text:
- 1 Introduction
- 1.1 1. Quick summary of the context
- 1.2 2. Type of legal system
- 1.3 3. The legal aid situation in the country
- 1.4 4. Sources of defendant's rights
- 2 Pre-trial Procedures
- 3 Rights of the accused at all time
- 4 Rights in prison
- 5 Court Procedures
1. Quick summary of the context
Lebanon is a Middle-Eastern country, located on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. It was established after the first world war as a distinct part of the French mandate on Syria. Since it became independent in 1943, Lebanon has been a "parliamentary democratic republic based on respect for public liberties […] social justice and equality of rights and duties among all citizens without discrimination." Lebanon is home to seventeen recognised religious groups (al-tawa'if), among which Sunni Muslims, Shia Muslims and Maronites Christians, are the most numerous ones. Political power is divided between all those sects according to their respective shares in the Lebanese population. Lebanon has thus established itself as an example of coexistence, although tension is always latent.
The official language of Lebanon is Arabic, although French (considered to be an alternative official language) and English are widely spoken. The Lebanese population has reached 4 million; Beirut, Lebanon's capital, is also the country's largest city. Lebanon has a very strong education system and is home to some of the best universities in the Middle-East. It is well-known for its liberal economy and its respect of freedoms of the press and of speech.
Since its foundation, Lebanon has suffered from chronic political instability and monopolization of public affairs by traditional chiefs and families; foreign influence on local politics has always been very strong. Between 1975 and 1990, the civil war has weakened the Lebanese state and destroyed most of the country. Reconstruction was then hampered by a never-ending economic crisis, political feuds and, as from 2011, the Syrian civil war. In addition of hosting approximately 500.000 Palestinian refugees since 1948, Lebanon now offers a shelter to more than a million Syrian refugees. Lebanon also suffers from endemic corruption as well as widespread mismanagement of resources.
2. Type of legal system
The Lebanese legal system is considered to be a civil law one. The Lebanese legislature relies on its own codes, most of which are influenced by French law, and a mixture of Ottoman legal principles and Islamic law. However, following established precedents is not uncommon amongst courts in Lebanon.
Limited autonomy of the religious communities The Lebanese constitution provides for each religious community the opportunity to adopt its own "personal status law" (qanoun al-ahwal al-chakhsiyya), which accounts for the rules governing family, marriage, divorce, heritage, etc. Each sect's personal status law is enforced by a court whose members are clergymen. This fractures the country's population in sectarian groups, and results in different rules and different procedures being applicable to each community. Critics of this system pretend that it contradicts the principle of equality between all citizens embodied in the constitution, while its supporters argue that it is the best way of ensuring that the interests of each community are respected
The structure of the Lebanese judiciary
The competence and jurisdiction of each of the following is defined by detailed conditions.
- Ordinary courts: they have jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases.
- Civil courts. There are three levels of jurisdiction:
- The First Instance Courts (mahakem al-daraja al-'oula).
- The Courts of Appeal (mahakem al-isti'naf).
- The Court of Cassation (mahkamat al-tamyiz), which decides on law and not on factual issues.
- Criminal and penal courts. They are four levels of jurisdiction:
- The Single Criminal Judge (or Penal Single Judge, al-qadi a-mounfared al-jiza'i).
- The Court of Appeal (mahkamat al-isti'naf).
- The Assize Court (mahkamat al-jinayat).
- The Criminal chamber of the Court of Cassation (or Penal Cassation Court, mahkamat al-tamyiz al-jiza'ia).
- Administrative courts:
- The Administrative Tribunals (al-mahakem al-'idariya).
- The State Council (Conseil d'État, majles shoura al-dawla), which has six chambers. It acts as an appeal authority, cassation authority or first instance and final court. It has jurisdiction on all the disputes that arise between the State and individuals or legal persons in the administrative domain. It has advisory power on administrative and legislative matters (it can be consulted and give opinions on, inter alia, draft laws, legislative and organizational decrees).
• Special and exceptional criminal courts.
- Military courts. They are under the authority of the ministry of defence, which is pointed out as being a flagrant violation of separation of power. Despite their name, those tribunals are often used to trial civilians. They have jurisdiction over inter alia crimes of spying, treason and illegal contact with Israel. They comprise of:
- The Single Military Judges (al-qoudat al-aaskariyoun al-mounfaridoun).
- The Permanent Military Court (al-mahkama al-aaskariya al-da'ima).
- The Military Court of Cassation (mahkamat al-tamyiz al-aaskariya).
- The High Court of Justice (or Supreme Council for prosecuting presidents and ministers, al-majles al-'aala li mouhakamat al-ru'asa' wal wouzara'), which was has an exclusive competence to judge presidents, prime ministers and ministers. It has never been active.
- The Court of Justice (al-majles al-aadli). It is the highest court of Lebanon; its competence covers any internal or external security breach to the Lebanese State. Its decisions cannot be appealed and only the Lebanese government has the right of referral to this court. These two features are being criticised as being in violation of the principle of the double degree of jurisdiction and of the principle of separation of powers respectively.
- Other courts: Press Offenses Court (mahkamat al-matbuaat), Monopoly and Fraud Court (al-mahkama al-nazira fi qadaya al-ghash wal ihtikar), Juvenile Court (mahkamat al-ahdath).
Apart from the military courts, two other kind of courts do not fall under the authority of the ministry of justice:
- The Constitutional Council (al-majles al-doustouri). It is not part of the judiciary. It is entitled to determine the constitutionality of legislation, which it can repeal. Only the president of the Republic, the prime minister or ten members of parliament are entitled to challenge the constitutionality of laws (as well as the heads of the recognized religion when it comes to laws relating to personal status or religion).
- The religious courts, or Personal Status Courts (mahakem al-ahwal al-chakhsiyya). Each recognized religious community (ta'ifa) has its own courts. These courts have jurisdiction over all matters that fall under the community's personal status law (qanoun al-ahwal al-chakhsiyya).
Independence of the judiciary
The Lebanese constitution guarantees separation of powers (in addition to their balance and the coordination between them) and the independence of the judicial power. It also specifies that judicial guarantees and their limits are to be defined by the law.
This independence is often at issue, judges and magistrates being nominated by the government (council of ministers). Political interferences in the judiciary process are quite common, and the power of the executive is growing stronger at the expense of judicial independence. A report called "The Independence and Impartiality of the Judiciary in Lebanon" published by the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EuroMed Rights) pointed out that "corruption can lead to the mere subordination of judges, or to the manipulation of judicial appointments, salaries and employment conditions". Bribery of magistrates, lawyers or judges is a common feature. The presence of exceptional and military courts also diminishes the preponderance of the rule of law within the judiciary.
3. The legal aid situation in the country
International obligations
Lebanon is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966), which it has ratified in 1972. The Covenant is therefore binding and applicable to Lebanon as part of the hierarchy of the law. Article 14 paragraph 3d of the Covenant provides that: "In the determination of any criminal charge against him, everyone shall be entitled to […] defend himself in person or through legal assistance of his own choosing; to be informed, if he does not have legal assistance, of this right; and to have legal assistance assigned to him, in any case where the interests of justice so require, and without payment by him in any such case if he does not have sufficient means to pay for it".
Article 3 of the Covenant, as well as articles 2 and 15 of the Convention for the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women (1979), to which Lebanon has acceded in 1997, require that women get access to the same legal aid as men, and that legal remedies are provided in an equal manner.
As a member of the United Nations, Lebanon has accepted non-binding declarations, principles and resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, such as the UN Principles and Guidelines on Access to Legal Aid in Criminal Justice Systems and the UN Basic Principles on the role of Lawyers.
Legal aid in the Lebanese legislation
Civil cases: the code of civil procedure (qanoun 'oussoul al-mouhakamat al-madania, articles 425 to 441) grants legal aid to all persons "unable to pay the costs and fees of the proceedings." All Lebanese citizens, as well as foreigners who legally reside in Lebanon and legal entity, can benefit from legal aid in any case if they have the right to prosecution and if they provide the proof of their impoverishment. A lawyer will then be appointed by the president of the concerned bar association (either the Beirut bar association or the Tripoli bar association) in order to represent the individual who was granted legal aid before the courts. This legal assistance is free; all other expenses resulting from the trial are borne by the State Treasury.
More information about State sponsored legal aid can be found on the website of the Tripoli Bar Association (naqabet al-mouhamin fi Trablos, only in Arabic).
Penal cases: article 78 of the code of criminal procedure (qanoun 'oussoul al-mouhakamat al-jiza'ia) provides that if a defendant is unable to appoint a lawyer, the judge is compelled either to designate one or refer to the president of the concerned bar association (Beirut or Tripoli).
NGOs and pro bono legal aid
Some NGOs also provide pro bono legal aid. For instance, the Lebanese Centre for Human Rights (CLDH, Centre libanais des droits humains) runs programs aiming to dispense legal assistance to vulnerable inmates in the Lebanese prisons and legal counseling to vulnerable individuals. The Association justice et miséricorde (AJEM, jamiiyat aadel wa rahma) offers legal counseling to prison inmates and free follow-up and defence for those who can't hire a lawyer.
Other NGOs are specialised in given fields. The Rights' Pioneers (Rouwad al-houqouq) has dedicated its work into legal advices to refugees, asylum seekers and stateless persons, which includes representation before courts and awareness raising. The Lebanese Transparency association has launched an initiative called Lebanese Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre, which aims to inform citizens about their legal rights and gives legal supports to victims of corruption. The Caritas offices in Lebanon give free legal advice to migrant workers.
Finally, the United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) provides legal assistance to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.
4. Sources of defendant's rights
National Sources of Defendant's rights
The Lebanese constitution was adopted in 1926; it was later amended more than once, but the only important amendments are those that occurred when Lebanon became independent, in 1943, and at the end of the civil war, in 1989 (Ta'ef agreement). The second chapter of the first part of the constitution establishes the "rights and duties" of the Lebanese citizens (articles 6 to 15). The most important provisions are the following:
- Article 7, which states that all citizens are equal before the law.
- Article 8, which protects individual liberty and forbids arbitrary arrests, in addition to establishing the principle of legality in criminal sentences ("nullum crimen sine lege", "nulla poena sine lege").
- Article 13, which protects the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, the freedom of assembly and the freedom of association.
International Sources of defendant's rights
The Constitution of Lebanon recognizes the supremacy of international instruments over domestic law; therefore, Lebanon has an obligation to implement procedures that respect the principles found in international treaties that have been ratified.
As a member of the United Nations, Lebanon is bound by the Universal Declaration of human rights of 1948. Although this declaration is not a treaty – it was adopted as the Resolution 217 of the United Nations General Assembly, whose resolutions are not bindings – most legal scholars consider that it became part of customary international law.
The following international treaties are applicable to Lebanon (with dates of ratification/accession and entry into force):
- Convention of the 1st March 1954 on civil procedure (accession: 9th November 1974; entry into force: 7th January 1975).
- International Convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination of 1965 (ratification: 12th November 1971; entry into force: 12th December 1971).
- International Covenant on economic social and cultural rights of 1966 (accession: 3rd November 1972; entry into force: 3rd January 1976).
- International Covenant on civil and political rights of 1966 (accession: 3rd November 1972; entry into force: 23rd March 1976).
- Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women of 1979 (accession: 16th April 1997; entry into force: 21st May 1997).
- Convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of 1984
- Convention on the Rights of the Child of 1989 (ratification: 14th July 2000; entry into force: 18th November 2002).
Pre-trial Procedures
1. Police procedures
The Internal Security Forces (ISF, Qiwa al-amn al-dâkhili, Forces de Sécurité de l'Intérieur) are in charge of preserving order and security and protecting the citizen's rights.
Lebanese citizens can file a complaint at the General Inspectorate (al-moufatichiya al-aâma), at the General Directorate of Internal Security Forces (al-moudiriya al-aâma li qiwa al-amn al-dâkhili), at any ISF local station, by post, e-mail, or on the ISF website. The complaint may be filed by the complainant himself, by his legal representative or by his guardian/tutor.
More information can be found on the website of the ISF.
Arrest, Search and Seizure Laws
• Arrests
The investigating judge issues a summons to the defendant. If the latter fails to appear before the judge or if the judge fears that he may abscond, he may issue an enforceable summons, in which he orders to the security forces to arrest the defendant (article 106 of the Lebanese code of criminal procedure).
Any security force officer charged with the enforcement of a summons or an arrest order is entitled to enter (between 5a.m. and 8p.m.) the private residence where the defendant is suspected to have sought refuge (article 109 paragraph 3 of the Lebanese code of criminal procedure).
The investigating judge may also prohibit the defendant from traveling (article 108 par.3).
• Pre-trial detention
Article 8 of the Lebanese constitution protects individual liberty. According to this article: "No one may be arrested, imprisoned, or kept in custody except according to the provisions of the law".
Articles 367 and 368 of the criminal code punishes civil servants and prison directors and guardians if they arrest or detain and individual beyond what is authorised by law or beyond the time prescribed or if they admit to prison individuals without arrest warrants or judicial decisions. Article 569 punishes "anyone who deprives another person of his individual liberty by kidnapping or by any other means".
When arrested, the defendant must be interrogated by the investigating judge within twenty-four hours. When this delay expires without any interrogation taking place, the defendant must be released. If he is not released, the detention must be deemed arbitrary, and the responsible officers can be prosecuted (article 107 par.2 of the Lebanese code of criminal procedure).
After questioning the defendant, the investigating judge may issue an arrest order, under some conditions (article 107 par.3). The arrest order shall be justified (material and factual ground); provisional detention must be "the only way to preserve evidence or incriminating material traces, to prevent the coercion of witnesses or victims, or to prevent the defendant from communicating with co-perpetrators, accomplices or instigators", etc. (article 107 par.4). The defendant may file an appeal against the order of arrest within twenty-four hours, but this doesn't prevent the enforcement of such an order (article 107 paragraphs 8 and 9).
According to article 108 paragraph 1 of the Lebanese code of criminal procedure, pre-trial detention is limited to two months (renewable once if absolutely necessary) for misdemeanours (except if the defendant had already been sentenced to at least one year in prison). Article 108 paragraph 2 provides that pre-trial detention is limited to six months in criminal matters (renewable once by a motivated decision), with exception of homicides, cases involving drugs, the State's security or terrorism.
Finally, article 110 lets the investigating judge to withdraw an arrest warrant by taking into consideration the specific circumstances of the accused.
• Searches
According to the Lebanese code of criminal procedure, the public prosecution office at the Court of Appeal (al-niyaba al-aâma al-isti'nafiyya) has the duty issue search and investigation notices if a person named in a complaint or a suspect cannot be found (article 24 let. d par. 1). This notice expires after ten days, unless extended (article 24 let. d par. 3).
Searches and investigations are also conducted by an investigating judge (qadi al-tahqiq, article 98 par. 1). The search must be conducted in presence of the civil party and the defendant or their respective counsels (article 98 par. 2). Further rules are set out in articles 98 to 105. Any search or investigation undertaken in breach of those rules is considered to be null (article 105 par. 1).
Rules governing the interrogation are set out in articles 74 to 84 of the Lebanese code of criminal procedure.
The defendant has the right to be informed of the charges against him and shall be presented with the evidence in the possession of the investigating judge. The investigating judge shall also inform the defendant of his right to be assisted by a lawyer during the questioning. If the judge fails to do so, the questioning is null (article 76). The defendant can choose to remain silent during the interrogation and has the right to make his statements without any external influence (article 77).
If the defendant refuses to designate a lawyer, or if his lawyer fails to attend to the interrogation, the judge may proceed to the questioning. However, the investigating judge must ask the defendant between each round of questioning whether he still consents to be questioned without the presence of a lawyer; the defendant has the right to communicate freely and secretly with his lawyer (article 79, article 102 par.3). The investigating judge has the right to prohibit communication with a defendant for a period not exceeding five days; this prohibition is not applicable to his lawyer (article 83 par.1). If the defendant is not fluent in Arabic, the investigating judge shall appoint an interpreter (article 81 par.3).
When attending the interrogation, the lawyer has the right to make objections to the way the interrogation takes place and to object to possible breaches of the rules governing the interrogation by the judge (article 81 par.1).
2. Right to Counsel
The investigating judge shall also inform the defendant of his right to be assisted by a lawyer during the questioning. If the judge fails to do so, the questioning is null (article 76 of the Lebanese code of criminal procedure). Article 78 states that the investigating judge must designate a lawyer or refer to the president of the concerned bar association if the defendant is unable to designate a lawyer.
Rights of the accused at all time
1. Criminal Law system
Legality principle and ex-post facto punishment
According to article 8 of the Lebanese constitution: "No offense may be established or penalty imposed except by law".
Chapter I Section I (articles 1 to 14) of the Lebanese criminal code sets out rules about the temporal scope of application of criminal law. The main rules that prohibit ex-post facto punishments are set out in articles 1, 6 and 12.
- Article 1: "No penalty may be imposed and no preventive or corrective measure may be taken in respect of an offence that was not defined by statute at the time of its commission […]".
- Article 6: "No penalty may be imposed that was not prescribed by statute at the time of
commission of the offence".
- Article 12: "No preventive or corrective measure may be ordered save in accordance with the conditions and in the cases provided for by law".
Presumption of innocence
According to article 14 paragraph 2 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, everyone has the right "to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law".
Although the Lebanese code of criminal procedure sets rules for more or less every step that is undertaken by any actor, it doesn't mention presumption of innocence.
Procedure with witnesses
Procedure with witnesses are ruled out at articles 85 to 97 of the Lebanese code of criminal procedure.
The investigating judge is entitled to summon witnesses or suspects who possess in his view information that can assist the investigation (article 86). Each witness is to be interviewed individually. The rules governing the hearing of witnesses are stated in article 87 of the code of criminal procedure. If the witness is not fluent in Arabic, the judge shall appoint an interpreter (article 88).
False testimonies are prosecuted (article 89 of the code of criminal procedure; article 408 of the criminal code). Unless bound by secrecy, a witness is compelled to give his testimony (article 92 paragraph 1 and 95 paragraph 1). If he fails twice to appear before the judge, an enforceable summons can be issued to have him brought before the judge (article 95 par.2).
Capital Punishment
According to article 37 of the Lebanese criminal code, capital punishment is listed amongst criminal sentences. No death penalty can be enforced before consultation of the pardon commission and of the president of the Republic (article 43).
Lebanon is however considered to be a de facto abolitionist country. Indeed, although courts, especially military courts, continue to sentence the accused to death, no execution has been conducted since 2004.
2. Fair Trial Rights
Right to non self-incrimination
According to article 14 paragraph 3g of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, everyone has the right "not to be compelled to testify against himself or to confess guilt".
No article of the Lebanese code of criminal procedure imposes on police officers and other officials to inform the detainee of his right to remain silent. According to the report "Guilty until proven innocent – report on the causes of arbitrary arrest, lengthy pre-trial detention and long delays in trial" published by the NGO Alef, this might lead to officials creating "an atmosphere favourable to the suspect's self-incrimination or the confession of guilt".
Rights in prison
Right to medical care in prison
The Lebanese ministry of interior appoints a number of doctors for the inspection of prisons. Those doctors have to the obligation to visit prison inmates and proceed to a complete inspection of the prison at least three times a week.
If a prisoner falls ill, the prison governor has to immediately contact the doctor who is competent to treat the prisoner. The doctor has to evaluate the risks of contamination; the ill prisoner can be placed in isolation. If needed, the prisoner can be taken to the nearest military hospital for treatment.
Court Procedures
Appeals against judgements and orders of the Criminal Single Judge to the Court of Appeal The right of appeal against judgements issued by the Criminal Single Judge is ruled out at article 208 of the Lebanese code of criminal procedure. Article 212 and 213 define judgements that are open to appeal. Starting from the time of the delivery of the judgement, the delay for filing an appeal is fifteen days for all parties (article 214). The effects of the appeal on the judgement are defined at articles 219 to 232.


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Chapter 44
After hours of driving Lee finds the motel he was looking for. They had been without drink and food all day so they finally got something. After they've eaten, Mandy had fallen asleep straight away. He had no regrets about what had happened. The only regret he had was not getting rid of Mandy earlier. But he was too deep. He didn't want to fall in love with her but he did. His plan had changed rapidly. Maybe it was time to tell her the truth. He sits by a chair close to the bed watching her sleep. She looked so peaceful and beautiful so he could just watch her. It was midnight but all he could think about was her naked body. He stands up and gets to bed beside her. She's sleeping on her back. She had no clothes on under the sheets so he slowly takes it off her. It doesn't wake her up. He runs his fingers across her groin and blows warm air from his mouth. He begins to touch her with his fore and index finger for a while and then gets out of bed. He stands in front of the edge of the bed and undresses himself. He gets closer and spreads her legs. He gets on top of her naked body without touching with his. He looks down at her face and slowly gets inside her. It wakes her up. He smiles and begins to move back and forth, still not touching her. She gasps.
"You like that, do you? Waking up with a hard shaft between your legs, huh" He thrust inside her and pulls out a bit
His arms were getting tired so he lies on top of her. He tries to kiss her but she turns her head on the side. He lifts him up again and takes her harder. It makes her scream slightly.
"Mm I love it when you scream" He pushes inside her "Some more"
He thrust inside her even harder until her screams gets louder. It excites him even more. He was hurting her on purpose to make her suffer. She grabs the sheets just to grab something. She refused to touch him. His resistance had become shorter. He used to last longer but it was over in a few minutes. It proved he was getting tired of doing this. Having to use women for sex was taking its toll. When he reaches his peak he gets off her immediately. He lays himself beside her exhausted. She turns on her left side so she didn't have to see him. She wanted to sleep and not be taken over and over again. In a moment he gets up and gets to the bathroom. She's fallen asleep again under the sheets. He puts his clothes back on and takes his phone. He makes sure she doesn't wake up and is out of the door.
As soon as he's outside, he calls someone. It takes a while before anyone replies.
"Oh good. I don't know how long I can keep up with this. You have to take me out of this misery"
"Just hold on. Only a few days and I promise everything will be over" The person on the other end says
"A few days? Oh man that feels like ages. I have to tell her" He runs his fingers through his hair
"Not yet or you'll spoil everything"
"OK but if you don't get in touch when you say you would. I give myself in"
"Lee stop worrying. I know you love her but you have to stop hurting her. I didn't exactly keep her safe when I turned her in to you"
"Thanks anyway" He smiles and ends the call
He takes a deep breath and gets back inside. He takes his clothes off and gets to bed. The next few days would be long so he needed the rest.

subset: commoncrawl


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A dear wish of "Outlander" fans is finally coming true.
After being separated by time and space for far too much of Season 3, Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie (Sam Heughan) will again be in each other's arms. Their much-awaited reunion will take place in Episode 6, which airs on Oct. 22, following a multi-week hiatus. In anticipation of the joyous occasion, Starz teased the episode with a photo of the beloved TV couple getting hot and heavy.
"When the love of your life is back in your arms, nothing else matters," the show's Twitter account wrote.
When the love of your life is back in your arms, nothing else matters. #Outlanderpic.twitter.com/ps9qblZT0T
— Outlander (@Outlander_STARZ) October 9, 2017
The Oct. 22 episode will be extra-long -- a whopping 74 minutes. In case that still just isn't enough "Outlander" time, fans can also marathon the five episodes leading up to it immediately before it airs.
"Outlander" Season 3 continues Sunday, Oct. 22 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Starz.


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With director Paul W.S. Anderson's The Three Musketeers opening October 21, Summit Entertainment held a big press junket in London and I got the chance to head across the pond to interview the cast. Based on Alexandre Dumas' classic story, The Three Musketeers stars Logan Lerman, Luke Evans, Ray Stevenson, Milla Jovovich, Orlando Bloom, Christoph Waltz, Matthew Macfayden and Mads Mikkelsen. In the reboot, "the hot-headed young D'Artagnan (Lerman) joins forces with three rogue Musketeers (MacFadyen, Evans and Stevenson). They must stop the evil Richlieu (Waltz) and face off with Buckingham (Bloom) and the treacherous Milady (Jovovich)." And unlike many films that have been post converted for a 3D release, the Musketeers was shot in 3D and it looks great. For more on the film, here's eight clips.
During my interview with the Musketeers, we talked about the amazing real world locations they used in Musketeers, how did they get involved in the project, karaoke, and I asked them about future projects like The Hobbit, G.I. Joe 2 and Anna Karenina. Hit the jump to watch.
Finally, if you missed my video interview with Milla Jovovich, click here.
Luke Evans, Matthew Macfadyen, Ray Stevenson
- What's their karaoke songs
- How did they get involved in the project
- The amazing real world locations and did they have a favorite place
- Asked individual questions about Hobbit, G.I. Joe 2 and Anna Karenina


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Black Sabbath
Statement About Black Sabbath
by Joe on Aug.18, 2017, under Black Sabbath
Statement About Black Sabbath – Response to Tony Iommi
Hi Everyone,
I hope this day finds you all in good spirits and good health.
Again I feel in a position where I'm compelled to defend my actions in the period of 2011 up to, I suppose, today. Tony Iommi's comments and some of Ozzy's, remain in a place of disparaging remarks, which bring fault to my character as a person and a musician. I completely disagree with their comments. What they believe is quite opposite from my experience, especially in 2011 when no one spoke to me of being alarmed by my playing or my health. If they kept the info, which they so readily share now, to themselves in 2011, then let that be their shortcoming. How can I be judged that I could not do a tour when we were working on an album. How can I be judged in 2011 on health issues when none existed that would endanger a long term tour. They all know very clearly how well I prepare to tour. I did not know I was being judged in 2011, if that is indeed their truth.
Tony's comment (and I'm assuming it was in reference to me touring) was, "I don't think he quite realizes how hard it would have been on him" How can Tony say that. I know what it takes to tour. I've helped to set the physical and playing bar that was metal then and today. What an undermining, self-centered thing for Tony to say. What an inaccurate thing for Tony to say. I had played all the Ozzfests and Sabbath tours after the reunion. Keep in mind, they did one tour without me first, I think just to see if it could work without me. I'm sorry and mean no malice in saying this, but it was their fear, their mistrust, and their rationale that put back-up drummers on the stage at the reunion and other tours. I disliked that they did that, but understood they wanted to. I got on with my work, playing drums in Sabbath. Never once was a back-up drummer required, and no, I did not validate the fears of those who had fears.
I missed a European tour after my one and only heart attack in 1998. I can appreciate that Black Sabbath's interests needed to be protected for the sake of future commitments to the fans, promoters, and all involved.
Ozzy said the saddest thing is that he/Bill needed to own up to that. Own up to what in 2011. What was I supposed to own up to, when I felt exhilarated, confident, and strong. Own up to, I'm not up to this, I'm sick and can't play; those failings didn't exist in me, they still don't exist today. I had nothing to own up to, nothing to confess. The fact that Oz had reacted with sadness tells me he was already sold on his own judgement of me. And that is very sad to know.
Tony commented, "and it's silly really because it was over nothing." I have to confront that statement. I can't let that wash into my life and my family's life, and the lives of all those affected by an original band failure. It was something. It meant everything to thousands of people including me. It will always be something and it will always ring with truth, and actual correct accountability. By saying it was nothing, dishonours the credibility of our fans, and insults the very heart of what we all clung to, Black Sabbath.
I will have my experience in the time period of 2011 and Tony and Ozzy will have theirs. And, it's plain to me, we're as opposite and opposing as ever.
I won't forget Ozzy's last phone call of January 23rd or so 2012, asking when I would arrive in England to commence rehearsals. Why would he say that if my performance level of 2011 had already been judged.
I regret the loss of Ozzy's friendship.
I regret the loss of Tony's friendship.
Finally, and I've defended this many times, I couldn't play one gig or a couple of gigs here or there with a back-up drummer or no back-up drummer. To do that one gig would put me in an elitist position, and I can't do that for all the other fans who couldn't see that one gig.
I'm honoured to have been a part of Black Sabbath, and to have played with Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, and Geezer Butler.
Long Live Black Sabbath.
Bill Ward
Response to Ozzy Sad About Bill Ward's Absence
by Joe on Sep.01, 2016, under Black Sabbath
Ozzy has never reached out since January 26/27 2012 when he called to see when I would be arriving in the UK to join rehearsals for the 13 CD. Since that last phone call, he has never reached out to me, and I have not reached out to him.
Ozzy I'm sad that Bill never came through. Ozzy needs to look to those who stopped me from coming through. The contract was impossible to sign; the group rhetoric of 2012, 2013 and throughout, was fault-finding, condemning and full of dishonest evaluations of me as a person, including my so-called health issues. Had I signed the contract, I suspect I wouldn't have been labeled as having poor health or having all the other judgmental character references.
As a reminder, in September 2015, we asked a Sabbath representative if there could be an opening to play with the band again. Their representative answered "no." It's hard to come through when you receive a "no."
I love all our Sabbath fans throughout the world, and to toss around ideas that I might play the Birmingham shows is both emotionally heartbreaking for me and spiteful. I think the Sabbath fans who have loved the original band have gone through enough in terms of disappointment and sadness. For me to play Birmingham only, would, I feel, be discriminating and elitist towards our other fans all over the world. I could never be discriminating or elitist to our fans. It's been heartbreaking enough not to record and tour and it'll be heartbreaking not to play to the Birmingham fans. Please know the prevailing circumstances are not by my design. This is not what I would have wanted or what I have chosen. Had any of you had to choose to sign a contract which undermined and devalued you, I think most of you with some dignity and self-respect would have walked away too. My absence at the current shows and the future Birmingham shows reflects an undeniable and unseen misadventure that my accusers won't bear. It's called selfishness and self-centeredness; dishonesty and disloyalty. These are the culprits of Sabbath's original line-up's demise.
A Brief Statement
by Joe on Aug.03, 2016, under Black Sabbath
We have seen it reported in the news that Bill will be playing with Black Sabbath on The End tour in the UK. This is incorrect, and we wanted to make sure you heard it from us directly: Bill is not playing with Black Sabbath in the UK or on any other dates of The End tour.
As always, we thank you for all your support and understanding.
Rock forever.
"The End" Tour Response
by Joe on Jan.25, 2016, under Black Sabbath
I must respond once again to inaccurate statements made by Geezer. I never received an offer to play the final show of The End tour with Black Sabbath. When the tour was confirmed, my management reached out to the Black Sabbath management to inquire as to whether or not they would like to discuss my participation in the tour. We were told there was no interest. That is last conversation we had with them regarding the tour.
I will say that I wouldn't want to play only one gig when I am completely capable of touring. I would not validate their untrue statements about my health by playing only one gig. Also, I wouldn't want to show up for only some of our fans and not for all our fans when I could have played multiple shows.
— Bill
Bill Addresses Ozzy's Facebook Response
by Joe on Apr.17, 2015, under Bill Ward, Black Sabbath
- You never wanted to discuss in a public forum. BUT, you did by making all these public comments during your interviews for the 13 album and tour. I was only responding in kind. Don't forget why I spoke out. If you had talked to me and shared your opinions privately, we wouldn't be here today.
- I was ready and in shape to record. I knew I would need to get in better shape for the gigs –same as I have needed to do and have done in the past. I was beginning my workout regime to get "tour ready." I knew what I needed to do to play the gigs, and I was confident I would be ready. I would not commit to an extensive tour without believing I could go all the way with it. I wouldn't do that to our fans.
- Shoulder Surgery. This was not a surgery that was an immediate necessity, or an emergency, or something that was prohibitive in terms of playing drums in Sabbath. It wasn't anything like that. I would have elected to do the surgery after we finished touring, but since that didn't come to pass, I scheduled it for the fall of 2013. My other surgery, yes was unexpected, but who among us knows what curve balls might be coming our way. Having had to recently cancel your own gigs, I think you could understand that and not hold someone to "what ifs".
- The "unsignable" contract isn't a smokescreen – it's the truth. I have been honest with our fans on where I stand. Your opinions of me are completely immaterial – they have nothing to do with my reason for not participating – the "unsignable" contract – that's it. I wonder if I had signed it if any of this would have come up? I imagine we would have made an album and done a tour with the original line up in place.
Hey Oz,
It's not going to work.
I can see you,
And, I read your statement.
Boy oh boy.
Well, I know I didn't expect you to respond to my request of an apology. By the way, it's pretty easy to go back and really look at what was truth and what was not.
I notice you're including Tony and Geezer in being in full agreement, that with my health condition I couldn't have played a two hour set with a drum solo. First time I've ever heard about a two hour show with a drum solo. But I'm asking you, not them. Why did you stay in the studio working with me? Why did we go to England for band rehearsals in August 2011? Why did we continue rehearsing in the Fall? Why did we make the announcement of 11/11/11? Why did you call me in late January 2012 asking me to come over to England to continue rehearsals? Why, if you thought I was so unhealthy, did you continue with me at all? You know why, Oz, because I was fine. I was playing. I was good to go.
I ran into no, zero, health problems until October 22nd 2013. Oz, I could have played my ass off in 2012, all the way through to October 22nd 2013. The shoulder operation was optional. It was quiet and I needed a wear and tear adjustment. I was fine. I could have gone without surgery. But listen to you, hitting back and hard, too.
I don't believe a word of it. I am not an enemy. Eternity will show and serve as proof.
None of it, Oz.
I'm not going to own a fucking thing, other than I came into the studio initially overweight to tour, but not overweight to record. I was good to record. All of you know how much I put in, especially when I prepare to tour.
Your own anticipatory fear has got you by the balls. What fucking smokescreen, about an unsignable contract.
Yes, let's get honest. I did.
It came out in my statement Wednesday, April 15, 2015.
I'm not playing (your quote). I never did. I don't fuck with sincerity and honesty, period. I've done nothing but bring my truth to the fans. Man, you spin it real well. Sorry I can't love you back, Oz. I put my love for you somewhere safe inside my heart in 2012 when your stories started showing up. It's hard to love someone who thinks he's telling the truth by making false claims, elitist comments and just plain rude statements.
It'll show up, Oz, in your dreams, in your daily days. I'm clean and have nothing to feel doubtful about. All my actions have been of loyalty, honesty, and open-mindedness.
Stay safe old friend.
Sad we couldn't roll it out for the fans one more time.
I read your speculation, and your what ifs, your doubts. I'm about as far away from being a victim as I am from Hell itself.
Bill Interview with Rolling Stone
by Joe on Apr.17, 2015, under Bill Ward, Black Sabbath
Following up on yesterday's statement, there is a new interview with Bill on the Rolling Stone website. In this interview Bill answers a lot of questions about various issues regarding Black Sabbath, and clarifies in more detail some of the remarks from the statement. You can read the full interview over at the Rolling Stone website.
Statement on Black Sabbath
by Joe on Apr.15, 2015, under Bill Ward, Black Sabbath
Dear Friends,
I hope you're well and in good spirits. I have not made any public statements regarding my relationship with Black Sabbath since February 2012. Today, I want to address that relationship in this formal statement. Thank you.
I have neither severed nor discontinued my relationship with Black Sabbath, however, since 2012, the often inaccurate statements about me as a person and as a musician have caused me to be guarded and be especially detached emotionally and spiritually from Ozzy. His rhetoric above all has brought me the most discord. The continuing misguided information about me has established a necessity on my part to confront these issues. And now, with the imminent release of a new Bill Ward Band album, and the flurry of rumors about new Sabbath projects, I feel it appropriate to speak in a truthful and an un-cynical way.
There is always speculation about a true, original Sabbath lineup for the next tour or record. With a sad heart, I have to say I will not participate in any musical undertakings until a righting of the wrongs spoken against me has been achieved. I must admit, I have little to no expectations of this happening, but in the order of first things first, I'm looking for an honest accountability of all of Ozzy's statements that I felt were untrue. I would want Ozzy to amend his opinions and exaggerations. I would want him to be forthcoming about his unrealistic viewpoints. And because I was chastised publicly, I would want him to amend publicly in his words, and not through an Ozzy representative, the nature of the wrongs. I would not want to continue on with him without this seemingly impassible dilemma being addressed. I don't think previously strong relationships can remain strong after dispute by just sweeping the offensive stuff under the carpet, or by saying a puny sorry, or "oh, that's all over now." It doesn't work like that for me. Righting of wrong works, and that's what I want if I'm ever going to be his friend again.
Still undone and faraway is a "signable" contract. I would require a "signable" contract before moving one step toward a pathway that could lead to us all playing together again. I want a contract I can approve. That's my truth. That's my stand. I've listened to nothing but insults and false remarks, and if as a band or as individuals they wish to continue along the same lines, then any notion of an original Black Sabbath lineup will continue to fade away.
Put simply, it's up to them. I have dearly missed playing with them and as people, I have been heartbroken over the loss of who I thought we were. And now you know where I stand.
Very soon my band, BWB will release a new album ironically called "Accountable Beasts." I re- kick-started it in May 2012, and in an off and on journey to record, we have reached our final destination – a good mix, and a well mastered record. At this time we are putting the final touches on the digital booklet.
There are other multiple projects in different stages of progress, and I hope to bring more definitive news about them as things unfold this year. I have been very happy writing new songs, playing drums and working with other musicians. I have been blessed with musical visions and the ability to harness them. I'm moving into the future with an optimistic outlook.
For our many Sabbath fans, I love you all dearly. You are extremely special people. You fucking rock. I have been in deep regret since January 2012 that a true union was denied. I've remained faithful to you and honest with myself. Had I not been honest throughout I would have perished long ago. My hand is within yours, and I am encouraged to know you better. Stay safe and stay strong.
Now it is time to meet the circumstances of my statement and attend to what else is ongoing and before me.
Bill Ward
Interview with DCHeavyMetal.com
by Joe on Apr.20, 2014, under Bill Ward, Black Sabbath, Drum Art, Rock 50
There is an excellent new interview with Bill by Chris over at DCHeavyMetal.com. It is a wide ranging new interview, touching on many subjects such as new music from Bill (Accountable Beasts), the Absence of Corners project, the 13 album and Black Sabbath, other metal drummers, and the Rock 50 show. Amongst others. Check out the full interview here where you can both read a text version, and listen to an audio version.
Response To Geezer's Statement
by Joe on May.20, 2012, under Black Sabbath
Dear Sabbath Fans and Musicians,
I have read Geezer's statement of May 19, 2012 titled "Heavy Heart." Out of respect for the Birmingham gig, I wanted to wait 24 hours before releasing this statement. There are some points he brought up which I want to respond to.
1) I had indeed notified Ozzy, Tony and Geezer, well before my first public statement, that I was having contractual difficulties.
2) I came out into a public forum to be accountable to the fans primarily, and to say at a public level there's a problem. The band members stopped talking and corresponding with me some time ago, with the exception of a nice letter from Tony on my birthday. Prior to that, Geezer and I were corresponding, but that stopped abruptly in late February after I emailed a specific question to him.
3) In my statement of May 15, I clearly stated I would play Birmingham for free. That was not a problem – charity or otherwise.
4) My Download fee was not an extravagant amount. Originally, when Download was part of a full tour, I had asked for a decent fee. More recently, as we were negotiating just Download/Birmingham and Lollapalooza, I told my attorney that I would accept the proposed small Download fee, but there were other parts of the offer that were unsatisfactory.
I will continue to be honest and respectful towards the band and our fans. I will also confront any untruths about me, and any fault finding missions aimed at me that come to my attention.
I hope the band and the fans had a good gig in Brum.
Stay safe/stay strong.
Bill Ward
Statement on Upcoming Black Sabbath Shows
by Joe on May.15, 2012, under Black Sabbath
Dear Sabbath Fans and Fellow Musicians,
I sincerely regret to inform you that after a final effort to participate in the upcoming Sabbath shows a failure to agree has continued. At this time I have to inform you that I won't be playing with Black Sabbath at the Birmingham gig dated May 19th, 2012, nor will I be playing at Download on June 10th, 2012. Further, I will not be playing at Lollapalooza on August 3, 2012.
It is with a very sad heart that I bring you this news. I am sincerely passionate in my desire to play with the band, and I'm very, very sorry that it's fallen to this. This statement is even more painstaking to write, as I was particularly excited to play alongside Tony Iommi after the recent treatments he underwent. I wanted that to become a reality. (continue reading…)


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Good Morning! The holiday is over and it's back to work. It's nice to have company but nice to be back to a normal schedule. Karissa was busy this weekend making lots of cards for the blog!
Love this cute little penguin with his large bow tie. Stamps Used: A244 KB's Bow Tie Sm, A245 KB's Penguin sm, C217 Be Joyful!
It was a little bittersweet this weekend as Travis said Good-bye "forever" to his dog. It's highly unlikely that Cocoa will be alive when Travis returns home. Our dog is going on to almost 20 years old and has failed drastically in the last few days. We are all preparing ourselves for the end 😦 She has been one of the best dogs ever.
Have a great Monday!


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Dessert Shooter Bars are a sophisticated way to display little desserts at wedding and events. Usually people have it before their reception during cocktail hour. More and More events are adding this also as a thank you and the end of your event too. We feel it's all about presentation and adding the wow factor. I can promise that your guests will be talking about it for months to come! What better way to have fun picking up a dessert in a little 2 oz. glass. Your table will be created based on your theme & one of a kind.
Popcorn Bars will have your guests munching the whole time. This is not just your regular buttered popcorn! Sweet Servings only features gourmet popcorn. Great for all types of parties and corporate events! Our popcorn tables can be made simple or elegant!
Our S'more's Bar is one of a kind. Designed by Sweet Serving your guests never saw anything like this! We decorate our table based on your colors adding color marshmallows to the mix! It's interactive and fun for all ages! Great to use during cocktail hour and as a thank you. Say goodbye to the chocolate fountains this is fun and different!


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Boom and I don't watch many movies, much to Boom's chagrin. But sometimes, when we have a lowkey night / weekend, we will watch a couple. That is what we did this weekend:
Taken was ok – a pretty good action movie. Nothing too special, but still kept our interest. I was kind of surprised that Liam Neeson was cast as the dad – he seemed a little old. Realistic, yes, but Hollywood is not always known for realism. Made me think I should learn how to hot wire a car. and pick locks. Not sure where I can gain those skills…
I didn't love The Wrestler. I guess I just couldn't relate to the main character on any level. His failed life, failed career, failed relationships, etc. Why wouldn't he do something to fix himself? I know Mickey Rourke was nominated for lots of awards, and that is great. But I just couldn't get into the movie. I did make me look at WWF events in a whole new light. And makes me sad that the youth of America is so into violence – makes me scared for the future a little bit.
Anyway, I guess this is why I don't really love watching movies – sometimes they seem like a waste of time. But, for Boom, I will gladly waste a few hours, if he really wants. And sometimes, I do love the movies (Slumdog Millionare).


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Most women have a group of girls with whom they do things that their spouse or significant other have little or no interest in. One warm Saturday was one of those outings for the SKIRTS. Solaris Farms in Reedsville to view and buy daylilies was the destination. Talk about eye candy!
The farm is a family homestead. Nate enjoys experimenting to make a hardy daylily that can withstand Wisconsin's winters. The family is hands-on in this business. We saw Nate out sharpening shovels and digging up plants when a customer wanted to take some home. The two children are now in college but have helped when times are busy. Kim also can be seen advising customers.
We walked through the gardens that were for display and growing hybrids for future sale. I loved the bench perched atop a hill overlooking a field of daylilies. Some of the old farm buildings are used in the business and serve as a great rustic backdrop to the gardens.
When we made it to the shopping area, we took our clipboards in hand and perused the rows. It was daylily heaven. There were ruffled ones, sparkly ones, tiny ones and long spidery ones. We laughed at the names; Pearls before Swine, Beyond Thunder Dome and House of Misrepresentatives just to name a few. The highest priced flower had a three digit figure. We smiled and kept walking.
I was standing firm that I had enough plants. I refused a clipboard that not only carried a sheet for making a list but descriptions in detail of each plant. By the time I got to the second half of the gardens, I had to return for a clipboard. Then our plants were plucked from the earth, labeled and gently bagged for their journey home.
On the drive home we came upon a plant sale at a farm house. These were home grown at that property and very healthy. As we were looking around, the owner said everything was half-price making the most expensive item $2.50. Now I lost it! Sixteen dollars later, I totally broke resolve. Just when I thought I could sit back and enjoy the garden, I have more digging and rearranging.
Written by Kim


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AlertThe situation with the coronavirus (COVID-19) is evolving rapidly across the United States. Please see coronavirus.ucsd.edu for the most up-to-date campus information.
All Linguistics Department faculty, lecturers, graduate students, language program instructors and staff are now working remotely and all Spring 2020 linguistics and language courses will be offered online. The physical facilities are closed. View student resources for Spring 2020 term here.
General Information
The Linguistics Language Program (LLP) offers beginning language instruction in American Sign Language (ASL), Arabic, French , German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. Through the Heritage Language Program (HLP), courses are offered in Filipino, Hindi, Korean, Persian and Vietnamese.
Our aim is effective communication in a second language. The courses satisfy general education requirements of the various colleges, prepare students for literature and education-abroad programs, and provide for maintenance of existing language skills. In addition to its regular language classes, the LLP offers self-instructional courses for some 60 languages and has self-study materials for preparing graduate students for foreign-language reading examinations.
The Language Laboratory, an integral facility of the LLP, has up-to-date computer, audio, and video facilities for language learning. The laboratory maintains reference materials for nearly 200 languages.
Second-language acquisition and language pedagogy traditionally have been important applied areas within the discipline of linguistics. UCSD is unique in having a language program administered by linguistics faculty interested in applying research on second-language acquisition to the foreign-language classroom.
LLP Structure
The Director of the LLP is a professor within the Linguistics Department. Academic coordinators for the various languages work with the Director in designing curricula, establishing academic policies, and training and supervising language instructors. Graduate-student teaching assistants provide nearly all of the instruction for the LLP. The Department's clerical, technical, and language-laboratory staff work closely with the academic staff in their continuing pursuit of quality and innovation in language instruction.
Since the founding of the UCSD campus in 1964, the LLP has had four directors.
Leonard Newmark created an innovative way of teaching languages, a forerunner of the kinds of communicative approaches that are widespread today.
Tracy Terrell brought to the program a theory of second-language acquisition known as the Natural Approach. Terrell's textbooks for Spanish, French and German are widely used in colleges throughout the United States.
Sanford Schane introduced into the Program computer-assisted language instruction and other technological applications.
Grant Goodall is the current director of the Language Program.
Language at UC San Diego
UC San Diego is known for its innovative, non-traditional approach to language instruction. Multiple units share language instruction rather than having individual departments for English, French, Spanish, or Asian or Romance languages. Learn about language courses and programs available at UC San Diego, and how to enroll in them.


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New This Week
Click the link above to access updates and more.
About First Church Williamstown
First Congregational Church Williamstown is a dynamic, hospitable, family-friendly hub where social justice, spirituality, and the arts intersect. We've been a gathering place, or meetinghouse, for the wider community since 1765. Today we build on our past to embrace a mission for the future. You are invited to explore these pages to learn more about who we are.
Are you new?
Thinking about joining us? Great! We seek to follow Jesus's example of radical hospitality. We mean it when we say, "where ever you are on life's journey, you're welcome here." Whether white or person of color; rich, poor, or middle-class; heterosexual or LGBTQIA+; PhD professor or GED-earner; someone with resolute faith or no faith; or someone who has been bored or burned by religion, you are welcome here. Check out the links to find out more about the basics of becoming part of our community.
Get involved
There are countless ways to join us in living God's mission of love, peace, and justice. From small groups to StorySLAM's to the Giant Tag Sale to activism, there's something going on for everybody. Navigate the links to find out more how you can get involved.


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Saturday, June 27, 2009
A Ramble Under the Oaks
idyllic (pron: \ī-ˈdi-lik; chiefly British; adj.; date: 1856) 1: pleasing or picturesque in natural simplicity. 2: of, relating to, or being an idyll
I wouldn't have been surprised to see a painter in a floppy hat standing at an easel, paintbrush poised in mid-air. The mown fields of long grass next to the lake, the stands of knarled white oaks and the moody skies were straight out of an English landscape painting.
Walking the loop trail through the Oak Island portion of the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area is not so much a hike as a ramble along a rutted road through low-lying pastures and freshwater lakes. As a major nesting area and migration route for birds, it's also a perfect place to do some amateur birding, so take along your Sibley guide.
I was there with my neighbor Connie and her gentle giant of a yellow lab, Emmitt, who was graciously escorting Walker on his first foray into the wilds of Sauvie Island. And even though the rules require them to be leashed to protect the birds and other wildlife, the dogs were fascinated by the sounds of critters scurrying through the underbrush and the smells they left behind them. We humans, while not as constrained (except by our leashed dogs), were constantly trying to identify various birds that flew up from the fields as we passed.
As we entered the grove of oaks in the center, Connie pointed out the large eagle's nest at the top of an oak snag just off the trail. It's apparently one of five nesting pairs in the refuge, and we stopped to listen to the baby calling for its parents to bring some lunch, though they didn't show up while we were there.
So if you're looking for an easy walk through a pastoral setting, this is one to put on the list. Just ten minutes from town, this is perfect for out-of-town guests, a romantic picnic with a view over a lake or a place for city dogs to have a little walk on the wild side.
Posted by Kathleen Bauer at 10:07 AM
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text: Too Soon? Think Again Now is the Time for Furnace Service in Heflin Posted September 2, 2015 While the autumnal equinox hasn't brought about the official start of fall and the end of summer, now is the time to start planning for furnace service. Sure, you won't turn your thermostat to the 'heat' setting for a few weeks, and possibly months if you're lucky, but why wait for your furnace to stop working in the middle of a winter storm when it could have been avoided with basic furnace service? The impending colder weather means that you'll slowly begin depending on a system that has been sitting idle for months on end. While a lot of homeowners in Heflin expect no hiccups, that's not always feasible. It's easy to get stuck in the thought that your furnace kept you warm without any problems last year, but that doesn't automatically mean you'll have the same luck this year. By now you're probably thinking – "So why is furnace service a necessity?" Arranging annual furnace service can help you sidestep a number of problems that can arise, including: A voided warranty due to improper maintenance Larger furnace concerns that could be emerging, potentially ending with furnace replacement A hazardous situation if there are any issues with the gas or oil portions of your furnace Diminished efficiency because your furnace is working harder than it has to Of course, there are more than just these four concerns that can come up, but the last thing you want to happen is to miss your annual furnace service and have it go out on you when the Heflin weather starts getting bad this winter. The fact is that your furnace, and your air conditioner, should be serviced like a car. There are routine maintenance needs that keep things running smoothly and at their peak, which in turn can help prolong the life of the equipment. If you'd like to find out what the team at Bain Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc does for your furnace when you schedule furnace service, give us a call at 256-270-1196. Back To Blog


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Q&A with payroll expert about upcoming amendments, employer requirements
Question: I understand there will be changes to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) in 2012 that will affect employee and employer contributions. What are these changes?
Answer: Starting on Jan. 1, 2012, changes to the CPP will affect employees who are between the ages of 60 and 69.
It will be mandatory for employees with pensionable earnings who are at least 60 years of age, but not 65, to pay CPP contributions even if they receive a CPP or Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) retirement pension. This may involve restarting CPP deductions for employees who had previously stopped making contributions because they receive a CPP/QPP retirement pension. Employers will also have to pay their share of CPP contributions for these employees.
Employees who are at least 65 years of age but under the age of 70 and who are collecting a CPP or QPP retirement pension while working in pensionable employment will have the option to either pay CPP contributions or opt out of contributing by completing form CPT30.
Question: What is form CPT30?
Answer: The CPT30 form (Election to Stop Contributing to the Canada Pension Plan, or Revocation of a Prior Election) is reserved for employees who are at least 65 years of age but under 70 and collecting a CPP or QPP retirement pension. These employees will be able to choose whether or not they want to contribute to CPP. Employees in this age bracket who do not want to pay CPP contributions starting in January 2012 will need to complete part C of the CPT30. They will have to send the original form to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), provide a copy to the payroll department for each of their employers and keep a copy for their records.
If an employee who has opted not to pay contributions later decides to contribute, he will have to complete the applicable sections on form CPT30.
The original form must go to the CRA and the employee will have to give a copy to each employer and keep a copy for his own records. It is important to note the opting in and out rules for CPP deductions can only be done once per year.
That means if an employee who has opted not to pay contributions in 2012 decides partway through the year she wants to restart CPP contributions, the earliest the employee will be able to make the request will be January 2013.
For example, if an employee files a CPT30 in January 2012 to opt out of paying CPP contributions, the opting back in to pay CPP again can only be done in January 2013. If the employee decides to opt out again, he will have to wait until January 2014.
The CPT30 form should be available on the CRA's website in November.
Question: What is the earliest date employees can file a CPT30 form if they do not want CPP deductions taken off their pay in January 2012?
Answer: Eligible employees must complete the CPT30 form and send it to the CRA (original) and the payroll department (a copy of the original) by December 2011.
Question: With the changes in 2012, do we have to start CPP deductions for employees who are collecting a disability pension under the CPP/QPP?
Answer: No, employees collecting a disability pension under the CPP/QPP will not be affected by the changes and will continue to be exempt from CPP deductions.
Question: One of our employees started to collect her CPP retirement pension in August 2010 and we stopped her CPP deductions in September 2010 with proof (an award letter issued by Service Canada).
With the changes to the CPP, can we continue to not deduct CPP if she advises us in writing she does not want to contribute?
Answer: It will depend on the employee's age. With the changes, it will be mandatory for all employees who are at least 60 years of age and under 65 and who are collecting CPP/QPP retirement pension to start paying CPP again even if they were exempt before the change in legislation.
You will have to restart the employee's CPP contributions effective with the first pay of January 2012. Employees who are 65 years old, but under age 70, can choose whether or not to pay CPP contributions.
Question: We have an employee who is 66 and not collecting CPP or QPP retirement pension. He has informed us he does not want to pay CPP in 2012.
Can we stop his CPP deductions?
Answer: The upcoming changes to the CPP legislation in 2012 do not affect this employee. Since he is not collecting CPP or QPP retirement benefits, he will have to continue paying CPP until he starts collecting CPP/QPP retirement benefits and files a CPT30 form to stop his deductions or until he reaches 70 years of age.
Question: What happens if an employee forgets to provide us with the CPT30 form to revoke a prior election that was made in the previous year and we have been deducting CPP?
Answer: If an employee wants to restart her CPP contributions and revoke a prior election but forgets to notify the employer by the end of the month when the form was signed, she can still have the CPP deductions taken off that month's pensionable earnings, but this can be done when the employee files her personal income tax return by completing form CPT20, Election to Pay Canada Pension Plan Contributions and pay the required amounts.
Question: Do these changes affect the QPP contributions?
Answer: No, the changes only apply to CPP contributions.
Question: Are there any plans to grandfather employees under the age of 65 who have already stopped paying CPP contributions?
Answer: There will be no grandfathering of employees who were already receiving a CPP/QPP retirement benefit before January 2012. All employees who are at least 60 years of age, but under age 65, who are collecting CPP/QPP retirement benefits while working in pensionable employment will be required to pay CPP contributions effective with the first pay period with a pay date falling in January 2012.
Annie Chong is manager of the Payroll Consulting Group at Carswell, a Thomson Reuters business. For more information, visit www.carswell.com.


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What is and who is the soul? Or is there no soul?
Dictionary Definition of soul: One's spiritual nature and some believe that it will exist forever
Here's one take:
The soul is the thing that goes to hell or heaven because it's the thing making the right or wrong decisions.
This is the Christian view of the soul: it's the identity (the ego) because it's the one making the choices and is sinful through and through and needs redemption.
Here's another take:
The soul is our source, the sustainer and the provider of services such as locomotion, the senses, the chemical powerhouse in each or our cells. Our soul exists only in the present moment.
It's the human animal that gets my vote for being the soul. Why is the human animal so important? Is our body and its wonderful talents our only link to the all, the everything, the nowness, the real, the truth…to nature in all of its loveliness and horror?
When our creator and sustainer is no longer alive, what can sustain us? How can the consciousness, the awareness, the identity, the chooser survive?


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Hi everyone, it's that time for the DOWNunder UPdate Newsletter from Bellaonline. I've been away for the past three weeks, travelling 2,000km in a round trip from Brisbane in Queensland to Mt Kosciusko (Australia's tallest Mountain); where we trekked to the summit, then onto the eastern seaboard where we meandered north, back to Brisbane.
With the wonders of technology, I have been able to continue with my writing and newsletters for the Australia site, and I've got lots to pass onto you following our recent travels. To that end, I will be writing a number of articles that cover my experiences, together with photos and links to interesting stuff that we discovered along the way. I'll keep you posted about those articles through this weekly newsletter.
Last Sunday I posted my first fun Aussie cultural piece – on the wonderful poem titled "The Dying Stockman". We learnt this poem in primary school and it has remained one of my favourites. Here's the link to that article: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art15337.asp
The forum has been very chatty in my absence and please don't think I haven't been interested. I was unable to access the forum whilst I was travelling. I'll be endeavouring to add my say asap. Here's the forum: http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php/forums/315/1/Australia
As usual, here are the links to the three major newspapers in Australia for the latest news and information:
THE NEWS FOR WEEK 21st to 28th MARCH
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/ The Australian
http://afr.com/ The Financial Review
http://www.smh.com.au Sydney Morning Herald
I've been surfing and came across these interesting snippets for your enjoyment. Have fun!
http://news.discovery.com/earth/poisonous-plant-prepared-aussie-lizards-for-toad-terror-120227.html interesting information about our Blue Tongued Lizard
http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-weird-bird-cassowary-image96860 yes, that is an Australian Bird – and the eye is the orange thing, not the black thing – that's its ear!
http://www.australianfauna.com/kookaburra.php We have these majestic birds all around our home, and they even sit on the balcony waiting for some fresh meat.
http://www.google.com.au/imgres?hl=en&rlz=1T4SUNC_enAU363AU363&biw=1148&bih=589&tbm=isch&tbnid=gCuoF1RvdyIKcM:&imgrefurl=http://www.ratestogo.com/blog/weird-and-wacky-signs-around-the-world-part-iii/&docid=qA8zZbuI5wTG5M&imgurl=http://www.ratestogo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/sign29.jpg&w=500&h=356&ei=JqtzT_CpN-aYiAePyenjDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=91&vpy=286&dur=2716&hovh=189&hovw=266&tx=115&ty=90&sig=108386587386453816284&page=3&tbnh=127&tbnw=172&start=43&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:43 only in Australia!!
Well, that's all from me, I do hope this newsletter finds you well and keeping busy.
Cheerio till next week
Judie Bellingham, Australia Editor
One of hundreds of sites at BellaOnline.com


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I AM a Good Neighbor "Housing is one of the most complicated topics that you can fathom." Brad Roos, former Executive Director of Zion Development, notes that discussion, where we live, can be a volatile topic. But Brad believes that ...Read More
Category Archives: #IAmRockford
I AM a Healthy Community "I preach a lot about opportunity and achieving success because I work with a lot of people who don't believe that of themselves and don't have any hope." Said Shelton Kay, Vice-President and Community Relations ...Read More
I AM a Child's Perception "Even when I look at folks helping others, they want to help from a distance." CEO and President of the YMCA here in Rockford; Mike Brown is no stranger to helping others, and with his ...Read More
FATHERS ARE CENTRAL TO THE EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING OF THEIR CHILDREN I AM Fatherhood Fathers are central to the emotional well-being of their children; they are capable caretakers and disciplinarians. A recent study by the National Institute of Child Health and ...Read More
BRIDGING DIVIDES, BUILDING COMMUNITY 'I AM Unbroken Communities.' Rev. Jeffrey Brown was one of the key architects behind the "Boston Miracle," which saw the violent crime rate among youth plummet by 79% over a decade. Today, he works with faith ...Read More
Rockford Housing Authority is pleased to announce that Marcus Hill has joined the organization as the Resident Services Manager. Marcus is a graduate of Rockford University with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and Physical Education. He was previously employed by ...Read More
Rockford Housing Authority is pleased to announce that Ann Johns has joined the organization as the Procurement, Contract and Section 3 Compliance Manager with a strong background in procurement and contracting experience. She is passionate about assisting people and small ...Read More
Community has been at the heart of conversation for centuries. Ancient philosophers debated and discussed different societal factors which they believed to make a good, strong community. Interestingly their conversations have some relevancy with the current climate in Rockford. Do ...Read More
I Am Rockford is a unifying movement that strives to start a constructive discussion about affordable housing in Rockford. The prominent message in I Am Rockford trandscends the people highlighted, to engage the community as a whole. We are advancing ...Read More
Shauna Cain sets an example for public housing residents. She shares a story about the importance of opportunity and education and her own diligence in completing her education. This was her ticket to move up and out of RHA and ...Read More


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Thank you for visiting the website of Next Level Barbershop. Visit our shop today to get a clean and fresh look. We provide haircuts for men and boys of all ages.
Please use the form on this page to email us.
8449 Seneca Turnpike
New Hartford, NY 13413
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Phone: (315) 724-6398
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Digital Radiography is a noninvasive, pain-free procedure that uses waves to examine a pet's internal organs and other structures inside the body. It can be used to evaluate the animal's heart, kidneys, liver, gallbladder, and bladder; to detect fluid, cysts, tumors, or abscesses; and to confirm pregnancy or monitor an ongoing pregnancy.
If you have any questions about our Digital Radiography service or what to expect during your pet's procedure, please don't hesitate to ask.
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The fatal plane crash yesterday in Canterbury was witnessed by glider pilot John McCaw, uncle of All Blacks captain Richie McCaw.
Mr McCaw was at the glider club when the PA28236 Dakota aircraft crashed near Springfield, killing pilot Martin Lowen, 55.
He said he was "not in the headspace'' to talk about the crash today.
"I'm just sort of feeling the effects of today,'' he said.
"I'm quite upset about it. It's not something you'd want to witness.''
His wife Jill posted on her Facebook page that she had been speaking to her husband on the phone when he saw the plane crash.
"John was there and on the phone to me at the time. He and others raced through gorse and shrubbery to try and get to the site and help the pilot, to no avail - as the aircraft was exploding in flames.''
The McCaw family are heavily involved in gliding, and the couple's two sons are also pilots.
Richie McCaw has spoken about his family's long involvement with the sport, with his father and two uncles also flying gliders.
Fire melted the fuselage of the plane, slowing the work of safety investigators from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
CAA spokesman Mike Richards said three investigators were at the scene, but it was too early to say what may have caused the accident.
"There are many many hours of painstaking work sifting through the ash from the wreckage to see if there are any clues that may explain what happened,'' Mr Richards said.
"Our investigators have found it particularly challenging as the fire from the impact has even melted the aluminium fuselage of the aircraft.''
The light plane had been towing a glider with two people on board, which was able to release from the tow and land safely.
Mr Richards said the engine of the plane was mostly intact, and was likely to be sent to a specialist firm in Dunedin to be stripped back to search for a mechanical cause of the accident.
"The team are now taking a detailed photographic record of the site and surrounding area and will also review police photographs and pictures taken by an off-duty TAIC investigator who was in the area yesterday.
"The next step will be interviewing eye-witnesses. The glider that was being towed by the Dakota PA28236 got away safely with both a pilot and instructor on board so they will be important witnesses to this tragic accident.''
Mr Richards said that due to the severe fire and the need for outside technical experts, it may be up to 12 months before the results of the investigation are known.
"However if the CAA identifies anything obvious that may have caused the accident it will alert the aviation community with the utmost urgency.
"Our goal is to learn what can from this accident and help prevent something similar happening again.''
The CAA said no update was yet available on the investigation into a second fatal aviation accident yesterday.
A glider crashed on a property near the Auckland Gliding Club airfield in Drury, South Auckland, killing the sole occupant on board.
The glider which crashed in Drury was seen by Bruce Owen, from Opaheke, who said it disconnected from the tow plane in an unusual place.
Mr Owen posted on Facebook: "We were having a cuppa just before 4.00pm outside on the deck. We were watching a glider being towed into position. It let go at an unusual place and turned back toward the Drury gliderdrome at a steep descent and at quite a fast speed.
"Diana remarked at the speed and wondered if something was wrong. Later we heard that there had been a crash not far from us.''
The CAA said an update will not be available on its investigation until tomorrow.
Police said the dead pilot had not been formally identified and the name was likely to be released tomorrow.
The glider came down on a neighbouring property to Franklin Local Board chairman Andy Baker's home.
Mr Baker said he didn't see the crash but saw the glider's shadow pass over. "My son saw the shadow and said `gee, that glider was close to the house','' he said.
He was alerted to the incident when phoned by a neighbour, and found police and ambulance officers already on the scene when he went to investigate.
Mr Baker said the crash was traumatic for the teenagers who were among the first on the scene.
"There were a lot of young kids around, a lot of teenagers around down there,'' he said.
"It was pretty traumatic for them.''


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When I get interested in something, I tend to obsess. At present, my obsession is anything The Mighty Boosh related. Other things may slip in once in a while, but mainly you will find this site to be fairly single minded, focusing on one subject! I have a tendency to include Boosh stuff into everything I do these days, so instead of including them in my other Blogs, I thought I would deposit them here. This way, I can have my favorite videos, pictures, gifs, etc. all in one place!
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Rhod Gilbert's first day on the job - Never Mind the Buzzcocks
I really thought I had posted this, but it's back-logged in my queue and the day is almost over, so I'm posting it now. So there!
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I have just purchased a second agent on my go to assist subscription and I attempted to go to the manage user page but it is saying I dont have access to the admin section. Any ideas?
@JL5 My apologies if there was any issue during your upgrade. I have made a change that should grant you Administrator access if this right was not given before. Please check your account again.
Hi AshC,
Thank you for your assistance, I have checked my account again and I am still being given the same message that I do not have permissions.
@JL5 Hi Jamie,
We're filing a ticket for you now. Should be less than 24 hours to fix...
Thanks for your patience.


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The company, which runs e-commerce platform Infibeam. com, would focus more on creating an ITeS-enabled ecosystem for virtual retail using .OOO domain and BuildaBazaar marketplace.
Infibeam is not operating to develop just one site (Infibeam. com) and instead seeks to create a synergistic ecosystem for retail including platform through BuildaBazaar marketplace, the company founded by former Amazon executive Vishal Mehta had said earlier. Infibeam.com was in fact a prototype of broader things that could possibly be achieved through cloud-service.
The company on June 30 had filed the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with Sebi for a public issue of its equity shares. Among other things, Infibeam would utilise the IPO proceeds to set up a cloud data centre and shift its registered corporate office to a new office in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT), Gandhinagar.
The technologically advanced data centres will enable the company exercise increased control over proprietary technology and customer information, better manage customer and market analytics, ensure superior confidentiality and security protection and also provide disaster recovery support infrastructure.
Infibeam plans to set up a tier III data centre comprising a single, non-redundant distribution path serving IT equipment, multiple independent distribution paths serving the IT equipment that is dual powered and fully compatible with the topology of a site's architecture, and concurrently maintainable site infrastructure with high standards of reliability and availability.
The BuildaBazaar marketplace platform launched in 2011-12 has 33, 489 registered merchants as of March 31, 2015 which may include startups, SMEs and various brands on board.
Unlike the past when web-developers would host retailers online, the BuildaBazaar platform enabled sellers to go online with a registered domain name, store and design, website hosting and customer service which gives them freedom to host products, services and to stream content online.


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| 9.1°C Dublin
EUROPEAN Union negotiators gathered on Monday for talks to finalise reforms of the bloc's €50bn euro-a-year farm policy that could remove almost half of the subsidies now given to some of its largest grain and livestock producers.
Many of the proposals are meant to make the 50-year-old common agricultural policy (CAP) more fair and environmentally friendly, to justify the huge sums paid to farmers each year.
But critics say EU politicians plan to reverse some of the progress made in previous CAP reforms and the proposals could harm Europe's food security.
Representatives from EU governments, the European Parliament and the European Commission will hold two days of talks in Luxembourg to agree the likely shape of the reform, before reconvening in Brussels on Wednesday to seek a final deal.
Some of the toughest issues in the reform were agreed by EU leaders in February, including the overall size of the farm budget and the share each country will receive.
Agriculture will consume nearly 40pc of the bloc's €960bn budget for 2014-2020 - the period covered by the reform - ensuring it remains the biggest single item of EU expenditure.
Europe's biggest agricultural producer, France, will continue to scoop the largest share of CAP funds at around €8bn a year, followed by Spain and Germany each with about €6bn annually.
But there are many areas where governments and the other EU institutions have yet to reach an accord.
Some governments want to water down moves to harmonise subsidy payments based on the current size of holdings, rather than on historical production levels as at present.
The present system disproportionately benefits those who in the years 2000-2002 had the largest output, for example industrial-scale grain producers in France's Paris basin.
The change could see the subsidies paid to some of Europe's biggest grain and livestock farmers cut by up to 40pc, EU officials said.
"This is a major issue for some governments. You're talking about taking money away from some farmers and giving it to others, which politically is very sensitive," said one EU official involved in the talks.
As a result, France is leading a push to let governments continue linking up to 13pc of total subsidies to output, which some opponents say goes against the spirit of recent reforms.
Governments oppose a mandatory cap on annual payments to individual farms of €300,000, which would also see the biggest and most efficient producers lose out. The limit is backed by the European Parliament and the Commission.
There is disagreement over the deadline for abolishing EU sugar production quotas, blamed for pushing up domestic prices and limiting European sugar exports due to global trade rules.
The Commission proposed an end to quotas in 2015, while governments would prefer 2017 and the parliament 2020. EU officials involved in the talks say a compromise of 2017 or 2018 is the most likely outcome, depending on the precise conditions.
All three institutions have agreed that 30pc of future direct subsidies should be conditional on farmers taking steps to improve their environmental performance. But they disagree on the precise measures and sanctions for non-compliance.
Governments and MEPs want to weaken the Commission's proposal that farmers should leave 7pc of their land fallow. Farm groups have warned that the move could hit Europe's food production.
Farmers that don't comply should only lose the 30pc of payments linked to the new measures, the parliament has said. But governments and the Commission say that would effectively make the rules optional, and have argued for tougher sanctions.
If the negotiators strike a deal on Wednesday as expected, it must be rubber-stamped by the full parliament and EU governments before entering force on Jan. 1 next year