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Car News
Buying CPO: Bridging the Gap Between New and Used
The car buying process is loaded with questions: Will a particular car satisfy all your wants and needs? Is there a warranty? And what's really going on under the hood?
The answers to these and many other important questions aren't always easy to come by, yet they're directly linked to your overall satisfaction.
You can peek under the hood and go for an exhaustive test drive, but you'll form your lasting impression of a vehicle over a period of months, not hours. Of course, no one has that luxury when shopping for a vehicle, but that fact should illustrate the point that it's necessary to do everything possible to bolster your confidence in your big purchase.
To date, millions of shoppers have accomplished that goal by looking into Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicles. CPO is now a legitimate alternative to buying new or used, and it offers many of the best features of each.
What does CPO mean?
To be eligible for CPO status, vehicles generally must be recent models with relatively low mileage. All CPO vehicles must also pass a detailed inspection, outlined by the manufacturer, which is measured by the number of inspected points. Most inspections are similar, but the number of points can vary based on the manufacturer's definitions (for example, whether tires count as one point or four).
The option of buying certified has been gaining popularity for years, in particular for luxury brands or vehicle segments that shoppers wouldn't have been able to afford otherwise. Although the luxury brands are most popular, a lower price is a benefit for any CPO vehicle, since the value of a vehicle depreciates more during its first year than in any other. The number of Certified buyers has grown steadily in recent years, and nearly every automotive manufacturer now has a CPO program in place.
If you'd like to broaden your search beyond CPO, please see our other buying guides for information on how to research new cars, or shop smarter for used ones.
Even though it's CPO, research is still key.
There's no industry standard for what makes a CPO vehicle, so it's important to keep in mind that all CPO programs are not created equal. First of all, different manufacturers have different age and mileage eligibility requirements for their CPO programs. Each manufacturer also does things a little differently when it comes to the extended warranty and other new-car perks such as roadside assistance or special financing options. To find out the details of your favorite manufacturer's CPO program and compare the features and benefits of up to three manufacturers, check out our CPO Program Comparison Tool.
That's just one of the tools you should use to help you make your decision. Buying a CPO vehicle eliminates some of the uncertainty of buying used, but you still need to do your homework and ask the important questions to ensure you're getting the best car at the best price. Your safest bet is to follow many of the same steps as you would when shopping for any used car, such as obtaining a Vehicle History Report from CARFAX. Know up front if the car has ever been in an accident or reported stolen, salvaged or damaged.
Here are a few of the most important questions you should keep in mind while shopping certified:
Who's doing the certification?
Some dealerships also offer their own certification, although manufacturers typically offer better warranties and perform more stringent inspections. And should something go wrong, manufacturer warranties will cover service at many locations, instead of just one.
Can you review the inspection list without any issue?
Each vehicle must go through a specific point-by-point inspection. This list will indicate the thoroughness of the inspection and whether any repairs or maintenance work were required to bring the vehicle up to CPO condition.
Does the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the inspection report match the one on the vehicle itself?
The VIN is a series of 17 characters commonly displayed on the driver's side of the dash (viewable through the windshield). The VIN may also be located the front of the engine block, or in various other places depending on the particular model.
Is the vehicle still under warranty?
And if so, will that transfer with ownership? Some programs allow you to finish the current warranty before the new one begins.
How comprehensive is the extended warranty?
How long does it last, and what's covered? Is it transferable? CPO programs offer warranties for a certain number of years or miles (whichever comes first), but there's great variability in the most crucial details.
What about other incentives?
In addition to special financing options and free roadside assistance, many programs offer free shuttle service, basic vehicle maintenance, loaner cars or even all of the above. Find out what's available to you.
Who'll provide service for your car?
Will you be locked into receiving service at a particular location? If the warranty will be honored at various locations, see if any limitations apply.
Is there a return policy?
If you're not happy with your purchase, can you bring it back? If so, for how long? Policies vary, so check to see whether you'll receive a full refund, including sales tax and title fees.
Is the price right for what you're getting?
It costs a certain amount of money to certify a vehicle, but you can negotiate as you would with any other car. Going in, it's a good idea to research resale values for the model you want.
Finally, make sure everything you've been promised is clear, in writing. When you finally have the most important information - your extended warranty details, point-by-point inspection report, and other key documents - you'll be more confident in the purchase, knowing that the new vehicle comes with built-in peace of mind.
Now that you know what buying CPO has to offer, compare the benefits of CPO programs or browse the CPO listings on AutoTrader.com.


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NEW ORLEANS, LA (Sun Belt) – Idaho and New Mexico State have accepted invitations to join the Sun Belt Conference as football members and will compete their first season in 2014. The Sun Belt Conference announced the additions on Wednesday evening.
With the previously announced additions of Appalachian State and Georgia Southern on Wednesday, the additions of these two institutions as football only members now gives the Sun Belt Conference a lineup of 12 football playing institutions and 12 all sports members.
"Bringing Idaho and New Mexico State back for football gives our league stability without compromising quality," said Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor of Troy University and President of the Sun Belt Conference Executive Committee. "These are outstanding institutions with strong leadership and I join my fellow presidents and chancellors in welcoming them home to the Sun Belt Conference."
Idaho and New Mexico State are familiar partners of the Sun Belt Conference, having been football members from the league's inaugural year of football in 2001 through the 2004 season. Both members played an integral part of forming the Sun Belt Conference for football and now add strength to the league. Having reached the 12 team mark, the Sun Belt Conference can now play a football championship game should it choose to do so. Both teams will be immediately eligible to compete for the Sun Belt football championship and also for a spot in postseason bowl games.
"The additions of Idaho and New Mexico State marks a significant moment for the Sun Belt Conference," said Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson. "The administrators from our league have been working hard and taking the initiative for the conference to continue its expansion during a time where national realignment has been extensive. Having these two FBS programs join the league will give us two teams that are instantly ready to compete for a bowl bid and also gives us the ability to host a conference football championship game should we choose to so."
The University of Idaho is the state of Idaho's oldest public university and is one of only 72 national land-grant research universities. The University is located in Moscow towards the northern portion of the state. UI has been recognized by Forbes magazine as 33rd in the nation among the 2012 "Top 100 Best Buy Colleges" and second among all national research universities in the Pacific Northwest. UI also continues to have a record number of National Merit Scholars – more than any other public institution of higher education in the Pacific Northwest. 130 Bachelor's, 88 Master's, and 32 Doctoral degrees are offered by UI and the university enrolls over 11,000 students on its main campus.
"The move to the Sun Belt Conference is an important move for us. It provides us a known conference schedule, affiliation, and revenue source as we build strength in our FBS football program," said University of Idaho President M. Duane Nellis.
New Mexico State University is a comprehensive land-grant institution of higher learning which is also a NASA Space Grant College, a Hispanic-serving institution and is home to the very first Honors College in New Mexico. NMSU's main campus in Las Cruces features an enrollment of over 17,000 students and the University offers 88 bachelor's, 54 master's, 53 certificate, 52 associate, 22 doctoral, 4 specialist in education and 3 doctor of education degree programs. Issues in Higher Education places NMSU among the top 100 undergraduate and graduate degree producers for minority students. U.S. News and World Report ranks NMSU in the top tier among Best National Universities.
"We are honored to receive an offer for our football program to join the Sun Belt Conference and the opportunity to play in a conference that offers such outstanding competition," New Mexico State Interim President Dr. Manuel Pacheco said. "Clearly, the Sun Belt is a conference on the rise and we are excited to be part of an organization that shares NMSU's commitment to excellence in the classroom, on the playing field, and, most importantly, to a quality experience for the student athlete."
The Sun Belt Conference will contest the 2013 football season with eight members – Arkansas State, Georgia State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, South Alabama, Texas State, Troy and Western Kentucky University. UALR and UT Arlington compete as non-football members.

subset: commoncrawl


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posted by Thom Holwerda on Sun 26th Mar 2006 16:01 UTC, submitted by Carlos H. Cantu
"Recently, Coverity presented their first results in their scanning technology that hunts for defects in source code. One of the addressed projects was Firebird. After Roman Rokytskyy reviewed the results, he concluded the failures are in two areas."


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BRUSSELS, March 5 (UPI) -- Retail sales rose from December to January in Europe, the data office Eurostat said Tuesday.
In the 27-nation European Union, sales volume rose 0.9 percent while in the 17-nation eurozone, the countries that share the euro as currency, sales rose 1.2 percent, Eurostat said.
Compared to January 2012, retail sales dropped 0.9 percent in the EU and fell 1.3 percent in the eurozone, Eurostat said.
Among EU countries included in the report, Poland and Romania posted the highest month-to-month sales gain at 4.2 percent. In Belgium and Germany, sales rose 3.1 percent.
Denmark posted the steepest decline with sales off 2 percent. Sales fell 1.6 percent in Malta and 1.2 percent in Finland.
On an annual rate, however, sales were off furthest in Slovenia, down 7.6 percent and Bulgaria, off 5.5 percent. The sharpest annual gains were in Belgium, up 8.4 percent and Luxembourg, up 7.1 percent.
Data was either unavailable or withheld by the Czech Republic, Greece, Spain, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands and Slovakia, Eurostat said.


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COUNTY councillors have chosen to pay the council chairman and vice-chairman £4,500 more than they could have done during 2014/15.
The Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales set three levels of pay for civic and deputy civic leaders but the council has the discretion to choose which level it opts for.
Pembrokeshire County Council director of finance and leisure Mark Lewis had recommended that the chairman and vice chairman's civic salaries be set at £21,500 and £16,000 respectively for 2014/15. Last year's pay was set at £21,375 and £16,625 respectively.
But at full council last Thursday (May 8), Labour council leader Cllr Paul Miller proposed adopting the lowest option which would have seen the council chairman paid £19,000 and the vice chairman paid £14,000.
"Given the times we are living in and the budget pressures on this authority I think we should go for the cheapest option," Cllr Miller said. The proposal was seconded by Cllr Tony Wilcox.
Council leader Cllr Jamie Adams said the decision to opt for the middle level was based on Pembrokeshire being a medium-sized authority.
Cllr Miller's proposal was voted down by 35 votes to 17 with one abstention.
The 2014/15 chairman Cllr Thomas Richards abstained from voting but incoming deputy chairman Cllr Wynne Evans voted against adopting the lower pay.
It was also decided that co-opted members will be paid for a maximum of 10 full days for each committee.
After the meeting Cllr Miller said: "Last week Cllr Adams told us that the budget was on a knife-edge but apparently we can afford an extra £4,500 every year for two councillors pay, despite being unable to afford weekly bin collections, being unable to afford to webcast all council meetings and even being unable to afford to insist that every one of this county's carers is paid a living wage.
"The Independent Political Group, working together with the Tories, showed exactly where their priorities are on Thursday. The priority is just as it always has been – to look after themselves and their own."


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NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. futures rose Wednesday on reassurances from the U.S. central bank that the low-interest rate policies will continue.
There was also some positive data from the manufacturing sector.
Dow Jones industrial futures rose 17 points to 13,876. The broader S&P futures added 1.5 points to 1,493.90. Nasdaq futures gained 4.25 points to 2,712.
Markets were rattled one week ago when the minutes from the Federal Reserve policy meeting in January left the impression that some bank officials had grown leery of ongoing stimulus programs.
But in subsequent days, Fed officials appeared to walk back from the perception that the minutes had left. On Tuesday, Bernanke said that the bond-buying program that has pumped billions into the economy has been a success and gave no indication that the Fed would release those levers any time soon.
Bernanke is testifying Wednesday before the House Financial Services Committee.
Also on Wednesday, a report from the Commerce Department revealed a spike in orders for factory goods in January, suggesting that businesses are growing increasingly optimistic.
Orders for so-called core capital goods, which include machinery, equipment and software, rose 6.3 percent in January from December, the largest increase in more than a year.
Target beat Wall Street profit expectations for the fourth quarter, but shares dipped before the opening bell because its gross margins — the percent of each dollar of revenue that a company keeps — are slipping.
Retailers are being watched closely to gauge how a hike in the U.S. payroll tax is affecting consumers.
Dollar Tree also beat expectations for the final quarter of the year and shares jumped 4 percent in premarket trading.


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The Chicago Fire U-18 and U-16 teams went undefeated this past Saturday in U.S. Soccer Development Academy Great Lakes Division play. The U-18s tied Indiana Fire Academy 0-0. The U-16s were victorious in their match with Indiana Fire Academy, pulling out a 3-0 win.
The U-18s kicked off Saturday, April 28 against their Fire brethren from the Hoosier State at the Toyota Park Practice Field. Christian Lomelli was in goal as the Fire ground out a 0-0 result. The draw kept the Fire's shutout streak intact as the U-18s allowed zero goals across five matches during the month of April.
The Fire U-16 squad also challenge their Indiana counterparts in the second match of the day. Jeffrey Farina opened scoring early with his goal in the 2nd minute and Anthony Smith added to the Fire's lead with a goal in the 30th. The U-16s weren't done however, and Christian Henock-Berhanu scored in the 50th minute to give the Fire a 3-0 victory. Kyle Anthony Dal Santo started in goal and recorded the shutout.
The U-18s (11-2-1) maintain their position at the top of the standings with a 6-0-1 record in the Great Lakes Division. The U-16s (10-2-2) are currently in second place, also with a 6-0-1 record in conference play. They are only one point behind the current leaders and their next opponent, the Crew Soccer Academy Wolves.
The Chicago Fire Academy teams return to action on Saturday, May 5 when the U-18 and U-16 teams take on Crew Soccer Academy Wolves at the Toyota Park Practice Field. The next day on Sunday, May 6 the U-18 and U-16 teams will square off against Vardar SC Freiburg at the Toyota Park Practice Field.
The Chicago Fire Premier open their 2012 season when they host the Croatian Eagles of the United States Adult Soccer Association at Toyota Park on Tuesday, May 15 at 6:00 p.m. CT in the first round of the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. If the Fire advance, they will host the second round match against USL Pro side Dayton Dutch Lions on Tuesday, May 22 at 6:00 p.m. CT.
In 2011 the Fire Premier squad advanced to the third round of the U.S. Open Cup before falling 3-0 to MLS side Sporting Kansas City. Their run equaled their furthest previous tournament run in 2004 where they fell to the Rochester Rhinos 1-0.
The Fire Premier begin USL Premier Development League play on Wednesday, May 23 when they host the River City Rovers at 2:00 p.m. CT at Toyota Park.


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Washington Post: 'Million-Dollar Mortgage Goes Unpaid for Years While Couple Fights Foreclosure'Posted by on March 06, 2012
What happens when you don't pay your mortgage? Apparently, nothing for a long time due, in part, to government programs and policies that can drag out the foreclosure process for years. The result is a growing backlog of foreclosures and a weak-to-nonexistent recovery in home prices.
That's what readers of the Washington Post learned over the weekend in a story about a Maryland couple who have lived in a $1.3 million dollar mansion for five years but have never once made a mortgage payment on the custom-built, 4,900 square foot, five bedroom "manse along the Potomac River" described in the story as "a showstopper". The owners have been able to keep it for so long by repeatedly filing for bankruptcy and by "exploiting changes" in laws designed to help delinquent homeowners avoid foreclosure, according to the Post.
While no one would defend the practices of some lenders, this story is an example of how the foreclosure process has become broken and is sometimes abused by those who are determined to drag out the process. And the Administration's ever-shifting strategies and massive spending of taxpayer dollars on foreclosure mitigation programs have impeded, rather than promoted, a housing recovery.
This custom-built, "showstopper" $1.3 million mansion features 5 BRs, incredible views of the Potomac River, Palladian windows, "magnificent sunroom" and a dining room chandelier from Europe. And you can live in it for FREE for at least 5 years thanks to the broken foreclosure process! Read the Washington Post for details.
The opinions expressed below are those of their respective authors and do not necessarily represent those of this office.
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26 Sep 2012 07:05:50 AM
UFC Tonight & Ultimate Insider Recap: Updates on Rory MacDonald, Jon Jones, and the Greatest Flying Knees in the UFC
Another Tuesday night has come and gone which means Fuel TV was the destination of choice for most MMA fans. At least it probably was, if A.) you are lucky enough to have the channel and B.) weren't too busy watching Tosh.O or Sons of Anarchy. Now that I think of it, I'm guessing a total of four of you actually watched last night. Not to worry,
Potato Nation taters you guys, we watched UFC Tonight and UFC Ultimate Insider for you and laboriously jotted down all the juicy news and rumors for your enjoyment. Here's what you missed:
Reminder: UFC on Fuel 5 starts at 4pm ET this Saturday. Plan your weekend accordingly.
Speaking of UFC on Fuel 5, one half of the main event Stefan Struve attempts 4.5 submissions per 15 minutes of fighting but has 0% takedown defense. That is not a typo. He has been grounded each of the four times an opponent has attempted to take him to the canvas. I'm no expert, but isn't that a little troubling? Maybe it's all just a part of "Skyscraper"'s master plan considering 16 the BJJ purple belt's 24 victories come by way of submission. It's kind of hard to argue with results like that.Read More DIGG THIS


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NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) -- Banks in Cyprus reopened for the first time in nearly two weeks Thursday, with strict controls to stop people from taking out all their savings and plunging the country's financial system into chaos.
The limits on transactions, which include caps on withdrawals and money leaving the country, are a first in the 14-year history of the euro.
Across Cyprus, large but orderly lines formed ahead of the opening of banks for six hours from noon, and guards from private security firms reinforced police outside some ATMs and banks in the capital, Nicosia. No particular crowd issues were reported.
President Nicos Anastasiades expressed his "warm gratitude and deep appreciation towards the Cypriot people for the maturity and spirit of responsibility they have shown at a critical time for the stability of the Cypriot economy," a statement from his office said.
Banks have been shut in Cyprus since March 16 to prevent people draining their accounts as politicians scrambled to come up with a plan to allow the country to qualify for 10 billion euros ($12.9 billion) in international bailout loans for its stricken financial sector.
A deal was finally reached in Brussels with other euro countries and the International Monetary Fund early Monday. The country's second-largest bank, Laiki, is to be split up, with its healthy assets being absorbed into the Bank of Cyprus. Savers with more 100,000 euros ($129,000) in both Bank of Cyprus and Laiki will face big losses. At Laiki, those could reach as much as 80 percent of amounts above the 100,000 insured limit; those at Bank of Cyprus are expected to be much lower.
The Finance Ministry announced capital controls -- to be reviewed daily and initially applying for seven days -- to prevent a rush of euros out of the country's banks when they reopened.
They include limiting daily cash withdrawals to 300 euros ($383) per person and limiting payments abroad to 5,000 euros ($6,400). No checks can be cashed, although they can be paid in. Anyone leaving the country, whether Cypriot or a visitor, can only take up to 1,000 euros ($1,290) with them in cash.
The country's general accounting office said pensions and other social security payments, together with salaries for government employees, will be in bank accounts next Tuesday and Wednesday.
Many Cypriots were working out exactly what they could and couldn't do. Television talk shows hosted dial-ins with experts, with viewers' queries ranging from where they would repay loans to how they could pay tuition fees for children studying abroad and handle check payments. Across the country, people wondered whether they would be able to access their salaries, many of which were due this week.
"I believe this will be a very difficult day for both people and bank employees because no matter how much information there was, things were changing all the time," said Costas Kyprianides, a grocery supplier in Nicosia. "Even us traders, like myself, have so many checks which I need to deposit so I can make ends meet."
Some analysts are concerned that, if kept in place long, Cyprus's measures will go against the fundamental principle of the single currency: Free and easy movement of money around the euro's 17 members.
The European Commission said EU member states could restrict financial transactions "in certain circumstances and under strict conditions on grounds of public policy or public security" but added that "the free movement of capital should be reinstated as soon as possible".
Not every account in Laiki and Bank of Cyprus will be hit with big losses. Deposits held by the central government, local authorities such as municipalities, universities and development projects being co-funded by the European Union will not face a so-called haircut. Constantinos Petrides, undersecretary to the president, said the measure was agreed between the Cypriot government and a delegation from the IMF, European Central Bank and European Commission.
Government welfare and pension fund accounts in Laiki will be treated in the same way as those in the Bank of Cyprus, "thereby ensuring most of the deposits," Petrides added.
Some individuals and businesses, spotting that Cyprus's economy was in trouble and that a tax on deposits was being discussed, had moved their money out of Cyprus well before the banks closed their doors last week.
According to ECB figures, deposits in Cyprus' banks slipped 2.2 percent last month, to 46.36 billion euros ($59.36 billion), the lowest figure since May 2010 and down from a peak of 50.5 billion euros ($64.67 billion) in May 2012. The figure excludes deposits from other banks and the central government.
"I anticipated, not this to happen, but I anticipated issues last year, when Greece had a question of whether it will remain in euro and the consequences of that," said Athos Angelides, who runs a business importing and distributing hair salon products. "So luckily we transferred money in the middle of last year over to the UK."
The stock market, which has been closed since March 15, stayed shut. It said it would remain closed also on Friday and Monday, which is Easter in most of Europe. Cyprus follows the Orthodox calendar and does not celebrate Easter until May this year.
Elena Becatoros in Nicosia and David McHugh in Frankfurt contributed.


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Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Australian Rain Radars on Google Maps
BOMMap is an Australian weather map that allows users to view animations of the latest radar images from Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.
The initial view of BOMMap shows where it is currently raining in Australia and therefore where radar animations are also currently available to view on the map. Users just need to select one of the displayed map markers to view the latest radar animation from that location.
The creator of BOMMap has also set up a subReddit where users can submit suggestions and possible improvements to the map.
Posted by Keir Clarke at 3:10 PM
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SOURCE: iSECUREtrac Corporation
February 23, 2012 18:13 ET
OMAHA, NE--(Marketwire - Feb 23, 2012) - iSECUREtrac Corp (OTCBB: ISEC)
Lincoln Zehr, CPA, who assumed the interim Chief Executive Officer responsibilities upon the resignation of Peter Michel on December 20, 2011, and who was appointed Chief Executive Officer by the Board of Directors on February 3, 2012, announced today the Company's new management team.
Subsequent to Mr. Zehr assuming the CEO responsibilities in December 2011, a number of significant changes have been made to the Company's management team. Mr. Zehr noted, "While I want to take nothing away from the executives who have left the Company lately, their departures have allowed us to quickly reorient the Company's focus and re-structure the team with people who believe in the vision we have for the Company. I believe we have assembled a team that is exceptionally experienced and talented. They are committed to our vision of iSECUREtrac, which is providing GPS services using the best technology and software available and doing so with a high level of integrity and unparalleled customer service.
"One of the characteristics that distinguish iSECUREtrac from other electronic monitoring providers is the fact that we understand the day to day challenges of our customers and we know what it takes for a community supervision agency to run a successful electronic monitoring program. The majority of our Sales and Customer Service team has either worked in community supervision or has a degree in a related field, or both."
Specific changes have been as follows:
Melissa Starr - Vice President of Customer Service
Ms. Starr has over 14 years of experience in the electronic monitoring industry. She began her career managing an active average caseload of over 150 offenders on intensive supervision. After years of direct supervision experience, she moved on to oversee the daily operations of numerous government and community corrections accounts across eleven states. Over the last few years, she concentrated on business development and aiding community correction agencies in planning, designing and implementing successful alternative to incarceration programs. Ms. Starr holds a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice from Chapman University in Southern California. She is also pursuing her Masters Degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Justice Management.
Jeff Milner - Vice President of Sales
Mr. Milner returns to the iSECUREtrac team after a nine year absence. He is an accomplished sales professional possessing thirty years of public and private sector experience. Since entering the private sector in 1995, Mr. Milner has specialized in providing new technologies, personnel and service solutions to a vast array of federal, DoD, state and local government agencies across the United States. For over two decades he has successfully shown government officials, at all levels, how to best leverage new technological resources and services without requiring additional budget appropriations, or in some cases without any taxpayer burden at all.
Mr. Milner's breadth of direct industry experience includes administering offender monitoring services in both juvenile and adult jurisdictions. As a former line officer, supervisor and program director in both field and secure facility environments, he has a keen appreciation for the challenges that criminal justice and correction agencies face. While employed in such capacities, Mr. Milner successfully pioneered some of the first applications, on a self-pay basis, of electronic monitoring, remote alcohol testing, ignition interlock devices, and voice recognition systems; all are recognized as prevalent and necessary tools in today's world of offender monitoring. Mr. Milner holds a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice from Ball State University in Indiana.
Kimberly Reed - Vice President of Finance & Corporate Secretary
Ms. Reed has been the Controller of iSECUREtrac for approximately eight years. During that time she has developed an in depth understanding of the electronic monitoring industry and has made numerous valuable contributions to the organization. As Vice President of Finance she is responsible for contracts administration and all accounting functions including internal reporting as well as quarterly and annual reporting to the Securities Exchange Commission. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Accountancy from the University of North Dakota.
About iSECUREtrac
iSECUREtrac Corp provides electronic monitoring systems, client management software and supplemental services for use in community supervision. The company's rich stream of reliable data concerning a client's location, movement and status better enables effective compliance management and positive behavior modification. Visit www.isecuretrac.com for more information.
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Canucks name Linden president of hockey operations
The Vancouver Canucks didn't need to stall. They got their man.
Not even 24 hours after firing Mike Gillis, the team found a replacement for one of his two former positions. And if there ever was a hire to win back fans, this was it.
In a much-anticipated press conference at Rogers Arena on Wednesday, the Canucks officially introduced Trevor Linden as the team's new president of hockey operations.
"Today is a real honour," Linden said in front of a packed media room. "I came to Vancouver 26 years ago and I never left. It is my home and the Canucks have always been a big part of my family.
"When this opportunity was presented to me, I gave it good thought and I simply could not pass it up. I'm young, I'm passionate about this team and I want to win, just like the Canucks fans do. I'd love to be sitting here in 20 years, that's my intention."
"Our goal is nothing less than to bring the Stanley Cup to Vancouver," Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini added, after beginning his opening remarks by thanking Gillis for his five years with the club. "I don't want to play the blame game. Today is about change, today is about going forward. The best years of the Canucks are ahead of us.
"We believe in Trevor, we believe he is the perfect person to lead this hockey club."
The former captain, who led the Canucks to the 1994 final and spent 16 seasons through two stints with the club, will be given full autonomy and will take over the reins in selecting who then becomes the general manager, among all other hockey-related decisions. As president, the Medicine Hat, Alta. native will also be responsible for "the coaching and scouting staffs, player procurement and development, and minor league affiliations and operations."
When asked about picking his general manager, Linden wasn't willing to disclose much but did say he will begin building a candidates list soon enough and plans to have a GM in place by the NHL draft in June.
"We will do a search from within and from outside of our organization," he said. "I have a profile of not just the general manager but what I want that team would look like.
"But I definitely have a specific profile. It's one of those things where gaining permission to speak to certain people can be a challenge. When I make the decision, you'll understand and I'll be able to speak more freely on the profile I'm looking for."
But first things first, the hiring of a local legend in Linden serves as a move many Canucks fans are likely to get behind, even if he has no actual NHL front office experience after retiring from the league in 2008.
"My experience comes from playing, there's no question," Linden said. "It's one of those things where you need to surround yourself with good people ultimately, it's about building a team not just on the ice but off the ice.
"I've always been someone who's loved to learn. I have the ability to learn quickly and make the right call."
The 43-year-old has kept busy though since ending a 19-year NHL career, residing in Vancouver and leading several business ventures from commercial and residential development projects to starting his fitness chain, Club 16.
But Linden isn't entirely new to what happens off the ice in the league. He served as the NHLPA president from 1998 to 2006 — including through the 2004-05 lockout.
The hiring brings Linden back onto the club he was originally drafted by in 1988, and served as the captain through seven seasons.
When he left the game in 2008, the former Calder Trophy finalist and two-time all-star was ranked first in games played (1,140) and assists (415), and second in goals (318) and points (733) in Canucks history. He still holds many of the team's playoff records, including most games played (118), goals (34), assists (61) and points (95).
His number 16 was retired by the club in 2008 and he was appointed to Order of Canada in 2010.
Accolades aside though, the focus for Linden is now on bringing this Canucks team back to elite status around the league. Having reached the Stanley Cup final just three years ago, the team has won one playoff game since, and this season, missed the post-season for the first time in six years.
The Canucks were officially eliminated from playoff contention on Monday and will play for pride when they host the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday. They sit 11th in the Western Conference, having lost four of their last five, and are on pace to finish their worst campaign since 1999-2000.
The unexpectedly disastrous year — which also saw the departure of No. 1 goalie Roberto Luongo — led to the demise of Gillis, and more heads could potentially roll. It explains why a move — although arguably hastily — needed to be made by ownership to restore some hope amongst the fan base, especially since Wednesday was originally the deadline to renew next year's season tickets before the team decided to extend it.
Enter Linden.
"Anytime a team doesn't succeed or misses the playoffs, people aren't happy," he said. "My decision was more based that at this time of my life, this is a great opportunity and a great challenge to be back in a game that has been such a big part of my life. It really felt right.
"I can't wait to get started."
On his comments on Global TV a day earlier denying his involvement: "I apologized for being put in a situation that was very uncomfortable. It was an impossible situation to be in and out of respect the process and certainly Mike and his family, I had to do what I did."
On the owners: "They've given me full control to make all the decisions."
On the style he wants this Canucks team to play: "I come from the school that fundamental-sound hockey is winning hockey. I've been a big believer that playing well-defensive, smart-positioned hockey doesn't compromise your offensive."
On why the team under performed: "I don't want to get into that. Until I gather all that information, I'm going to reserve comment until I have more detail."
On his other businesses: "I've got a great partner who is going to continue on there. I am 100% committed to what I'm doing here today. My full attention will be here."
On the team's core: "There's many moving parts and I need to fully delve into that. I've got some ideas I'm not willing to share today. I like this core because there's good people there … and they deserve the right to be where they are. Having said that, at this juncture, there needs to be a full evaluation of how we get better and what that looks like."
On handling future criticism: "I've kind of been like the backup quarterback the last few years. Everyone loves the backup quarterback because he hasn't made any mistakes yet. That's part of it, I fully recognize what I'm getting into. I know this market is passionate about the game. With that comes the potential that people aren't going to be happy with you and over the course of my career I learned a lot. But I wouldn't want it any other way.
On being back in hockey: "You don't spend 20 years in the NHL and spend your whole life in hockey and not have it in your DNA."


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Reading the forum on your cell phone? There's an easier way. We've enabled a Tapatalk app that makes browsing the forum a whole lot easier. Check it out in the iPhone or Android store if you don't own it already.
Ever give thought to what kind of ice you could climb if you rapped down and placed screws every six or seven feet first?
Ward, you know it does not work that way. Like it or not part of the trad grade is the dificulty of getting gear in. A steep sport route may even have harder moves for the same grade and simply not feel as pumpy as a trad rout the same steepness. Even if you have the gear wired it is harder to get placed and clipped than it is to clip bolts. On sport If the draws are already hanging it makes it so much easier for me it is at least as good as a letter grade.. you certainly do not have 2 different grades for draws hung VS hanging draws yet both ascents count. Same thing goes for gear climbs yet with gear it is very rare to pre place the gear so that does not seem to factor in so much.. Am I just rambleing now?
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Metallic Christmas Trees
In his search for the "true meaning of Christmas," Charlie Brown denounced the then popular aluminum Christmas tree during his 1965 holiday television special. His sentiments resonated with America so loudly he actually ended an almost decade-long trend in bright, shiny trees. Well I hate to break it you, but...sorry, Charlie - metallics are back, and I not-so-secretly love them.
Every year, my Grandmother set up a few Christmas trees in her home. Though the main attraction was the classically decorated Blue Spruce, my favorite was always her white, metallic six-footer, decorated only in red ornaments. I love the idea of an extra tree on a tabletop or in a secondary room that you can go crazy on and decorate however your creative heart desires. Having first come into fashion around 1959, the metallic tree experienced a slump for several decades. But with more and more retailers offering aluminum and metallic trees at reasonable prices, the words from the 1963 Sears Christmas Book seem more enticing than ever:
"Whether you decorate with blue or red balls . . . or use the tree without ornaments - this exquisite tree is sure to be the talk of your neighborhood. High luster aluminum gives a dazzling brilliance. Shimmering silvery branches are swirled and tapered to a handsome realistic fullness. It's really durable . . needles are glued and mechanically locked on. Fireproof . . you can use it year after year."
1. Metallic Christmas Tree Roundup
2. Kurt S. Adler 4-Foot Pink Shaggy Tree, $52.15 at Amazon.com
3. Aluminum Slim Christmas Tree, starting at $344.99 at ChristmasTreesGalore.com
4. Blue Paradise Tinsel Slim Pre-lit Christmas Tree, $189 at ChristmasTreesGalore.com
5. Prelit Pencil Tree, $79.99-$299.00 at Target.com
6. 3' Metallic Tree available in Green, $34 at Urban Outfitters
7. 3' Metallic Tree available in Assorted Colors, $34 at Urban Outfitters
8. Black Pre-Lit 3.5' Pomona Pine Artificial Christmas Tree, $18 at Walmart.com


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D'Ambrosio Bakery in Grays Ferry - one of the city's longtime roll bakeries - shut down today, apparently after a deal to sell the nearly 75-year-old company was scuttled, according to sources in the baking industry.
D'Ambrosio, which employed about 60 people, was sold by the founding family in 2005 to Gatehouse Ventures of Berwyn, a leveraged-buyout specialist that only a few years ago was building a portfolio of bread bakeries, including Amalfitano's in Delaware. In 2006, D'Ambrosio took over certain assets of Vilotti-Pisanelli Baking.
D'Ambrosio's corporate history traces its founding to 1939 when Vincent D'Ambrosio created a small bakery in the basement of his family home in South Philly. In 1977, it took over a former supermarket at 31st and Reed Streets.
I await a return call for comment.


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Component Contacts | Annual Report
Welcome to Plain Writing at the U.S. Department of Justice!
We are committed to writing new documents in clear, useful and understandable language that members of the public can grasp on first reading.
The Plain Writing Act of 2010 (PDF) requires federal agencies to write "clear Government communication that the public can understand and use." Also, President Obama emphasized the importance of establishing "a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration" in his January 21, 2009, Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government.
The Justice Department is using the Federal Plain Language Guidelines (PDF) in writing any new or substantially revised document that:
- provides information about any of our services or benefits;
- is needed to obtain any of our benefits or services; or
- explains how to comply with any requirement that we administer or enforce.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael H. Allen, Justice Management Division, oversees our plain language efforts. Contact us by email: email@example.com.
If you find any document on our website that is difficult to understand, please send the title of the page and the exact URL to: firstname.lastname@example.com
Component Contacts
In addition, some Department components have designated their own Plain Writing contacts, as follows:
Community Oriented Policing Services: Lashon Hilliard
Drug Enforcement Administration: June E. Howard, Strategic Planning & Executive Policy Section
Environment and Natural Resources Division: Jacob Castellaw
Federal Bureau of Prisons: Terry Windsor, Chief, Office of Communication
Office of the Inspector General: Jennifer Maloney
Office of Justice Programs: Chuck Wagner, Deputy Director for Public Affairs, and Teela Samuel, Human Resources Specialist for Professional Development
Office of Professional Responsibility: Lyn Hardy, Senior Counsel
Office of the Solicitor General and Office of Legal Counsel: Deborah C. Allen
Office on Violence Against Women: Cathy Poston, Attorney Advisor
U.S. Marshals Service: William Delaney
Annual Report
Plain Writing Act of 2010 Implementation Annual Compliance Report2016 | 2015 | 2014 (PDF) | 2013 (PDF) | 2012 (PDF)


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New Durham woman convicted of starving child given 10-30 year prison sentence MondayBy John Quinn
Union Leader Correspondent
July 01. 2013 1:33PM
DOVER – Superior Judge John Lewis felt it was necessary to impose the maximum sentence on Christina Thomas in order to give her structure and time to find the motivation to improve her life.
Thomas, 34, of 214 Birch Hill Road in New Durham, has been held in jail since a jury found her guilty in February of "deliberate" first-degree assault for withholding food from a boy, who is developmentally delayed - between 2006 and 2010.
The boy, who is now 9, is being cared for by foster parents who said he has shown dramatic improvement, but will always be affected by the experience.
Assistant County Attorney Alysia Cassotis said the state recommended the maximum sentence, which included the conditions she have no contact with the boy or his family, as Thomas deliberately targeted the boy.
"This is starving a child over a series of years," Cassotis said, adding when the boy was 6½ and weighed as much as a 10-month old.
"It is time she's held responsible for what she's done with this child," Cassotis said, adding Thomas must be punished and rehabilitated.
As a jury already convicted Thomas, Lewis said the sentencing hearing was not the time or the place to re-try the case. He was looking only at whether Thomas could offer any mitigating factors in the case.
"I'm asking hard questions, but this is the time to have a discussion with me," Lewis said.
Attorney Steven Keable - who represented Thomas - argued there were factors as she was subjected to physical and emotional abuse as a child, was institutionalized as a teen, became a mother at 15, used drugs and alcohol. He added this long history of issues created a personality disorder that should be taken under consideration.
Keable read a letter Thomas wrote for the hearing, which asked the court to be lenient.
"I have remorse for some things I have done," Keable read, adding Thomas maintains her innocence.
Keable argued a sentence of 2½ to 10 years would be sufficiently stringent, but give her an opportunity to stay connected to her six biological children.
"My children are my life," Keable read.
Lewis said he felt the sentence in the case must be harsh enough to punish Thomas while deterring others. He added it also provides a controlled environment to allow Thomas to seek rehabilitation.
"You need structure," Lewis said, citing her history of resisting authority and manipulating others.
Lewis encouraged Thomas to take advantage of the opportunities, take responsibility and stay in touch with her children.
"It's not the end of the world if you're 44 when you get out," Lewis said, adding she can still have a relationship with her children while in prison.
Lewis said the pre-sentencing investigation stresses that Thomas, who underwent two psychiatric evaluations as part of the trial, must find motivation to improve.
"It's entirely up to you," Lewis said.
Following the sentencing, Thomas entered a not-guilty plea to two new charges - falsifying physical evidence and perjury - in connection with her three-week trial that ended Feb. 21.
Falsifying physical evidence and perjury are a Class B Felonies, which could each result in 3½ to 7 years in jail and a $2,000 fine, if convicted.


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I have been breastfeeding my baby for nine weeks now. Unfortunately I have to return to work when she is 14 weeks old. I am very anxious about this as I wish to keep up the breastfeeding until she is six months. My baby girl takes the bottle and I also have a supply of milk I have been freezing.
I am lucky to have found a childminder in the same housing estate as me and I will be able to go home to feed my baby at 12.30 each day. I will be dropping her off at 8.15am and collecting her at 3pm with the exception of Wednesday when I will collect her at 5pm.
Hi met the childminder last week and she asked me what routine she is in. At the moment I feed her on demand. The childminder also wanted to know what time she napped at. I was very anxious as she is in no routine at the moment. Although I return to work in five weeks,the childminder suggested getting her into a routine from now (she is 9 weeks) and feeding her with the following times from now;
6.00am breast
8.00am breast
8.30am drop off at childminder's house
10.00am bottle
12.30pm go to babysitter's house from work and feed her
3.00pm breast
5.30pm breast
8.00pm breast
11.00pm breast
4.30am breast
My baby weighs 14 lbs 7 oz and is quite a hungry baby. At the moment she may feed every one to one and half hours sometimes she goes longer however she would have smaller feeds rather than one large feed. I understand the childminder's point of view that the routine will be good for her in the transition when I return to work. Does anybody have any tips on this? I would really appreciate them. Also I am worried that the childminder will heat the breastmilk too warm. I will have the frozen milk thawed in a bottle for her to reheat. Is a bottle warmer okay to use when reheating it?
Any tips or advice on the transition back to work would be much appreciated.
Thank you:-)


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Franklin AlcalaTampa Bay Rays
Outfielder | Ht: | Wt:
|Rays | Alcala, Orasma suspended
Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:56:31 -0700
The Associated Press reports Tampa Bay Rays OF Franklin Alcala and P Carlos Orasma have each been suspended 50 games for testing positive for metabolites of Nandrolone. Both players were playing in the team's Venezuelan Summer League.
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LONDON (AP) — Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson. Apple and Steve Jobs. Will one of the world's most recognized soccer clubs face the same challenges the world's technology darling did after the departure of its iconic leader?
The announcement Wednesday that the Manchester United manager universally known as Fergie will retire has raised concerns not only over the club's dominance of English soccer but also about its financial future.
Almost 27 years after Ferguson took the helm of an underperforming club, Manchester United is back at the top of the English Premier League and among the highest echelons of Europe's elite soccer teams, alongside Real Madrid and Barcelona.
With annual revenues of around half a billion dollars and a market capitalization of over $3 billion, the club rooted in the blustery weather of northern England has secured its status as one of the world's top sporting franchises.
The pillars of English soccer wobbled after the 71-year-old Ferguson announced that he will be retiring at the end of this season — on May 19 he will oversee his final game when Manchester United takes on West Bromwich Albion. No matter — his team clinched the Premier League title weeks ago.
But the retirement news knocked down Manchester United's share price — testament to the important role Ferguson has played in driving both the club's financial and sporting success.
After sliding 5 percent at the open, Manchester United's share price settled somewhat Wednesday, trading 1.3 percent lower at $18.52.
It's only been nine months since the Glazer family, which owns the Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL franchise, held an initial public offering for the club on the New York Stock Exchange as a way to reduce its debt.
In its prospectus at the time, Manchester United warned that it was "highly dependent" on certain individuals. "Any successor to our current manager may not be as successful as our current manager," it conceded.
Andrew Wilkinson, chief economic strategist at Miller Tabak & Co. in New York, said identifying the departure of individuals like Ferguson as a risk factor that may jeopardize the club's success "highlights the instability of investments in sports franchises revolving around specific individuals."
In Apple's case, its share price may be trading higher than what it was when Jobs was at the helm, but it is facing criticism from users and analysts that it is taking its time coming up with the latest piece of must-have tech and is simply trading on past successes.
Nonetheless, analysts expect continuing success for Manchester United and company. Randal J. Konik, an equities analyst at Jeffries International, said Manchester United "has wisely been planning and preparing for the eventual retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson" and that "a new, highly qualified manager" will be appointed.
At the moment, Everton manager David Moyes and Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho are among the favorites for Ferguson's job.
There's no doubt that Ferguson can take the credit for much of his club's transformation on and off the field.
In 1986, when he became manager, Manchester United had gone a generation without winning a league title, its status largely resting on its history. Local and bitter rival Liverpool was pre-eminent — and seemingly untouchable.
Ferguson's self-proclaimed ambition was to knock Liverpool off its perch, one he realized through the accumulation of 13 Premier League championships and two Champion League victories among his 38 titles with the club.
While change was afoot on the soccer field, the club was making moves on the financial front too.
In 1991, shares in the club were listed on the London Stock Exchange, generating a cash windfall that helped Manchester United end its title drought two years later — a breakthrough that launched a period of dominance in English soccer that only Liverpool could match.
Success bred more success and by 1998, the club received a takeover bid from none other than Rupert Murdoch, whose BSkyB PLC broadcaster already had the television rights to screen live coverage of the increasingly lucrative Premier League. Although the Manchester United board accepted the 623 million pounds bid, the takeover attempt met with huge resistance from fans and was eventually ruled unlawful by British competition authorities in 1999.
Ferguson was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1999, following the club's unprecedented triple success in the Champions League, the Premier League and the FA Cup.
A period of boardroom friction then ensued, which at times threatened Ferguson's position as manager.
By 2003, the family of Malcolm Glazer started building up a stake in Manchester United as it attempted to reap the rewards that came from the club's pre-eminence in English soccer and the skyrocketing revenues from television rights and sponsorships.
Within two years, the Glazers had built up a majority stake in Manchester United that eventually allowed them to take it out of public hands.
Many United fans have opposed the Glazer family because the Glazers placed a large chunk of the debt they had built up while taking control of the club on its balance sheet.
In August 2012, the Glazers sought to refinance the debt at better terms than the prevailing conditions by floating the club on the New York Stock Exchange. Despite lackluster interest — the share price was floated at $14 a share as opposed to the hoped-for $16-20 price range — investors have grown more enthusiastic. The share price recently made a brief foray above $19 — not a bad return for investors who bought up the stock in the initial offering.
Demand for the stock has gone hand in hand with Manchester United's advance to a 20th league title this spring.
United's debt has been cut in half in the past three years to 367.6 million pounds ($572 million), according to the latest financial results. United also recently forecast record revenue this season of at least 350 million pounds thanks largely to its ability to attract an array of global sponsors.
Manchester United will also benefit from the TV rights to show its matches. Last year, the English Premier League announced the sale of domestic TV rights to BSkyB and BT for 3.018 billion pounds ($4.69 billion) in a record three-year deal that was almost twice as much as the previous contract.
Despite his departure, Ferguson can claim to have sowed the seeds for his club's further success. The squad itself is young and the club's youth squad system that he overhauled has a history of delivering top-rated talent.
Manchester United's debt has eased partly on the back of the initial public offering but also through the club's ability to raise money, not the least from ticket prices at the 76,000-seat Old Trafford.
In the U.K. Parliament on Wednesday, Prime Minister David Cameron praised Ferguson as a "remarkable man in British football who has had an extraordinary, successful career."
Fans — and investors — will clearly want to see the success that Fergie delivered so consistently continue for years to come.


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Twin River has plan to keep RI gaming revenues growing
If the reaction of Warwick Rotarians is a reliable gauge, voters are concerned about the impact of Massachusetts' casinos on Rhode Island gaming revenues and will vote to allow table games at Twin River in Lincoln and Newport Grand in Newport.
John Taylor, chairman of the Board of Twin River Worldwide Holdings, Inc., spoke at the Rotary club Thursday, outlining how the 4,710-VLT [video lottery terminal] parlor is operating today and about its aim to become a "convenience casino," as opposed to a destination casino, if Rhode Island and the town of Lincoln voters approve table games in November.
A native of Pawtucket who has worked more than a decade in the gaming industry, Taylor assumed Twin River operation in November of 2010. He said Twin River is doing "extremely well," with gross revenues growing by 9 percent for a total of $479.2 million during calendar year 2011, while revenues at the Connecticut casinos of Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods were both down for the year. Growth hasn't stopped in 2012 either. Gross revenues were up another 9 percent for the first quarter and 7 percent for the month of June.
"I think we're doing a pretty good job in running this business," he said.According to Paul Dion, chief of revenue analysis for the state, Twin River VLTs generated $291.1 million in state revenues for Fiscal Year 2012, an increase of 7.7 percent from the prior fiscal year. Newport Grand VLT revenues were $31.7 million, an increase of 2.4 percent.
But will it stay that way? Can the state count in excess of $290 million in revenues from Twin River – the third largest source of state revenues behind income and sales tax? Taylor said allowing Twin River to operate a casino is about preserving and creating jobs and "protection of a revenue stream." He estimated table games would generate an additional $20 million in state revenue, create 350 direct jobs and another 300 related jobs, and have a $60 million economic impact on the state's economy.
Presently, more than 50 percent of Twin River players come from Massachusetts. Can that continue to happen if Massachusetts goes ahead with three casinos, and quite possibly a slot parlor that would siphon off Rhode Island players and keep those players in the Commonwealth?
Twin River is funding The Coalition to Bring Jobs to Rhode Island, a campaign to pass a referendum. The coalition is made up of companies and agencies with representatives from the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, Rhode Island Hospitality Association, Providence-Warwick Convention and Visitor Bureau, Rhode Island Building and Construction Trades Council, GTECH and the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority, among others.
Taylor said Twin River has been pursuing a four-point plan since he came aboard, which he sees as keeping the money rolling in to the Ocean State:
First, he said, is the recognition that the "taxpayers are our partners." A total of 61.5 cents of every dollar Twin River makes on VLTs goes to the state, as compared to less than 30 cents per dollar going into Connecticut coffers from Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun. If table games were approved, 18 cents of every dollar of profit would go to the state. Dion said the state projects Twin River will gross $80 million in table games and Newport will gross $8.4 million in Fiscal Year 2014, with 18 percent of those amounts flowing to the state.
Taylor said the state has taken an active role in cooperatively marketing the parlor by exempting the 61.5 percent tax from "promo points" players earn and keep them returning.
Second, he said, Twin River has raised the level of customer service through employee training programs, knowing that people will try other venues and aiming to provide an experience that will have them coming back.
The third point of the plan relates to the company balance sheet. He said the former owners of Twin River, who declared bankruptcy in 2009, invested too heavily in building out the parlor at a time when the economy was softening. That company had $600 million in debt. Taylor said Twin River, which came out of bankruptcy in the last year, has been paying down its balance sheet for the past 18 to 19 months, is now carrying $300 million in debt and is positioning itself so that it can make future investments.
The final platform in the plan is the inclusion of table games, converting Twin River from a VLT parlor to a casino. Should voters agree – Twin River would need approval of both state and Town of Lincoln referenda – the casino would open with 65 tables on July 1, 2013. Taylor estimated that number could grow to 125 if there was the demand.
No hotel is proposed as part of the project. In fact, legislation prohibits it. Twin River would become "a convenience casino," that would be easily accessible, enabling people to stop in for a couple of hours, or an evening, of play. He said the tables could be accommodated within the existing structure, with possibly the loss of some VLTs. Any reduction of VLTs would require Lottery Commission approval. Taylor projects a 3 to 5 percent growth in slot revenue as a result of the "companion play" resulting from introducing the tables.
In addition to the revenues flowing directly to the state, Twin River conducted a study of its operation and concluded that its 900 jobs, what it buys from local vendors and its operations have a $165 million impact on the state's economy. Table games would spin off an additional $60 million to the economy, the study showed.
Taylor's audience seemed most interested in how Twin River can sustain current operations and also grow in what promises to be an increasingly competitive environment for the gaming dollar.
If Taylor had doubts, he didn't voice them. He said the focus of the company is to gain voter approval of a Twin River casino. It's part of his plan to keep the business and gaming in the state competitive.
Dion said the state projects $302.9 million from Twin River and another $31.7 million from Newport in VLT revenues for the current fiscal year.


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The Media Holiday Party Circuit: Drunken Ragers, Danceoffs, and Food at the ______ Party
Everyone got crunk at the IAC/College Humor/Daily Beast X-Mas party. Did you? Did Julia Allison? Know what a "walk off" is? The Elle party apparently does, so suckit, Vogue. VICE/VBS.tv? And what about this here website's shindig? Party roundup time!
Merry Christmas, media people with jobs! You made it to the next round of evolution, which is letting your nails rip off as you cling to the side of a ship gone vertical in 2010! We're all going to be falling into The Borg anyway, so you have two options: feed it poetry or get really fucking drunk. What do you think most people did? Some people did both!
Page Six has a report from the Vogue and Elle parties. The one night a year Andre Leon Talley takes off the stilettos and cuts a rug won't go unnoticed by the gossipy masses. Holler for a dollar, ladies. Who's got it this year? The answer may SHOCK YOU:
Elle staffers had a lot of Christmas cheer at the magazine's holiday party at SL in the Meatpacking District. "It was the first time in history that we beat Vogue in overall ad pages for the entire year, so everyone was in a really good mood," said one attendee. "People were doing 'The Worm' and dancing to Lady Gaga. There was even a walk-off."
The worm?! Lady Gaga?!? Risque. They might've even taken some stuff from the fashion closet for tonight! Or even crazier: abstained from doing so! Nuts. Media people just get more and more hardcore as the years move forward.
But Page Six gotta pay penance to the queen, nahmean? Anna had to throw down, right? Same item:
But the mood was no less festive at Vogue's party on the top floor bar of the Standard Hotel. "It was a very glamorous night," says a spy. "I think everyone's just glad the year is over."
AW, SHIT, SON. Vogue booked the Boom Boom Room for their party. The Boom Boom Room is basically the toughest door in New York right now. They've turned rejection into a refined art. If you don't feel ugly after they're done with you, someone's losing their job. Fun fact! The re-Tweeted Tweeter, "International Party Boy" David Gómez V. (?!) deleted the original Tweet, probably because he fears the wrath of Anna (or because he didn't get in!). Love Twitter. Love it. For whatever it's worth, there's not much out there on Twitter about the Vogue party, either because (A) they all live in fear of Anna or (B) they don't really want word getting out that they had their party at the priciest room in the city, Boom Boom (note that the Page Six item doesn't call it by name; why?). Either way, it was probably a great, boring time with lots of pretty people and their scared assistants fetching them Acai-laced vodka or whatever. The IAC party, on the other hand?
RAGER. At IAC, Empress Barry Diller and Queen Beard Diane Von Fursternburg held court with the kids from The Daily Beast, College Humor, uh, and the hardcore partiers at Zwinky.com, whatever the shit that is. We have reports of dancing, a macaroni bar, a sushi bar, and Barry Diller personally filling and huffing nitrous balloons with the Vimeo kids while laughing about that stupid ass Capital Records lawsuit. Also, this person was very excited about DJing.
Some people go into the IAC party with hopes and dreams.
Some people consider their stock.
Others simply wake up with dreams...of greasy food.
And if you're Ars Technica writer Casey Johnson, your nightmare's just begun.
But the real gold comes in the form of the IAC photo booth shots. I mean, if you want to see people get progressively more drunk with their overlords, this is it. Check out these kids grabbing Barry and Diane Von Furstenburg into the shot with them. GENIUS. Just look at it again. These guys win the night. For the record, the guy in the specs is Henry Seltzer, the original Gawker intern. And the one at front is Bryan Curtis, ex-Slate. Media people! They get around.
Lady Beast of the Day Tina Brown, make the kissy face like the kids do!
Also, kudos to whoever did the photobooth for keeping up the pics of the kids just absolutely sloshed on booze and whatever synthetics were in the house that night. I could be wrong, but this would appear to be ketamine.
This would appear to be simply "shitface drunk."
And this would appear to be College Humor's Jake Hurwitz and Amir Blumenfeld.
Aw. Ricky Van Veen and his date are CUTE. Warm your cold holiday sobriety with that, graduates. ALSO, isn't that his ex, Annamarie Tendler, and isn't he kinda dating Guest of a Guest's Rachelle Hruska these days? Who knows?! I don't. UPDATE: How wrong I was! They're not dating.NOW YOU KNOW. We all do. News you can use. Etc.
Do we have a Ben Silverman? Or are they just raising an army of guys who look like this?
Want to know what the VBS.tv party was like? Hold your breath until you get to the Music Hall of Williamsburg; wait in line to get a beer, end up getting tequila. Drink too much of it until you walk, stumble, or fall down three flight of stairs while Small Black plays in the background. When you get to the bottom, realize that everyone left because nobody was doing drugs. Make sure you have your belongings with you and at least one of the two people you came with, and go home. I'm serious. I tried to smoke inside and I was told to put it out. What kind of fucking VICE holiday party is that?! FAIL. Suroosh Alvi and Shane Smith were there, though. That was impressive.
Meanwhile, what about this here company? No significant reports emerged from our party, go figure. I was there and out of respect to my holiday party circuit media cred, did not Tweet or Foursquare my location out to others. However, I did report on the ______ party elsewhere, and I have to say, it was a pretty good time, and I have yet to hear about someone puking up that beet salad. So, there's that. People are still getting their employees drunk, and, you know, if you can't take that as a sign of optimism, what else do you have? I mean, really? What else is there?


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Olympics Gold Medallist Robin Cousins Stars in West End's CHICAGO from Tonight, July 17
Olympics Gold Medallist Robin Cousins stars on the West End stage as Billy Flynn in the musical CHICAGO at the Garrick Theatre from tonight, 17 July, 10 days ahead of the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. He will be in the show until 8 September, the day before the final day of the Paralympics.
Robin won Gold in the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York, also picking up the coveted BBC Sports Personality of the Year the same year. This was followed by a successful career as a professional skater, before finally being forced through injury to hang up his skates in 2000, when he became a full-time choreographer.
His break into musical theatre came in 1990, in Cinderella on Ice, when he starred as the Prince opposite Adolph Green and Phyllis Newman at The Muny in St Louis. His British stage roles include Munkustrap in Cats, Frank N Furter in The Rocky Horror Show and Teen Angel in Grease. He has been head judge on ITV's Dancing on Ice for the past six years. At the same time as starring in CHICAGO, Robin will also be mentoring the British Synchronised Swimming Team at this year's Olympics.
Robin Cousins says, "Joining the cast of CHICAGO as Billy Flynn will be an amazing experience and is a dream role for many actors. Doing the show at a time when the world's best athletes are here for the greatest sporting event on earth will make it even more thrilling."
Prior to Robin joining CHICAGO, David Bedella has returned to the role of Billy Flynn for a limited season until 12 May. He will be joining Sarah Soetaert as Roxie Hart, Rachel McDowall as Velma Kelly, James Doherty as Amos Hart, Jasna Ivir as Mama Morton and R. Whitehead as Mary Sunshine. Billy Flynn is a role David Originally played at the Cambridge Theatre early last year. After acting in the United States for 21 years, he made his London debut in 2002, creating the role of Warm-Up Man/Satan in Jerry Springer - The Opera at The National Theatre and then in the West End. He won the 2004 Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical. He went on to play the title role in Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Frank N Furter in the UK Touring and West End productions of The Rocky Horror Show. David starred opposite Josh Groban and Idina Menzel in Chess in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall in 2008. Most recently, David played the lead role of Wilson Mizner in Stephen Sondheim's Road Show at the Menier Chocolate Factory. David's film credits include Alexander, Batman Begins and Red Light Runners.
Now the most successful Broadway export ever and the world's longest running American musical, as well as the West End's longest running revival, the multi award-winning musical CHICAGO opened at the Garrick Theatre on 7 November 2011.
CHICAGO originally opened at the Adelphi Theatre on 18 November 1997 to rave reviews and immediately became a sell-out hit. CHICAGO won the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for 'Outstanding Musical Production' as well as the 1998 Critics Circle Drama Award for 'Best Musical'. CHICAGO transferred from the Adelphi Theatre to the Cambridge Theatre in April 2006, where it ran for five years until 27 August 2011.
CHICAGO, which is based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, has a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. CHICAGO is choreographed by Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse and directed by Walter Bobbie. The West End production of CHICAGO is staged by the entire original Broadway creative team. CHICAGO is produced in London by the Broadway producers Barry and Fran Weissler.
Performances are Mondays to Thursdays at 8.00pm, Fridays at 5.00pm & 8.30pm, Saturdays at 3.00pm & 8.00pm Tickets are £26.00 - £67.50 (All prices include a £1 theatre restoration levy. Booking fees apply for 'phone and online bookings. No booking fee on tickets purchased in person from the Garrick Theatre Box Office.) N.B. From 23 April – 22 September, there is an Under 20s ticket rate of £20, valid for Monday – Thursday evening performances and Friday matinees, available in advance online or in person on the day. Box Office: 0844 482 9673. Current Booking Period: until 26 January 2013.


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It appears the Music Inustry and Hollywood are taking the law into there own hands now, affecting Windows XP and WinAmp users!
ARTICLEA security firm on Wednesday warned that people using Windows XP or popular music player WinAmp could fall prey to a vulnerability, enabling a modified music file to take control of a person's PC.
Flaws in both pieces of software could introduce malicious MP3 or Windows Media files--which sound identical to unmodified music--into the file-swapping systems, said George Kurtz, CEO of Foundstone.
"These particular vulnerabilities are definitely attack vectors for any people or entity that is looking to go after those that are taking part in file-swapping activities," he said.
The music industry and Hollywood are eyeing such hacking tactics as a way to stop file swappers from trading copyrighted music in the future. A bill sponsored by Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif., and Howard Coble, R-N.C., and introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives in July, would allow copyright owners limited rights to hack into peer-to-peer networks.
Just seen powertoad5000's heads up on this, so heres the link to the vulnerability in full


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Pope names prelate raised in Manchester as new CardinalBY PAUL FEELY
New Hampshire Union Leader
January 13. 2014 2:45PM
MANCHESTER — Pope Francis Sunday announced the elevation of 19 bishops to the rank of cardinal, including Archbishop Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, Archbishop of Quebec, who spent his formative years in Manchester and becomes the first cardinal to hail from New Hampshire.
Lacroix, 56, is a 1975 graduate of Trinity High School and also studied at St. Anselm College, but returned to his native Quebec to prepare for the priesthood.
He will be elevated to Cardinal during a consistory on Feb. 22.
"Very big responsibility. Very happy to continue to serve the Church with François," Lacroix wrote in a Facebook post, and on Twitter.
"We are elated at the news, the first cardinal from New Hampshire," said Monsignor Anthony Frontiero of St. Joseph Cathedral. "I believe the Holy Father has made this decision for a very specific reason. He recognizes that Archbishop Lacroix as a true evangelist, something the church is in need of. This is the work of the Holy Spirit, and a tremendous day for New Hampshire and the church in our state."
The son of a lumberjack, Lacroix was born in Quebec, but moved with his family to Manchester at the age of 8.
He is the only North American on the list of new cardinals released by the Vatican Sunday.
Sixteen of the new cardinals are under 80 and will have the right to vote to choose a successor to the Pope. Three will be made cardinal emeritus, without voting rights, for their service to the church.
During his senior year at Trinity, Lacroix became a member of the Pius X Secular Institute. After a year of studies at St. Anselm College, Lacroix moved back to Quebec and the Institute to pursue his formation to consecrated life. He worked in a print shop as a graphic designer, and later in a bookstore and as an editor.
In 1981, he took a leave of absence to do missionary work in Colombia, where he worked in a health clinic for the poor.
Lacroix returned to Quebec to study for the priesthood, and was ordained in 1988. Two years later, he was back in South America, serving as a missionary and parish priest, and teaching in a seminary. He also had a radio program and did some work in television.
Lacroix was appointed an auxiliary bishop of Quebec in 2009. In 2011, he was appointed Archbishop of Quebec by Pope Benedict.
He was the speaker at the St. Anselm commencement exercises in 2011 and was awarded an honorary doctorate of divinity degree.
"He is such a wonderful person," said Frontiero. "A generous, kind man of deep faith and effective leadership."
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a statement Sunday, congratulating Lacroix.
"The appointment of Gérald Cyprien Lacroix to the College of Cardinals is a tremendous honor for His Grace, for the Archdiocese of Québec and all members of the Catholic Church across Canada," said the statement. "It is a testament to his unfailing devotion to the Church, his remarkable spiritual strength and an unfailing work ethic ... With a long and distinguished career, Cardinal-designate Lacroix becomes the 17th Cardinal in the history of the Roman Catholic Church in Canada."
Frontiero said he expects Bishop Peter Anthony Libasci of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester to invite Lacroix to the Queen City to celebrate Mass sometime in the spring.
"It will be quite a celebration," Frontiero said.
Lacroix's parents still live in Manchester. He visits regularly and often celebrates Mass at St. Anthony when he is in town.
According to Frontiero, Pope Francis, following the example set by his predecessors, plans to bring all members of the College of Cardinals together in Rome during the days before the Feb. 22 consistory.
At that meeting, the cardinals are expected to hear a briefing on the Pope's plans for reform of the Roman Curia — the administrative apparatus of the Holy See — and offer their suggestions.
At the consistory, new cardinals are presented with their rings designed for each of them, zucchetti (small skullcaps), and birette (four-cornered silk hats) by the Pope. All three items are scarlet in color.
Cardinals are also assigned titular churches in the diocese of Rome during the consistory.
"They are responsible for these churches, and typically visit and spend time at them during any trip to Rome," said Frontiero.
Brian Flaherty, director of campus ministry at Trinity High School, said Lacroix has maintained a close relationship with the school, and spoke at an anniversary banquet in 2011.
Lacroix grew up as a parishioner of St. Anthony of Padua in Manchester and attended the parish grammar school.
Rev. Richard Dion, the church pastor, said he was spreading salt on the church stairs before Sunday's first Mass when a seminarian assigned to the parish ran up to him with the news.
"I was overjoyed," Dion said. "I set our church bells to peal, which they did for some 40 minutes, in a sign of celebration."
At the start of Mass, Dion announced the elevation of Lacroix, and the congregation responded with prolonged applause.
Lacroix was considered by many to be a likely candidate, given the importance of the Quebec Archdiocese.
Dion noted that Lacroix spent years in service in Pope Francis' native Latin America, and seemed a likely candidate for a leadership role in the pontiff's avowed mission to serve the poor.
New Hampshire Union Leader staff reporter Bill Smith contributed to this report.


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Attorney General Eric Holder has promised not to torture Edward Snowden. Before Bush-Cheney, one could not imagine any Cabinet officer of this country being publicly forced to make such a disgusting promise. Once the United States possessed the moral authority of a Constitution respected worldwide. We could easily demand that our enemies in World War II be charged with crimes against humanity.
Bush-Cheney authorized torture as a tool early in our world-condemned invasion of Iraq. Heinous practices were not even denied by high government officials.
Over time, records from the CIA and military intelligence revealed these flagrant acts were authorized higher and higher in the government finally reaching the office of the president. Then spin from the White House suggested water boarding was not really torture, despite documents from World War II in which we pushed the United Nations to condemn the Axis powers for using water boarding and other brutal acts on prisoners.
I don't know if the Bush administration invented the outrageous euphemism "extraordinary rendition," but they used it to the extreme. "Extraordinary rendition" is the practice of kidnapping suspected enemies and taking them to countries with few scruples about human rights to be tortured, supposedly to acquire information.
As recently as this last month, there was a news article about a famous case occurring in Italy in 2003. An Islamic clergyman named Osama Mustapha Hassan Nasr was kidnapped in Italy and flown to Egypt where he was held for years without charges and allegedly tortured. Twenty-three CIA agents were charged with kidnapping by the Italian government, tried in absentia and found guilty. According to published reports, senior CIA officials including then CIA Director George Tenet, approved the operation even though Nasr was not wanted in Egypt and was not on the list of top al-Qaida terrorists.
Apparently the Obama administration has bought into the Bush love of bureaucratic secrecy. We don't know if our government has sought FISA court approval (it's secret) for the wanton spying on the American people, but on the face of it, the fourth Amendment has been ignored because of job security venality.


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Price derailed as Rays drop opener with A's
OAKLAND -- Rays players had the kind of day that would make "The Big Bang Theory" look like a drama. Only it really wasn't that funny.
David Price lost a large pile of cash to a long taxi ride and then lost a game.View Full Game Coverage
OAKLAND -- Rays players had the kind of day that would make "The Big Bang Theory" look like a drama. Only it really wasn't that funny.
David Price lost a large pile of cash to a long taxi ride and then lost a game.View Full Game Coverage
Fernando Rodney wasn't available to pitch in the eighth inning because he was locked in the dugout bathroom.
The Rays rallied to tie the game in the eighth but Oakland answered in its half of the frame, and the A's downed Tampa Bay, 4-3, on Friday night at O.co Coliseum.
The Rays fell 3 1/2 games behind the Red Sox in the American League East and dropped to a half-game behind the A's for the top spot in the AL Wild Card race.
Price (8-6) went seven-plus innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits. He walked one and struck out five.
Price had his personal five-win streak come to an end as the Rays lost their fifth in six games.
Second baseman Ben Zobrist's record 81-game errorless streak also came to end. He misfired on a throw in the fifth inning that gave the A's the chance to build a 3-1 lead.
Price retired 12 of the first 14 batters he faced before Zobrist committed his error, allowing Alberto Callaspo to reach second.
Price walked Chris Young, struck out Brandon Moss and gave up Kurt Suzuki's three-run home run.
"It was my error, no question," Zobrist said. "I don't think he walks Chris Young unless the error is made. He was cruising up to that point. I threw it too hard and too high and it got away from me."
Price wasn't about to blame anyone but himself.
"Those guys have been unbelievable for me all year," he said. "That was tough. But I knew what [Young] was trying to do and sometimes a walk can be a good thing. With Moss, I was trying to get the double play but didn't make a good enough pitch."
Price also felt Suzuki hit a pretty good pitch for the home run.
"It was over the plate and I guess it had too much height," he said.
The Rays rallied for a pair of runs in the top of the eighth, with Matt Joyce hitting a sacrifice fly and James Loney doubling home a run to tie it at 3.
"It was great just rallying in the eighth," Zobrist said. "It felt dead offensively until that point. There was still a lot of life."
Rodney would have loved to have been a part of the action, but he somehow got locked in the bathroom for 15 minutes and had no idea what was going on.
"Yeah, that's weird," Rodney said. "I heard all the commotion and I wanted to see the game."
Had Rays manager Joe Maddon thought about it, he would have left Rodney locked up.
"It was right when we were rallying," Maddon said. "I should have kept him in there. It was a fun moment. Part of the rally was the bat beating on the knob."
That was just the last in a long line of miscues that haunted the Rays on Friday. Price wanted to get to the park early, so he took a cab from the team's hotel in San Francisco.
A normal 20-minute ride turned into a two-hour nightmare for the pitcher. The Bay Bridge is closed for the weekend and the cab had to swing down the peninsula and across another bridge -- just like thousands of others who were trying to beat the traffic out of town at the start of a holiday weekend.
"It was a bad day all the way around," said Price, who paid a $202 taxi bill.
Yunel Escobar gave the Rays a 1-0 lead in the second inning, and the way Price was working, it seemed like enough.
Price gave up a single to Coco Crisp leading off the bottom of the eighth. Joel Peralta relieved him and gave up Jed Lowrie's double that scored Crisp for the go-ahead run.
Rick Eymer is a contributor to MLB.com.


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UNROW Human Rights Impact Litigation Clinic
UNROW Human Rights Impact Litigation Clinic, a student litigation and advocacy project at American University's Washington College of Law, develops and advances human rights litigation by training students in a manner that is unlike the typical clinical legal program at most law schools. UNROW's students propose and prepare new cases, determine litigation strategy, draft motions, argue in court, and travel internationally, if necessary, to support their clients and cases.
The UNROW Clinic has exceptional experience with federal court and international litigation that involves multiple plaintiffs and factual complexities. Over the past 12 years, UNROW's pro bono services in human rights litigation have aided many indigent individuals and vulnerable communities by advocating on their behalf in a variety of legal and academic forums. UNROW's many successes include:
- Obtaining a $7.2 million dollar judgment on behalf of Chilean victims of torture who suffered under the Pinochet dictatorship;
- Lifting deportation orders wrongfully placed on six US citizens and preventing their illegal removal by the US government;
- Initiating an advocacy campaign against an alleged war criminal serving on the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces Advisory Council which resulted in the Sri Lankan ambassador being removed from the committee;
- Securing an asylum grant for an unaccompanied minor residing in the United States and who escaped her life in a gang war zone in El Salvador;
- Filing numerous lawsuits in the US federal courts against war criminals, human rights persecutors and abusive government actors under the Alien Tort Statute and Torture Victims Protection Act;
- Drafting a manual for use by state and federal policy makers educating them on the legal, social and academic issues affecting victims and survivors of human trafficking, as well as outlining efforts that can be taken against perpetrators and traffickers;
- Collecting over 30,000 signatures for a petition concerning the wrongful exile of the Chagossians. The petition received an official response from the Obama administration addressing the allegations of government mistreatment of the Islanders; and,
- Presenting annual conferences and educational panels on important and cutting edge human rights issues.
UNROW's students enjoy a unique educational opportunity that prepares them for the "real world" of lawyers and giving them advantages for professional opportunities when they graduate law school. Building off of their experiences in UNROW, former members of the Clinic have found careers in international tribunals, academia, and top tier law firms.
Contact Us
For more information on UNROW, please contact
UNROW Human Rights Impact Litigation Clinic
(202) 274-4088