made of glass, allowing you to look straight down from a dizzying height; the people on the street far below hardly seem any bigger than tiny Lego figures.


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This Saturday hundreds of people are expected to converge on Druid Hill Park — some pushing strollers, some toddling alongside their moms — to raise awareness about prenatal health.
The second annual Baby Buggy Walk in the Park is an attempt to promote healthy lifestyles for women who are pregnant or people — of either gender — who are considering becoming parents. Part health fair and part party, the event will feature music from station 92Q, and radio personality Sonjay DeCaires will emcee. Maryland's secretary of health, Joshua Sharfstein, will also be on hand.
Baltimore Healthy Start and the U.S. Office of Minority Health and other state and local health officials are hosting the event. The walk, part of a nationwide campaign to mark Infant Mortality Awareness Month, features a 1.5-mile stroll and activities promoting health, wellness and fitness. Activities for adults and kids will include nutritious-cooking demonstrations, jump rope contests, arts and crafts and more.
One of the participants in the walk will be Danisha Auston, who signed up for the healthy start program when she was pregnant in 2011.
"It was great," said Auston, whose daughter, La-mya, is now 1. "It helped me a lot. Everything I needed, I got it."
Through home visits from Healthy Start, Auston received advice and information on taking care of her daughter. One thing she learned was infant sleep safety, including putting La-mya to sleep on her back instead of on her stomach.
Adriane Wesson, the service area manager at Healthy Start, was among a number of mentors who helped Auston before, during and after her pregnancy. Wesson said Healthy Start brought a baby-safety checklist for the home along with early-childhood-development activities for Auston and her daughter to use together. Auston said she attends children's activities and events put on by Healthy Start and recommends the program to friends.
"I tell people about it," she said. "I really like the program."
Auston's daughter is scheduled to stay in the program for another year.
Baltimore Healthy Start president and chief executive, Alma Roberts, said the program aims to reduce infant deaths, identify the causes of infant deaths and improve the health and well being of families. It serves about 1,600 clients each year.
It's imperative, Roberts said, for women to keep their own bodies healthy for the sake of their babies.
"It's important to understand that if you can get a woman healthy and keep her healthy, even if you're helping her manage a disease in an effective way, it has such a tremendous impact on what that birth outcome could be," Roberts said. "We [at Baltimore Healthy Start] look at it holistically because we know that the well-being of the mother and the father has a great impact on the baby."
Roberts said some things women often get wrong about infant care, such as putting their babies to sleep incorrectly, not breastfeeding long enough, or feeding the baby formula at the same time. She said one of the most common misperceptions women have is how long they should wait to have sex after the delivery.
"A lot of women have a misconception that there's a period of time that they're not ovulating or that they can't get pregnant after the delivery," Roberts said. "That leads to unintended pregnancies."
Roberts said doctors usually advise women to wait at least two weeks after delivery to have intercourse, and to begin family planning immediately, because it's not healthy to have one pregnancy immediately after another.
In terms of fetal health, Roberts said breastfeeding is key.
"I can't say enough about breastfeeding," she said. "It helps regulate the mother's weight, the baby's weight, and makes for smarter babies and healthier babies."
To promote fetal health, Roberts also said women should:
•Take all prenatal vitamins.
•Exercise while pregnant to the extent that a doctor allows.
•Create a post-pregnancy plan.
•Keep all appointments for all steps of the pregnancy as well as the child's appointments.
•Keep themselves mentally and physically healthy before and during pregnancy.
Although Maryland's infant mortality rate reached an all-time low last year — 6.3 per 1,000 live births — Roberts said the overall infant mortality rate in Baltimore is 9.7 per 1,000 live births. The infant mortality rate among African-American infants in Baltimore, she said, is 12.6 per 1,000 live births. Roberts said if Baltimore were a country, its infant mortality rate, across all races, would not rank well against other countries.
"If Baltimore were a country, it would be 76th in terms of our rate of infant deaths," she said.
Roberts said obesity is a major contributor to the disparity in infant mortality rates among African American infants.
"Often [women] don't know that their weight and their own health can affect the baby," she said.
Dr. J. Nadine Gracia, deputy assistant secretary of minority health and director of the Office of Minority Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said the national infant mortality rate has declined by 12 percent from 2005 to 2011. As of 2011, the rate is 6.05 per 1,000 live births. The rate of decline in African-American communities has been the greatest, with a 16 percent decline.
Gracia said rates of obesity and other chronic conditions are higher in African-American communities across the country, and access to health care is essential.
"Many of these conditions may be preventable, and that's the importance of access to preventive care and screenings," Gracia said.
Author and activist Tonya Lewis Lee, wife of director Spike Lee, will be speaking at the Baby Buggy walk. Lee said one of the biggest problems in terms of infant health is that women often decide to get healthy only after they're already pregnant.
"The fact of the matter is that what you put in your body when you're 18 can have an impact on your unborn child when you're 30," Lee said.
Lee said that stress is another factor in infant mortality and maternal health, and that men's health also plays a role. Fathers, she said, need to be just as physically and mentally healthy as mothers and work to provide a stress-free environment for the women having their children.
"The health of the father, his physical health and well-being, is important," Lee said. "We put the onus on mom because she's the carrier, but men have a huge role as well."
Elizabeth Guerico, a mother and former client at Baltimore Healthy Start, now works at the organization doing outreach to spread the word about the program.
"There's a lot of pregnant women out there that need our help, and they don't know about Baltimore Healthy Start," she said. "So hopefully we can open the doors for them."


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Escape to the Movies: Oblivion
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possibly, but it makes a more entertaining review for the people who don't care about the movie.
I am not going to say it was a great film but it was still better than G.I. Joe 2. And on the plus side, I find Andrea Riseborough a fresh face and a solid actress, who hopefully will have more roles in bigger films the coming years.
Thanks for the insult, I'll have to write that down, it's a keeper.
So this is for you, took me some time to write it. I do hope that you will eventually see this movie. I started explaining where Bob was wrong, but ended up telling most of the story, properly (I hope).
Damn it Bob, thats two of your videos this week i couldnt watch due to spoilers, c'mon!!!!
Glad I wasn't the only one who thought that it kinda resembles Moon
Dear Lord, I didn't expect people to write essays defending this movie.
Anyway, Les Goldman remains as Tom Cruise's best performance.
love the Prometheus dig at the end haha
Sounds like a better movie to watch instead of Oblivion would not be Prometheus, but Moon. It has a similar twist, but that's the second act climax. It's revealed early on and more importantly Sam Rockwell has to carry the largely action-free sci-fi drama by, get this, acting. In fact, it sounds like someone decided to remake Moon as an action movie filled with obsolete Hollywood cliches and they came up with Oblivion.
Just got back from seeing Oblivion. Kind of meh in my opinion, not terrible but not anything brilliant. It seemed to be a mash up of ideas from better movies slammed together into one bland package. Plus the predictable plot line kind of killed my interest in the first few minutes
it bothered me that I saw this movie's trailer right before (or after idr) seeing the After Earth trailer (the one with Will Smith?) during the same film screening's previews lol...
seriously do studios just happen to come out with Armageddon and Deep Impact films at the same time or what? :P
Yes. Its been a long time tradition in Hollywood for the big studios to investigate what the competition is making and then just copy that. That's why we have whole decades that were filled with mostly bible epics, crime noir dramas, musicals, westerns, war films, disaster movies, space operas, slasher flicks, coming of age comedies, biographies, and comic book super hero adaptations.
So, if I'm hearing this right:
It's "Moon" meets "Planet of the Apes", boring sci-fi cliche' style?
I just saw this movie without seeing the trailer or reading anything about it, and the twists were really obvious. I went and watched the trailer anyway afterwards and I have to say... Could they spoil any more stuff on the trailer? Every single twist, as obvious as they were, was spoiled in the trailer anyway.
So it's "The Moon" done badly but with more guns?
With a healthy dose of the Matrix and Battlefield Earth thrown in just to add to the mess.
I swear I saw the trailer for this one and just sat there thinking I had seen this exact movie quite a few times before. Then the trailer for AfterEarth came up and I realized it was a twofer sense of dejavu, and I would be skipping both.
I'd throw Elysium into that, all three look the same to me.
Moon is my favorite movie of all time so I'm not very pleased that they almost straight ripped it off.
Massive cop out at the end. Oh yeah just 52. Lets forget about all those other ones. To sum up the major flaw in this film is that it's very small. The overarching story involves the entire planet, but the movie itself follows a very very small set of characters in a small area despite alluding to there being many many other players. Imagine if avatar spent the entire movie saying theres a war between the two races and then never show more than two people. Its a really big scale movie that feels cheap in the the important places. Then they just pretend like the conundrum at the end doesn't exist. I can't expand on that without ruining the twist I guess.
Huge disappointment but otherwise pretty decent flick. The special effects and action basically make up for the poor script. To be frank though "Portal 2" was the same movie and better.
Yes despite a practically nonexistent budget Moon destroys this film in every possible. The Scifi films that are remembered forever are the ones that force you to really contemplate mans existence and what makes us human. Oblivion introduces those themes and then just shakes them off at the end going "meh"
Elysium is by the director of District 9. It would be a mistake to write it off prematurely.
So far I have seen almost no movies where what Bob complains about happens.
I don't want anything women and I don't even talk to women(other than my relatives or for work) at least let me have my entertainment the way I want it.
OK, huge misunderstanding here: that wasn't directed at you, I was saying that one of my favourite pet-peeves in movies is when movie-writers try to write intelligent beings and or humans but aren't intelligent enough to make it believable. It was directed at the movie, and movies in general. It's why I can't stand Watchmen, because the supposedly more intelligent than any human being Dr. Manhattan is just so stupid it hurts my brain.
As for the bit about the actual movie:
i really didn't hate this movie that much but then all i could think about when i was watching it was that it was a bad ripoff of moon (and this was before the clones twist happened)
Where is all this hate coming from?
Did Bob like Moon or did he hate it as well?
I mean, why is Sam maintaining the harvesters on Moon more believable than Jack maintaining the harvesters on Earth? As far as I'm concerned, those movies have the same premise.
"...having a few repair-drones maintain the fighting-drones."
I've heard this one before. But who would maintain the repair drones?
We do see Jack fixing the drone with a piece of gum. So is it really that unbelievable that they need the humans as the final link of ingenuity in that chain, instead of having an endless chain of drones fixing drones fixing drones fixing drones etc.
Or maybe they need humans to fight the remaining scavs or use them as an early warning system if the scavs would mount an attack against the machines. For example the Matrix uses Cypher (human) to get to Morpheus (also human).
What if Tet is programmed to take advantage of the indigenous species and incorporate them in the harvesting cycle?
What if fixing drones on Earth is cheaper and quicker than sending them back to Tet to be fixed?
More to the point, who the hell would want to watch a movie about drones fixing drones?
To me all these are plausible explanations, but Bob simply ignores them all together and stamps the movie as being "bad" just because he cannot make any sense of the premise. Then what about Matrix using humans as batteries? What an awful shit that was - in Bob's world.
Folks, this is a definition of bad movie reviewing. A reviewer who considers movie to be bad, simply because he doesn't agree with it's premise. Sure Oblivion has it's faults - pacing would be one of them, especially towards the end. But Bob just pisses on the efforts put into this movie by Cruise, Kurylenko, and a fantastic newcomer Riseborough, plus the breathtaking visuals of post-apocalyptic Earth by Claudio Miranda (Oscar for Life of Pi) and ethreal music by M83.
If you didn't watch Bob's review to the end, go see the movie and make up your own mind. If you did, then thank Bob for ruining one of the memorable (for me at least) sci-fi movies of the past decade.
It's not such a bad movie, I thought it was quite entertaining. Most modern sci-fi require a little bit of oversight for the plot-holes/inconsistencies anyway so I personally don't have any gripes with the few things I found in this movie.
I was worried when Bob said that this movie was "made up entirely out of twists" but then I though "Meh. If he puts it alongside Ghost Protocol and Jack Reacher it's gotta be another dumb, slightly-entertaining action movie."
Well. It's a pretty looking film with an utterly unsatisfying plot. Kinda reminds me of...Tron Legacy, also directed by the same bloke. Guess I know whose career NOT to follow.
It's a solid movie.
I get the feeling that Bob wouldn't be so nit picky and hard on it if someone else then Cruise, had played Jack Harper.
Or maybe I'm just a sucker for sci-fi
Yeah, if you physically can't talk to women and think they have no place in "your" special man genres it's probably a safe bet that you're a misogynist.
However, you're also a misogynist whose completely missed the point.
Bob's point, which was spelled out quite specifically, is that the "two female characters competing for the affections of the male protagonist" thing is overused. It's been overused for a long time. We've seen it in hundreds if not thousands of pieces of media, and it's very rarely handled in an interesting or original way. It's always simply retreading the same tired steps over and over and over again.
In short, it's a minimum-effort way to write in some crude dramatic tension without having to put in any thought or any originality, because it's been done so many times at this point that a monkey with a supply of DVDs could figure out how to do it.
Grow up. Step outside your front door. Get over whatever weird issues you have with women and you'll start to realize that noone is complaining about these kinds of things because "the womenz" have taken over, they're complaining because they're sick of being fed wallpaper paste while being told it's caviar.
I'm having to work really REALLY fucking hard right now to not burst into an all-caps rage and get myself perma-banned as a result of my page of insults.
Alright, from the top.
1) A human repairman makes sense. Humans are extremely adaptable, extremely versatile creatures. Cruz is better at navigating the terrain then any robot and get around stuff that would beat robots.
2) Total mind wiping wouldn't have worked. They needed the ruse in order for Cruz to keep all the things I mentioned above. Mind wiped Cruze's were fine for an invasion where they just need to kill people, but not much else. Besides, it was simple enough to set up and run.
3) So what if the twists were for their own sake? They were incredibly well done and every single one made sense. The twists served the plot, not the other way around.
I'm far too mad to watch your review again to look for more things you got wrong, but I'm sure someone will give me more nonsense to rebuke.
This movie was brilliantly acted, extremely well written and is one of the most beautifully shot and designed films in recent memory. My favorite Sci-Fi movie in a long LONG time.
I was really hoping you of all people, the guy that gave 2012 a pass, could appreciate this.
Without you having seen the movie itself, all I can say is that you're basically wrong. This is the kind of movie where the spoiled bits themselves are what's wrong with the movie. Sure, it has other issues, but the story aspect is where it really falls down, and you can't say why without being so vague as to be useless.
Just to note, on your 3 there? If the twists served the plot, then they were by definition not there for their own sake. So, were they or weren't they there for their own sake? I think they were.
And you'll never convince me that a machine that advanced could not design a repairbot with comparable-to-human versatility.
I blame my youth and way to much 80ties cartoons.
Heh, I actually loved the movie. Though I'll grant you that the amount of plot twists made certain parts of the movie feel needlessly hollow. But it managed to entertain me, and now I'm working on my brand new dream: own a house with that kick ass pool from the movie :D
Nonsense coming right up! ;)
A human repairman makes sense if their loyalty does not have to be maintained by an easily broken deception and if the circumstances of their being there are not so incredibly suspicious as to make the fact that a deception exists incredibly obvious (to everyone, of course, except the highly intelligent astronauts).
You know the funny thing is, we have a really good example of an alien race carrying out this exact same scheme (conquering earth and draining its resources with human helpers) intelligently. It's called Half Life 2. You don't need easily confused clones to make people turn on each other, you just need to offer them a way to survive or to better their situation.
Better still, that's also more relevant to the viewer because similar things have actually happened throughout human history. The use of deception here is really just a silly attempt to keep the protagonist's situation morally simple, because God forbid a science fiction film deal with themes and ethical problems beyond "aleens ar bad". No science fiction film has ever done that..
..right up until the point when your clone inevitably realizes the pitiful deception and goes and blows you the hell up.
On the twists...... I really can't respond. It's a matter of taste. If a twist is done well, takes me for a ride and doesn't break the plot, I'm on board. If you and Bob don't like twists like that, not much I can do about it.
I WOULD argue about how life will always be more versatile and efficient than a simple robot like the drones and how in reality, Bob missed a major theme of even the AI needing life, thus illustrating how even the most advanced machine can't compare to humans, but that would be silly since I will apparently never convince you.
In terms of half-life, I don't see how that kind of convincing could have worked. When Breen joined the Combine, there's still a lot of humanity left, the Earth is in relatively good shape and there an opportunity for a good future. This was not the case with Oblivion. I don't see ANYONE willingly going along in the situation presented if they knew they were working for the attackers.
As for exploring themes, yeah, Oblivion didn't, but I don't see that as a needed addition. A science fiction story doesn't need to have an exploration of the meaning of life, the universe and everything if it presents a very alien situation and cool technology to play in that world.
And again, the loyalty clearly wasn't that much of an issue until the one breach. Only one Tom Cruz made the discovery, it was many many years into the process AND it required Morgan Freeman to bring down a spaceship with his wife in it.
When a system takes that much to break it and doesn't require anything more than food more 2 people per zone, I'd say it's pretty damn effective.
It wasn't inevitable at all.
Actually, instead of MY arguemnts, just read this:
Sums everything up much better.
If there is a possible solution, it isn't a plot hole.
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Ryan Lochte said he felt "a little hurt" after two men rushed the stage following his performance on "Dancing with the Stars."
The two men, wearing anti-Lochte T-shirts, were arrested on suspicion of criminal trespassing, Los Angeles police spokesman Officer Mike Lopez said.
Sam Sotoodeh, 59, and Barzeen Soroudi, 25, both of Los Angeles, had rushed the stage while Lochte was getting his scores from judge Carrie Ann Inaba for his debut performance during Monday night's live installment of the celebrity ballroom dance competition, law enforcement sources told NBC News.
"Hey, back off," Inaba said as the altercation was occurring off screen.
Police called the incident a "pre-planned" action.
When the show returned, "Dancing with the Stars" host Tom Bergeron explained they were interrupted by "a little incident" and thanked the ABC series' security team "for staying in shape."
The two men were detained by security until police arrived to take them into custody, Los Angeles police spokesman Mike Lopez said.
At the same time, four or five women shouted "liar!" and were escorted out of the audience, the network said.
No one was injured or listed as a victim in the incident, Lopez said.
Olympic swimmer Ed Moses posted video of the incident on Instagram. It showed security guards holding down a man and escorting him out. Employees were also seen escorting out a group of women wearing anti-Lochte T-shirts.
"This crap is getting old!" Moses wrote. "I love u @ryanlochte and respect you putting yourself out there, you are one of a kind!! ... #respect"
Lochte told Bergeron that "so many feelings are going through my head right now." Lochte added that he was "a little hurt, but I came out here. I wanted to do something I'm completely not comfortable with, and I did."
Lochte later spoke with E! News about the event, saying "It's hard. I'm getting over it, though. It honestly feels as if someone reached inside, took out my heart out and just stepped on it."
ABC did not immediately return messages seeking comment about the incident. BBC Worldwide Productions, wich produces the show, said in a statement: "Two individuals stormed the dance floor tonight and were immediately subdued and escorted out of the building. The matter is now being handled by the authorities."
ABC News Radio reporter Jason Nathanson tweeted a photo showing two men who were wearing anti-Lochte T-shirts in handcuffs.
During the episode, the Olympic medalist performed a foxtrot routine with professional partner Cheryl Burke to "Call Me Irresponsible." They received a combined score from the judges of 24 out of 40.
"I'm hurt for Ryan," Burke said after the incident. "He's sweet, he's kind."
"He's working his butt off," she added. "I hope people give him a chance."
Lochte and teammates have seen scorn from some since they were involved in an early-morning drunken encounter during the Olympics last month at a gas station in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They later claimed they were threatened and robbed.
Lochte eventually said he "over-exaggerated" his description of what happened.
United States team officials banned Lochte for 10 months, requiring him to forfeit $100,000 in bonuses and miss the 2017 world championships.


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Alert 2007-3
Subject: Counterfeit Cashier's Checks
Date: January 29, 2007
Description: The Summit National Bank
Counterfeit Cashier's Checks of The Summit National Bank, Atlanta, GA
To: Chief Executive Officers of All National Banks; All State Banking Authorities; Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; Director, Office of Thrift Supervision; Conference of State Bank Supervisors; Deputy Comptrollers (districts); Assistant Deputy Comptrollers; District Counsel; and All Examining Personnel
The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit cashier's checks issued in the bank's name and using an incorrect routing number of 061003664 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a mystery shopping scam.
Counterfeit items may be identified by the following traits: The checks are reddish-pink in color with a red border along the top of the instrument. The following statement is contained within the top border: "THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT IS PRINTED RED – THE BACK CONTAINS A SIMULATED WATERMARK." The bank's name and logo appear in the upper-left corner of the check with the words "Cashier's Check" printed in the top-center portion of the item and enclosed in a box. The center of the instrument contains a rectangle with six arrows pointing towards the drawer name and the dollar amount of the check. The top portion of the rectangular area contains the phrase "Match the amount in words with the amount in numbers." To the right of the box is the drawer bank information followed by an authorized signature line. The remitter information appears directly beneath the signature line.
Items presented to date contain a check number of 68451, are payable in the amount of $4,770, and include a remitter name of Quality Shopper NC.
Correspondence accompanying the checks may contain the letterhead of "QUALITYSHOPPER MYSTERY SHOPPING SOLUTION, 67 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, 778-817-2758 and may be signed by Susan Hutchins, Human Resources Manager.
The letter informs the recipient that he or she has been chosen to represent the company as a secret shopper. A statement explains that the enclosed cashier's check is to be used to purchase merchandise at various nationally known merchants and to transfer money using a nationally known wire service. The funds to be spent at each location are divided into specific dollar amounts, with the shopper being allotted the remaining funds as payment for his or her mystery shopper service. The recipient is instructed to call 778-317-2758–ext. 200, listen to the message, and then press 1. The recipient should then state his or her name and wait for the call to be answered. He or she will then receive detailed instructions on how to proceed.
For additional information and guidance and to verify the authenticity of The Summit National Bank's cashier's checks, please contact Sharon Cho, Senior Deposit Operations Representative, Deposit Operations, by telephone at (770) 454-0409, by fax at (770) 458-0731, or via e-mail at [firstname.lastname@example.com].
Consumers who receive a counterfeit or fictitious item and associated material should file complaints with the following agencies, as appropriate:
Additional information concerning this matter that you believe should be brought to the attention of the OCC may be forwarded to:
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
For additional information regarding other types of financial fraud, please visit the OCC's anti-fraud resource at: https://www.occ.gov/topics/consumer-protection/fraud-resources/index-fraud-resources.html.
Richard C. Stearns
Related Links


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Jury Convicts Drew Peterson in Wife's Death
JOLIET, Illinois (AP) - It was a case that was based mainly on second-hand hearsay evidence -- but that didn't keep a jury in Illinois today from convicting Drew Peterson of murder in the death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio.
Jurors deliberated for more than 13 hours before reaching a decision.
The trial was the first of its kind in state history, with prosecutors given some new leeway in the evidence they were able to use, thanks to a new state law that was tailored specifically to the case. It allowed them to introduce statements from Savio and from Peterson's fourth wife, Stacy, who disappeared in 2007.
Peterson looked straight ahead and didn't react as the verdict was read. Several of Savio's relatives gasped before hugging each other and crying quietly in the courtroom.
A defense lawyer says Peterson is saddened by the verdict, but that he didn't say much. He says the defense will appeal -- and that the law allowing the use of the hearsay evidence "has to be changed."
Peterson faces a maximum 60 years behind bars.
Prosecutors suspect Peterson killed his fourth wife, Stacy, because she knew of his involvement in the death of his third wife. But no charges have been filed in Stacy Peterson's disappearance, and her body has never been found.
Authorities first considered Savio's death to be an accident -- but the case was reopened after Stacy Peterson disappeared.


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The ranks of organized labor have been shrinking for decades, and an upcoming Supreme Court decision involving the ability of public-sector unions to collect fees from nonmembers is expected to further sap the movement of much-needed funds.
But signs of life are flashing in unexpected places.
On February 26, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in Janus v. AFSCME, a case funded by wealthy interests to further rig the system against working people. Join OPEIU on February 24 for the Working People's Day of Action. OPEIU sisters and brothers will join thousands of working people and our allies across the country to demand an end to the rigged system and defend our freedoms. Join us. #UnRigtheSystem
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Office and Professional Employees International Union was chartered in 1945 and with more than 104,000 members (representing 110,000 employees) strong, we're one of the larger unions of the AFL-CIO. OPEIU has locals in every state, Puerto Rico and Canada.


text:
Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Rodgers hails strike partnership
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was pleased to see the burgeoning partnership between forwards Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge develop further in the 5-0 demolition of Norwich.
Suarez took his tally to 20 for the season with the Reds' second - courtesy of a clever dummy by his strike partner - after Jordan Henderson's smart shot had opened the scoring. Sturridge, a £12million signing from Chelsea earlier this month, then became the first Liverpool player since Ray Kennedy in 1974 to score in his first three matches.
"I couldn't have asked for more. The players were brilliant in their application and their game and it was a great performance," said Rodgers.
"They (Suarez and Sturridge) linked very well, obviously both got on the scoresheet, which was great. Luis has done what he has done for us all season, given us 100% every game, and he combined well with Daniel up front.
"I think it gives the opponent someone else to worry about. Suarez has been incredible for us but you now have a recognised goalscorer up beside him.
"We had real fluidity with our play at the top end of the field. Daniel has pace and power but he is also clever and that was important as Norwich are tough to break down and a tough team to play against. The second goal was a wonderful demonstration of how good players can link together."
While Suarez and Sturridge caught the eye, the steadily-improving Henderson put in another good performance in what has been a good period for him. And registering a third successive home win allowed Liverpool to banish memories of last week's defeat against Manchester United.
"We needed to find that goal early on and it was a terrific piece of play by Luis Suarez, who wriggled his way in and around the edge of the box and when the ball dropped to Jordan what a strike it was," Rodgers added.
Norwich boss Chris Hughton admitted his side, who have taken just one point from their last six matches, fell well short of what was required.
"At this moment it is not a good feeling," he said. "We were beaten by a very good side who were very clinical in everything they did. We weren't good enough and we have to be better than that. We were nowhere near as good as we could have been."


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Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Injured Cole facing spell on sidelines
Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole will miss "at least two weeks" after suffering a hamstring injury in Monday's FA Cup quarter-final replay defeat of Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea interim boss Rafael Benitez confirmed the blow for Cole following the 1-0 victory, secured by Demba Ba's spectacular second-half strike.
England international Cole departed after 21 minutes of the contest and will now miss Thursday's Europa League quarter-final first leg with Rubin Kazan and Sunday's Barclays Premier League match with Sunderland.
He is also a major doubt for the FA Cup semi-final with Manchester City at Wembley on April 14.
Asked about Cole, Benitez said: "This kind of injury at least two weeks.
"That means for us maybe 20 games or something."
Benitez must manage his squad through a congested period - the United clash was the second of six games in 16 days.
Cole's injury is the latest defensive blow, with England defender Gary Cahill out for "another 15 days at least", Benitez said.


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Dr. King 'turning in his grave' over family greed
George E. Curry, | 2/14/2014, 6 a.m.
NNPA The children of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. sue each other— as well as loyal family friends— so often that you need a program to keep up with the court action. Bernice and Martin Luther King, III sued Dexter because he failed to open the books of their father's estate. Dexter, hoping to sign a $1.4 million book contract, sued Bernice, who administers their mother's estate, for not sharing their parents' love letters.
Now, for some inexplicable reason, Martin, III has teamed up with Dexter to sue Bernice to compel her to turn over their father's Bible— the one President Obama used at his second swearing-in— and his 1964 Nobel Peace Prize medal because they have an interested buyer. But Bernice refuses to surrender the items, saying some things are sacred and should not be for sale.
The person who was perhaps least surprised by the latest family shenanigans is Harry E. Johnson, Sr., president of what was once called the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation.
In a series of tape-recorded interviews with me, beginning April 21, 2011, Johnson, who raised more than $100 million to erect the Memorial, recounted his disappointing experience with the King family.
His first disappointment came when the family-controlled entity responsible for preserving Dr. King's image charged the foundation a licensing fee of $2.8 million. But even that wasn't enough and the King family refused to extend the licensing agreement. Consequently the name of the foundation was changed last year to The Memorial Foundation.
"When we originally had an agreement with them, it was a licensing agreement to use the name and images of Dr. King [in fundraising material]," Johnson stated. "They said the licensing agreement has expired. Fine. I'm saying, 'Give me another licensing agreement.' They're saying, 'No we don't want you to use the name.' It really boils down to this: They want me out of the way because they are saying they need to raise $170 million for the King Center and I'm in the way. Philanthropy in this country is a $320 billion a year industry. How am I in the way to raise whatever they need to raise?"
Johnson questions whether Dr. King is a private figure anymore.
"They keep throwing out the fact that Dr. King was a private citizen— that's why his image is protected. And I told Roland [Martin] to ask Jeffrey Toobin, the lawyer on CNN: 'At what point does one stop becoming a private citizen? Is that when we named a holiday after him? Or is it when we put a memorial on the Mall of him next to the other icons of this country?' (Martin confirmed that Johnson made that request of him, but he never asked Toobin to reply.)
"This is the killer part: If he's a private person, then the King estate and family can say, 'If you take a picture of the Memorial and you sell it as a postcard, you owe them a licensing fee. I don't know if a member of the Congressional Black Caucus would be willing to pick that up as an issue, but I am certain a white Republican would say, 'Get the hell out of here.'"


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A Carnegie Returns to Carnegie Hall
There have been many historic events and appearances on all three stages at Carnegie Hall throughout its 121-year history. Recently, however, there was a sense of history quietly folding in upon itself when a group of middle school students emerged onto the Zankel Hall stage. One of those sixth graders was Andrew Carnegie Miller, the great-great-grandson of the man whose vision and money built the Hall and whose name it has officially carried since 1894. Carnegie, himself, appeared on stage at least nine times—the most significant of which was the National Arbitration and Peace Congress of 1907—but his great-great-grandson's February 2 appearance marked the first time a member of the Carnegie family has performed music in the building.
Andrew Carnegie Miller in the Rose Museum, 2013 | Andrew Carnegie on the main stage during the National Arbitration and Peace Congress of 1907. Photography: Carnegie Miller by Stan Schnier for the Dwight School, NYC; Carnegie courtesy of the Carnegie Hall Archives.
In fact, Andrew Carnegie Miller's connection with Carnegie Hall begins much more recently than with his great-great-grandfather. In February 1996, Carnegie Hall held a reception to launch an exhibition of Beethoven's piano sonatas in the Rose Museum. The Beethoven-Haus in Bonn and Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna had, for the first time, loaned $65 million worth of manuscripts and first editions. Kenneth Miller—Andrew Carnegie's great-grandson—was one of the invited guests that evening. At one point, he asked his date for the night to accompany him onto the stage in the big hall. There, on one of the world's grandest platforms, he took the opportunity to propose to her. She accepted, they married, and became Andrew Carnegie Miller's parents.
Shortly after his appearance at the Hall, we spoke to Andrew.
Carnegie Hall: Hello, Andrew. Can you tell us your age and what grade are you in?
Andrew Carnegie Miller: I am currently 12 and in sixth grade at the Dwight School.
CH: What's your favorite subject in school?
ACM: Math—I like to be challenged.
CH: What kind of music do you like?
ACM: I don't know enough music to pick a favorite.
CH: What songs and artists do you have on your iPod at the moment?
ACM: I currently don't have an iPod, but I'm planning on getting one if my parents allow.
CH: What music were you and your classmates performing at Carnegie Hall?
ACM: We were performing "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen, "La rose complète and "Dirait-on" by Morten Lauridsen, and the spiritual "Walk Together Children."
CH: Were you aware beforehand of your family's connection with the Hall?
ACM: Yes, I was fully aware of the connection, but we don't talk about it a lot at home.
CH: Did your classmates know about the connection?
ACM: A few knew, but when I told them about it they didn't really believe me. They asked me why I didn't live in a mansion.
CH: How does it feel to know that if it were not for your great-great-grandfather, Carnegie Hall would not exist?
ACM: It makes me proud. He wanted the city to have a good symphony hall. You get to follow your passion if you're a musician.
CH: When did you see Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage for the first time?
ACM: I did not get to perform in it this time, but I did see it when I went to hear the author of Harry Potter talk.
CH: Which musician/band/artist would you love to see live at Carnegie Hall?
ACM: Ms. Zambetti—my music teacher—took me there. I'd like to see her students perform there more. Some of them are really talented.
CH: Thank you, Andrew Carnegie Miller!
Related: Hall History


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A Developer.com Site
An Eweek.com Site
Are you an idiot? Click here
A fool and his money...http://www.clickhereyouidiot.com/
Thing is, someone will pay.......
The Register
PC Registered user # 2,336,789,457...
"When the water reaches the upper level, follow the rats."
Claude Swanson
Interesting, yet not surprising. This technique is not new. It's just another form of internet pan handling.
Soon you will see the venerable: Why lie? I need a beer.
Need money for beer research.
Our scars have the power to remind us that our past was real. -- Hannibal Lecter.
Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful. -- John Wooden
Originally posted here by thehorse13
Need money for beer research.
What? Next you're gonna tell me that ain't legitimate?
Need money for beer research.
Been trying that for years with little success..... Tried finding a honey that would pay for the odd case here or there.... Got a great sweetie but she frowns a little if I ask her to buy cases too often.... It sucks when you have to pay for them yourself.....
Don\'t SYN us.... We\'ll SYN you.....
\"A nation that draws too broad a difference between its scholars and its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards, and its fighting done by fools.\" - Thucydides
She _lets_ you buy cases?
nice link dalek, made me laugh.
As for cheap scams to make money, I remember when donating plasma got you some $$ in college. Everyone I knew would donate plasma then go buy beer...go figure. And they say college students don't understand basic economic principles.
Tried finding a honey that would pay for the odd case here or there
Every time I ever sent a woman to the liquor store, they wound up coming back with some fruit inspired alcoholic menage a twa that's 20 proof. To make matters worse, they wind up getting drunk, while I spend all night trying to figure out why anyone in their right mind would mix bananas, kiwis, apples, daises, mangos and alcohol and have the nerve to sell it to the public. I buy my own cases of beer damnit. I am a man. I have hairs on my chest. I pee all over the toilet seat. roaaar
The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his - George Patton
Then there's these...
Unemployed Loser
The Million Dollar Homepage - Own a piece of internet history!
mind you the last one was a stroke of genius
It sucks when you have to pay for them yourself
Never!.....................she goes and buys them, (checks for the 2 for 1 and 25% discounts.....Wimmin are much more reliable in that department).......................loads 'em up and brings them back.......
Ah!..................but who buys her automobile, and taxes and insures it?
I guess my drinking habits are expensive.................it would be cheaper to buy a pub and just live in it?
And she has just driven the thing on a flat....$$$$$$$$$$$..............what happens if she screws her spare automobile today?................it's enough to drive a husband to:
Herself is too good to ya, nihil.
On the subject of having to pay for beer, while i was a student there was a brief period (about 3 years) that i was, shall we say, a little strapped for cash. Anyway a friend of mine discovered that if you sent a letter to a lager company, bud, stella, fosters etc and said that in the latest pack of lager that you purchased from your local off licence, one or more of the cans was flat/tasted a bit metalicy/empty etc then they would routinely send a voucher for a 24 pack along with a box to sned them back the suspect can if he still had it.
Well needless to say (in my student days of course) a small run of letters was sent to various alcohol companies to "test" if there customer service was up to the same standard as others.
I can happily report that a large number of those companies have VERY good customer service...
Google is god ....... of the Internet
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Cheer on your Winnipeg Jets with this golf towel by WinCraft! It features embroidered Winnipeg Jets graphics and a detachable hook to hang off of your golf bag. This golf towel will be a perfect addition to your gear the next time you hit the links!
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The Factor Techlace™ is a race-bred cycling shoe that couples the benefits of our Techlace system with the easy adjustment of a Boa dial, plus the performance you expect from Giro—all at an impressively low weight of 210 grams (size 42.5). The Techlace system replaces D-rings and other hardware with laces, providing a more supple feel across the forefoot, and the laces can be easily replaced if damaged. The Boa IP1 dial offers fast, intuitive adjustment in 1mm increments when tightening or loosening. The Factor Techlace upper is constructed with Evofiber SL, which is durable yet highly breathable. Inside the shoe, our SuperNatural Fit footbed features adjustable arch supports to personalize fit, comfort and pedaling efficiency. Power transfer is bolstered by the Easton® EC90 SLX2 carbon fiber outsole, which is among the lightest, thinnest and stiffest pedaling platforms on the road, giving you a direct connection to the pedals.
Brand: Giro
Type: Road Bike Shoes
Gender: Unisex
Style: Clip In
Item condition: New
Availability: Buy online
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Here at Bike Force Docklands we are passionate about cycling, just like you. Our friendly and enthusiastic staff are here to help you make the right choice for all your cycling needs, whether it's an off the shelf bike or a custom build we'll listen and help you come to a decision. We welcome everyone from beginners looking to get started to city slickers wanting to commute and even Pro cyclist's who are looking for top class parts and service.
Having a fully equipped workshop with qualified mechanics enable us to book in your trusty steed for a complete overhaul or a quick tune-up, so once again it will become your pride and joy!
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Best of all come in to see our complete range of bikes and accessories for the best deal in town!
We can also custom build your dream bike, give us a call today!
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Please include the original order confirmation or invoice you received with your product. Also, if you haven't previously provided a contact phone number, please include this with your return. This will ensure the issue is resolved quickly, should anyone need to contact you.


text:
WANTED: Responsible man or couple for ranch work. References
preferred, experience necessary. Two-bedroom furnished house
and beef supplied, plus $400 per month. Call or write Albert
XXYYZZY, Alzada, S.D.
Of course, the ad I've just quoted is hypothetical . . . but not very, because such notices appear often these days. Often enough, at least, that a man (or couple) who wishes to live the good country life with pay can realistically consider ranch work as an alternative to the city grind.
If you've been thinking of a move to fresher air and simpler living but can't see your way clear to buying your own piece of land, rural labor can give you many of the same satisfactions. And if your plans do include a homestead, the job of hired hand is a good prelude . . . a chance to build your experience and earn some cash at the same time.
What Kind of Man Buys Plowboy?
Let's look briefly at the advantages of a job as hired hand (or as an absentee owner's manager of a ranch or of several ranches . . . another possibility that's opening up these days).
[1] When a rancher employs steady help, he almost invariably supplies a house . . . and a good worker can get additions built on if his family increases.
[2] Part of the hired man's wage is usually paid in fresh, home-grown food: beef on western ranches, milk on dairy operations, or similar compensation depending on where you work. In addition, garden space is available and you'll have the chance to keep a milk cow (for your own butter, ice cream, coffee cream) . . . or chickens for eating and for eggs . . . or horses and other pets. Growing your own plants and animals outside working hours will increase your enjoyment, reduce the cost of living even further, and bring closer the day when you can have your own land.
[3] Even though you're working for someone else, you'll have freedom as a hired hand since the work's pace moves with the seasons. The job is hard during summer haying, slower in late fall . . . and in winter, once the feeding is done, you're through for the day unless you have to cut wood for your fireplace. And think of all that space and clean air you'll have to enjoy your spare time in!
[4] If you do your job well and care about your work, you'll find your position just as secure as you wish Even if you're let go, other ranchers in the area is may be ready to hire you . . . and if you stay, you might get an option to buy the land—or part of it—when the boss retires. (His sons and daughters often prefer life in town these days.)
Try It, You'll Like It!
Well, you'll like most of it, anyhow. Of course, any job has its drawbacks, and you'll need to think ahead about the hardships of ranch work and decide whether you'll be able to live with them.
[1] The hired man's biggest hassle is long hours. When the hay is ready, or the oats, you stay with the work until it's finished. When the heifers are calving you check them every three hours, day and night, 30 below zero or not. In some ways, though, the hours are more flexible than they would be in a town job. If you're sick, for instance, you don't have to call in because the boss is handy . . . and if you really need time off, he'll understand.
[2] When you do have a free day, distance from town may be a problem. In fact, if you or your lady dig fancy clothes or like to spend long hours in museums, you'd better forget ranch life, because trips to "civilization" will be rare and mostly taken up by shopping for a month's worth of supplies at a time. As for dressing up, all you need out home are Levi's.
I need hardly add that—if you're going to be a long way from anywhere—you really need your own transportation (unless you relish the idea of waiting until your employer can take you to town).
[3] If you like bright lights and late hours, find another job. You can't party until 2 a.m. and get up at 6 (at least not often). You won't be partying close to home, either, since the people nearby will probably differ from you in many ways.
On the other hand, if it's solitude and not company you want, all you have to do is avoid church and the American Legion meetings. The country folks are busy too, and they mind their own business if you mind yours.
[4] Women's liberation has not reached ranches and farms. A woman alone—no matter what her experience—would be unlikely to get a job as a hired hand, despite the fact that rural daughters (like me) often do a man's work in the field. This isn't the place to discuss the contradictions that are evident in such an attitude . . . I'm just telling you that's how it is. If this discrimination bugs you, ladies, get out there and try to get hired. I could be wrong.
Does She or Doesn't She?
OK, if you made it through my list of drawbacks and are still with me, it's time to ask yourself whether you have what it takes to become a good hired hand.
The first qualification for a ranch worker is experience. It's essential, and it can't be faked. Unless you've lived in a rural situation and had some dealings with machinery and cattle—or are willing to learn the hard way—don't try to get a farm or ranch job.
Even if you're quick to pick up skills, you see, you won't be able to catch on to country ways overnight. While the mechanics—of the equipment itself and of the tasks you'll have to perform—are fairly simple, there's a feeling, an instinct, for the work and the life that can't be taught in the conventional way. You can be shown how to rivet the sickle blades onto the cutter bar, but learning how to bring the cows home two days before the blizzard is a more subtle matter that takes time to master.
Examples of the need for that instinct abound. Here's a typical case: You're alone at midnight in the barn with a heifer who's calving for the first time. She's lying on the floor, struggling to bear the calf, and has been for 30 minutes. A bag of fluids has come out and some feet are protruding, encased in a membrane. Is she in trouble or not? If she is, you must get a calf puller and drag the young one out before he suffocates. If this doesn't work a Caesarean may be necessary, but that's time-consuming and expensive. However, if you wait a little longer, the cow may give birth unaided. Does she need a vet? Should you call the boss?
There are signs that can tell you what to do, but to read them you need experience. For one thing, it helps to have seen a number of such births so you can judge how nearly born the calf is and whether a leg or his head is caught inside, or whether he's deformed. It also helps to know, by looking at the cow's eyes and body, how much she's suffering. Finally, you need to be able to put your hand and arm inside the heifer to check the position of the calf's head and legs. The ability to do this is partly physical, largely mental.
If you make a wrong decision at this point, it'll cost your boss at least a calf, possibly the cow too . . . and maybe a vet bill to boot if you panic. To decide right, you have to know the alternatives and then have that extra margin of intuition (and even people who have all that still make mistakes).
When there's so much to learn about helping out on the land, you can see why a rancher or farmer is seldom inclined to go through a long training program with someone who may later find that he doesn't like the life. Such a landowner is particularly irritated each spring when city youths call up and offer to work for "town wages" without a shred of experience or knowledge. By the time they'd built up their strength and learned what to do, the summer would be over and the boss left with annoyance and an empty wallet.
If you're serious about becoming a hired man, then, get practice somehow. If you're in high school and want to try a country job later, find a ranch boy to visit on weekends so you can learn the work and find out if you have the instinct.
If you're out of school, you might use the same approach, or offer to work free to learn the ropes. Even a temporary job on a hay or fencing crew might lead to more permanent employment. Or you could trade your skill—in plumbing, for example—for some experience in the rural life.
Experience alone, however, isn't enough . . . you also need a liking for the work and the land. The job of hired man isn't one you can do just to make some bread, or just to live in the country. Before you take on such a position, you need to realize that ranchers are among the hardest-working, lowest-paid laborers of modern times, and their hands don't have an easy life.
To cope with a ranch job, you have to love being physically fit and able to work to the limits of your endurance in all weather, against immense odds. You continually challenge the land, brave the blizzard on foot to bring the cattle in, brave it on horseback to feed the trapped calves, brave the prairie fire some tourist's cigarette has started to save the cows that are drawn to the flames.
It's a hard life, but there's a fairness about it, an awareness of and respect for the land and its animals. One result is that many ranchers are ecology-minded and will agree with you completely about the need to eliminate poison and to control hunters. That kind of agreement bridges a lot of political gaps!
You Can Take Salem Out of the Country. . . .
Along with the big questions, like experience, and general attitude, there are some small points about you that can make a big difference in your success with a country job. Little matters like smoking, for instance, are seldom mentioned in the initial interview, but if you plan to work outdoors in summer you must expect to confine that habit to the house. Fields and pastures are explosively dry in late July and August, barns are full of hay, and your boss is nervous. He's right, too. Prairie and grainfield fires—caused by lightning, railroad trains, spontaneous combustion—do millions of dollars worth of damage yearly anyway without your multiplying the risk. Besides, with all that fresh air to breathe, you'd be a fool to smoke . . . and if you don't, it's a good point to emphasize when you're applying for the job.
Like tobacco, alcohol can cause a rancher a lot of trouble with his employees, and a few ads specify "no drinkers." What the advertiser really means is that you mustn't get drunk and fail to appear on Monday mornings, or drive through pasture fences and sing bawdy ballads in the bunkhouse. Reasonable drinking, however, is usually acceptable. I've never seen a "no dopers" ad, but you can assume that discretion is the answer here, also. Actually, you have to be pretty alert to keep the job—and your life—so you're really better off without either booze or drugs.
And what about hair? Well, you're probably best off without too much of that, also. You'll save yourself some trouble by applying shorn, then letting your employer learn to trust you as your hair grows. Some ranchers, of course, would hire you anyway . . . and some would hire you and then hassle you continually. The point is to know that hair length is still an issue in the areas where hired-hand jobs exist, and I'm telling you so you won't walk in unaware and then feel insulted if you're rejected for that alone. The fact is that many Westerners—who conveniently forget the styles of pioneer days—still believe long hair to be the mark of the Commie pinko fag heroin-smoker. You can't fight it. How badly do you want the job?
One last bit of advice about personal habits: If you're a couple and unmarried, save yourselves trouble by indicating that your relationship is legal. You won't change the local people's attitude by explaining the situation, any more than they'll change yours by condemning you. Again, how much do you want the job?
Come to Marlboro Country: How to Do It
Maybe you've thought over my description of the perfect hired man and are sure you'd be a real asset to some rancher. In that case, you can find your future employer by using most of the usual job-hunting techniques (except that you don't have to write letters unless you live out of the area where you want to work).
You might start your search by checking ads in the farm journals like Dakota Farmer and Western Livestock Reporter— see the section on "Farming and Rural Interest Magazines" in Writer's Market— and the daily newspapers in the neighborhood you want. You can also go to the local employment office and leave a record of your experience and the type of work you're after.
If these first inquiries don't turn up a job for you, you can try visiting the area's ranchers (prosperous-looking places, with large barns and a lot of machinery, are your best bet). Find out who the community leaders are and call on them.
When you drop in on local people, observe rural etiquette: Dress in work clothes, come straight to the point if the folks are busy, accept invitations to coffee, be polite . . . and get out if the refusal is clear. Remember to ask the families you visit whether they know of any neighbors who are looking for help.
While you're visiting, see the local heads of stockmen's groups or of farm and ranch associations like the National Farmer's Organization and the Farmers Union (and don't neglect the neighborhood auctioneers). Such people travel their areas extensively and may have more current information on who needs an extra hand than the employment office.
Last—but not least—find out which city bigwigs own land in the region you're interested in, and apply to them for a caretaker's job. In fact, this approach might turn out to be best of all, since these urban owners seldom live on their holdings.
And Now a Word From Our Sponsor. . . .
Once more, with feeling, before you set off on serious job hunting: Don't try to fake it. If you get a place as a hired man under false pretenses, you won't be able to handle the life and you'll increase the problems of your brothers and sisters who are sincerely trying to make it in the country. If you're not yet skilled in rural ways, don't be too proud to take a short-term job and learn. Remember that you're working toward a certain lifestyle, not just trying to pick up a little movin'-on cash. Slow down, take the cosmic view, and prepare yourself for a new kind of life.
Once you do get a steady job as a hired man, I charge you not to take the work lightly. All my life I've watched one fine rancher after another sell out and move to town, for lack of a son to take over the place or a conscientious worker to help him keep his way of life. And it's a fact that—soon after they move to town—these men often die. That's the kind of hold the land has on you. Can you say as much of your 9-to-5 job?
It's been nice talking to you, brother, but I gotta get back to the hayfield. I really just stopped to give that doe a chance to pick up her fawn and clear out before I mowed the part down by the creek.


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Last weekend we went to Ikea, because we hate ourselves and like to ruin our weekends. We put Henry in the playroom, where he romped and hid in giant shoes (there are giant shoes) and apparently he watched a movie in which a cook whipped a little girl. This is what the Ikeans show our children. And that's not even what I'm mad about.
So when we were done remembering why we hate going to Ikea, Scott went to see if the chair we were going to purchase would fit in our car (it wouldn't) while I picked up Henry. It was by now lunchtime and Henry, crazed by the ball pit and the (animated) whipping of youngsters, worked himself up into a froth about how hungry he was, how very very hungry. So I dragged him to the café.
My brain kept telling me not to do this. "Go to the car," it said. "No café. He's too hungry. Get him home and give him the same damn thing he always eats. He's not going to like it in there. Hellooo. Am I talking to myself, over here?"
Yes! Because we were already in the café, and Henry was already having a meltdown.
We were on line, and Henry was in a puddle around my feet, shrieking, for no apparent reason. Or for these reasons: because there were so many, many balls, and was that his new home, maybe? With the oversized clogs? But no, now he was in this loud bustling place with all the clattering of the silverware and he was hungry NOW but wanted to go home NOW and CAN'T. DO BOTH. ERROR. ERROR.
So while he was shorting out beneath me, the two women in front of me did the very best thing any human beings can do, and this is the subject of this post, so pay attention!
They turned around, and laughed in his face.
One of them shrieked, "DON'T BE SAD, PRETTY BOY! WHATSAMATTA?"
Henry turned absolutely white with terror and began climbing me, using his talon-like nails. I tried to pick him up, but then he went boneless again and sobbed against my ankles.
"He's having a rough time, so if you could--" I started, motioning at her to turn around.
One of them bent over to thrust her horrific visage into his. "GIVE ME A SMILE!" she suggested.
"Leave me alone!" Henry shouted, with tears streaming down his face. And they both laughed again. One of them continued to provide helpful suggestions to him ("ISN'T SMILING BETTER THAN SILLY CRYING? YOU CAN'T BE SAD ON THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY!") while I dragged Henry out of the line and away and he shouted preschooler invective at them. (I believe he called them both poopyhead. I'd say he had a point.)
So, okay, an isolated incident, maybe? Two assholes bitter that their Swedish meatballs and lingonberry sauce were taking too long, seeking revenge on the youth of today?
But no! Because! Just two days later, at the playground, it happened again.
Henry was having a hard time making inroads with the other children, all of whom paired off according to some mysterious, prearranged order. Then he spotted a group of older kids. They were either eight or 21. Probably somewhere in the middle. They were sitting at the top of a slide, drinking soda and chewing gum, feeling dangerous. Henry was entranced. Before I could stop him, he was right there, standing outside their circle. I watched. Sometimes older kids are nice! Maybe!
The ignoring that ensued was brief but painful, as Henry repeatedly attempted to introduce himself and I considered tearing their lungs out through their mouths. Too much?
After he walked away from them, he looked over at me and started to cry.
"No one wants to know my name," he called out, weeping. And two women standing right by him—c'mon, guess!
They didn't just laugh—they laughed their asses off. They thought that was the funniest damn thing they ever heard. Such a cute little kid! So clever! With the stringing the words together! Just like a person!
Which of course set him off even more. The two of them tried to direct more commentary at me about my funny kid with his funny feelings while I dealt with my son, who was dissolving completely into the soil.
This happens to us not infrequently, and I'm sure we're not the only people. I mean, yes, sometimes Henry can be jollied out of a funk, and sometimes strangers do that with remarkable aplomb, but this is not that. This is not a sympathetic smile or comment, it's mockery. It's insensitive to the point of being cruel.
At the very least, these people should figure out that their charm is not having the desired effect, and at the most, shouldn't they respect someone's feelings? If you saw an adult crying in public, would you point and laugh? Don't preschoolers deserve the same courtesy?
What on earth is wrong with people?


text:
JONESBORO, Ark. – On one of those few, sunny days last October, things were off to a shaky start for cotton producer Marty White – a grease fitting malfunctioned on a picker, a pump broke on a module builder, a fan belt needed replacing on an engine.
"Some days are like this," White explained. "But we're just getting started picking and still haven't worked all the kinks out. But there'll be other days when things are going so well, we won't want to quit."
The slow start revealed something else about the relationship between White and his employees. He trusts them to solve farm-related problems on their own.
"That's a big reason why I'm able to farm as much land as I farm," said White, the recipient of the 2002 Mid-South High Cotton award who hails from Jonesboro. "I know that they're going to do what it takes to get the job done."
White and his son, Jesse, farm and manage about 6,000 acres of cotton, 225 acres of corn, a little over 100 acres of rice, and 600 to 700 acres of soybeans. White has five full-time employees, an uncle who helps out part time and another part-time hand. He also hires a regular seasonal crew who help out at harvest.
At a time when almost every farmer complains about the lack of a good labor force, White feels lucky about his. His employees sense that appreciation.
"I didn't get to where I am today by myself," White said. "My Mom and Dad (Doris and William 'Buddy' White), taught me hard work and honesty and to treat people with dignity. I don't know how I could have done it without their help and guidance."
Over the last few years, White has had to rely on their teachings more than ever before. This year might have been the toughest yet.
The crop got off to a wet, cold start, putting White's crop behind from the beginning. Then on May 14, a heart attack took the life of a long-time employee, Doug Sowells.
"He was my right-hand man on the farm," White said. "He was with me for 18 years. He was a valuable employee and a good friend, another set of eyes and ears for me. He knew how I liked things done; if something wasn't working right, he'd ask me.
"It's going to be hard getting along without him," the producer said. "I know I'm going to pick up that radio and start hollering for him. You work with someone that long, you really care for him."
White doesn't underestimate the role that Sowells played and that other employees continue to play in the farm's profitability.
For example, with cotton prices at 52 cents, White has to spread labor and equipment over more acreage to eke out profits. There's not much time for White to tend to every problem. Employees have to know what White wants, and take care of crises.
That leaves White to manage a high-input, high-yield cotton production program. With this approach "when everything works right, yields are good. But even during bad years, my yields are still fairly decent."
White's landowners are looking for high-yield, too, and White doesn't blame them. "If they're going to level land and spend the money and put out irrigation, they need a good return. So if they're willing to spend the money, I am, too."
While White stresses the importance of pushing yield, he still watches expenses carefully.
White's consultant, Eddie Cates of Cates Agri Tech, "makes sure that we don't use anything unless it's economically feasible to use it," the producer said. "Eddie's been a very valuable asset. Not only has he been a friend of mine, but he's helped a lot."
Verification programs conducted on the White farm by the Extension Service have helped the producer fine-tune his cotton production program. Most recently, he's understood the importance of making more timely irrigations.
"If the cotton is starting to hurt from lack of water, you've already waited too long," White said. "We don't depend on the weather forecast either. If our soil moisture is getting low, we start irrigating. If we get a rain, we'll shut them off. Every year, we're getting better and better about turning the wells on sooner."
Not every input on White's operation pays off in cash. Sometimes, an input is simply a matter of pride. "I dislike big weed (escapes in) my cotton," the producer said. "I have a family that has come in every year for 10 years. Those weeds aren't hurting me economically, but I'm proud of my farming. And a landowner sees and may want me to farm his land.
"I'm not saying that farmers who have weeds aren't making money. That's just one of my quirks. I want a clean field. Then again, not all of them are clean. As many acres as we have, we're going to have a breakdown somewhere. Mother Nature keeps you from doing some things on time."
White is willing to spend a little more money to help the environment, too, including running all his equipment this year on biodiesel.
"Biodiesel costs 5.5 cents more per gallon. But they say that it cuts toxic emissions by 80 or 90 percent, gives you more horsepower and protects your engine a little better.
"I've noticed around the shop with all these pickers running on biodiesel, we don't have the diesel smell." In addition, "we're using a product that we're growing, soybean oil."
New technology is also helping the environment. "We don't use nearly the chemicals today that we used to use because of the Bt cotton, the Roundup Ready cotton, and BXN technology," said White, who no-tills much of his crop.
"Of course, that money that we saved on chemicals we're now having to spend on technology fees. So it's not like we're saving a lot of money. But it has been better for the environment."
The biggest challenge for White is not something that he has much control over — price. "Just give me 62 cents a pound for cotton," White said. "It's not a bad price for all my hard work, and I was getting that 27 years ago when I started farming."
Low prices have added to the stress of gathering $2 million of cotton from the farm every year, especially when a sudden storm can cost him 10 percent of his production.
Recent troubles have had another negative impact. White worries that his son, Jesse, 21, has seen all the stress and none of the joy of farming.
"But it will turn around," White says. "It always does. But today, there is no room for error. Nowadays, you have to make a good crop every year."
Then again, that's why White loves farming. "Each year, you wipe the slate clean and start over," he said. "You hope the mistakes you made last year won't carry over into the new year. A lot of the new fields I've picked up are a challenge to me to better the yield."
Four other reasons that keep White's nose to the grindstone are his wife Patsy, sons Jesse and Logan, and daughter Evelyn. When White was told he had won the Mid-South High Cotton award, he said, "I couldn't ask for anything better except maybe the Best Dad or Best Husband award.
"I've worked hard, and I've always been told that if you work hard, good things will come to you," White said. "I plan on farming for a long time. It's going to be a struggle. But I'll do whatever I have to do to make my operation work and stay in business."


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I was wondering - do forum members have a preference for the best anti-virus solution for a standalone PC? There are of course well know names in the business and some less well known. But how do we know which solution is the best and most reliable?
Have any independent tests been carried out into the various products on the market?
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Regards and thanks in advance,