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The following is an excerpt from National Aquarium's CEO John Racanelli's piece in today's Baltimore Sun:
For over 40 years, Earth Day has sent a powerful message: that each of us has both the capacity and the duty to support the environment that sustains us. This is certainly a message that dedicated conservationists can get behind, but what about everyday people with busy lives, kids to raise and jobs to keep? For many, Earth Day has become a day of celebration rather than an urgent call to join a movement.
Earth Day Network, the organization behind Earth Day, cites the impressive statistic that 1 billion people participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world. Participants plant trees, clean streams and resolve to recycle more. In schools around the world, students spend several weeks learning about the planet and how they can make a difference.
What really matters, though, is what people do the day after Earth Day — and for the 363 days after that. Earth Day was born out of a desire to do something. In 1970, 20 million individuals from all walks of life united to protest the deterioration of the environment, and the results included the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act. Why can't Earth Day 2013 be the start of this same kind of sea change?
My colleague Sylvia Earle, a renowned oceanographer whom Time Magazine called a "Hero for the Planet," has said that the next 10 years may be more important than the last 10,000 in determining the fate of our oceans. She may as well be talking about the fate of humans. It may not be the planet that needs saving so much as we do.
To read more of John's call-to-action, click here.
How are you celebrating Earth Day? Tell us in the comments or join the conversation on Twitter using #EarthDay!


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Get together with your fellow JUBbers for some fun and face time!
See where JUB Members already met or refresh your memories of a past meeting that you attended.
Regional JUB Meet St. Louis, MO (The After Party!)
June 20th, 2015, 08:19 PM
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Interested in Clone Wars, Shadows of the Empire or Star Tours toys? Discuss them and any other EU lines here.
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*1/2 (out of four)
What an odd title "The Paperboy" is for a movie with so little story.
Technically there's a plot, in which Jack (Zac Efron) helps his older brother Ward (Matthew McConaughey), a reporter for the Miami Times, investigate the possible innocence of convicted killer Hillary Van Wetter (John Cusack). There's just so little incident to "The Paperboy," adapted from the book by Pete Dexter (who co-wrote the script) and directed by co-writer Lee Daniels ("Precious") with the same gleeful enthusiasm for shameless filth he brought to his debut, "Shadowboxer."
If you haven't seen that film, characters played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Mo'Nique are dating, and characters played by Cuba Gooding Jr. and Helen Mirren have sex. And those are far from the movie's strangest, least convincing moments.
Daniels and Dexter seemingly forgot to detail the "Paperboy" investigation while focusing on the pointless framing device of Jack's family's maid Anita (Macy Gray) narrating the story—despite the fact that she's not around for most of the events she describes. There's also no consistency. Daniels happily depicts a laundry room sex-a-thon between Hillary and Charlotte (Nicole Kidman), a woman who fixates on inmates and this one in particular. Yet when Jack finally consummates his crush on Charlotte, Anita essentially says in voiceover, "OK, we've seen enough of that." Why, because of the actual emotion there, rather than something sleazy and regrettable?
Even more so than "Killer Joe" (which also starred McConaughey), "The Paperboy" exploits without exploring. Jack's love never seems like more than lust. We never wonder about Hillary's guilt or innocence. Racism and homophobia appear without Daniels making any statement about them.
He's far more interested in urine (Charlotte pees on Jack after a jellyfish attack), semen (Charlotte seduces Hillary from a few feet away, and Daniels is sure to present the result in his pants) and gutted alligator intestines. The result is mostly boring trash that feels like what John Grisham would write on his laziest, horniest day.
Watch Matt on "You & Me This Morning," Friday at 6:55 a.m. on WCIU, the U
Want more? Discuss this article and others on RedEye's Facebook page.


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One of Chicago's baseball greats has been voted into the Hall of Fame.
The Hall's Golden Era Committee announced Monday Ron Santo was chosen from 10 candidates to get the designation. Santo, who passed away Dec. 3, 201, will be inducted on July 22.
Hall of Fame candidates must receive votes on 75 percent of the ballot to be elected. Twelve votes were needed, and Santo received 15 of 16 ballots cast by the committee.
"All who knew Ron or welcomed him into their homes on the radio recognize he was so much more than a Hall of Fame baseball player. He was the beating heart of Cubs fans," said Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts in a statement. "As an athlete, he was our All-Star. As a radio analyst, he carried our passion. For those battling illness or disease, he remains an inspiration. And for all of us who had the honor of calling him our friend, he is forever beloved."
Ron Santo, Jr. told NBC 5's Paula Faris that the family is excited and proud about the honor.
"I won't lie, it's kind of sad that he's not here to see it happen, because I know how happy it would have made him," Santo, Jr. said. "I could just picture his voice over the phone telling me and hearing it, and of course seeing him would have just been something because his grin would have been ear to ear."
Fans called the honor bittersweet.
"It's too bad they made him wait til he died," said one fan outside Wrigley Field. "It's kind of unjust. Life's not fair as a Cubs fan I guess."
"It's sad because he's not here," said another fan. "It's long overdue."
Santo is the 46th inductee with Cubs ties. A nine-time all-star, Santo won five Gold Gloves and drove in more than 93 runs in eight straight seasons with the Cubs.
He finished in the league top 10 in batting average three times, hitting percentage five times, on-base percentage seven times, games played eight times and home runs seven times.
Santo died a year ago from complications of diabetes and cancer.


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We all know that there is no second chance to make a first impression. That saying almost couldn't be more overused. But it is still true. I drive up to homes for the first time with buyers on an almost daily basis. I listen to them as we approach the house. I listen to them as we park in front or in the driveway. I listen to them as we walk up to the front door. I listen to them as I access the lockbox and open the front door for the first time.
I hear a lot of the same comments... It doesn't cost an arm and a leg to freshen up the outside of the house, but you do have to be strategic. These are the things to concentrate on.
- Driveway. Clean it up. If you have a pressure washer, it might be a good way to spend a Saturday morning. If there are oil stains, there are a few tricks you might try. I have also had success with a paste made out of powder laundry detergent. I wet the area, apply the paste, letting it sit for a while. I use a stiff pushbroom to scrub it in... then rinse it off with a LOT of water.
Keep the Grass Cut. So easy, and it is something that about half of the foreclosures I see don't have done enough. Since it is something you should be doing anyway.... it really isn't costing more. And you never know when the right buyer is going to show up. It is an easy way to seperate your home from the foreclosure up the street.
- Pinestraw, Mulch and Edging. A few bales of pinestraw or bags of mulch can really make the landscaping look fresh. Keeping the lawn neatly trimmed, with nice edging goes a long way. A few fresh flower plantings can push it over the top.
- Front Door. Make it the best it can be. If it is painted, a fresh coat of paint is cheap and VERY important. If it is stained wood, clean it up and consider refinishing it. Buyers, and their agent will be standing outside of the front door for a couple of minutes while the agent opens the lockbox to get the key. The buyers WILL be looking at the house while they stand there.
- Clean up Outside. There are places that we never think about... spiderwebs under the eaves, junk in the HVAC Outside Unit, junk in the gutters, keep the rear deck or patio swept.
- Last thing... Clean the outside of the Windows. Windex makes a sprayer that screws onto your garden hose. Clean out the spiderwebs and get rid of last winter's grunge... it will brighten the inside, too. Buyer love that.
It isn't about creating perfection, just making sure that your home is seen in its best light. Everything here can be done on a Saturday. Of course, some of it is continuing maintenance. But, if you can sell quickly, then it will be worth it.
Related articles
- Cheap Tips #1... Getting Ready to Sell. (lanebailey.com)
- Simple Tips for Preparing Your House for Sale (quazen.com)
- The Benefits Of Home Staging (mydecorarticles.com)
- Garden Tips: Get rid of weeds before they start to germinate (commercialappeal.com)


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Missy Franklin strolled into the room at Memorial Stadium and offered a cheery, "Hi, everybody!''
She has moved into a dorm, hit it off with her new roommate and even cried her eyes out when she said goodbye to her mother.
"It feels like home already,'' a beaming Franklin said Wednesday.
Yet she is far from a typical 18-year-old college freshman beginning the first day of her fall semester Thursday.
The four-time swimming gold medalist at last summer's London Olympics, Franklin's mere presence at California has caused quite a stir, a positive one -- from fellow students asking her to pose for photos, to carefully watching where she goes and what she Tweets and taking into account how her arrival affects teammates who must adjust to swimming laps alongside one of the sport's biggest international stars day in and day out.
PHOTOS: Golden Athletes of the London 2012 Games
Coach Teri McKeever and Franklin have planned for it all.
Each believes Berkeley is the perfect place for Franklin to find a new "normal'' -- albeit a high-profile existence that has McKeever just slightly on edge. There have been conversations with police and campus security, and guidance on how to deal with harassment. The coach will talk to her student-athletes about being cautious to keep everybody safe and protect Franklin's privacy.
Franklin said she and her parents have thought about and discussed many possible scenarios and what she could face being away from her home in Centennial, Colo., in a college town for the first time. Steering clear of peer pressures, parties, all of that.
"There's so many things we have to consider and have to think about. My parents have taught me so well,'' Franklin said. "We're very aware of everything I think we need to be aware of. I feel very confident going to school and starting this new experience. I still feel that even though there might be that microscope, I can still have as normal of a college experience as I can. It's not limiting for me.''
McKeever has been at this long enough to be a realist. Yet she would rather look at Franklin's arrival at Cal as "an incredible opportunity'' rather than any kind of a burden, no matter how others feel.
"There are some people who don't want to be Missy Franklin's teammates ... or don't want Teri McKeever as their coach,'' she said. "I think some of her teammates are going to see it's not fun to be Missy Franklin.''
Not that the ever-upbeat Franklin can be convinced of that. She learned in a hurry after winning four gold medals and a bronze in London that the attention would be relentless. She acknowledged "it definitely was a bit of a shock.''
Fresh off a record-setting world championships in Barcelona, Franklin is turning her attention to the books. Though she sure got a thrill from pulling on her new Cal swim cap for the first time this week. The Golden Bears will hold meetings through the weekend and are scheduled to work out in the pool for the first time Sept. 5.
"I had so much fun moving in. Honestly, it's been awesome,'' Franklin said. "A couple pictures here and there meeting new people but that's just kind of what I've been used to, what I've been getting accustomed to in the past couple months since London. It's definitely fun making new friends and so exciting.''
Remarkably poised and polished, even McKeever -- who coached the U.S. women's team at the Olympics -- figures Franklin might have her tough moments at some point.
"I want to see her bad hair day. I haven't seen it yet. My life as a 51-year-old tells me there are days you can't be this happy, can't be this put together,'' McKeever said. "I think this community, this department, this team, the current team we have right now, are going to give her the greatest gift of her life -- to be part of a team.''
When Franklin visited in January for parents' weekend, she was in the pool before a Cal meet and looked up to McKeever and said, "I can't believe I'm in the Cal pool, it's been my dream to swim here.''
"I started laughing and said, `Yeah, my dream, too,''' McKeever said, laughing. "The interest and the attention has been enormous.''
When Franklin called McKeever last fall with the news she would come to Cal, the coach was so nervous she didn't take the call, which came during the Big Game rivalry football matchup between Cal and Stanford.
Now, it's all real.
Franklin surprised McKeever that day, and is showing her lighthearted side, too. She's a jokester.
When asked about following other Cal swimming stars such as Natalie Coughlin and Nathan Adrian, she quickly asked, "Who are they?''
Franklin, sporting light-colored pastel floral pants, a navy blue Cal polo and sparkly pink slip-on shoes to go with her gold stick-on nails that withstand the chlorine, declined to give specifics of her class load except that she is taking basic prerequisites "with some fun, exciting classes to keep it exciting and a little bit lighter my first semester.''
"In terms of studying, I have absolutely no idea what I want to study, which is kind of really fun,'' she said. "I'm taking classes that are all over the board.''
While Franklin is making a two-year commitment to Cal before likely turning pro and getting ready for the 2016 Rio Games, she still plans to finish college one day.
Reading one class syllabus, Franklin learned that exams make up 25 percent of her grade "so that kind of freaks me out a little bit.''
Everything about college life in Berkeley is new.
"You can kind of get used to seeing the fun, quirky people on the sidewalk,'' Franklin said. "That's one of my favorite things about Berkeley, it's probably the most unique environment I've ever been in. There's really nowhere else like it.''


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Kim Kardashian or Nicole Kidman?
It's every woman's nightmare. Debuting your new dress at a glitzy party only to find that a fellow fashionista has picked exactly the same outfit to wear for the evening.
With more and more stars stepping out at different events in the same pretty frocks, decide who you think wears it best.
We're sorry, the vote has now closed...


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My posts over the next few days will be "live blogs" from the Enterprise 2.0 conference in Boston. Rumor has it already that 50% of attendees are practitioners. I take this to mean that we are well over the "chasm" in adoption and that the focus now is going to be on how to implement well. My personal listening for this conference includes:
- Leadership — not just issues about the management of IT in the context of enterprise 2.0, but what changes will be required of leaders in this interconnected world.
- Measuring effectiveness — one of my current client projects is focused on understanding what social media tools support organizational effectiveness in what ways.
- Related to #2, how to assist clients in selecting the right technology to meet their needs.
- How can companies build an intranet in such a way that it can grow from the inside out, that is design so that they can selectively open up content to outside partners as they evolve a knowledge base in the context of a social networking space
Sameer Patel and Oliver Marks of the Soros group have a session on "Selling the case for accelerating business performance with enterprise collaboration technologies." They are up against the day-long "black-belt practitioners" workshop, so attendance is sparse. I'm hoping for insight into #2 above (Bolded text below indicate the sectionof the 3.25-hour workshop).
The Big Idea key question to be addressed is the "What's in it for me?" Marks emphasizes that you have to be able to
- tell individuals how they will be able to get the work done that they are being paid for, when they currently think they are fine with email
- tell business unit managers how the shift will improve their business
- address the culture. Get your arms around how the company works now.
Marks recounts / neutron bomb / culture will come out the same
[Concurrently, @rappe links to a post by Sam Lawrence, "Social media isn't going anywhere. (What's it for?)" by which he means, it's here to stay, so let's get going on doing it right. (This is a key theme of this conference.) The session I am in address the ways that you need to talk to executives. This is part of what you need to get right.]
Marks and Patel continue with the key elements of Designing the Executive Pitch. They caution that you have to be careful not to position this as revolution (execs like to hear that others have already tried this stuff out). You can't go in and tell execs that you are going to change the company's DNA.
Assuming that you have a good idea of the Vendor Landscape, you will know which vendors to bring in.
[enter vendor panel] Panelists talk about how they sell to the C-suite, focusing on the business problems without talking about technology. Elevator pitches:
- Omar Divina from Socialtext: "You have the official org chart and you have the connective tissue of the informal organization. This software will help you make better connections across the
- Jordan Frank from Traction Software (doesn't think that you can sell with an elevator system). "Most companies have systems that are designed to work when everything go right. Social software helps us to build systems that will work when things are not going right.
- Brian Stern from Newsgator: "I ask the question, 'have you nailed your collaboration and communication needs within your company?' "
Given questions about how to engage the IT department in the conversation during the initial sales cycle: A lot comes down to questions of "how does this app fit into my existing infrastructure" as IT people are not engaged with the "social stuff." Some companies think they need to implement social social software but come to the table with a laundry list of features, but without
- passion for what social media can do
- understanding what business problems they want to solve
- use cases
Most successful use cases: twitter stream, central place for monitoring events, intranet collaboration.
One of the interesting questions/ surprises from conversations with customers (as per Jordan Frank): How are we going to apply six sigma to this? Though it strings one first as absurd to think about applying regimental continuous improvement, it is worth thinking about how a company could tune the implementation based on measurement of effectiveness. Jordan has been thinking about this lately, and blogged his thoughts on social process engineering yesterday.
It's reassuring that vendors (at least these three, and I'm sure many more) are able to articulate the importance of deploying to customers who are ready and willing to work to make the implementation successful.
[exit vendors]
Sameer and Oliver continue a discussion of Getting Executives on Board. Without using the word "network," they imply that it's important to get people "outside the room" on board. That is, the E2.0 pitch might happen in a closed meeting to the decision-makers, but when they leave the room they'll be calling colleagues to find out what they think. Understanding this informal network of influencers is important. (Of course, this applies to selling anything, not just E2.0)
Execution Planning includes requirements definition, mitigating risks, and addresses the issue of metrics. You have to establish metrics to gauge the success of the project — agree on metrics.
- Process performance. How well is a process executed today? What can we assume about what will be different?
- HR performance. Evaluating contributions of people as a gauge of "keepability" (my word)
- Communications performance. Teaching leaders to engage and communicate in new ways.
Launching the new environment is the topic of Bevin Hernandez of Penn State on the culture shift from "Me to We," understands throing that every organization has (great phrase:) "a thousand points of 'no'." Her case study works through the steps from creating a core team, enrolling champions, launching a print media campaign with catchy postcards and getting started guides and thumb drives, putting the exec on YouTube, etc.
In transitioning the intranet, the Penn State outreach group re-branded their intranet portal from "my.outreach" to "our.outreach." A great example of using language to start to make a shift. She had more to say about language, but I'll save that for tomorrow – she's one of the morning keynoters.
Beyond launch is driving usage, always, and relentlessly. Social media isn't going anywhere.


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Skip to comments.Chris Fowler of ESPN Gameday on Minority Coach Hiring
Posted on 11/15/2008 9:37:13 AM PST by scottinoc
On the discussion of why there aren't "enough" African American coaches in college football, Chris Fowler discussed the lure of big money NFL contracts for black assistant coaches, etc, then the discussion naturally gravitated to the racism angle, "behind the scenes".
"Among those behind-the-scenes financial backers of big universities, there may not be...you know...that many people who voted for Obama..."
Sheesh, now I can't even watch ESPN college football gameday without being told that I'm racist for not voting for Obama.
ESPN is a liberal entity. Witness Berman and Tom Jackson's trashing of Rush Limbaugh after he left, or Peter Gammons' affinity for left wing polticians.
Really. When I saw this, I got onto their website and said I would not be watching Gameday until I saw a public apology from the whole Gameday team.
Here is the link to let ESPN and Gameday know what you think about these three stooges impuning practically every college football program in the nation:
Why are sports reporters so left-leaning? I've always wondered about that. Sports is such a meritocracy, but they produce some of the most liberal moonbats (witness Keith Olberpuke). Al Michaels is one of the few real class acts. He publically praised Katherine Harris during a play (only because some wise-ass commentator, I can't remember who, made a snarky inappropriate and out-of-place remark about her during the same play), calling her an American Heroine. He also gave the proper respect and recognition of the vice president-elect when he appeared at the Eagles game recently (even though Eagles fans weren't quite so respectful!)
Did anyone hear that Chris Fowler likes to dress up as a Girl Scout and ask people if they'd like him to give them some Do-Si-Dos for a good price?
I'm not sure if this is true, but I'm basing it on just as much evidence as he provides for his hypothesis.
I was trying to find the email link too, unsuccessfully. That one doesn't seem to work, must be expired. Anyway, I'm not watching ESPN gameday anymore.
Hm...I can still access it in IE and Flock browsers. ???
wonder why they go to Red States for Game day?
There is a lot of money that comes with being a winning team in high-level college sports. ADs aren't going to go out and hire guys who aren't up to par just to satisfy some PC quotient.
And if a lack of black coaches is such a problem why aren't we whining about a lack of white wide recievers? Thats another case where the pressure of winning means that schools take the best people available. Thats one great thing about sports. They are a true meritocracy. Either athletes can perform or they can't. Those who can't don't make it due to affirmative action. It should be the same with coaches.
Kirk Herbsteit is a registered Democrat.
See for yourself:
Did he discuss whether there are enough white football coaches at historically black colleges and universities?
How about whether there are enough Black talking heads on the Game Day set??
But nothing on television is without leftist slant--ESPN, Weather Channel, HGTV, etc. Other than Christian channels, I challenge you to name one.
Who knew watching trust fund babies blow their inheritance at the poker table was a sport?
Why are sports reporters so left-leaning?
Most major newspapers, broadcast and cable networks are liberal, most writers are unaccomplished athletes and thus steeped into the politics of envy, and they deal with a sizable contigent of black athletes with whom they try to curry favor. And most hail from liberal schools of journalism.
Thus anytime sports strays into politics or societal "issues", they have the ready-made reflexive lefty PC position, which proves the John O'Sullivan/Russell Kirk adage of group-thought:
Anything that is not overtly conservative in viewpoint will inevitably tack left.
Don't forget to add that he likes to get spanked too.
So if you voted for CastrObama your not racist and if you voted for McCain/Palin you are according to Fouler. Most racist statement ever made on TV.
Pray for W, Palin and Our Troops
I am not implying that race has anything to with coaching abilities. However, you should be able to fire your incompetent coaches regardless of race. Notre Dame fired Willingham in 2005 and are still labeled as racist, even though he proved to be utterly incompetent. If college presidents have to worry about race card when the want to fire a coach, they may decide not hire them in the first place
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Monday : Ribollita - Rustic Italian Bread Soup
It is quick to make and will be great for leftovers all week long.
Sweet for the Week : Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies
Tuesday : Shrimp Scampi with Linguine
Wednesday : Chipotle Steak Salad
Thursday : Butternut Squash Ravioli with Browned Sage Butter
Friday : Pizza Party! (great for Lent - no meat!)
Saturday : Banana Nut Muffins


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Cathy on Father's Day
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5 responses
Shirley Valencia gave props (16 Jun 2013):
so sweet!!!
Charles Rushton added a link (16 Jun 2013):
Ioana Caravan gave props (16 Jun 2013):
This is perfect!
Sonia Adam Murray gave props (18 Jun 2013):
Charming, but I think that I personally like the other one a little better.
Andrea Petersen gave props (19 Jun 2013):
I like the direct look and the smile shown in her eyes that she is giving you here...She is very pretty....Which one does Cathy like better?
Also by Charles Rushton
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In a hastily convened UN General Assembly meeting following a massacre of dozens of unarmed civilians in Syria yesterday, Special Envoy Kofi Annan all but admitted that his six-point plan to bring peace to Syria has been a dismal failure.
In a speech filled with condemnation for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Mr. Annan said that, while he appealed to the Syrian leader directly a week ago to restrain his armed forces and the irregular shabiha militias working with them, the pace of the slaughter has only increased. He said the militias in particular appear to have been given "free rein" by the government.
On Friday, 108 civilians were massacred in a group of villages known as Houla in Homs Province. First, government forces shelled the area and then, according to the UN, shabiha moved in with guns and knives. Among the slaughtered were 49 children. Early accounts out of Mazraat al-Qubair, near the city of Hama, from yesterday, suggest a similar series of events unfolded there yesterday. The UN says 78 people were murdered there, though has not been able to independently confirm events. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said unarmed UN observers came under rifle fire when they attempted to visit the area.
The international moral outrage over Syria's war has reached a boiling point, but what is to be done about it, if anything, is still being worked out. Mr. Annan spoke of the need to maintain international unity on Syria and said that "the international community now must take that unity to a new level." Is that a call for military action? Perhaps. He also said "it is ... our collective responsibility to act quickly, the process can't be open-ended. The longer we wait the more radicalized and polarized the situation will become."
With the regime upping the ante with the two major massacres of civilians in a week, any hope of cooling the situation with talk in the short term has evaporated. The sectarian nature of the splits within Syria, with the minority Alawite sect that Assad belongs to rallying around him, and the country's majority Sunni Arab population in an uproar, makes a negotiated settlement even less likely. While government forces have hoped that major doses of terror like those delivered in Mazraat al-Qubair and Houla would shock the uprising into acquiescence, more likely is that they've set in motion a cycle of revenge that will feed Syria's civil war for some time to come.
Fact is, there isn't international unity over Syria. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reiterated her demand today that "Assad must transfer power and depart Syria," but the US position, until now at least, has been that it wouldn't consider military action without UN Security Council authorization. And Russia and China, which both wield vetoes on the council, continue to staunchly oppose international action. In a joint statement yesterday, Russia and China insisted they are "decisively against attempts to regulate the Syrian crisis with outside military intervention" and also said they oppose efforts to remove Mr. Assad from power.
Annan said in his speech today that "as we demand compliance with international law and the six point plan it must be made clear that there are consequences if compliance is not forthcoming." But, what consequences? And even if additional sanctions could be agreed upon, would they be more frightening to Assad and his supporters than the loss of power and position? Muammar Qaddafi of Libya was summarily executed by his former subjects when he lost his war to hold on to power. Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, who went far more peacefully and quietly, was just sentenced to spending the rest of his life in jail, with two of his sons also facing long jail terms. Assad is surely looking at the fates of his regional fears and betting that fighting, and winning, is in his own best interests.
For now, his efforts to win that war are bloody and vicious. The UN High Commission for Human Rights says the use of torture has been wide spread in government detention centers. The children of wanted rebels are rounded up to generate leverage to convince their parents to surrender. Some of those children have been subjected to "sexual violence" while in custody, the UN says. In Homs, a stronghold of support for the uprising, government snipers man rooftops, and indiscriminantly shot people when they venture out of their homes for supplies. Heavy artillery and rocket fire continues to pound densely populated areas.
A farmer who survived the slaughter at Mazraat al-Qubair by hiding in an olive grove, told Reuters of how the area was pounded with artillery, then mixed units of regular Army and shabiha moved in. He watched them enter three houses, heard gunshots, then they emerged and set the homes on fire. He returned home to find nothing but charred bodies, most from a large Sunni Arab family in the area.
Mazraat al-Qubair is about 10 miles from Hama, which Hafez al-Assad, Bashar's father, turned into a killing ground in 1982. The city was a center of support for an Islamist uprising against the country's Baath regime, and the elder Assad put it down after he moved tanks and infantry into the city and killed everything that moved. Human rights groups estimate that at least 10,000 people were killed in that slaughter.
Now the ghosts of Hama are being joined by a new generation of victims. Thirty years ago the international community did not intervene, and the Assad regime survived and has thrived in the decades since. The younger Assad is now running his father's playbook, and seems unlikely to shift course in the face of condemnation or scolding from podiums at the UN.


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Vienna Conference - A Trip Report
MartinPacker 11000094DH Visits (10587)
I think people know better than to ask me for a trip report to a conference I've attended. They'll get what I think is important - and their priorities are probably different. So here is that trip report anyway... You'll probably have gathered by now I'm for a "for the journey" person than a "for the destination" one. But I won't bore you with the minor inconveniences on both... [More]


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All information about Moneytree in Englewood, CO
|2705 S Broadway, Englewood, CO 80113-1522
|(303) 806-6669
|[email protected]
Moneytree is a family-owned and operated business with locations in Southern California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Washington and British Columbia, Canada. At Moneytree our Mission is to be the best provider of retail financial services by exceeding customers' expectations, creating a professional work environment and making a positive impact on the communities in which we live and work. We are pleased to provide retail financial services to the people in this community. We welcome you to visit us online at www.moneytreeinc.com or at a branch near you. We look forward to exceeding your expectations! Always use short-term credit responsibly.


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Breach driving ban - go straight to jail!
Breach driving ban - go straight to jail!
One of the bans the driver in question received was for a hit-and-run incident in 2010, which left a pedestrian with life-changing injuries. The driver, John Muir, also received an 18-month prison sentence for this offence, of which he only served half.
For his most recent breach of a ban, Muir received a 16-week suspended prison sentence at Ipswich Magistrates' Court and was ordered to do 240-hours of unpaid work. He was banned from driving for just two-and-a-half years.
His defence lawyers claimed he felt remorse for his crimes, a factor which can mitigate the length of sentence if accepted by the judge. However, whether the remorse he felt was genuine is highly dubious, as in the past he had described his persistent flouting of disqualifications as 'a game of cat and mouse' and claimed that even imprisonment wouldn't stop him.
CTC does not normally advocate locking people up unless they have committed a reckless or intentionally dangerous act at the wheel of a vehicle or they have multiple driving convictions. However, in the case of disqualified drivers who demonstrate they cannot be trusted not to drive, CTC believes the only recourse is to imprison them in order to protect the public from their irresponsible driving.
This case demonstrates just how farcical current sentencing practice is. Driving bans are not only far too short but the penalties for flouting them are so lenient that there's little incentive to abide by them.
Rhia Weston, CTC's Road Safety campaigner
Sentences need an overhaul
The fact that drivers can completely ignore driving bans and still be treated so unbelievably leniently shows how the sentencing guidelines for driving offences, and the way they are applied by judges, need an overhaul. CTC, via its Road Justice campaign, is campaigning for sentences that actually discourage bad driving and keep dangerous drivers off the roads.
The Sentencing Council, the body that produces sentencing guidelines with the aim of achieving consistency across sentencing, has planned a review of the guidelines for the most serious driving offences and has invited CTC to contribute to the consultation when it opens. CTC will hold an event in June 2014 on sentencing of driving offences, current sentencing policy and practice and how it can and should be improved will be debated at this event.
Driving whilst disqualified is a summary only offence, meaning it can only be tried by Magistrates who can impose maximum sentences of six months in prison, plus up to a £5,000 fine. CTC believes judges should be able to give much longer custodial sentences and should favour life-time bans for repeat offenders; they should also make greater use of their powers to order vehicles to be confiscated. In addition to those who flout driving bans, intentionally reckless or dangerous drivers and repeat offenders should also be given custodial sentences.
Non-custodial sentencing options
The Road Justice campaign is calling for greater emphasis on non-custodial sentencing options for non-intentionally dangerous drivers, options include suspended sentences; community orders (i.e. unpaid work in the community); and compensation orders (i.e. ordering the defendant to compensate the victim a certain amount). Driving bans are an integral component of sentencing for these offences as well, but they should they be much longer than at present - the average ban is between just six months and three years, even though judges can impose bans of ten years or more.
The campaign is also calling for greater use of re-testing and re-education as a sentencing option. Extended re-tests are obligatory only for dangerous driving offences and the offence of causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs. For all other offences that carry penalty points, judges use their discretion to decide whether a driver should be re-tested. CTC believes judges should make much greater use of re-testing, especially when a driver has caused serious injury or death, or in the case of professional drivers who have had their licences revoked.


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Narwhal Tusk-Smuggling Ring Cracked, Feds Say
(WASHINGTON) -- The narwhal, a kind of Arctic whale, has been called "the unicorn of the sea" because of the long, straight, often spiraling tusk that males of the species can grow. It is illegal to import the tusks into the United States because narwhals are listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as near-threatened.
Now the Department of Justice says it has cracked a smuggling ring that operated for nearly a decade, often shipping narwhal tusks from the Canadian Arctic over the border into Maine in a trailer with a false bottom. Two Americans have been arrested, and an indictment, provided to ABC News by the Justice Department, says they will be charged next week with smuggling and money laundering.
The indictment says Andrew Zarauskas of Union, N.J., and Jay Conrad of Lakeland, Tenn., will each face 29 federal charges for buying the tusks illegally, and two Canadian citizens — their names redacted — will face charges there for being sellers.
The indictment says that from December 2000 to February 2010, the defendants conspired to "fraudulently and knowingly import and bring merchandise, consisting of narwhal tusks, into the United States contrary to law, and to attempt to import and bring such merchandise into the United States contrary to law, and to receive, conceal, buy, sell, and in any manner facilitate the transportation, concealment, and sale of such merchandise after importation, knowing that the merchandise was imported and brought into the United States contrary to law."
Messages left for Conrad and Zarauskas were not immediately returned. The indictment cites an email in 2000 from Canada offering to sell a "5 foot narwhal tusk speciman [sic] — is in excellent condition — came from the Baffin Island area at Pond Inlet." Over the years, it says, there were dozens of FedEx shipments and more than a hundred payments.
What kind of money could be involved? A legal seller in British Columbia, Furcanada, said tusks can be more than 8 feet long and sell for $1,000 to $7,000 each.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio


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0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
I don't see a list of names with confirmations, so I don't know if my name is there, but if it is not, please make it confirmed.--Yes, I'm probably just being blind--
If you watch the video you'll know pretty much all you need to. Look up a Let's Play of Slender on Youtube if you want to do extra credit.
I personally recommend Markiplier.
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Owl - Photo Luggage Tag
because they make more than one of every bag...
Grab your personalized luggage tags before you head out on the next business trip or family vacation. Put your name and address or a picture on luggage tags that will help you identify your bags from a distance.
Personalized luggage tags, made of durable plastic and printed with your photo are great for keeping track of your laptop case, diaper bag, suitcases and more. Rounded edges and a rubber strap make them safe for kids? backpacks and sports kits too.
Luggage Tag Details
- Rounded edges
- Printed on Front side only (back side is white)
- Flexible rubber strap
- 4"x 2.75"
- Add only photo, or personalize with design, include name, address
- Portrait/ Landscape orientation
Shipping Info
Canvas, Framed Panos, and Home Accents ship within 5 business days.
All other products ship within 2 business days.
Shipping Timeframes -
Calculated for U.S. Address only. International shipping will take longer.
Economy: 9-12 business days via USPS or UPS
Express: 4-7 business days via USPS
Second Business Day: 4 business days via UPS
Next Business Day: 3 business day via UPS
Processing Info
Orders containing these items will be processed & shipped within 2 business days: Jewelry, cases and photo books


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Ksh 72,999.00
All products are Genuine and with warranty and includes a traceable serial number from the manufacturer
Orders generally delivered within 1hr or less at no extra cost within Nairobi. If within CBD, orders will be delivered within 30min or less. You can contact us at +254 721 848 576 / +254 735 456 191 / +254 722 336 880.
Orders outside Nairobi are delivered via G4S Secured Parcel Delivery at an Extra cost of Ksh 1000/ Contact us to make this arrangement. We Deliver All over Kenya.
So far so good! Impressed with their fast delivery.
So far so good! Impressed with their fast delivery.


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Mickey Rooney Dies at 93
Apr 7, 2014 12:08 AM EDT
Legendary actor Mickey Rooney died Sunday of natural causes, TMZ reports. He was 93 and had been in ill health for some time, according to TMZ. Born Joseph Yule, Jr., in Brooklyn, N.Y., Rooney began performing as a baby in his parents' vaudeville act… Read more


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SANTA ANA – While a prosecutor said the case of a landscaper accused of touching sleeping girls and young women "is about every girl's worst nightmare," the man's attorney contended Thursday his actions were not sexual.
Characterizing her client Roberto Jacobo Reyes as an "inadequate" man, Deputy Public Defender Dolores Yost told an Orange County jury at the start of his trial "we do have a man who's tragically sick and tragically compelled, but this compulsion is not sexual."
Reyes, 49, is charged in five incidents over a 13-month period starting in 2009 with breaking into homes late at night and touching female victims who were asleep, including sexually assaulting two girls, 11 and 13.
Deputy District Attorney Robert Mestman told jurors in Superior Court Judge Richard Toohey's courtroom that, while the victims cannot identify Reyes because it was dark when the crimes occurred, DNA and fingerprint evidence, the defendant's method of operation and his statements to police will prove him guilty.
Reyes targeted young women in a 1-square-mile area around his Santa Ana home by walking around and then returning to their homes later at night, the prosecutor said. He admitted to police he was attracted to girls about 12 to 14 years old and that touching and caressing them gave him "goose bumps," Mestman said.
Reyes is charged with one felony count of forcible lewd act on a child under 14, two of lewd act upon child under 14, and three counts of first-degree residential burglary with sentencing enhancement allegations for committing lewd acts in the commission of residential burglaries, committing lewd acts on multiple victims, and for having a non-accomplice present during a residential burglary.
Prosecutors accuse the illegal immigrant of committing the crimes after re-entering the U.S. following his deportation to Mexico after serving four years for a 2003 burglary conviction.
The DNA collected at the crime scene involving an 11-year-old girl whose bedroom Reyes is accused of entering through a window while she slept was linked to a sample Reyes had submitted as a result of the 2003 conviction, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
Reyes is accused of fondling the victim over her clothes. When the girl escaped by kicking and pushing the defendant, he fled through the open window, prosecutors said.
Yost said Reyes got an adrenaline rush during the incidents, but he touched the women only to wake them up, with the exception of the incident involving the 11-year-old which she conceded was sexual touching.
He did not have the "same propensity" during the other incidents, she said.
If convicted, Reyes faces a maximum sentence of 194 years to life in state prison.
Contact the writer: 714-834-3773 or email@example.com


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Victorian English Gentlemens Club
More-indie than thou, The Victorian English Gentlemen's Club have grown up in the public eye.
Bristling again with top-drawer names in 2011, Wakestock is reaffirming its status as a festival to watch.
Wales Music Day
Monday 1 March - St David's Day - saw Radio Wales celebrate Wales Music Day.
Wynne Evans
Wynne's world ranges from opera heroes, to Wales' answer to the New Zealand's rugby team's Haka, to the most famous tenor in advertising.
Y Diwygiad
Y Diwygiad are a forward-thinking crew flying the flag for multilingual, experimental electronica-splattered hip-hop.
Young Marble Giants
Young Marble Giants were a three piece post-punk group from Cardiff. Although they were only together for a couple of years, they made a mark on the Welsh music scene, and influenced a number of musicians.
Yr Anhrefn
Uncompromising and inspirational, punk band Anhrefn played a major part in the renaissance of modern Welsh music in the 1980s.
Ysgol Glanaethwy
The performing arts school based in Bangor, North Wales, found a new platform for their talent in 2008 on the BBC's reality talent show Last Choir Standing.
Bookmark this page:
Join our group
Showcase your Welsh music images on our Flickr group.
How to...
Go to the show
Our guide to where to find gigs and concerts in your area.
Rock in Wales
Miners' benefits
Listen to Billy Bragg talking to us about the shows he played in aid of miners' families.
Have your say
Discuss your musical matters on our messageboard.


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Search Results
There are 53 item(s) tagged with the keyword "AzMERIT".
- Displaying: 1 - 10 of 53
- 1. Diane Douglas: Arizona's Queen of Common Core
by Jennifer Reynolds, Creator of Arizonans Against Common Core and member of Mommy Lobby AZ
The second rebrand of Common Core is no more than Lipstick on a Pig. Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas continues to travel around the state in 2018 on the campaign trail telling crowds that she "Stopped Common Core" as part of her 2014 campaign promise. This is far from the truth! Common Core was Rebranded a second time on December 19, 2016 when the 2016 Arizona English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics Standards were adopted by the State Board of Education (SBE) with an 8-1 vote. See Arizona State Board Of Education Approves Rebrand Of Common Core Standards and State Board Of Education Ignores Governor, Parents And Own Policy.
SBE member Jared Taylor was the only vote opposing the adoption of these standards and he stated, "The bottom line is that I am very disappointed that we kicked the parents to the curb and ignored the will of the voters when they elected Diane Douglas. Yet she led the way today; we just renewed Common Core."
Comments from Mommy Lobby, Arizonans Against Common Core, Opt Out AZ
IGNORED by Supt Douglas, ADE, SBE Exec Director, Gov. Ducey's Educ. Policy Director
Mommy Lobby AZ (ML), Arizonans Against Common Core (AACC), and Opt Out AZ reviewed the 1st and 2nd drafts of the 2016 Arizona ELA and Mathematics standards and submitted our comments directly to Superintendent Diane Douglas, as well as to the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) Standards Staff, Carol Lippert and Suzi Mast; the former State Board of Education (SBE) Executive Director, Karol Schmidt; and Governor Ducey's Education Policy Director, Dawn Wallace numerous times in 2016.
Comments Compiled by Parents and Teachers
IGNORED by Arizona Legislators, SLAPPED DOWN by Supt. Douglas
- 2. Open Letter to Dr. Bob Branch, Clueless About K-12 Classrooms
Dear Dr. Branch,
Several parents were shocked to read your comments in the 1-18-18 briefs. It's obvious that you don't understand what is really going on in Arizona's classrooms —which is very disappointing, since you are a candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction.
You have a massive misunderstanding on the recess issue. The traditional three 15-minute recess has been eliminated in most schools across the state. Many schools are down to one 10-minute recess per day, and some have no recess at all! These are not college students. They're young children! They need to move! Studies have shown that physical activity improves academic performance. Americans are well known for their creativity and ingenuity —unlike China where academics are all that matter. We foster entrepreneurs and inventors in the USA. Recess promotes these desirable American characteristics. Recess is correlated with improved student behavior in the classroom. Recess also promotes social skills and helps kids learn how to deal with bullying —which is the opposite of giving them "comfort lamas and safe places," as you stated.Click here to read more
- 3. High Stakes Testing - Expensive, Wasteful, Ineffective Child Abuse
Hopefully, you read the letter that educational tutor Barry Jackson sent to Betsy DeVos. In it you can see the damage that is being done to our children by the Arizona State Board of Education when they, along with then Gov. Jan Brewer and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne, in 2010, brought the Common Core Machine to Arizona. They did this in hopes of "winning" millions of dollars from our federal government via Race to the Top.
Since that time, Common Core has been rebranded, twice. Further, the pro-Common Core State Board has ensured that the damage continues. These people consider themselves "experts," a term that is being met with cynicism by a growing number of critically thinking people.
"Board member Jared Taylor, who has been consistent in his opposition to Common Core, was the lone "no" vote.
"The bottom line is that I am very disappointed that we kicked the parents to the curb and ignored the will of the voters when they elected Diane Douglas. Yet she led the way today; we just renewed Common Core," stated Taylor. Arizona State Board Of Education Approves Rebrand Of Common Core Standards
If you have any doubts about the negative effects of High Stakes Testing, there are many others who agree with Barry Jackson. They also say it is counter-productive, expensive, wasteful, and it is also child abuse.
As you read some of the comments below from the real experts, both local and national,--there are thousands more that I have not quoted--please recall that the Arizona State Board of Education voted in April 2017, to make 90% of a school's A-F grade dependent on how well their students scored on the High Stakes test, AZMerit.Click here to read more
- 4. Middle School Suicides Double as Common Core Testing Intensifies
Did you happen to see this article by Steven Singer? More importantly, did PARENTS see it? Sure, school is hard. Kids complain. If they really, really complain, parents go to the teachers. Teachers reassure them. Principals and Superintendents reassure them. After all, they're the "experts," not parents. Kids are just "softer" than when we went to school. Right?
Wrong. Something is very, very wrong.
"Here's a high stakes testing statistic you won't hear bandied about on the news. The suicide rate among 10- to 14-year-olds doubled between 2007 and 2014 – the same period in which states have increasingly adopted Common Core standards and new, more rigorous high stakes tests. For the first time, suicide surpassed car crashes as a leading cause of death for middle school children. In 2014, the last year for which data was available, 425 middle schoolers nationwide took their own lives."
In April 2017, the Arizona State Board of Education voted to give Arizona schools a grade of A-F, based on student AZMerit test scores. Members of the State Board of Education are "experts," too. Right?
According to Jared Taylor, with his moral compass intact, voted against this travesty. He stated:Click here to read more
- 5. AZMerit High Stakes test now accounts for 90% of a school's letter grade
An article published on April 28, 2017 in the Arizona Daily Independent, reports on a recent vote by the Arizona State Board of Education to use the results of Common Core-aligned AZMerit high stakes test to grade public schools.
Arizonans Against Common Core, Mommy Lobby AZ, and Opt Out AZ, released a statement after the vote: "Parents advocating for their children and teachers are dismayed by the A-F Accountability plan adopted by the Arizona State Board of Education. One high stakes test now accounts for 90% of a school's letter grade. This decision reveals the SBE believes parents are incapable of selecting schools on their own. Few other factors matter to the state; however, parents make thoughtful school choices based on their own values, research, and judgment."
So, the AZ. State Board of Education is using the controversial, unvalidated, one-size-fits all, secretive, high stakes AZ Merit to "evaluate" every public school in Arizona. The only people who have seriously donned their thinking caps are SBE board member Jared Taylor, Choice Academies president Ms. Lisa Fink, and commentators "Listen to a Mom" and Edward Cizek. The letter grade a school receives using AZ Merit scores as the most critical criteria, will be useless to parents. Do the board members actually believe otherwise? What a waste of time, effort, and money. Ms. Fink, who is quoted extensively, uses Consumer Reports as an example of what truly passes for an evaluation of a product. I would add that we use far more criteria evaluating the nutritional value of canned soup and cereal.Click here to read more
- 6. How Much of the Common Core Standards Really Changed?
Wouldn't you think that, by now, most Arizonans know that Superintendent Diane Douglas is lying when she repeatedly tells people that Arizona's "new standards are 'No way' Common Core-like"!! I guess she thinks that, if she repeats the lie often enough, people will believe it.
Gilbert Watch has published two side-by-side comparisons, which were put together by a mother with the Mommy Lobby: 1) The old Common Core Math compared to Arizona's New Math Standards, and 2) The old Common Core English/Language Arts standards compared to Arizona's New English/Language Arts standards.
Recently, a mother with the Mommy Lobby produced a simple, two-sided flyer that you can distribute to your friends, family, legislators, parents, children, by-standers, curiosity seekers, etc: "How Much of the Common Core Standards Really Changed?"
For anyone who wants to know everything there is to know about Common Core, so you, too, can be sick to death of it, see below. As for me, I'm researching homeschooling.Click here to read more
- 7. Why are Comments from Achieve, Inc. all over Arizona's Redline version of the ELA and Math Standards?
Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas, whose campaign promise was to "eliminate the Common Core standards," issued a Dec. 19, 2016 Press Release to the public stating, "These new standards represent the final step in the repeal and replacement of Common Core in Arizona and they reflect the thoughts and recommendations of thousands of Arizona citizens."
Nowhere does she mention the role that Achieve, Inc. played in reviewing and commenting on Arizona's "Redline" versions of the English/Language Arts (ELA) standards, the K-5 Math Standards, and the 6-8 and High School Math Standards. You will find literally hundreds of comments from this organization, more than from anyone else.Click here to read more
- 8. Arizona's Common Core Rebrand is Just Lipstick on a Pig!
by Jennifer Reynolds, publisher of Arizonans Against Common Core.
A Rebrand of Common Core is coming unless we stop it through our combined voices speaking against the proposed 2016 English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics Standards. Very little has changed with these 2016 Standards and we will still have Common Core!
- 9. Has YOUR Legislator been Endorsed by Pro Common Core, Anti-Parent "Stand for Children"?
Stand for Children/Arizona has just endorsed 26 candidates for the Arizona Legislature in the Primary Election on August 30. "Stand for Children Arizona does not take its endorsement process lightly. These candidates have been fully vetted to make sure they currently agree with, and will stay true to a majority of Stand's policies and educational priorities that we believe will bring the quickest results."
A review of Stand for Children/Arizona's website indicates that this group proudly supports the entire Common Core agenda, aka Arizona's College and Career Ready Standards, including AzMerit.
Stand is proud to have defeated a litany of anti-Common Core legislation, as well as other bills that parents have fought for, including the defeated SB1455. This bill would have acknowledged that parents know more than the State about what's best for their own children. These parents wanted to opt their children out of the unvalidated, secretive AzMerit. Stand would have none of it. See "Top Legislative Results."
Parents and their children suffered verbal and emotional abuse at the hands of school administrators, teachers, other parents, and other students for daring to opt out of AZMerit. Remember? See Sen. Allen calls for schools to respect parents over assessment concerns, The Schools' War On Arizona's Children: Part 1, The Schools' War on Arizona's Children: Part 2 Online Charter Schools The Schools' War on Arizona's Children: Part 3 Emotional Child Abuse.
Voters should be wary of groups that "sound" wonderful. Scratch the surface, and you discover how pro-Statist and anti-Family they truly are. Expect More Arizona is another such group. See Is Expect More Arizona in it for the Money?Click here to read more
- 10. The National Common Core Standards System
This heavily referenced, 48-page document is the result of three months of research effort on the part of members of Arizona's Mommy Lobby, with the help of Emmett McGroarty of the American Principles Project. It has been distributed to Arizona's House and Senate Education Committees, Governor Ducey's office, most of Arizona's leadership, as well as the Arizona State Board of Education. If you have questions about Common Core in Arizona (aka Arizona's College and Career Ready Standards) most of the answers are contained in this document titled the National Common Core Standards System.
Chapter headings include: 1) History of Common Core: America and Arizona; 2) The Common Core are Inferior, Defective, and do Not Lead to Readiness for Authentic College Work; 3) High Stakes Testing; 4) Data Collection and Personally Identifiable Information; and 5) Teacher Accountability.Click here to read more
- Displaying: 1 - 10 of 53


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Extreme Ironing
"There is nothing on this Earth too numb and boring not to be turned into an extreme sport."
The 20th Century brought many horrors into the world, including two World Wars, Hitler, accountants, and the Cheeky Girls. Because people got used to these horrors, they wanted more violent and adrenaline pumping pastimes. Therefore the need for extreme games emerged. The most popular of the extreme games are Extreme Hide and Seek, Extreme Stamp Licking, Extreme Tiddley-Winks, and most of all Extreme Ironing, which is the subject of this article you are reading.
There are many types of Extreme Ironing, but they all involve hot irons, and all usually finish in the Hospital burn center.
Endurance Ironing[edit]
The point of this ironing game is to wear all of your clothes, iron them onto you, and then take them off once they're ironed. (Do not remove the bottom layer, as such results in disqualification.) The first person to iron their last layer of clothing without crying, or the last person not crying, wins. Other rules include:
- Iron heat setting must be at maximum for the most fun.
- No whining about how "It's too hot!!"
- Taking any kind of drug before, during, or after isn't allowed either.
- Remember to play fairly, and no punching, spitting, kicking, or pouring of hot water or drinks on opponents burns, as this might result in injury.
Extreme Iron Tag[edit]
Extreme Iron Tag is just that. Get some Irons, a truck load of extension cords, and some wall outlets, and you're good to go. Remember, unlike "regular tag", anyone and everyone can tag. In fact, you'd be
retarded mentally impaired not to tag. Extra points are rewarded for getting someone else's face. The winner is the last person not rolling around looking like Anakin Skywalker in the third Star Wars movie.
Winter sports Ironing[edit]
This is an outside sport, played on a frozen lake (more extension cords will be needed). The object of this game is to slide the iron across the ice with the intention of weakening the ice around your opponent. This game is considered "safe" by the American Sports and Fitness Association (only approximately 50% of the children who play it, die). Two or more participants are required.
And remember, if the water don't kill ya, the iron will. I mean really, if you thought the toaster in the bathtub was bad......
Time Trial[edit]
How long can you take the heat? Sign up now for the national "I Branded Myself with an Iron Longer than You did" contest. If you're as nuts as I am for being better than other nuts, than you'll call now 555-5575. Or visit our website, www.imactuallydumbenoughtotrythisjunk.com. Can you handle the burn?


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New sample library in 44.1 kHz 16 bit. Three velocity layers of chromatically sampled instruments with major and minor trills, long and short crescendo, and long and short diminuendo.
Just go to http://www.anthonydeaton.com/philharmonic.html and click on the picture of the instrument that you would like to download. Then you will have the choice of SFZ or SF2. SFZ is the recommended format.
I hope you find this project useful.


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There is new hope that an agreement to renovate Wrigley Field could come by Monday's Cubs home opener.
A spokesperson for the Ricketts family, who own the Cubs, say a deal is close on the proposed $500 million renovations to Wrigley Field.
Wrigleyville Alderman Tom Tunney told the Tribune, he's ready to agree to let the Cubs put up a jumbotron screen in the outfield, even if it blocks the view of some neighboring rooftop clubs.
He still wants assurances the Cubs will provide additional parking, and pay for neighborhood security, if they add more night games.
The mayor's office won't talk about the negotiations.


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In April 2009, the ACLU filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for records relating to the detention and treatment of prisoners held at the Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan. The ACLU is asking the Obama administration to make public records pertaining to the number of people currently detained at Bagram, their names, citizenship, place of capture and length of detention, as well as records pertaining to the process afforded those prisoners to challenge their detention and designation as "enemy combatants."
The U.S. government's Bagram detention facility has been the focus of widespread media attention and public concern for many years, but very little information is publically available about the secrecy-shrouded facility or the prisoners held there. The U.S. government has been detaining an unknown number of prisoners at the Bagram detention facility since 2002, and recent news reports indicate that the more than 1,800 individuals are currently detained there – some of whom have been held for as long as six years without access to counsel or a meaningful opportunity to challenge their imprisonment. The conditions of confinement at Bagram have at times been very primitive, with numerous allegations of mistreatment and abuse. In fact, at least two prisoners died there after undergoing brutal interrogations. There is public concern in the U.S. and around the world that Bagram has become, in effect, the new Guantánamo.
In January 2010, in response to the ACLU's lawsuit, the Defense Department released for the first time a list of the 645 prisoners held at Bagram in September 2009, but other vital information including their citizenship, how long they have been held, in what country they were captured and the circumstances of their capture has been redacted.
Although the nation is embroiled in an intense public debate about U.S. policy pertaining to the detention and treatment of prisoners in U.S. custody, Americans remain completely in the dark about even the most basic facts about Bagram. When prisoners are in U.S. custody and under U.S. control – no matter the location – our values and commitment to the rule of law are at stake. Now that President Obama has taken the positive step of ordering Guantánamo shut down, it is critical that we don't permit 'other Gitmos' to continue elsewhere.
April 2013: Department of Defense releases April 2009 Bagram Detention Operations Policy Memorandum and releases newly unredacted portions of documents related to Bagram detention and detention-review policies.
August 2012: Department of Defense, Justice, and State release additional documents produced by the Special Task Force on Detainee Disposition, among others, in rolling response to the ACLU's FOIA request.
July 2011: Defense Department files motion to seek return of improperly classified document given to the ACLU that contains "enduring security threat" detention criteria. (Learn More »)
June 2011: ACLU urges Defense Department to declassify documents produced to the ACLU that disclose "enduring security threat" detention criteria.
October 2010: Defense Department releases a less-redacted version of the list of Bagram detainees.
May 14, 2010: Defense Department releases documents pertaining to the detention policies and conditions at Bagram.
April 12, 2010: As a result of the ACLU's FOIA litigation, the Defense Department releases a less-redacted version of the list of Bagram detainees.
March 2010: ACLU files a brief asking a federal court to order Defense Department to disclose basic facts it is improperly withholding about Bagram prisoners, and to order CIA to process the FOIA request.
January 2010: In response to the ACLU's lawsuit, the Defense Department releases for the first time a list of the 645 prisoners held at Bagram in September 2009. Although the list includes prisoners' names, other vital information is redacted.
September 2009: ACLU files lawsuit to enforce FOIA request.
July 2009: Defense Department sends ACLU a letter refusing to release a list of Bagram detainees.
May 2009: CIA sends ACLU a letter refusing to confirm or deny the existence of records relating to Bagram.
April 2009: ACLU files Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for Bagram records.
Follow The Case
Legal Documents
Bagram FOIA - Government Release Vaughn Index
Bagram FOIA - Government Release Cover Letter
Bagram FOIA - Policy Guidance on Review Procedures and Transfer and Release Authority at BITF
Bagram FOIA - Unlawful Enemy Combatant Review Board (UECRB) Procedures
Bagram FOIA - Proposed Revisions to Detainee Review Procedures in Afghanistan
Bagram FOIA - Bagram Theater Internment Facility (BITF) Policy Review


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The managing director of Illinois' Office of Trade and Investment, a part of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, has spent quite a bit of state money on travel.
The managing director of Illinois' Office of Trade and Investment, a part of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, has spent quite a bit of state money on travel.
Rajinder Bedi, 56, of Chicago, who makes about $111,700 annually, billed the state more than $157,000 for travel from April 2005 to late 2008, including more than $140,000 for foreign trips. Of those foreign trips, six were exclusively or in part to India, and bills on those trips totaled more than $47,000. He was on another trip to India this week, DCEO spokeswoman Ashley Cross said.
Bedi's name has occasionally been in the news. In early 2007, the Chicago Sun-Times identified him as having been a leading fundraiser for then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich in the Indian-American community. Bedi also raised at least $100,000 as a vice-chair of John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign, the newspaper said.
Shortly after the Dec. 9 arrest of Blagojevich by federal authorities who accused Blagojevich of trying to sell the former U.S. Senate seat of President Barack Obama, the Chicago Tribune reported that Bedi told those attending an Oct. 31 fundraising luncheon for Blagojevich that the effort was aimed at supporting the appointment of U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Chicago, to the seat.
The Tribune said Bedi had been a "key fundraiser" for Blagojevich and that Blagojevich had referred to Bedi, who wears a turban, as "my Sikh warrior."
Blagojevich and Jackson have both denied participating in any improper actions surrounding the Senate seat.
Bedi is described in a one-page bio from mid-2007 as a business and civic leader in the Indian community in Illinois and nationally. He also was described as an entrepreneur who had started and run a diverse portfolio of businesses.
His statement of economic interest filed with the secretary of state's office shows he still is involved with or makes money from the Indian Reporter newspaper, Extra Wide Sock Co., and Design Group, a consulting, advertising and marketing firm. All are at the same address on Chicago's north side.
Bedi has taken more than 30 state trips to, among other destinations, Canada, Singapore, Poland, Israel, South Africa, Spain, Ecuador, Ireland and Thailand.
A check of records from the comptroller's office shows the most expensive trip he took was to India and Germany from Nov. 6-14, 2006. That bill came to $10,184. Documents show Bedi attended a conference in Mumbai, where he sought to promote sale of chemical products made in Illinois, and a medical-oriented trade show in Dusseldorf.
On more than one occasion as a candidate and governor, Blagojevich spoke of traveling to India to promote trade, but never made such a trip during his six years in office.
Cross, the DCEO spokeswoman, said Bedi leads efforts to promote Illinois trade with other countries, including their companies investing in the state, and manages a staff of 36 in 12 offices around the world, including Chicago and Springfield. Bedi's travels help manage staff, promote exports and showcase Illinois as a place in which to bring business, she said.
She said Bedi's office "helped secure new direct foreign investments in Illinois of over $255 million in 2007 alone." Illinois has moved from seventh to fifth among states in exports, and the state's exports of goods and services totaled $48.73 billion in 2007.
"International travel is carefully planned to make the most of each trip and is conducted according to the state's travel polices," Cross said.
Bedi joined the state in 2003 as director of emerging markets, Cross said.
Bedi's predecessor in the managing director's job was Ross Harano, who had worked for the state from mid-2003 to mid-2005. In that time, his total travel reimbursement was about $6,200, mostly within Illinois. He did travel to England and Germany in 2004, but the state paid just $510 for that trip, as the Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce paid most costs. About $1,050 was spent on another trip that year, which Harano recalls was a biotechnology conference in San Francisco.
Harano said he focused on having his staff members do the international traveling, because they were the ones organizing meetings and conferences. There also was professional staff already in place at DCEO offices in Illinois offices in other countries.
Harano, 66, of Chicago, was paid about $101,000 annually by the state. He now is president of the board of the Chicago-based Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.
Bernard Schoenburg is political columnist for The State Journal-Register. He can be reached at (217) 788-1540 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Insta-Success, Connected But Alone, Finding Your Voice
Apr 12 2012
I, and many others, still can't fully figure out how Instagram got sold for $1 billion to facebook within 17 months of being founded. Why are some people in the right place at the right time doing the proverbial right thing to bring them that kind of lottery like winnings? It makes my head hurt trying to rationalize it all, but congratulations to them! May they use their new found wealth wisely.
A friend sent me a link to this Ted Talk called Connected, but alone? by Sherry Turkle. It's an interesting take on the dangers of us being connected virtually but not personally. I agree with some but not all of what she says. We are a much more distracted society and what we define as being alone and lonely have changed over time. She says that people flock to social networks because deep down they feel like no one is listening and said "we expect more from technology than we do from each other and being alone feels like a problem that needs to be solved." And more profound "I share therefore I am." And "Solitude is where you find yourself."
Fred Wilson, A-list venture capitalist blogger, posted about Finding Your Voice and how blogging has helped him and his wife find and express their voices. Social media has helped him and others find their place in the Internet world. Arguably, there are some out there who many of us would be fine not reading or hearing about, but for many of us who struggled to express ourselves growing up, it's a great medium to share and discover we are not alone in the way we think, feel, and process information.Author: Aruni | Filed under: blogging, entrepreneurship, random stuff, social media, social networks | Tags: facebook, finding your voice, fred wilson, instagram, sherry turkle | 4 Comments »


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quicklist: 1 Title: Britney Spears Teases Next Album Will Be Her 'Most Personal Ever' Text: Our loneliness is killing us. We must confess, we still believe (still believe, still believe) ... in you, Britney. Hit us baby one more time.
All of this is to say that Britney is teasing a new album and everyone's excited ... including the pop princess.
"Really excited 2 give u a taste of my new album... can't wait 2 share what I've been working on. Going to be my most personal album ever :)" Spears tweeted on July 3.
A release date for the album has not been announced, but it is expected later this year. In Billboard.com's Mid-Year Music Awards poll, the album was voted most anticipated event of 2013.
media: 19589157
quicklist: 2 Title: Trayvon Martin Lived as Long as 10 Painful Minutes After Shot Fired Text: The medical examiner who conducted the autopsy on Trayvon Martin's body testified today that the Florida teenager lived from one to 10 painful minutes after he was shot in the heart by George Zimmerman, and that the wound was impossible to survive.
Dr. Shiping Bao told the court that Martin, 17, was shot in the heart and said, "There was no chance he could survive."
The medical examiner said that Martin would have lived anywhere from one minute to 10 minutes after being shot as his beating heart ran out of blood to pump.
Zimmerman, who is being tried on charges of second-degree murder, has maintained that he shot Martin in self-defense after he was knocked down and beaten by Martin and the teenager went for Zimmerman's gun.
Catch up on all the details from the George Zimmerman murder trial.
media: 19587644
quicklist: 3 Title: Fourth of July Accidents Mar Celebrations Text: As people across the country celebrated the Fourth of July, there were a few celebrations that took tragic turns.
In Simi Valley, Calif., a fireworks mishap left at least 28 people injured after an "unintended" detonation shot fireworks into a crowd during a Fourth of July display.
Across the country in Bangor, Maine, the day's events got off to a chaotic start when a police standoff forced the parade to take an alternate route. Then, during the parade, an antique fire truck apparently lost control and crashed into a tractor, authorities told ABC News' Bangor affiliate WVII-TV. The tractor driver fell off, was run over and died.
In Edmond, Okla., an 8-year-old boy was killed when his father accidentally ran him over during a parade, authorities said, according to ABC News' Oklahoma City affiliate KOCO-TV. The boy had been on a trailer that was carrying a float when he either jumped or fell off, KOCO reported.
media: 19586065
quicklist: 4 Title: Diane Kruger Says She Was an 'Idiot' at 30 Text: You know that feeling when you're in your 20s and you think you've got it all figured out, and then all of a sudden it dawns on you that you don't know anything at all? Well, good news: Diane Kruger understands you.
The 36-year-old German-born actress told the latest U.K. edition of Marie Claire magazine that she had the moment of reckoning at age 30.
"Honestly, for a long time I felt that I was so accomplished. 'Oh, I speak three languages, I travel the world, I've seen so many things,'" Kruger said. "But when I turned 30, I realized I was an idiot. I didn't know s**t about anything."
The "Troy" and "Inglourious Basterds" actress also talked about her appreciation of Americans' openness to therapy and how she's sure she "punished many boys for my lack of a father figure."
Kruger has been with longtime boyfriend Pacey Witter, ah, Joshua Jackson ... and rumors are always swirling about their getting engaged.
media: 19585851
quicklist: 5 Title: Justin Timberlake: Too Sexy for YouTube? Text: On July 3, "teamJT" tweeted from Justin Timberlake's Twitter account, "Check out the new video for Tunnel Vision and be ready ... it's explicit."
They weren't kidding. The nudity-heavy video for Timberlake's song "Tunnel Vision" is causing waves online and was even rumored to have been banned from YouTube, but the video is visible on Timberlake's VEVO channel on YouTube and marked "explicit."
He has been saying all these years that he's bringing sexy back, so this should come as no surprise.
media: 19585979
quicklist: 6 Title: The Spy Who Loved Me: Anna Chapman Proposes to Edward Snowden Text: It's a match made in heaven.
Russian spy Anna Chapman tweeted, "Snowden, will you marry me?!" The tweet was directed to NSA leaker Edward Snowden.
Shortly after, Chapman tweeted the NSA asking, "Will you look after our children?"
Chapman is going to have to find Snowden if she wants to marry him. He is in hiding somewhere in the world.
media: 19585489
quicklist: 7 Title: Surprise Wimbledon Star Kirsten Flipkens Loses in Semifinal Text: Kirsten Flipkens' Wimbledon-winning dreams came to a screeching halt when she was crushed by Marion Bartoli 6-1, 6-2 Thursday.
The Belgian-born Flipkens was ranked 262nd a year ago and upset No. 8 seed and champion Petra Kvitova Tuesday to advance to the semifinals.
It was the first time in three years that a semifinal round in a major tennis tournament did not feature a former Grand Slam champion.
Better luck next year, Flipper. (That's her nickname on the WTA tour.)
media: 19585892
quicklist: 8 Title: Today's Search + Social Trends. Explained.


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Pump water from Leavenworth to Denver? Highly unlikely, U.S. concludes
A Western states pipe dream got a cold splash of reality this week when the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation issued a long-awaited report on strategies to provide water to the parched states along the Colorado River.
Among the study's conclusions: Importing billions of gallons of water from the Missouri River, as an anonymous Westerner suggested nearly a year ago, would be massively expensive and take decades to pull off.
The report didn't rule out the option, giving it high marks for the amount of the water it would provide and its "technical feasiblity." But high electricity costs and a 30-year permitting and building schedule prompted the Bureau to give the idea a low rating compared with other water-generating and water-saving possibilities.
Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the trans-Kansas pipeline hurdles were likely too high to overcome. Instead, in a conference call Wednesday, he urged thirsty westerners to focus on "solutions that are out there that will help us."
The Bureau's report, and Salazar's comments, are likely to bring a sigh of relief from officials along the Missouri River basin, and as well as several "I told you sos."
Almost to a person this week, interests along the Missouri River said the political, legal and practical problems associated with the pipeline made its construction highly problematic.
"The political hurdles to overcome are gigantic," said former Kansas Gov. Mike Hayden, now director of the Missouri River Association of States and Tribes. "The likelihood is very, very slim."
The trans-Kansas water pipeline was one of dozens of suggestions submitted last winter after federal officials asked westerners for advice on their region's chronic water problems.
Other ideas? An undersea aqueduct from Alaska. Cloud seeding. Covering the West's reservoirs with plastic balls to cut down on evaporation.
The study concluded a 700-mile trans-Kansas pipeline would be cheaper on a per-gallon basis than some alternatives, like towing icebergs from the Arctic Circle. It also would provide more water — 600,000 acre-feet annually, enough for 1.2 million familes — than would proposals to remove salt from specific locations in the Pacific Ocean.
But the price of the electricity needed to pump Missouri River water through a 12-foot pipeline along I-70 from Leavenworth to Denver, up a 4,300-foot slope, would be astronomical — leading to annual operating costs of more than $1 billion.
Just building the project would cost $8.6 billion, the study said. Importing water from rivers closer to the Colorado River basin would be far cheaper, the study found, although they would provide far less water.
The report said political challenges to the trans-Kansas pipeline would be expected.
Some local environmentalists — weary from arguments over flood control, endangered species and scrape-the-bottom shipping along the depleted Missouri and Mississippi Rivers — said this week that adding another use for the Missouri River's water would likely go nowhere.
"The starting point should be to try to find ways to live within the means of each basin," said Caroline Pufalt, conservation director for the Missouri chapter of the Sierra Club. A pipeline "is just moving the problem around."
The suck-and-pump solution was not intended to help just the 40 million drought-plagued people in the Colorado River basin, which stretches from Wyoming through several western states to California. Instead, some of the water might have been used to replenish the dwindling underground natural storage of the Ogallala aquifer in Kansas and Nebraska, or to fill upreservoirs in Kansas.
Some would go for drinking, some for irrigation and industrial uses.
The Kansas Water Office said it was aware of the pipeline proposal, but had no comment on the idea. Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback's office declined to comment.
Brownback recently convened a discussion of water depletion in the state.
The engineering of a pipeline would be difficult but not impossible, Hayden said. Indeed, the report gave one of its highest marks — a "B" — for the plan's technical feasibility.
It would create construction jobs and would potentially provide a market for wind- and water-generated energy.
But "it's a lot of water," Hayden said.
At current release rates, 600,000 acre-feet would consume about eight days' worth of discharge near Yankton, S.D., from the Gavins Point Dam, the last federal flood-management reservoir along the upper branch of the Missouri. It represents about 3 percent of the expected runoff into the Missouri this year.
Under a compact originally signed in the 1920s, the upper areas of the Colorado River basin are guaranteed 7.5 million acre-feet of water annually, as are the lower areas like California. But experts say droughts and over-use — and, some believe, climate change — have reduced the river to levels that threaten those promises.
"The Colorado River is in very bad shape and deeply threatened," says a group called Save the Colorado.
Still, diverting even a small amount of Missouri River water would have almost certainly provoked an enormous political blowback from states straddling the muddy river below the proposed intake. That means Missouri and Kansas, of course, but also Mississippi River states like Illinois and Louisiana, which would likely oppose any plan to provide less water totheir
drought-challenged waterway.
"There is enough difficulty managing the Missouri River within the basin now," said Sen. Roy Blunt, a Missouri Republican. "Adding another dynamic outside the basin would certainly be a concern."
Jody Farhat of the Army Corps of Engineers' Omaha district said the agency would take a look at any plan to divert Missouri River water, but predicted a skeptical reaction.
"Some of the other diversions that have been looked at have been far less water than (600,000 acre-feet)," she said, "and there has been push-back from some of the other interests in the basin."
And no one can predict future demands on the river, Pufalt said. She thinks a push is underway to expand use of Missouri River water for so-called fracking — the water-intensive process of extracting natural gas from shale deposits.
Even some Coloradans say convincing other states to share their river water would have been a tough sell.
"I do know we're pretty thirsty," said Timothy Casey, a political science professor at Colorado Mesa University. "I know you folks are pretty thirsty over there, too."