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CNN PRESENTS: Pizza Bomber; Tax Refund Fraud; Missing Men
Aired August 19, 2012 - 20:00 ET
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ANNOUNCER: Tonight on CNN PRESENTS, "Twisted Tale," a pizza delivery man robs a bank with a bomb around his neck. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: These suckers say you've got 55 minutes, man. What are you going to do? ANNOUNCER: And that's just the beginning of one of the most bizarre crimes ever. The twisted tale of the man known as "the pizza bomber." Refund robbery. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's like the federal government putting crack cocaine in candy machines. It's that easy. ANNOUNCER: This isn't just a drug bust. It involves tax fraud and your refund is at risk. Vanished. Two Florida men last seen with the same sheriff's deputy. RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: Do you have any hope your son is still alive? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't believe that Terrence is alive. At this point, I have to find out what happened to him. ANNOUNCER: The mystery surrounding two missing men. Revealing investigations. Fascinating characters. Stories with impact. This is CNN PRESENTS with your host tonight, Randi Kaye and Drew Griffin. (END VIDEO CLIP) KAYE: Tonight, bizarre crime stories - a baffling whodunit, a brazing scam that's targeting your hard-earned paycheck and the mysterious case of two men in Florida who simply vanished. DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: We begin on a blistering summer day in Erie, Pennsylvania. By the time the sun had set, one of the most bizarre bank robberies in the annals of the FBI had been committed. A man described by his family as the salt of the earth was dead, and a mystery full of strange twists was about to unfold with this phone call to 911. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) OPERATOR: 911. What's your emergency? BANK EMPLOYEE: Yes, we just have been robbed. OPERATOR: Was anyone hurt? BANK EMPLOYEE: No. He just walked out the door. GRIFFIN: August 28, 2003, Erie, Pennsylvania. Within minutes of robbing a bank, Brian Wells is surrounded by police, cross-legged on the ground and handcuffed. He told police he was a pizza delivery man and he delivered a pizza. The group he delivered it to captured him, he told police, put this bomb on his neck and told him to rob a bank. BRIAN WELLS: Can you call my boss? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. GRIFFIN: He asks police to call his boss, then to save his life. WELLS: Why is it nobody's trying to come get this thing off me? GRIFFIN: 25 minutes tick by, then the device begins to beep. WELLS: I heard the thing ticking when he did it. It's going to go off. GRIFFIN: In an instant, the bank robber is dead. The death of Brian Wells in this parking lot that day turned out to be only the beginning of the most elaborate, intricate and some say still unsolved bank robbery case the FBI has ever had. DAVID HICKTON, U.S. ATTORNEY, WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA: At the end of it all, our system worked. Our law enforcement partners solved the puzzle, and we achieved convictions and long sentences. GRIFFIN: The FBI, the local police and the U.S. Attorney's office simply want this case to be closed, but is it? Tonight, you decide. Did the FBI catch all the suspects? Did the FBI let one of them walk? Did the FBI make a mistake putting blame on a pizza delivery man whose secrets blew up in a parking lot? It was a hot Thursday afternoon. Jean Heid was expecting to see her brother at a party that night, but she had one errand to run. A quick shopping trip on Erie's Peach Street. But there was trouble. Police had blocked the road. Cops and cars everywhere. She turned around and went home. It was only later that night, watching the 10:00 news she learned what that traffic was all about. JEAN HEID, BRIAN WELLS' SISTER: My kids are sitting on the couch and then the story airs of this bank robbery and a man came into the bank with a bomb on him. GRIFFIN (on camera): You are recognizing your brother? HEID: My brother sitting there with this bomb on him. And I'm thinking, OK, the police have him, they'll find out who did this to him. Then as it goes on, it's like -- Brian exploded, you know, the bomb went off. Brian's dead. And I'm like, I can't believe this. GRIFFIN (voice over): After the explosion, one of the first things the cops did was look inside his car and they found these meticulous notes that amounted to a bizarre scavenger hunt, notes given to Brian Wells, instructing him to follow a lengthy set of orders if he wanted to survive. RICH SCHAPIRO, WIRED MAGAZINE: Laying out this puzzling highly complex scavenger hunt, directing him to go to specific places. Rich Schapiro is a journalist who's written extensively about the robbery for "Wired" magazine. SCHAPIRO: The notes suggested that at the very end of this, if he completed it in the allotted time, which wasn't much, that he would be able to save his life. GRIFFIN (on camera): Have you asked yourself, why didn't my brother Brian get in that car and drive straight to the police station? WELLS: No. I never asked that because Brian was in survivor mode. I truly believe that he was trying to save his life and others' lives. GRIFFIN (voice over): But the police had no idea what to think. Was Brian Wells a victim? Was he in on the robbery? What were those notes all about and who wrote them? Why? There were no answers but plenty of agencies wanting to be involved in the biggest case Erie had ever seen. BOB RUDGE, FBI SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE: We have formed a multi-agency taskforce comprised of the Pennsylvania state police, the ATF, the Erie police department, specifically their bomb squad, the United States Attorney's Office and the Erie County district attorney's office. JIM FISHER, RETIRED FBI AGENT: I wouldn't be surprised if some game warden from Warren, P.A. was on the taskforce. GRIFFIN: Jim Fisher, a former FBI agent and criminologist, studied the case from the beginning. FISHER: So you have 50 people running around randomly conducting, you know, leads with very little coordination. No one really seemed to be in charge. GRIFFIN: From the outset, he believes the FBI, the Erie police, all the law enforcement agencies involved were on the wrong track. This was not, he says, a bank robbery. (on camera): You believe Brian Wells was murdered? FISHER: Well, he was murdered. And it was the first-degree murder. This was an intentional, premeditated homicide. Moreover, it was extremely cruel in the way the crime was executed. GRIFFIN (voice over): Not just the crime, the actual bomb was a crude masterpiece of someone's twisted art. Police would find intricate decoy cables, homemade lock. It all made into a bizarre puzzle wrapped around the neck of the victim. And whatever this was, a bank robbery, a violent murder, the case was about to take another bizarre, almost unreal twist. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is a frozen body, it's in a freezer in the garage. GRIFFIN: A second body, this one hidden in a freezer, and a new suspect telling an even stranger tale. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What came first, the body or the freezer? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The body came in, I put it on the carpet ... GRIFFIN: Just ahead, a man, a body and an ever expanding cast of suspects. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) GRIFFIN: As Brian Wells was on the ground in that half hour after he robbed the bank, another man was watching everything unfold from across the street. According to an FBI affidavit, informants said a 63-year-old handyman named William Rothstein, was sitting in his car, eyes focused on Brian Wells. Bill Rothstein, officials later said, was the mastermind behind the entire scheme. BILL ROTHSTEIN: I put a cut piece of green tarp down here to put his body on. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. GRIFFIN: This is Bill Rothstein a few months after that bank robbery in a police evidence tape, where he's explaining to a detective how he helped a former girlfriend, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, dispose of a body. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What came first, the body or the freezer? ROTHSTEIN: The body came in, I put it on a cart. I'll show you where the cart is. The cart has big wheels, not the cart with the small wheels. Yes, that one there. GRIFFIN: But what's really going on here? What did that body in the freezer and Bill Rothstein's confession have to do with the collar bomb explosion that killed Brian Wells? In a word, everything. Bill Rothstein told police he was just doing Marjorie a favor. He claimed Marjorie had killed her abusive ex-boyfriend named Jim Rhoden (ph). But the FBI's investigation tells another story. Rhoden knew about the bank robbery plot and was about to go to police. Rothstein made that mess go away. DOUGLAS SUGHRUE, MARJORIE DIEHL-ARMSTRONG'S ATTORNEY: He came to the house and helped. He took the body out, cleaned everything up, cleaned the walls, replaced floorboards, replaced everything, painted, got rid of everything that might have blood on it. GRIFFIN: After Rothstein turned her in to police for the murder of her ex-boyfriend, Marjorie stunned investigators with another twist. She connected Rothstein to Erie's biggest bank robbery. SUGHRUE: I mean, to build the bomb and test the bomb and all the components, he had to have already been building it and designing it. In doing that, he also said, I need some money, so Marjorie just gave him like $75,000 worth of money that she also kept at the house, so Bill Rothstein was left with two of the most important things to hold over Marjorie Diehl Armstrong. Number one, all her money, and number two, a dead body that would make her lose her liberty for the rest of her life. GRIFFIN: Even though Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong had been talking with police, it took the FBI nearly four more years before it could tie up all the loose ends. Everybody, the FBI said, was involved with the robbery. Bill Rothstein, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong. Even another suspect, a crack dealer named Kenneth Barnes. And Barnes claimed Brian Wells was in on the plot from the beginning and that he was duped. SCHAPIRO: Wells was essentially told he would be robbing the bank, but the device that was being put around his neck would be fake, so he would not be putting himself in harm's way. As it turns out, he was double-crossed. GRIFFIN: Criminologist Jim Fisher believes it was Rothstein who wanted to pull off the perfect diabolical crime that would baffle investigators. The elaborate scavenger hunt would eventually send police to a dead-end. The confusing yet meticulously crafted collar bomb, even the white t-shirt Brian Wells wore into the bank spray painted with the word "Guess" -- to Fisher, all of it hatched in the mind of a madman. FISHER: The kind of motives we can understand, like a standard bank robbery, someone needs the money. And then we have a category of crime involving motive that a normal person can't really understand. GRIFFIN (on camera): You're describing Bill Rothstein. FISHER: That would be Bill Rothstein in my mind. To me, he fits, to a t, the profile of someone who would commit such a bizarre and pathological crime. GRIFFIN (voice over): But now four years after the original crime, the government had to prove in court its theory was correct. And there were two big problems. Rothstein, the alleged mastermind, died before even officially being linked to the crime. And the other main suspect, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, had told so many lies, she was showing evidence of mental problems and a personality disorder. SUGHRUE: The mental illness was a 30-year history. The personality disorders were a 30-year history. GRIFFIN: Over many delays and many more years, the government finally obtained convictions on charges of bank robbery and murder. Life plus 30 years for Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong. A lesser sentence for accomplice, Kenneth Barnes, because he testified on behalf of prosecutors. Brian Wells, who died with that bomb around his neck, well, the federal government said he, too, was in on the crime. HEID: When Brian delivered the pizza, he was accosted at gunpoint by a group of strangers whom he did not know. They shot at him. When he tried to run away, they knocked him to the ground. GRIFFIN (on camera): The FBI version of that, as you know, is different. HEID: That's a lie. That's a lie. That's all their fabrication. GRIFFIN (voice over): The FBI did agree to sit down with CNN, to explain their case and their prosecution, how it all went down. They just wanted to know the day we'd arrive here in Erie and where the interview would take place. Then the FBI began asking us questions. Who else would be interviewed for this report? And suddenly, the interview with the FBI was off. Jim Fisher says the FBI and the U.S. attorney took the easy way out and never really solved the case. FISHER: Bill Rothstein died about a year after the crime and he died with, in my opinion, all the secrets, all the answers. And to that extent, well, nobody literally dies laughing. He went to his grave knowing that he had outfoxed everyone. GRIFFIN: Neither the U.S. Attorney's office nor the FBI would comment to CNN about Fisher's assertions. And yet there is someone who is alive, who Kenneth Barnes says was at Rothstein's house the day of the robbery but was never charged in the crime. He is the convicted sex offender granted immunity in exchange for testimony he was never asked to give. Next. (on camera): Brian Wells' family is really wanting to know about you, sir. Please. (voice over): Could this man hold the answers that would finally solve the case? (COMMERCIAL BREAK) GRIFFIN: In her search for justice, Jean Heid said she has spent years trying to learn the truth from the one man she believes now holds the key to her brother's innocence. His name is Floyd A. Stockton, a convicted sex offender who authorities say was living with Bill Rothstein on the day of the bank robbery. He goes by the nickname, Jay. HEID: Jay Stockton is a convicted rapist, serial sexual battery of his wife, and he's out there. He's out there, people. GRIFFIN: He is the only one left alive and sane enough to tell the truth, she believes, yet the federal government has allowed him to go free. HEID: They know that my brother is innocent, 100 percent. And they know that Bill Rothstein, Jay Stockton are the co-conspirators in this crime that killed Brian. GRIFFIN: According to this FBI affidavit, investigators learned of Stockton's knowledge to the crime when Stockton talked about it in a monitored phone call from jail. Stockton was released, then given immunity to testify for the government in the pizza bomb case. Investigators say they compared Stockton's handwriting to this handwriting on those scavenger notes found in Brian Well's car. It was a perfect match. HEID: The authorities believe there were at least two people who wrote the notes, and Jay Stockton is definitely one of them. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On camera is Kenneth Eugene Barnes. GRIFFIN: There is also the testimony of this man, Kenneth Barnes. KENNETH BARNES: But it's like I say, I'd never kill anybody. GRIFFIN: Barnes pled guilty and is serving a 20-year sentence for his role in the case. But it's this FBI search warrant affidavit, now obtained by CNN, which raises even more questions about why Jay Stockton has been allowed to go free. According to the affidavit, Barnes and others involved in the case say Floyd Stockton was deeply involved in the plot. Barnes even telling the FBI on the day of the crime, it was Stockton who went into the garage, got the collar bomb and handed it to Rothstein. When we asked then U.S. Attorney for Western Pennsylvania Mary Bette Buchanan, why Stockton never testified and was never charged, she initially told us Stockton was sick, had suffered several strokes and was unable to travel. After our initial phone call, Buchanan never talked to us again. And at a news conference in Erie, the current U.S. attorney, David Hickton, wasn't forthcoming either. (on camera): What about Mr. Stockton, what can you tell us about his status and will he ever be prosecuted for this? DAVID HICKTON, U.S. ATTORNEY, WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA: We're not in a position to comment on Mr. Stockton. GRIFFIN: Douglas Sughrue, Marjorie-Diehl Armstrong's attorney, says there's good reason the U.S. attorney and the FBI want to keep quiet about Jay Stockton. (on camera): Do you think he is the one person who got away with this? SUGHRUE: Oh, yes. He got immunity from the government. Absolutely. Free and clear. Convicted sex-offender, multi-time sex offender. The government felt that he was the least involved person, and so they gave him immunity. HEID: They shouldn't have gave him immunity. He didn't deserve immunity. He deserved -- he is the guilty one that killed my brother. He deserved to be brought to justice. GRIFFIN: Stockton has been featured on the television show, "America's Most Wanted." Private investigators have tried to track him down, but Stockton has literally vanished. At least that is what he may have thought until the day we found him. These are pictures of Stockton today, two hours north of Seattle, down a side street in Bellingham, Washington, we found Stockton where he told our investigator he's been living in this duplex for the past six years but was soon about to leave. A week later, we spotted him leaving the duplex in a pickup truck. We followed to an RV sales lot, where he was eyeing a large recreational vehicle. It was perhaps the first time in years anyone had mentioned his involvement in the pizza bomb case. How are you doing, Mr. Stockton, right? Drew Griffin. I'm with CNN. How you doing? It's taken a long time for me to find you. I wanted to ask you some questions. No, sir, Brian Wells' family is really wanting to know about you, sir. Please. As fast as he could, with his driver's side window lowered, Jay Stockton sped away, not saying a word. Mr. Stockton, this is Drew Griffin again with CNN. Brian Wells' family is really just trying to get to the truth of the matter about particularly their brother. You're the only one alive and sane enough to tell the truth. And that's what they're after. He has refused all of our phone calls, refused to respond to notes placed at his door. The assistant U.S. attorney who prosecuted the case insists to us Jay Stockton would tell us what the federal government has proven in court, that Brian Wells was involved with the bank robbery. MARSHALL PICCININI, ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY, WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA: No one could have sat through this criminal trial without understanding the degree of evidence linking Mr. Wells to these particular participants. GRIFFIN: In fact, the same affidavit that implicates Stockton repeatedly implicates Jean Heid's brother. The suspects involved saying Brian Wells knew the plot all along, was involved in the planning, was part of the band of criminal misfits trying to rob a bank. Jean Heid will never believe that. She believes her government is lying. HEID: They let an innocent man, my brother, die while in their custody, and they didn't even lift a finger to help him. This case is going to be looked at for years to come. And they don't want it known that they screwed up. Brian never would have done this. GRIFFIN: Jean Heid is still claiming her brother's innocence and still says she won't rest until she can prove it. Meantime, there's a new book about the case that's scheduled to be published later this year. One of its authors is a reporter for the local newspaper in Erie, who's been following the case all these years. And the other author, a now retired FBI agent, who was the lead investigator. Coming up, it's being called the new crack cocaine of crime, thieves stealing your tax refund before you even know it. How do they do it? Randi Kaye's special investigation is next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) GRIFFIN: Imagine filing your income taxes only to be told someone else has already done the same thing and gotten your refund. KAYE: It's a fraud so big that the IRS doesn't even know how much money is getting into the hands of criminals, although law enforcement says it's well into the billions of dollars. GRIFFIN: Every taxpayer is at risk, and as our investigation reveals, the criminals have gotten incredibly brazen, in spite of an IRS crackdown on refund fraud. It's gotten so out of hand, police call this the crack cocaine of crime. KAYE: Now, for the first time in our investigation, you'll see the fraud as it unfolds in Florida, where in some neighborhoods refund robbery has become a way of life. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Westbound on 163. This is a known gang member. Let him get around us. KAYE: We've just rolled up on what police say is evidence of one of the biggest and easiest frauds in America to pull off. A crime hidden on a piece of plastic, a debit card. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's got the cards. He just purchased them, it looks like. KAYE: Those debit cards, police say, are used to take advantage of fast tax refunds from the IRS. The thieves are stealing those refunds by stealing people's identities, filing returns online with phony information, and getting the IRS to put the refund money on the debit cards. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is what they're buying. See Green Dot money cards, Target. He went to Target and spent 600 bucks. And he paid with a debit card. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What did you get? $1,000 for Christmas in gift cards? KAYE: Police say the man they pulled over, who's already facing identity theft charges in another case, is a known member of the infamous Money Avenue Gang, which specializes in this kind of fraud. Not surprisingly, he's in no mood to talk. I'm just curious what you do for work that you drive such a fancy car. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know nothing about that. KAYE: You don't know nothing about that? Can you tell me if you know anything about identity theft happening around here? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know nothing about that. KAYE: Are you involved in any of the tax fraud? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know nothing about that. KAYE: Detectives Craig Catlin and Rocky Festa (ph) of the North Miami Beach, Florida Police Department will later charge him with buying these gift cards with stolen tax return money. Police say here's the same guy on video at Target using a debit card in someone else's name with a fraudulent tax refund on it. And police say he used that debit card to buy those gift cards that were on the front seat of the car. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on, man. KAYE: He's arrested for marijuana possession, but police later charge him with grand theft in connection with tax refund fraud. He pled guilty to the drug charge but not guilty to grand theft. How easy is it to do this? DET. CRAIG CATLIN, NORTH MIAMI BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT: The fraudulent refunds are so easy, it's like the federal government putting crack cocaine in candy machines. It's that easy. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We already have one detective on the scene with an eyeball on the jewelry store. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You guys show up, because we'll need help over there. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A car just pulled up, the target we observed receiving 23 fraudulent U.S. Treasury checks. KAYE: Police in North Miami Beach alone, with just 98 officers patrolling a city of 41,000, have seen over $100 million in tax refund fraud just in the last two years alone. It's big money. The criminals cash in those debit cards as quickly as possible, showing off their riches with expensive luxury cars -- Jaguar, Porsche, BMW, Mercedes Benz, and souped up sports cars with expensive rims. They flaunt fancy watch, diamond pendants worth $55,000, and other jewelry, this one inscribed with the words "money hungry." Is this all about fast money, fast lifestyle? INTERIM CHIEF LARRY GOMER, NORTH MIAMI BEACH PD: I think it is. The money doesn't mean anything to them, because they can make so much of it. KAYE: The fraudsters buy Social Security numbers from insiders at hospitals, doctors' offices, even car dealerships. Any place where you have to give your personal information. Larry Gomer, the interim police chief, says as soon as the thieves buy a debit card, they're off and running. GOMER: They register that card in the name of the victim. They already have the victim's name and date of birth and Social Security number for the return that they are going to file. KAYE: When the tax refund hits the debit card, the identity thieves call it the drop. The criminals then take the drop money to ATM machines and grocery stores to get the money off the card as quickly as possible, as these police videos of suspects who were later arrested show. And while the debit cards are widely used for fraud, the criminals are so confident they won't get caught, that at times they even have actual U.S. Treasury checks sent to them. In this North Miami Beach neighborhood, where the Money Avenue Gang operates, tax refund fraud has replaced drug dealing. So in the cars that you pull over, do you find instead of bricks of drugs, do you find bricks of debit cards? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Debit cards. And the other thing that we find that we get lucky on sometimes is the actual ledgers of the names, Socials and date of births. KAYE: That they've stolen? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, they've stolen. KAYE: And no one is safe. These two detectives among four in the unit who fight this very crime are themselves victims of tax refund fraud. Detective Denise Love got a call just hours before our interview that someone had filed a tax return under her name. DET. DENISE LOVE, NORTH MIAMI BEACH PD: Here we are, living a legal life and working a job, you know, and these crooks are rolling around in $100,000 cars and staying in penthouses on Miami Beach and throwing money at strip clubs and everywhere else. KAYE: With your money? LOVE: With my money. KAYE: Detective Jose Marin got this chilling message when he tried to file his return this year. Someone else had already done it under his name. DET. JOSE MARIN, NORTH MIAMI BEACH PD: The thing that really hits us hard is that it mostly affects our family. And when you start messing with our family, it's something -- you take it to another level. So you get upset. KAYE: Marin was counting on more than $9,000. Love was expected $6,100. LOVE: I know from dealing with victims that it's going to be a long time before I see that money. KAYE: Coming up, what does the IRS say to some officials who charge it's making it too easy for your money to wind up in the hands of criminals? Why hasn't the IRS stopped that? (COMMERCIAL BREAK) KAYE: It's just another night on the streets in Tampa, Florida, where police say tax refund fraud is the new crack cocaine for criminals. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's over 2,000 in cash. This lady doesn't have a job. She's unemployed. KAYE: But inside her SUV, it looks like she went on a shopping spree, and police find this in her purse. Someone else's Social Security number and an online tax filing website, a red flag for fraud. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She got the information from somebody, their Social, their e-mail address, dollar amount that they're going to put in for with the federal government that they get a return on. KAYE: And anyone can learn the crime. This handwritten guide confiscated by police spells out how to get away with it, something this police informant and convicted felon we'll call Cheryl knows all too well. She says she teaches friends how to do what's known on the street as the drop -- someone else's tax refund dropped on to a fraudster's debit card. CHERYL, POLICE INFORMANT: This is like some of these guys get together, and we're going to meet here, and (inaudible), we all work together. Some people I know get up at 8:00 in the morning and don't finish until 8:00 at night. KAYE: It's like a full time job. CHERYL: Yes. KAYE: But do you think anybody who is involved in tax refund fraud thinks about the person whose identity they've stolen, whose IRS refund they're taking? CHERYL: No. They try to get to the top. They want to be better than the next person. KAYE: The goal, make money as fast as possible. CHERYL: Fast money, you have to flash it. You have to let others know, hey, I got this. KAYE: Even if it means you are going to go to jail? CHERYL: Yes. KAYE: And the lure was apparently too much for Cheryl. Just days after our interview, she was arrested for tax refund fraud. CHIEF JANE CASTOR, TAMPA PD: The process is broken. KAYE: In Tampa alone, where police estimate the fraud approaches a staggering half billion dollars in the last two years, Police Chief Jane Castor says the IRS efforts to curtail it aren't working. CASTOR: I don't think I have ever seen this magnitude of fraud that is just wide open. It's wide open. There just doesn't seem to be much being done about it. KAYE: She says suspects charged by local police know the penalties are light. Unless there are federal charges, which in most cases don't happen, or take a long time to file. For its part, the IRS identified $6.5 billion in tax refund fraud related to identity theft last year. CASTOR: I'd like to hear the other side of that equation, too, an estimation how much got through. KAYE: That's what we wanted to know. But after weeks of asking, the IRS's deputy commissioner, Beth Tucker, still could not provide an estimate of the fraud that's gone undetected. Just to be clear, you can tell us how much has been caught, but the IRS can't say how much of this fraudulent money has ended up in criminals' hands? BETH TUCKER, IRS DEPUTY COMMISSIONER: We process 140 million tax returns at IRS on a given year. The greatest majority of our taxpayers file a legitimate tax return. So, do some of these fraudsters, perpetrators actually get a tax refund illegally? Unfortunately, yes. But for the actual size of the problem, we probably need to get back to you with a number. KAYE: We're still waiting on that number. Typical, says Tampa mayor, Bob Buckhorn, who is furious with the IRS. Has the IRS disappointed you and your city? MAYOR BOB BUCKHORN, TAMPA, FLORIDA: I don't know. I haven't seen them. As far as I'm concerned, they're missing in action. They have not been helpful. They have not been a player. They have not taken responsibility for their side of the enforcement. If anything, you know, we've been banging our heads against their door asking for help and getting nothing in response. The silence has been deafening. KAYE: Is the IRS missing in action in Tampa? What's your response? TUCKER: No. The IRS is not. In fact, we have significantly increased the amount of resources we've devoted to identity theft, which is a heinous crime. KAYE: Just one week after our interview, the IRS sent a team to meet with Tampa and North Miami Beach Police officials. Law enforcement tells us there's a simple solution to curbing much of the fraud. Don't allow the refunds to be put on debit cards. Why hasn't the IRS stopped that? TUCKER: Not every taxpayer has a bank account. And so the debit cards that are issued by a third-party provider are a legitimate way for taxpayers to get their refund. KAYE: The IRS does not verify information entered on the return before issuing the refund. How much of this has to do with a speedy return? I know you want to get the return to the taxpayers as early as possible. Is that part of the problem? TUCKER: The balancing act is something that we're constantly aware of. I mean, the American taxpayer that's worked hard all year long and is depending on that legitimate refund, they have a right to get that refund from IRS as quickly as possible. KAYE: And the fraudsters, they know time is on their side. The faster the IRS sends out the returns, the sooner they get some hard working taxpayer's cash. BUCKHORN: It's an underground epidemic. It has taken the place of street level drug dealing. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are these your cards? BUCKHORN: It is a very, very scary proposition. (END VIDEOTAPE) KAYE: The Treasury inspector general says it can take victims of fraud more than a year to resolve their cases. And, according to police, this problem is only getting bigger, as more criminals learn just how easy it is to pull off. Police also say they've been told that even high school students are doing the fraudulent returns. Up next, the mysterious disappearance of two men in Florida last seen in the hands of a law enforcement officer. We investigate. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) KAYE: Whatever role race may or may not play in the Trayvon Martin case, recent history in Sanford, Florida and elsewhere gives many in the African-American community reason to suspect and in some cases fear the police. On his blog, the film director, Tyler Perry, describes an intense traffic stop he had with police in Atlanta. He's also calling attention to the disappearance in Florida of two men whose last known encounter was with a now fired sheriff's deputy. My investigation into the missing men. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) KAYE: Marcia Williams hasn't seen her son in more than eight years. Do you have any hope your son is still alive? MARCIA WILLIAMS: I don't believe that Terrance is alive. At this point, I have to find out what happened to him. KAYE: What happened to Terrance Williams is anybody's guess. He was last seen outside this Naples, Florida cemetery on January 11, 2004, with this man, Sheriff's Deputy Steve Calkins. Investigators say Calkins' story about meeting Terrance Williams here at the cemetery just doesn't add up. At one point, Calkins said he pulled Terrance Williams' car over because it was having problems. But when he called his friend in dispatch, he reported the car had been abandoned. He never let on he'd had any contact with the driver, Terrance Williams. STEVEN CALKINS: I got a 'homie' Cadillac on the side of the road here. Signal 11, signal 52, nobody around. Maybe he's out there in the cemetery. He'll come back and his car will be gone. KAYE: But if the driver was not around, how then was Deputy Calkins able to run a background check using Terrance's name and birth date? DISPATCHER: Last name? CALKINS: Williams. Common spelling. DISPATCHER: Date of birth? CALKINS: 4-1-75. Black male. KAYE: Yet just four days later, Calkins claims to remember nothing of the car or the driver. Listen to what he says when a sheriff's dispatcher calls him at home. DISPATCHER: You towed a car from Vanderbilt and 111th Monday, a Cadillac. Do you remember it? CALKINS: No. DISPATCHER: Do you remember, she said it was near the cemetery. CALKINS: Cemetery. DISPATCHER: The people at the cemetery are telling her you put somebody in the back of your vehicle and arrested them. And I don't show you arresting anybody. CALKINS: I never arrested nobody. WILLIAMS: Isn't that amazing. He's a seasoned veteran, and he couldn't remember four days later? KAYE: So you don't buy that? WILLIAMS: No, it's not true. It's not true at all. KAYE: Eight days after Terrance vanished, Deputy Calkins was ordered to write a report. And it's in this report that a different story emerges. Deputy Calkins says he drove the 27-year-old father of four to this nearby Circle K, where he says he thought Terrance worked. And it is that version of events that concerned investigators, because just months earlier, they'd heard the same story from Deputy Calkins about another missing man. 23-year-old Felipe Santos vanished October 14th, 2003 after Deputy Calkins responded to the scene of a minor accident involving Santos. He issued Santos a citation and put him in the back of his sheriff's car. Santos' brother, who was also at the scene, asked we hide his face out of fear for his own safety. Did Deputy Calkins tell you where he was taking your brother? UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The officer never told us anything. Later we went to the jail, and my brother wasn't there. KAYE: When Calkins was questioned about Felipe Santos, an undocumented worker, he told investigators he dropped Santos off at a Circle K. Sheriff's investigator Kevin O'Neill (ph). UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have no independent corroboration of anybody telling us that they saw Williams or Santos at one of these Circle K's. That's strictly Calkins's testimony. And I think we can add up where we can put his testimony at this point. KAYE: O'Neill says neither of missing men were ever seen on Circle K's security cameras. And there's more. About a month after Terrance Williams disappeared, Steve Calkins gave a sworn statement during an interrogation. He told investigators he had called this Circle K, where he says he dropped Terrance Williams off. He told investigators he made that call from his work-issued Nextel phone. But when investigators said they pulled his phone records and told him there was no record of a call to this Circle K from his cell phone, he brushed it off, saying simply, quote, "I don't know what to tell you." You've been doing this for a long time. You know when something doesn't smell right. Do you think that Deputy Calkins had anything to do with the disappearance and possible deaths of these two men? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's absolutely in the middle of the investigation, and everything I turn to brings me right back to Steve Calkins. KAYE: Months after Santos and Williams went missing, Deputy Calkins, a 16-year veteran, was fired for lying in connection with the investigation of Terrance Williams. Calkins hasn't been charged with a crime because no criminal evidence was ever found linking Calkins to the disappearances. In the case of Terrance Williams, investigators say the deputy's car was searched and described as immaculate. Calkins's home was never searched, because according to investigators, they didn't have the evidence needed for a search warrant. We wanted to ask Steve Calkins some questions, but couldn't get past this woman. Hello. Hi. Sorry to bother you. I'm Randi Kaye with CNN. I'm looking for Steve Calkins. WOMAN: No. You can get the camera out of our property, please. KAYE: He's not on your property. WOMAN: Bye. KAYE: Is he here or is he-- WOMAN: Bye. KAYE: In 2006, Calkins did tell a local paper he didn't do anything wrong, blaming the coincidences of the missing men on very bad luck. He suggested maybe they ran way. WILLIAMS: If Terrance was alive, Terrance would have had somebody to contact his mother. I know for sure, that's one thing that he would do in a heartbeat, call my momma. (END VIDEOTAPE) KAYE: According to the Collier County Sheriff's Office, the tips are still rolling in, but nothing concrete enough to make an arrest. It is, of course, a very active investigation. That's it for tonight's show. I'm Randi Kaye. GRIFFIN: And I'm Drew Griffin. Thanks for joining us.


text:
Operation Deep Slope 2007. Lamellibrachia sp. tube worms at a cold seep.
Image ID: expl1761, Voyage To Inner Space - Exploring the Seas With NOAA Collect
Location: Gulf of Mexico
Credit: Image courtesy of Expedition to the Deep Slope 2007, NOAA-OE
Category: Ocean exploration/
• High Resolution Photo Available
of the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic & Atmospheric
Adminstration (NOAA),
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Last Updated:
November 10, 2017

subset: commoncrawl


text:
A deposit was credited to my account by mistake. Can the bank/credit union take it back?
The content on this page provides general consumer information. It is not legal advice or regulatory guidance. The CFPB updates this information periodically. This information may include links or references to third-party resources or content. We do not endorse the third-party or guarantee the accuracy of this third-party information. There may be other resources that also serve your needs.


text:
PKRA News:
Five course races dominate day two
It was another bright and sunny day in beautiful Riviera Maya, Mexico. A large number of spectators lurked around the beach today in hopes of catching a glimpse of all the exciting kiteboarding action. Racers made their way to the beach early this morning for the skippers meeting.
Competitors had a little extra time to fine tune their equipment and make last minute preparations before spurting out onto the water. A total of five course races were held today under light but unstable and gusty winds averaging 10-12 knots with a scorching air temperature of 30 degrees Celsius.
Racers pumped up their largest kites and dashed off to the start line for what would be the first race of the Racing Kiteboard World Tour & Freestyle Pro in Riviera Maya, Mexico.
It was a great race day for California sunny boy, John Heineken (Ozone, USA). Heineken took first place in three races of five today, earning him the top position on the scoring chart. He managed to come in second place in the second race and ran into a bit of trouble during the fourth race, which was the cause for him to not finish.
French rider Olivier Dansin (North, FRA) had a couple of great runs today, finishing first as well as second in two races today followed by a third position in the third race. Blazej Ozog (North, POL) was amongst the top scoring racers today taking on second place in one race today. Ozog is part of the North production class team who are on fire this year with their great racing equipment.
An impressive debut for newcomer to the PKRA World Tour Racing lineup is Riccardo Leccese (Ozone, COL) from Columbia. Leccese represented his country proudly today by taking second place in one race today as well as two third place positions. Leccese ran into some technical difficulties with his gear during the final two races today however this unforeseen incident did not affect his overall performance.
In the women's racing division all three women fought strategically for first place. French rider Caroline Adrien (Cabrinha, FRA) made a couple errors during the first two races of the day, which set her back to the overall second position. Melissa Gil (Cabrinha, USA) had a spectacular run today taking on first place in the first two races followed by three second place finishes. Gil who has been competing competitively for some time has proved today that her skills and determination could find her taking an event title here in Mexico. Spanish rider Nuria Goma (Liquid Force, ESP) ran a tight course today enabling her second place in the first two races of the day followed by three third place positions in the final three races of the day.
Pictures: http://prokitetour.com/event-photos.php?id=118&Day=2
The mandatory skippers meeting is set for 10:30am tomorrow morning where the wind and weather forecast is predicting light wind conditions.
The Racing Kiteboard World Tour & Freestyle Pro is sponsored in part by MINI and The Riviera Maya Tourism Board and organized by PhotoproMedia Productions.


text:
The National Institutes of Health has awarded a $2 million grant to University of Pennsylvania researchers to study innovative ways to prevent chronic diseases among African-American men who have HIV. The high chronic disease risk for these men has long been known, but suitable evidence-based interventions are lacking, said study leader John B. Jemmott, PhD, a professor of communication in psychiatry at the university's Perelman School of Medicine and the Kenneth B. Clark professor of communication at the Annenberg School for Communication.
"African-American men who are infected with HIV are living longer than ever before and are now being impacted by the same chronic diseases that affect the general population of African-American men over 40," Jemmott said in a statement.
"We know that in addition to standard age-related factors, many of these chronic illnesses have behavioral components -- risk is influenced by what people do and don't do, their diet, and the amount of physical activity they get," Jemmott said. "Based on this complex intersection, we need to identify novel strategies to help these men navigate their lives in the healthiest way possible."
The chronic diseases for which these men are at risk include cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes, Jemmott said.


text:
We would like to invite you to take a guided group tour of our Guy's Campus, which will give you the opportunity to have a look around our campus, speak with a current student and learn more about life and study at King's.
14:20-14:30: Arrival at New Hunt's House reception, Guy's Campus
14:30-15:30: Guided campus tour
Wednesdays and Fridays only, 16:00-16:20: Optional tour of Waterloo Campus departing from Franklin Wilkins Building reception for students applying to study nutrition and dietetics, nursing, midwifery or pharmaceutical sciences.
Important booking information:
- You will be sent an email confirmation once you have booked your place
- Please download and print your campus tour ticket and bring this along with you on the day
- If you intend to bring a guest, please select 2 tickets when booking. If your guest is also interested in studying at King's, we would advise them to book separately.
- A Student Ambassador (look for the red t-shirt) will be waiting to greet you from 14:20 at the main Guy's reception in New Hunt's House. Please arrive promptly to avoid any delays
- If you can no longer attend, please cancel your ticket through this website in order to allow others to take your place.
- Please direct any queries to email@example.com


text:
Renewable Energies in Westminster
We do more than just fix dripping taps we provide all aspects of plumbing and central heating throughout Central London, Cambridge and the Newmarket area.
All our staff are committed to you, our customer, from the very beginning to the completion of every job we undertake.
From your first phone call to us our aim is to give you complete satisfaction. No unnecessary work will be carried out. We make sure the job is done properly and guarantee all our work.
If you require competitive and reliable heating and plumbing engineers look no further, we cater for all domestic and business clients central heating systems, gas services and plumbing requirements.
Our engineers are all Gas Safe Registered (previously Corgi). We are also OFTEC registered and able to carry out all Natural Gas, LPG and Oil installations, maintenance and repair.
We are committed to providing;
- New Boiler Installation
- Servicing and Maintenance
- Plumbing Services
- Power Flushing
- Renewable Energies
For further information or if you would like an estimate please do not hesitate to contact us or call 08450 531193.


text:
I recently had the opportunity to chat with Lakshmi Sandhana as she was preparing her article, "Darwin's Robots" that appeared in last week's New Scientist. Lakshmi specifically addresses the work of Jeffrey Clune, of the HyperNEAT Project of Cornell University's Creative Machine Laboratory. Clune's work is cutting edge and provocative in its focus upon the possibility and implications of "creative", and "intelligent," if not "conscious" machines. But it's this last point about consciousness in a machine that really opens up a proverbial "can of worms". As a neuroscientist I believe that it's not a question of if this will happen, but when…and perhaps, more appropriately, how soon, and will be ready for it when it does, and as a neuroethicist I can guarantee that the idea – and reality – of conscious machines stirs up a brew of moral, ethical, legal and social contentiousness. But let's put these ethical issues and questions aside for the moment, and look into some of the possibilities spawned by neuro-robotic engineering.
Creative Machines: On the Cusp of Consciousness?


text:
MFlow: Web app server for stateful processes with safe, composable user interfaces.
A Web framework with some unique features thanks to the power of the Haskell language. MFlow run stateful server processes. Because flows are stateful, not isolated request-responses, the code is more understandable, because all the flow of request and responses is coded by the programmer in a single function. Allthoug single request-response flows and callbacks are possible.
Technically it is a Web application server for stateful processes (flows) that are optionally persistent. These processes interact with the user trough interfaces made of widgets that return back statically typed responses to the process that sent the interface (including links). The process is coded in pure haskell (with optional XML from Haskell Server Pages). It adopt and extend the formlet/applicative approach. The interfaces and communication are abstract, but it has bindings for HSP, Text.XHtml and byteString , Hack and WAI but it can be extended to non Web based architectures.
It includes Application Server features such is process and session timeouts and automatic recovery of flow execution state.
This release add transparent back button management, cached widgets, callbacks, modifiers, heterogeneous formatting AJAX, and WAI integration.
It is designed for applications that can be run with no deployment with runghc in order to speed up the development process.
See MFlow.Forms for details
Altroug still it is experimental, it is used in at least one future commercial project. So I have te commitment to continue its development. There are many examples in the documentation and in the package.
To do:
- MFlow
- MFlow.Cookies
- MFlow.FileServer
- MFlow.Forms
- MFlow.Forms.Admin
- MFlow.Forms.Ajax
- MFlow.Forms.XHtml
- MFlow.Hack
- MFlow.Hack.Response
- MFlow.Hack.XHtml
- MFlow.Hack.XHtml.All
- MFlow.Wai
- MFlow.Wai.Response
- XHtml
- MFlow.Wai.XHtml.All
- MFlow-0.1.5.0.tar.gz [browse] (Cabal source package)
- Package description (as included in the package)
Maintainer's Corner
For package maintainers and hackage trustees


text:
Sorry, there are no upcoming events
EVOLUTION, a Timmy Scott Production presented by Vie Nocturne.me, is San Francisco's newest circuit dance event. EVOLUTION brings you the best and brightest DJs from DJ Brett Henrichsen, Escape, Alexander, Alex Acosta, and Twisted Dee to name a few. With amazing state of the art lighting, sound, and visuals that separates ourselves from other events, our crowd is truly unique with a mix of the hottest faces in the scene. With a promising future, join us and evolve with taking partying to a whole new level.


text:
Join the Tech Entrepreneurship Team | Professional Team Mentoring Network
This event is aimed at all business technology enthusiasts who are willing to provide or receive relevant professional mentoring. If you are working in healthtech, fintech or edtech, then feel free to join us.
How it works
This is a structured group activity where professionals are encouraged to support each other for reaching a meaningful goal. The mentoring process is distributed across the team and 1-to-1 interactions won't become a priority. In this context, anyone can become a mentee or a mentor and roles are assigned beginning from individual needs and the overall group's mission. Over time, you will be able to create meaningful connections which will allow you to develop new skills and take your career one step forward.
1. Introductions
2. Evaluating individual needs and priorities
3. Identify the support networks
4. Assigning group roles
5. Creating an action plan
By signing up to this activity, you agree to:
• Engage in a SMART professional development process.
• Provide relevant support to other members (information, referrals or business opportunities).
• Attend at least three group meetings for the following three months.
• Join a private slack channel for supporting the development of your group.
Please note, this is a closed group and at least four RSVPs are required in order for the meeting to take place. If this requirement is not met, the meetup will be rescheduled at a convinient date, so if you are really keen to participate, please be patient, you will be notified as soon as your team has been created.


text: Dear experts, We have installed a 32 nodes dual 1 GHz P3 clusters a year already. Its performance is excellent, and the system stability is fairly OK. Due to the increase in system loading, we are going to install additional nodes in the coming half year. I would like to have more hints from our experts on the following questions: (1) Currently most of the major vendors already propose P4 nodes of at least 2.2 GHz. In view of the difference in processor speed, definitely the new nodes have to be separated from the old nodes. We can either create new batch queues to accommodate these new nodes (but still sharing the old file system), or build an entire new cluster with its own front-node and file system. What will be the relative advantages/disadvantages? (2) If we real intend to build a completely new cluster to house all the new nodes, i.e. with its own front-node and file system, is it possible for us to build some backup resilience between the 2 clusters as well? During the last year, we experienced around 8 times of failure to the processor nodes. All of them are related to the failure of fan in the power supply. Losing 1-2 nodes for around 4 hours never affect the overall operation of the cluster. However on one occasion the master RAID system failed. All users were not allowed to login for almost 12 hours, as the "/home" was totally unavailable during this period of time. One possible way can be a SAN approach which the two file systems are always mirrored. Will it be very expensive? Another way is just a cross-mounting of two file servers. Likely the postgrads will be on the old server while the researchers will be on the new one. During normal operation, each cluster is only going to use its local file system, but the two servers will be "rsych" during the night time. In case a file system is inaccessible, all users will be allowed to access the remaining available file system (after the sysadm. has done some work). This sounds complicated, but should be much cheaper. Any expert has such experience? (3) Most of the major vendors proposed blade server approach as alternate proposal to the conventional 1U server. By stuffing 14 processors board into a blade centre (actually just another type of rack-mounted chassis occupying 7U), the "processor density" can be double. However when I asked them the same question as below, they cannot give me a definite answer (or at least I am not convinced by their answer). The question is: will there be a timing difference in case a processor in the 3rd blade, insider the 3rd chassis, is trying to communicate (through MPI) to a processor in another blade within the SAME chassis, as compared to another processor in a blade housed within ANOTHER chassis. A sales from a vendor answered me that there should be some difference, as the communication within a blader centre will go through the back-plane. Once it goes out from the blade centre, the communication has to go through an inter-chassis switch, thereby should have some timing difference. He further told me that it is the beauty of the "infiniteband" which I don't have any experience. However another sales answered me that they should be the same, because all processors within the entire "rack" should have distinct IP addresses, and the communication between any 2 processors should be fair and equal. Which is right? THANKS for all expert advice. W.K. Kwan Computer Centre University of Hong Kong


text:
FONTANA >> Eric Sherwin was off duty when the ground shook early Wednesday.
It was enough to wake up the San Bernardino County firefighter, but with strong winds recently blowing through the region, he and many others thought something else had jolted them.
"At first I thought it was just a gust of wind," he said. "Then I realized it was more than that."
Definitely, more.
Southern California was hit Wednesday by a magnitude 4.4 earthquake. The quake, centered near Fontana, struck at 1:35 a.m. at a depth of just over 3 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The epicenter was 3 miles north of Fontana, said USGS seismologist Valerie Thomas.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or damages, but the temblor was felt as far east as Morongo Valley and as far west as Los Angeles.
Some described it as a rumbling quake. One police officer compared it to the impact of a car crash.
"It felt like somebody ran into our building," said Sgt. Chris Hice of the Rialto Police Department.
Hice said the only report of damage in the city 25 minutes after the earthquake was of some broken glass at a school. But Rialto school district officials said later that an inspection found no problems.
It rocked enough to set off school alarms in Rialto.
In Fontana, police Dispatch Supervisor Amy Blessinger described the impact as "a pretty good jolt." She said there had been calls to police confirming the earthquake, but no reports of damage.
The Fontana watch commander, Sgt. Brian Heaviside, was on patrol when the quake hit.
"I barely felt it," Heaviside said.
Heaviside then asked for the magnitude and location of the earthquake epicenter.
"4.4?" he said. "That's a decent jolt."
No damage was reported in the northwestern corner of Riverside County, the area of the county closest to the epicenter, said Riverside County sheriff's Deputy Armando Munoz.
Bob Snedaker, owner of Simpler Life Emergency Provisions Inc. in Redlands, expected the earthquake would draw some extra customers to his store.
"Those whose hearts are into this, we'll see (in here) today," he said Wednesday.
Snedaker sells emergency preparedness equipment and supplies mostly to businesses, industry, schools, government and hospitals, but also has a retail store on Park Avenue for anyone to purchase supplies.
He noted the quake's closeness to Friday's 20-year anniversary of the Northridge earthquake.
"It dovetails nicely with Friday's anniversary," Snedaker said. "It's an interesting connection."


text:
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text:
Carrie Underwood's Blown Away Tour Sells Out Every 2013 Date
Country superstar Carrie Underwood has completely sold out -- her concerts, that is. The 'Good Girl' hitmaker has not played to a single empty seat over the course of her 2013 Blown Away Tour, comprising 22 shows in North America so far this year.
Underwood recently returned from Europe, where she performed a string of dates. Her sold-out dates stateside have included First Niagara Center in Buffalo; Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ont.; Spokane Arena; and SaveMart Center in Fresno. Underwood performed to capacity crowds of more than 10,000 fans at each of those shows.
According to Country Music Is Love, the Blown Away Tour also broke records at the WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ont. as the fastest sellout in the venue's history, as well as the largest number of tickets sold to a single performance.
Underwood hit a familiar stage on Thursday night to debut her new single 'See You Again' live on 'American Idol.' It's the fourth single off her current album 'Blown Away,' which has been certified Platinum. See her performance of the new track here.
On Sunday (April 7), Underwood will perform on the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas.


text:
a morel is the fruiting body, or spore-producing reproductive structure of an ascomycete fungus.
Red Milkweed Beetles Mating
Milkweeds support more than just the monarch butterfly. Several other species of insect including the red milkweed beetle have coevolved with, and are dependent on milkweed species for their food, and therefore survival. Red milkweed beetle mating on common milkweed in our garden (beetle: "Tetraopes tetrophthalmus", family Cerambycidae; plant: "Asclepias syriaca", family Apocynaceae).
Parasitoid Wasp on Heliopsis
The long needle-like structure extending from the tip of the abdomen is the ovipositor, or egg-laying device on this female parasitoid wasp. I watched her thrust her ovipositor down into the centre of the daisy multiple times. This type of behaviour suggests she was laying eggs inside a host, probably a larval insect living concealed inside the disc florets. In our biodiversity garden. (plant is native oxeye sunflower: "Heliopsis helianthoides", family Asteraceae).
Robber Fly Consuming a Japanese Beetle
This robber fly is one of my favourite insects in our biodiversity garden. First, it is a bumble bee mimic. Second, it is a predatory fly, and it's eating a Japanese beetle, a notorious introduced plant pest that feeds on an unusually wide variety of plants -- and always your favourite one! (robber fly: "Laphria" sp., family Asilidae; beetle: "Popillia japonica", family Scarabaeidae").
Dolomedes I
A female fishing spider is protecting her offspring. She is using her palps to hold the egg sac under her body, and will carry it around for nearly two weeks until the adorable spiderlings hatch. Most will become food for others animals but several will undoubtedly survive to adulthood (Araneae: Pisauridae: probably "Dolomedes tenebrosus").
Katydid After Molting
The translucent pale colour of this katydid won't last long. It had just molted, and the new exoskeleton is in the process of hardening and darkening. After an hour or so, the exoskeleton will be a darker, opaque green (much like the leaves in the photo) providing the perfect camo.
Black Squirrel I
High in the canopy of an old black walnut, a black squirrel is eating a pendulous catkin. In other words, the squirrel is eating the male flowers of the walnut tree (tree: "Juglans nigra", squirrel: melanistic eastern grey, "Sciurus carolinensis").
Remains of a Horseshoe Crab
Horshoe crabs are marine arthropods that are more closely related to spiders than they are to crustaceans (crabs, shrimps, etc.). During the breeding season they migrate to shallow coastal waters and produce thousands of eggs which are a major food source for migratory birds. Atlantic horseshoe crabs are in decline and their population is threatened, which in turn threatens the birds that depend on them for food. Major threats to horseshoe crabs include over-harvesting (for medical applications), overfishing (for bait to catch eel) and shoreline development. Delaware Seashore, Atlantic coast, USA ("Limulus polyphemus").
Dune Grasshopper
Another excellent example of crypsis is the perfectly camouflaged immature dune or maritime grasshopper. By blending in with beach sand of its Atlantic coastal habitat it remains hidden from predators such as birds. Immatures are especially vulnerable because they cannot yet fly. Delaware seashore, USA (probably "Trimerotropis maritima").
Canada Gosling
A baby Canada goose.
Amplexus in gray tree frog, "Hyla versicolor" in late June in our biodiversity garden in Ontario. The male is on top. They remained in this mating position for the better part of the morning. The night before, we photo-documented five males calling in the area. Amphibians are in decline worldwide. It is heartening to know that our native tree frog is doing well, at least in our little neck of the woods.
Mollusca on Skunk Cabbage
Lovely native freshwater aquatic snails on one of my favourite native plants, skunk cabbage. Skunk cabbage is an important wetland indicator species (plant: "Symplocarpus foetidus").
Blue Jay I
An iconic native North American bird.
A female long-tailed skimmer, or whitetail dragonfly, "Plathemis lydia", photographed in our Ontario biodiversity garden.
Leaf Beetles on Butterfly Milkweed
The milkweed leaf beetle is another insect species dependent on milkweeds for survival (a member of the family Chrysomelidae). In our biodiversity garden they are more commonly found on butterfly milkweed (beetle, "Labidomera clivicollis". plant "Asclepias tuberosa").
White-tailed Deer
In mid-June in Ontario, a male whitetail with antlers still in velvet. White-tailed deer are generalist herbivores, and they have adapted to a variety of habitats. They are known to eat plants that are poisonous to other animals. They regularly feed on milkweed in our garden. Found from Canada through North, Central and parts of South America, it is the most widely distributed native ungulate in the Americas. Due to their ability to adapt to disturbed habitat, and the loss of natural predators such as wolves, their population is increasing across their range.
Brown-eyed Susan
A red milkweed beetle wandering off its host plant, on a leaf of swamp rose mallow. Brown-eyed susan in the background.
Chipmunk on Nannyberry
The eastern chipmunk is a ground squirrel that often climbs small trees and shrubs in our biodiversity garden. Here the chipmunk is on nannyberry, with cheek pouches full of tasty fruits.
Our local marmot, groundhog, woodchuck, or ground squirrel, selectively eating dandelion leaves (Rodentia: Sciuridae: "Marmota monax").
Red-bellied Woodpecker, Male
Medway Valley Heritage Forest Environmentally Significant Area, London, Ontario.
Female Red-bellied Woodpecker
Another awesome example of crypsis. The colour pattern of the feathers of this female red-bellied woodpecker provides excellent camo as she forages for insects on a dead tree. Medway Valley Heritage Forest, London, Ontario
Boogie-Woogie Aphids on Beech
Endearing tiny dancing insects that won't do any serious damage to their host plant, American Beech. It is also commonly called the beech blight aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae: "Grylloprociphilus imbricator").
Urban Raccoon
With agile hands the raccoon was caught destroying our halloween pumpkin. We didn't mind, it was worth the laughs.
October Moon
Officially, the night before the full moon, October 2017
freshwater snailaquaticmolluscaskunk cabbagesymplocarpus foetidusaraceaewetlandbiodiversityontariocanadanorth america


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A pair of heavyweight strikers collide in June at UFC 115 now that Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic (26-7-2 MMA, 3-3 UFC) and Pat Barry (5-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) have agreed to a matchup.
Sources close to the event today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) bout agreement should be distributed shortly and that the competitors were told it'll be part of the night's pay-per-view main card. MMAScrapsRadio.com first reported the fight earlier today.
Barry initially was expected to fight Gilbert Yvel (36-14-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) at the June 12 event.
Although not officially announced by the UFC, UFC 115 takes at GM Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
With Barry now fighting Filipovic, his original opponent, Yvel, instead fights Ben Rothwell, as MMAjunkie.com first reported earlier today.
Barry's opponent, Filipovic, recently evened his UFC record to 3-3 with a second-round TKO of late replacement Anthony Perosh at UFC 110. (Perosh replaced Rothwell, who was forced off the card due to traveler's flu.) Although sometimes slow and sluggish in the bout, Filipovic nevertheless controlled the pace of the fight and staked claim to the win, which moves him to 4-1 (with one no-contest) over his six fights, which have come in the UFC and DREAM.
A former World Combat League regular and former K-1 kickboxer (with an 18-6 record), Barry transitioned to MMA in May 2008 with the help of famed kickboxer turned MMA trainer Duke Roufus. After just three pro MMA bouts, he made his octagon debut and scored a devastating TKO of Dan Evensen via leg kicks at UFC 102.
Barry then got caught via guillotine choke by Tim Hague at UFC 98 but recently rebounded for a second-round TKO of Antoni Hardonk that earned him the night's "Knockout of the Night" award at UFC 104.
For the latest on UFC 115, including the latest rumored fight card, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.
(Pictured: Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic)


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[Saudi Arabia's religious police have announced a ban on selling cats and dogs as pets, or walking them in public in the Saudi capital, because of men using them as a means of making passes at women, an official said on Wednesday.
Othman al-Othman, head of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice in Riyadh, known as the Muttawa, told the Saudi edition of al-Hayat daily that the commission has started enforcing an old religious edict.
He said the commission was implementing a decision taken a month ago by the acting governor of the capital, Prince Sattam bin Abdul Aziz, adding that it follows an old edict issued by the supreme council of Saudi scholars.
The reason behind reinforcing the edict now was a rising fashion among some men using pets in public "to make passes on women and disturb families," he said, without giving more details.
Othman said that the commission has instructed its offices in the capital to tell pet shops "to stop selling cats and dogs".
The 5,000-strong religious police oversees the adherence to Wahabism -- a strict version of Sunni Islam, which also forces women to cover from head to toe when in public, and bans them from driving.]I'd laugh if it weren't so sad. It kind of brings to mind a quote from the movie Lawrence of Arabia. I think Omar Sharif's character was being scolded by Lawrence, played by Peter O'Toole: "...so long will (Arabs) be a little people,...a silly people,..greedy, barbarous and cruel!" It might not be an exact quote, and either way not one that I used to assume was true in this day and age. But the people of our "ally," Saudi Arabia, as well as others in that part of the world, seem to be trying very hard to live down to that description. Even today after all that has happened since 9-11, I would have assumed that story came from The Onion rather than AFP.


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Trichamp (HK) Ltd. is a footwear manufacturer specialized in producing different type of high quality sandals/flip Flops. Our range include fashion sandal, beach sandal/flip flops, sports sandal and casual footwear.
Our sales/marketing office is in Hong Kong. Our soly-owned factory is located in beautiful coastal city - Xiamen. We employ about 200 staffs and workers and have been in the bussiness over 15 years.
The material we use to make our footwear includes Rubber, EVA, PU, leather, PVC, fabric etc. We have sold our products to Europe, USA, Japan and Australia market. Our customers include some of the world's famous brands. We offer a large selection of styles to choose from and we also welcome customers with their own designs.
Trichamp's Sandal Now Meets the latest CPSIA (USA Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act)'s requirement for Lead in Paint and Substrate:
- Lead Content of Trichamp's Rubber sole < 100 PPM
- Lead Content in Trichamp's Rubber Strap: < 100 PPM
- Lead Content in Trichamp's EVA sole: < 100 PPM
- Lead Content in Trichamp's PVC strap: < 100 PPM
- Lead Content of Trichamp's paint on insole and strap: < 90 PPM
Trichamp's Sandal exceeds the standard for European requirement and Germany requirement:
- Azo dyes
- Cadmium 91/338/EEC
- Phthalate 2005/84/EG
- DEHP, DBP, BBP, DINP, DIDP, DNOP Free (6P free)
- En71-3
- PAHs
Since the first day in the business, TRICHAMP has committed to provide the safety-come-first products to the industry and Trichamp Product has always exceeded the standard set by the industry.


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Author Notes: Bhutanese red rice is grown in the Paro Valley of Bhutan at elevations of 8000 feet. It is a beautiful russet color with a flavor that reminds me of tea. It is whole grain, high in fiber, and a good source of potassium and magnesium. I have combined this rice with coconut milk, fresh ginger, lemongrass, and pandan leaf to make an exotically flavored rice pudding. (Note: the photo doesn't do this justice - it's actually a lovely pink color.) - hardlikearmour —hardlikearmour
Food52 Review: Aptly named, one bite of hardlikearmour's Shangri-La Pudding, transports you to another world. Fragrant coconut, fresh ginger and lemongrass gently bubble away with rich and nutty Bhutanese red rice to create a beautiful pink-hued rice pudding that is sweet up front, with spicy (ginger) and floral citrus (lemongrass) notes that linger on the palate. Although hardlikearmour suggests enjoying this at room temperature or chilled, I preferred it warm, still steaming. To me, it felt like a luxurious bowl of comfort, one that I could not stop eating. - gingerroot —gingerroot
Serves: 6
cups water
stalk lemongrass, cut into 2 or 3 pieces (to fit in 3-qt sauce pan)
1/8-inch thick & 1-inch diameter ginger "coins"
Pandan leaves, each tied into an overhand knot (optional ingredient)
teaspoon salt
cup Bhutanese Red Rice
can coconut milk
cups whole milk
cup sugar
- Combine water, lemon grass, ginger, pandan leaf, and salt in 3-quart saucepan. Bring to boil over high heat, then add rice. Once rice starts to simmer, reduce heat to low and cover. Cook until most of the water has absorbed, about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Add coconut milk, whole milk, and sugar. Raise heat to medium-high until mixture starts to simmer. Reduce heat to maintain simmer. Cook until thickened and creamy, about 45 to 50 minutes. Stir mixture occasionally at first, and more frequently as it starts to thicken to prevent scorching.
- Remove from heat. Once mixture has cooled a bit remove lemongrass, ginger, and pandan leaves. Transfer to bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. Cool to room temperature before serving or refrigerate and serve cold.
- Note: Pandan leaves can be found frozen at well-stocked Asian markets. It is commonly used in Southeast Asian cuisine, and has a nutty, grassy flavor often used to flavor rice dishes.
- This recipe is a Community Pick!
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Coconut
More Great Recipes:


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Blocks 10, 11 Aerial View
The first view is from the outside of the Block 11 courtyard, where prisoners were shot in the head against the black wall at its far end. Scrolling to the right, you see the entrance to Block 11, the camp prison.
To the left of the courtyard is Block 10. "Professor Dr. Carl Clauberg, a German gynecologist, carried out criminal sterilization experiments in this block from April 1943 through May 1944. Several hundred Jewish women used in these experiments were quartered permanently in two upstairs rooms. Some of them died during the experiments and some were put to death so that autopsies might be performed on them. Those who survived were left with permanent injuries. Other SS physicians also conducted experiments on women prisoners in this block."*
*Reference: http://www.auschwitz.org.pl/html/eng/zwiedzanie/blok_10.html


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Price (US$):
$210 - $375 / night
Location. The Westin Resort, Guam is located on the beach in Tamuning's Tumon neighborhood, close to The Plaza, Tumon Beach, and DFS Galleria.… more »
Price (US$):
$286 - $425 / night
Location. Located in Tamuning, Onward Beach Resort is connected to the airport and close to Statue of Liberty, Paseo Baseball Stadium, and… more »
Price (US$):
$140 - $273 / night
Location. Hilton Guam Resort And Spa is located on the beach in Tamuning's Tumon neighborhood, close to Tumon Sands Plaza, Tumon Beach, and… more »
Price (US$):
$146 - $680 / night
Location. Leopalace Resort Guam is a family friendly Yona resort on a lake and local attractions include Agana Shopping Center, Asan Beach, and… more »
Price (US$):
$239 - $3558 / night
Location. Hyatt Regency Guam is located on the beach in Tamuning's Tumon neighborhood, close to Tumon Sands Plaza, Tumon Beach, and Underwater… more »
Guam is an island in the western South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines. (Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 144 47 E)
It is the largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago. Guam is a territory of the United States of America. It is considered to occupy a militarily strategic location, south of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Guam is one of many islands that make up Micronesia, which politically consists of Belau (Palau), the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Kiribati (anthropologically having affinities with Polynesia and Micronesia), the Marshall Islands, and several remote islands designated as the U.S.-administered islands of the Central Pacific. All of Micronesia has close political ties to the U.S.
Guam was ceded to the U.S. by Spain in 1898 after the Spanish-American War. Captured by Japan and its army in 1941, it was retaken by the U.S. three years later. The military installations on the island are some of the more strategically important U.S. bases in the Western Pacific.
The economy depends on U.S. military spending, tourism, and the export of fish and handicrafts. Total U.S. grants, wage payments, and procurement outlays amounted to $1 billion in 1998. Over the past 20 years, the tourist industry has grown rapidly, creating a construction boom for new hotels and the expansion of older ones. More than 1 million tourists visit Guam each year. The industry has recently suffered setbacks because of the continuing Japanese slowdown; the Japanese normally make up almost 90% of the tourists. However, Guam tourism is branching out to attract people from other Asian countries such as South Korea and China. Most food and industrial goods are imported. The possibility of a large military buildup has generated a lot of interest in increasing the tourist facilities on the island.
Guam enjoys a tropical marine climate: generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast trade winds. The dry season runs from January to June, the rainy season from July to December, though with little seasonal temperature variation. During the rains, squalls are common, though destructive typhoons are rare.
Northern Region- The Northern Region of Guam is lightly populated and mostly owned by the U.S. Military. Cities like Dededo and Yigo are in this region. The Northern Region contains Ritidian Beach, one of the most isolated, beautiful beaches in Guam. The Northern Region is the least-visited by tourists.
Central/Metropolitan Region- The Central Region holds the majority of Guam's population and cities. A lot of shopping and restaurants are located in this area. This is the island's most visited area. This area contains most of Guam's cities and the island's international airport. It is prone to heavy traffic congestion. The Central Region is the most diverse. The population of the Central Region is approximately 120,000, and expected to grow to at least 140,000 by 2015.
Southern Region- Guam's Southern Region is mostly rural and picturesque. It is one of the most untouched and undeveloped areas on the island and the Chamorro culture is most preserved here. Cocos Island and the black sand beaches at Talofofo are popular places to visit in this region.
The entry requirements for Guam are largely the same as those for the U.S, and nationals of all countries not needing a visa to enter the U.S. do not need a visa to enter Guam, although they may require an ESTA travel authorization. Foreign citizens may enter Guam using one of three options: (1)- the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, (2)- the Guam/CNMI Visa Waiver Program or (3)- a valid U.S. visa. If you are using the Guam/CNMI Visa Waiver Program, you do not need to apply for a travel authorization prior to going. The Guam/CNMI Visa Waiver Program includes seven U.S.-VWP countries (Australia, Brunei, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore and the UK) plus Hong Kong, Malaysia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea and Taiwan. Foreign citizens using the U.S.-VWP may stay 90 days, while citizens using the Guam/CNMI-VWP may stay for 45 days. Citizens of non-VWP countries must apply for a U.S. visa at any U.S. embassy.
Won Pat Guam International Airport (GUM) is the only civilian gateway to the island.
The airline servicing Guam is Continental Micronesia or Air Micronesia (as formerly known), a branch of Continental Airlines , which offers non-stop service to Honolulu with onward connections in Honolulu to Los Angeles, Newark, and Houston. It also offers non-stop flights from Guam to Cairns in Australia, as well as most major cities in Japan, Palau, Manila and Cebu in the Philippines, and many of the Federated States of Micronesia.
All other service to Guam is through East Asia on Delta Air Lines and JAL (both serving Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya), Korean Air (Seoul and Osaka), ANA (Osaka), China Airlines (Taipei) and Philippine Airlines (Manila).
There is no regular ferry service from Guam, but cruise ships do stop in Guam on various itineraries, generally as part of a Pacific crossing or world circumnavigation.
Driving is fairly simple and similar to the mainland US. Roads are not graded to US standards and are very slippery in rain, take caution. The main route on the island is Marine Corps Drive/Guam Route 1 (Better known as Marine Drive). On main roads in Guam, expect congestion.
Buses are available, but the frequency at which they operate is low, you may end up waiting 1+ hours for a bus.
Walking is only possible in the central business districts of Hagåtña and Tumon. Walking anywhere else around the island is hazardous due to dangerous vehicular traffic and the lack of sidewalks.
English is a first language on Guam, though Chamorro words are an integral part of the local vocabulary, and like any area, a local accent of English exists. Chamorro borrows many words from Spanish, and many place names are pronounced as in Spanish, with key differences: "y" is pronounced as a "j" and vice-versa, such that the local name Reyes is pronounced ray-jez.
There are many retail outlets in Guam, including DFS (Duty Free Shoppers) which operates several stores in hotels, a large "Galleria," and a store in the Guam Airport. Further, visitors to Guam will note some of the same shopping opportunities that exist in "the States." Although there is no Wal-Mart, there is a large K-Mart that does a very high volume of business. Indeed, visitors who are used to the voided cavernous K-Marts in the U.S. may be surprised to find that they can barely squeeze through the aisles of the Guam K-Mart.
The Tumon Bay area possesses many duty-free shopping outlets and boutiques catering to Japanese tourists. Among these are boutiques selling Bvlgari, Chanel, Cartier, Dior, Fendi, Ferragamo, Gucci, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Rolex, and more.
For U.S. citizens, Guam offers greatly increased customs exemptions coupled with duty and tax free importation of goods. However, take care with the basic prices offered in stores. Much merchandise has been shipped a very great distance at no small cost.
Despite its small population Guam has a range of restaurants, including Ya Mon's Jamaican Grill (local made soon-to-be franchised ) Planet Hollywood, Hard Rock Cafe, Tony Romas and Chili's is a building next the the Guam Premier Outlets. Major hotels and restaurants serve continental meals and ethnic dishes.
Fresh seafood is bountiful. Fresh fish, octopus, and lobster are either grilled or baked with vegetables or fruit, sashimi, and in other ways unique to the Pacific.
Travelers who venture further will find Chamorro, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Filipino, Chinese, Mexican, and European restaurants, each with its own distinct ambiance. Chamorro Village offers a great variety of choices for local chamorro food, especially Wednesday nights. Of course, American fast food chains, such as Wendy's, Burger King, McDonald's, Taco Bell, Long John Silvers, Pizza Hut, Winchells Donuts and Dominos are common.
Locals pride themselves in BBQ'ing and it is a frequent event in Guam. Families and friends often get together and for BBQs, so if you visit ask about BBQ's. It's a good chance you'll get invited!
The main tourist area is around Tumon Bay, which has a number of high-rise hotels and resorts similar to Waikiki Beach. Cheaper accommodations exist near the airport, especially around the village of Harmon. Be aware that Harmon hotels tend to be on the seedier side since Harmon is a mixed industrial/residential neighborhood. Many of the flights scheduled through Guam to other locations (especially in Asia) often require an overnight layover, so plan ahead. Some hotels offer airport pickup, as taxis can be quite expensive.
The University of Guam provides higher education opportunities for students on Guam, as well as providing higher education for much of Micronesia. The UOG is in Mangilao, on the central eastern side of Guam. Students can earn various Undergraduate degrees and several programs offer degrees at the Masters level. Two of the better known Masters level programs include the (1) Environmental Science Program, focusing on Agricultural sciences through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and Hydrology and Water Resources through the Water and Environmental Research Institute of the Western Pacific (WERI; ); and (2) the Marine Laboratory (http://www.uog.edu/marinelab), which focuses on Marine Biology and other environmental issues.
The largest employers are the government of Guam and United Airlines, followed by a large duty-free retail firm (DFS Guam), the U.S. Federal Government, the hotel industry and services sectors. Guam has two large military bases and several smaller military installations that employ many people. The only U.S. Air Force base is Andersen Air Force Base on the northern tip of the island. The U.S. Navy has a large naval station -- Naval Station Guam --located on the west-central part of the island near the village Agat.
Observe caution when engaged in water activities on Guam, as in any coastal area, as currents can be swift and unpredictable, depending on the season. During the rainy season (from about August until March), water can pool unevenly on road surfaces. Pooling of rain water can lead to flooding of roads in the southern half of Guam, which does not have sewer drainage built under the road surfaces. Furthermore, many roads are in disrepair and potholes are frequent, which can easily blow out tires. Violent crime is fairly low, but property crime tends to be high, so safeguard valuables in vehicles. Rental cars have stickers and can be targeted by thieves. Guam is in a major earthquake zone, and these occur every few years. That said, there have been few casualties to date.
The civilian Guam Memorial Hospital is in Tamuning, in the Central Region. If you have access to military bases, there's a Naval Hospital.
The Chamorro people, also known as the Chamoro or Chamoru, are indigenous to Guam. They possess a culture that mixes Micronesian, Spanish, and American cultures, and in general the people are gregarious and welcoming to visitors. Observe common courtesies and tend to err on the modest side, especially with clothing. Other cultures found in Guam include those from the Philippines, Japan, China, Korea, and other countries.
The Chamorro population is predominantly but not exclusively Catholic, with Protestantism also popular. On Guam, rosaries take the place of large formal gatherings to remember those whom have passed away, and such congregations can occur for up to 20 years after someone has passed.


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Cox's army: UVA team has winning coast design
It's been a big year for UVA architecture professor and ex-Charlottesville mayor Maurice Cox. Last November, Cox was invited to serve on the Mayors' Institute on City Design for the Gulf Cities resource team, coaching dozens of Gulf Coast mayors on ways to rebuild their cities.
In February, he and colleague Robin Dripps took their graduate students down to New Orleans to see the devastation close up and speak with other architects and government officials, collecting information in preparation for an upcoming design competition.
In April, Cox got word that his alma mater, the Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture at Cooper Union, had selected him for their John Hejduk Award, an annual award given to alums who make an outstanding contribution to the theory, teaching and/or practice of architecture. Soon after Cox returned from the award shindig in New York City, one of his student design team placed in the professional category of the Mississippi design competition, one of only three teams to receive awards out of 275 submissions, and the only team made up of grad students. Three other student design teams were also recognized in the competition.
According to Cox, it was the trip his students made to the devastated regions that made the difference in the competiion. It gave them a much better idea of the realities on the ground, he says.
The former bicycle-riding mayor rented 24 bicycles when they arrived in New Orleans and had his students pedal over miles of the city. Students also helped gut a house.
That experience really made us put more heart into the competition, says Kathleen Mark, who along with teammate and fellow grad student Justin Laskin, came up with the award-winning design for a 140-unit multi-family housing community on the banks of the Mississippi.
We got a very personal look at the real tragedy that people went through, Mark says. Lorenzo Battistelli, Kristin Hennings, Alli Dryer, and James Pressly– all members of Cox's design team– were also recognized by the prize jury.
Indeed, in addition to meeting with officials involved in the rebuilding process, Cox arranged for the students to meet with people who had decided to return to New Orleans, gathering at a make-shift community center in a corner bar.
I think it was the awareness of the people they were actually working for that allowed them to come up with the winning designs, says Cox.
No word yet on whether the student designs will become a reality, but Cox says the site developer was on the prize jury. In the meantime, the winning designs will be on display at the Ogden Museum of Art in New Orleans and will later be exhibited at the American Institute of Architects convention in Los Angeles. They will also appear in the June issue of Architectural Record.
Waterhouse update
As we mentioned last week [Atwood's attempt: A Waterhouse 'village' downtown? May 18, 2006], plans are afoot to build a massive residential and retail complex, called Waterhouse, on the block between the Lewis & Clark building and Second Street NW (behind Club 216 on Water Street).
On May 17 architects from William Atwood's firm (Atwood himself was not present) held a public meeting and presented site plans for the project at the Neighborhood Development Office, helping to bring the project into sharper focus.
One of the surprises at the meeting was that phase 1 of the project involves the construction of a nine-story, 101-foot-tall building behind and above the building at 218 Water Street that houses Club 216 and other businesses. Although the architects say the building will be set back and terraced and won't necessarily look like a nine-story building, we're still talkin' high density. Plans also call for the demolition of the building beside it, where Eloise and Sidetracks are, and the demolition of a storage building along South Street.
As far as creating the village that Atwood alluded to in his Waterhouse charette," nothing has been contracted on either side of the Green Building, as 218 Water Street is being referred to. Curiously enough, Atwood had mentioned nothing about any nine-story buildings at the May 12 presentation he held at the Charlottesville Community Design Center.
The May 17 site plan presentation also yielded a few more facts and figures on the project. For example, there will be one new retail space, roughly 16 townhouses along South Street– some flat, others two and three stories high–and anywhere from 55 to 60 apartments in the main building. Construction on the project is expected to begin in December 2006 or early spring 2007 and will take 16 to 18 months to complete. The entrance to the building will also be on Water Street, a concern to several residents at the meeting, who said that Water Street already has enough traffic.
In addition, Francesco and Meridith Benincasa, owners of the adjacent building that houses their restaurant, La Cucina, were concerned about the effect of such a massive construction project, a concern that many existing businesses along the street no doubt share.
Like doctors displaying their best bedside manner, Atwood's architects said they hoped it wouldn't be too bad (Just relax, this might hurt a little). Francesco Benincasa also offered some insight into the infrastructure on the block (gas lines, electric, phone, sewer), which he characterized as confusing and haphazard.
All in all, the residents at the meeting seemed pleased with the presentation, although a bit taken aback by the scale of the proposal. As North Downtown Neighborhood Association president Colette Hall said, Of course, we can't stop you from building it, but we hope you do it the best you can.
Speaking of nine-story buildings on the Mall, as we mentioned last week, developer Keith Woodward has plans to put up a nine-story building of his own at Market, First, and Main streets with a million-dollar penthouse and underground parking. On Tuesday, May 23 (after press time, unfortunately), the Charlottesville Board of Architectural Review held a work session about the project. Although the public was welcomed to attend, no public comments were taken at the session. If you didn't attend, be sure to check out next week's column for the scoop.
Winning designs: Cox's graduate students Justin Laskin and Kathleen Mark take home the prize for this Gulf Coast rebuild design.


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I've updated my Web Sharpener Script for Photoshop to version 0.8. You will need Photoshop CS2 or higher to run it.
New features ...
*) Improved downscaling algorithm that uses more than 2 steps now and considers the image size. If you liked the previous algorith, you can select this option as well.
*) Better edge masking to prevent halos more efficiently.
*) Some bug fixes.
Here's the link ... www.andreasresch.at/upload/Web…
The ZIP-files includes both a German and an English version of the script plus the documentation in PDF-format.
As there are quite a few medium format and large format shooters here - the new script works significantly better with larger images now.
By request I also created a version that runs without dialog so that you can use it to run in a batch. Here's what you have to do ...
*) The script is included in the "English" folder of the ZIP-file.</b>
*) Open the script in a text editor.
*) There's a section at the beginning of the script called "EDIT THESE SETTINGS FOR THE AUTO-RUN". Edit the settings there to your liking.
*) After that, save the file with it's original name or better with a descriptive name like "WebSharpener V0.8 850px NoSaturation Opacity45.jsx" which can reflect some settings that you changed in the script.
*) In that way you can create several script files with different setting.
*) To be able to include the script in the batch automation you have to create an action for it. So go ahead and open some dummy image. Create a new action and label it to your liking. Now go to "File->Scripts->Browse..." and navigate to your own saved version of the script and run it. After that stop the recording of the action, close the dummy image and you're ready to use it a future batch processes.