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Home » News » Vatican ‘New’ human rights at risk of becoming source of ‘self-serving ideologies,’ cautions archbishop Vatican City, Dec 17, 2008 / 10:30 am (CNA).- Today an address by Archbishop Silvano Tomasi was published in which he discusses the risks involved while searching for ‘new’ human rights. The prelate affirms that "when a breach is caused between what is claimed and what is real through the search of so-called 'new' human rights, a risk emerges to reinterpret the accepted human rights vocabulary to promote mere desires and measures that, in turn, become a source of discrimination and injustice and the fruit of self-serving ideologies." Archbishop Tomasi, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the Office of the United Nations and Specialized Institutions in Geneva, continues his address on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by noting that this anniversary of the Declaration, "leads us also to reflect on its implementation." "In a world of too many hungry people, too many violent conflicts, too many persons persecuted for their beliefs,” he continues, “there remains a long road to walk and the duty to eliminate every discrimination so that all persons can enjoy their inherent equal dignity." The prelate then encourages the U.N. and its specialized agencies "to faithfully translate the principles of the Declaration into action by supporting States in the adoption of effective policies truly focused on the rights and sense of responsibility of everyone." "Every human being,” he went on, "has the right to an integral development and 'the sacred right' to live in peace.” Human rights are not solely the “entitlement to privileges,” but are “rather the expression and the fruit of what is noblest in the human spirit: dignity, aspiration to freedom and justice, search for what is good, and the practice of solidarity.” “In the light of the tragic experiences of the past and of today,” he concludes, “the human family can unite around these values and essential principles, as a duty toward the weakest and needier and toward future generations." Read next » Pray without ceasing – not just when you want to, Pope says

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N. Korean Refugees Risk Lives to Spread Gospel - World - CBN News - Christian News 24-7 - CBN.com N. Korean Refugees Risk Lives to Spread Gospel CBNNews.com Friday, December 03, 2010 Every year, thousands of North Koreans flee to China in a dangerous bid for freedom. Some of them come to faith in Christ. Incredibly, some decide to go back to North Korea to spread the gospel Refugee Tae escaped North Korea twice. The first time, Chinese authorities sent him back. He was imprisoned and his wife was forced to divorce him. "I lost my identity as a citizen of North Korea, I was considered to have rejected my country and my parents after I left North Korea," he said. "I was not considered a human and was called by a number in prison." But it was there in prison that Tae came to faith in Christ. That was a worse offense: worshipping Christ over worshipping the state, the government and the Kim family. Tae escaped again and made his way to South Korea. Fourteen years later, he wants to go back. He has enrolled in Seoul's Underground University, a ministry of Seoul USA and the Voice of the Martyrs Canada. "It's important to do missionary work and send food and do humanitarian acts in North Korea, but it's also important to prepare North Korean defectors to be able to be trained and equipped in the Gospel to go back there," Tae said. "It's also important to pray for our families in North Korea." Peck, another North Korea refugee, is a fellow student at Underground University. She was a city politician in North Korea near the Chinese border where she witnessed a time of massive starvation. "There was trouble with the food, up to 80 people were dying every day in the city," Peck said. "There was no freedom. When Kim Il Sung died, people began to have thoughts that this dictatorship would not work." Peck decided to escape and made her way to South Korea where she started going to church. At first just to receive material help like food. But after five years of hearing sermons and reading the Bible, she came to faith in Jesus Christ. "I know the truth about God, and I want to explain it to others in North Korea," Peck explained. "I have been through the systems and I know it will be difficult for them as it was for me to know Christ because of the brainwashing by the authorities. But I can share because I have been through it." A wall blocks what is known as "the freedom bridge" between the two countries. People leave messages for those they care about on the other side of the wall. They hope that someday all Koreans will be united. On the north side of the border, another refugee, Jung, (pronounce "Jong") began to wonder why his government tried so hard to control and oppress Christianity. He witnessed the public execution of three Christians who smuggled bibles into the country. "There was one woman and two men. The men were about 22 or 23 years old," Jung said. Watching the executions increased his spiritual hunger. "The public executions actually made me want to know more about Christ and the Bible," he said. "I thought there must be something behind it because the authorities are killing people who have the Bible and know God." After four years in South Korea, Jung wants to return and evangelize his own people. Through the classes and "Tortured for Christ," I learned that the Christian life is not easy, there is suffering and hard times, there are martyrs for Christ," he said. "I've learned how to live as a Christian and how to die as a Christian." Matt DuBois, assistant dean at the Underground University helps train North Korean exiles. "It's very exciting to see what God has raised up with these students," DuBois said. "They understand that sharing the Gospel and Christ and accepting Christ into your life doesn't make things better in North Korea, but worse; you are persecuted for being a Christian." The one-year curriculum at Underground University includes the biblical theology of persecution and discipleship. Their training is practical as well. Students take a three-day wilderness hike to learn team building, conflict resolution, and leadership skills. TAE: "I learned about teamwork, and that I wasn't here by myself. I have team members," Tae said. "Throughout the training, I thought about Jesus Christ and how we are the Body of Christ, we have to function together." "If we don't work together, we would be handicapped and wouldn't be one body," he continued. "This training helped me to cooperate with others." After their year of studies at the university, these students expect to head back north, not knowing whether they will return or not. But they say they are willing to sacrifice their lives to help bring spiritual freedom to their countrymen who may never have a chance to escape the hermit kingdom. Related Links: Underground University Seoul USA Voice of the Martyrs Canada

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CBS/AP FAA lifts ban on U.S. airlines flying into and out of Israel Passengers walk toward check-in area at Ben Gurion International airport in Tel Aviv on uly 22, 2014 Last Updated Jul 24, 2014 8:32 AM EDT WASHINGTON -- The Federal Aviation Administration lifted its ban Wednesday on U.S. flights in and out of Israel, which the agency had imposed out of concern for the risk of planes being hit by Hamas rockets.The decision was effective at 11:45 p.m. EDT."Before making this decision, the FAA worked with its U.S. government counterparts to assess the security situation in Israel and carefully reviewed both significant new information and measures the government of Israel is taking to mitigate potential risks to civil aviation," the FAA said. "The agency will continue to closely monitor the very fluid situation around Ben Gurion Airport and will take additional actions as necessary."The FAA said its prohibition was in response to a rocket strike that landed about a mile from the airport as hostilities between Israel and Hamas militants raged on, with hundreds of Palestinians and dozens of Israelis killed in intense fighting. It also came after a Malaysian jetliner was shot down over Ukraine where pro-Russia separatists have been battling government forces. Rebels shot down two Ukrainian fighter jets on Wednesday.The directive, which was extended Wednesday for 24 hours, applied only to U.S. carriers. The FAA has no authority over foreign airlines operating in Israel.Correspondent Don Dahler told "CBS This Morning" it's not clear how many U.S. carriers will resume flying to Israel. Normally, 400-500 flights arrive and depart daily from Ben Gurion International Airport. Yesterday, there were only 200, with roughly half the number of passengers as on a typical day.Twenty-five airlines had cancelled flights to Tel Aviv.Delta Air Lines, which diverted a jumbo jet away from Tel Aviv before Tuesday's ban by the FAA, will not necessarily resume flights to Israel even if U.S. authorities declare the area safe, the airline's CEO said before the FAA lifted the ban.CEO Richard Anderson said Delta would of course obey FAA orders but would continue to make its own decisions about safety."We appreciate the advice and consent and the intelligence we get, but we have a duty and an obligation above and beyond that to independently make the right decisions for our employees and passengers," Anderson said on a conference call with reporters. "Even if they lift" the prohibition on flying in and out of Ben Gurion Airport, "we still may not go in depending on what the facts and circumstances are."Anderson declined to discuss specifically how the airline would make the decision to resume the flights and spoke only in general terms. He said the airline decides whether flights are safe to operate "on an independent basis, so we will evaluate the information we have and we will make the judgment that our passengers and employees rely on us to make for them every day."The ban angered many Israelis, who say the unguided rocket that destroyed a home near the airport was just a lucky shot. But Hamas declared the FAA's decision to ban American flights a victory.Amos Yandlin, Israel's former head of military intelligence, agrees. "Unfortunately, I think it's a victory," he told CBS News. "But as I always emphasize . . . it's not a big victory. We can deal with it."To tell you the truth, I was surprised that it wasn't done before. [But] the fact that the 'Iron Dome' was so effective enabled them to continue with the flights."The ban was criticized by Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who questioned whether President Obama used a federal agency to impose what he characterized as an economic boycott on Israel.State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf rejected Cruz's comments as "ridiculous and offensive.""The facts suggest that President Obama has just used a federal regulatory agency to launch an economic boycott on Israel, in order to try to force our ally to comply with his foreign-policy demands," Cruz said in a statement in which he posed five questions about the agency's actions, including whether it was politically motivated. Cruz said later Wednesday he would block Senate confirmation on all State Department nominees until his questions were answered.Harf said, "There's no place for these kinds of political stunts in confirming nominees for critical national security positions."The CEO of Middle East carrier Emirates said after the shoot-down in Ukraine of a Malaysia Airlines jet last week that global airlines need better risk-assessment from international aviation authorities. Delta, however, seems more inclined to go it alone.Cruz said tourism is an $11 billion industry for Israel and the flight ban could be a crippling blow. Long before the flight prohibition, the fighting could have affected tourism in Israel.Harf, the State Department spokeswoman, said the FAA makes its "decision based solely on the security and safety of American citizens, period."Catherine Frazier, a spokeswoman for Cruz, said the Obama administration's foreign policy was itself "ridiculous and offensive."In a statement, the powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which holds considerable sway with Congress, expressed concerns with the FAA ban and urged a review of the policy.AIPAC said Israel has been subjected to hundreds of rockets the past two weeks and air travel has been safe and uninterrupted."The American people have shown in this difficult moment that they stand strongly with our democratic ally," AIPAC said. "Now is not the time to send the entirely wrong message with a ban on flights to Israel.""We have a broad and deep security network around the world," Anderson said. "We have security directors that work for Delta in all the regions of the world, and we have a very sophisticated capability and methodology to manage these kinds of risks, whether it's this or a volcano or a hurricane." © 2014 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Second Lowndes deputy released from hospital Lt. Larry Swearingen Sarah Fowler March 28, 2014 10:55:29 AM The second Lowndes County Sheriff's Department deputy injured in a shooting last week has been released from the hospital. Lt. Larry Swearingen was released Thursday from Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle, according to Chief Deputy Marc Miley. Lt. Clint Sims, who was also injured in the shooting, was released earlier this week. Sims and Swearingen suffered gunshot wounds last Tuesday when Kenneth "Kent" Coscia, 30, allegedly shot at them from behind the closed door of his New Hope home on Drake Circle. Sims and Swearingen were part of the department's Special Response Team that responded to Coscia's home for a welfare check. SRT was involved in the welfare check because deputies knew Coscia was armed, according to department officials. Sims was shot in the leg and Swearingen was shot in the stomach, according to Miley. Deputy Scott Glasgow also sustained injuries during the incident, Miley said. Coscia was arrested on scene. He was charged with three counts of aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer and one charge of shooting into an occupied dwelling. He received a bond of $3,050,000. He is currently in the custody of the Monroe County Detention Center in solitary confinement, according to Monroe County Sheriff Cecil Cantrell. According to Cantrell, Coscia does not yet have an attorney. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is handling the case. A benefit fund has been set up for the officers at local Cadence banks. Donations are also being accepted at the sheriff's department. Miley said he is thankful to the community for rallying around the department during such a difficult time. "I just appreciate all of the community for the officers and all of the prayers that have been lifted up for them and the department," he said. Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.

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Older Americans nix changes Poll reveals any change unwelcome By MATT SEDENSKY Published: November 3, 2013; Last modified: November 4, 2013 05:00AM CHICAGO — Raise the age at which you can begin collecting full Social Security benefits? Older Americans say no. They also veto reductions in the cost-of-living increase. But a poll finds support among those 50 and older for raising the cap on earnings that are taxed to fund the Social Security program so higher-income workers pay more. The survey by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds passionate opposition to any change in the way Social Security benefits are calculated that could result in smaller annual raises. The poll found that 62 percent of respondents expressed opposition to such a proposal, compared with 21 percent who supported it. Advertisement The chained CPI, or consumer price index, has been proposed as a new way of calculating the cost-of-living adjustment, but it would reduce raises. “I really think it’s a sacred cow,” said Margie Nugent, a 55-year-old farmer from North Umberland, Pa. “They shouldn’t touch it.” About the same number, 58 percent, oppose gradually raising the age when retirees qualify for full benefits, while 29 percent support it. About one-third believe people should be eligible for full benefits before 65. Only 10 percent say full eligibility should come after 67, the top eligibility age under current law. “I contributed to it. It’s my money,” said Joan McDonald, 65, of Annapolis, Md., who retired as an accountant this year and began collecting Social Security. “The plan was, ‘Contribute this and you get this.’ You can’t change the rules.” Survey respondents showed more willingness to support Social Security proposals that would mostly impact those with higher incomes. Forty-one percent expressed support for reducing benefits for seniors with higher incomes, compared with 44 percent who opposed. Whites were much more supportive of reducing benefits for high-earning seniors than minorities. Changes to Social Security are on the horizon because the trust funds that support the massive program are projected to run dry in 2033. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.

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Your browser does not support iframes. Read a digital copy of the latest edition of The Central Kentucky News-Journal online. Today's Opinions Uniting to help the environment What with all the bad news these days - from the Middle East (ISIS) to the NFL (spousal abuse) - it's nice to hear some good news. This one comes from Mother Nature herself in cooperation with some people intent on helping her. It seems the ozone layer is getting better. NFL has serious issues off the field There are more than a few NFL fans among us here in Taylor County. Many gather around the TV on Sundays, as well as Thursdays and Mondays, to watch professional football. But with the recent behavior of some NFL players, the viewing habits of some people could change, and you couldn't blame them. Voters lose when candidates feud A campaign bus that doesn't have the proper permits to carry passengers. A campaign manager who resigned because of rumors he might be connected to an improper donation in Iowa last year. These are the topics it seems the campaigns for both sides of the U.S. Senate seat in Kentucky want to talk about. Of course, the candidates don't want to talk about their own campaign problems. They want to talk about their opponent's. Controlling our rage The driver cut in front of me, honking his horn while sticking his middle finger out his car window, pointing it in my direction. "What's he so mad about?" I remember asking myself. I had apparently failed to move fast enough when the light for the right-turn lane signaled green. That wasn't the first time someone had so visibly disapproved of my driving. I admit I'm not NASCAR driving material. I once had a friend tell me that driving with me was like being a passenger with Mr. Magoo at the wheel. Emotions from 9/11 emerge years later President George W. Bush considered it the Pearl Harbor of the 21st century. Ask someone where they were during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and they can tell you without having to stop and think about it. From the first words they heard about the attacks to who they held hands with during a moment of silence, most Americans can remember every vivid detail from that awful day. My story is a bit different - in fact at times I have felt uncomfortable sharing it. McConnell, Grimes face tough questions in first debate After 30 years in Washington, U.S. Senate candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes says she no longer believes Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is the best candidate for Kentucky's farmers. "Never has a senator been paid so much for doing so little for the people in Kentucky," Grimes said at Kentucky Farm Bureau's "Measure the Candidates" forum, at the group's headquarters in Louisville on Wednesday. An outpouring of love In the past few days, I've seen an outpouring of love, kindness and compassion. And it's wonderful to see. But I expected nothing less. If anyone needed proof that the Taylor County community is made up of some great people, they only need to read a story on the front page of today's issue. Various fundraisers have begun to help Tony Grider and Alex Quinn - and their fellow EMS, firefighter, dispatch and law enforcement co-workers. Usually it's these people who are there for us when we need help. Well now, we get to return that favor. Reif says animal shelter doing things right This letter is in response to an email sent to the members of the Taylor County SPCA and to all animal lovers in Taylor County.

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Cleveland house goes from wreck to rejuvenating space: Full House (video and slideshow) Xavier Allen talks about rehabbing Fuller Avenue home (video) Xavier Allen, president of Axle Development, Inc., believes that a home should be a refuge that reenergizes and restores the people inside. He also believes in Cleveland. His company just finished a rehab of a Fuller Avenue house that will become the first home owned by the Woods family. Print Julie Washington, The Plain Dealer Aspiring real estate developer Sean Xavier Allen believes that a home is more than bricks and mortar. It’s a haven that relaxes and rejuvenates, a retreat that beckons at day’s end. Axle Development Inc., the construction company that he founded with his brother Eric Lassiter, is committed to strengthening the correlation between the homes where people live and their way of seeing the world. That mission got a real-world test when Axle Development tackled the renovation of a mid-century home in Cleveland’s Kinsman/Union neighborhood. The place had been abandoned for so long, no one had a key to front door to give to Allen. He and his crew had to shimmy underneath the sagging front porch – disturbing a family of feral cats nesting there -- and enter the house through a basement window. Inside, the home was definitely reflective of an earlier era. There was pink and black tile in the bathroom. A fireplace gobbled up space in the living room and kitchen. The first floor was chopped up into tiny rooms, each reached by a door opening into a hallway. The layout was awkward and wasted space, he recalled. “As is typical, the home had hidden damage, obsolete materials and techniques, and a fair share of DIY special surprises,” Allen wrote in an email inviting me to tour the finished project. “It was also an energy hog and poorly designed for the way modern families live. We have addressed each of these issues.” When I met Allen, Lassiter and master carpenter Shedrick “Rock” Kye at the Fuller home, it was hard to imagine this comfortable, snug home as a wreck that had to be taken down to the studs and completely renovated. Believe it, said new owners John and Marcella Woods. The family was able to buy the home at a reduced price, and it will be the first home they have ever owned. The couple wanted to meet me so that they could add their voices to the home’s story. As we stood in the empty but light-filled caramel-carpeted living room, Marcella recalled that a friend told her that the Burten, Bell, Carr Development, Inc. community development agency had spearheaded the house’s rehab project and would offer it for sale. So, how bad was the house when they first saw it? “It was horrible,” John and Marcella said in unison. John couldn’t believe that Marcella was considering a house with a caved-in porch roof. “Keep an open mind,” she urged. They were intrigued to learn about Allen’s plan to redesign the floor plan and take it from two bedrooms to three. The couple visited every two weeks during construction and Allen explained to them what was being done. “I know what’s inside my walls,” Marcella said. “You can’t ask for anything better.” The couple expects the sale to be completed soon, but declined to say what they paid for it. This first home comes with important lessons that Marcella and John want to impart to their daughters. “We work hard to get what we want,” Marcella said. “They know it’s going to be ours.” The Fuller house rehab is part of Burten, Bell, Carr Development Inc.’s push to revitalize the housing stock in the Kinsman/Union neighborhood, said executive director Tim Tramble. The organization paid less than $1,000 to buy the foreclosed home, but it took several years for the organization to raise the money to begin renovations. A $120,000 federal grant allowed Burten, Bell, Carr to begin searching for a contractor. Allen put in a bid. “He was young, he was energetic, he was excited,” Tramble recalled. Allen’s track record of hiring Clevelanders was a plus. “His company was a reflection of the community, and that matters to the community,” Tramble said. Allen was awarded the contract in 2011 based on an $80,000 bid, but the project stalled for several months. He blamed bureaucratic delays; Tramble said that Allen ran into financial problems. When work started in early 2013, the budget continued to climb. Allen pointed to the rising cost of materials, the discovery of extra structural damage and the need to heat the home over the winter as reasons why the budget topped out at $120,000. The home now has a new roof, new siding and better insulation. Allen felt it was important to spend money on things he knew that homeowners don’t want to address, such as plumbing, electrical and insulation. “When you do it right, you don’t have to keep spending,” he said. The brothers found that their work styles meshed well. Lassiter was the site manager tasked with making the subcontractors work together and keeping his brother Allen, the visionary, grounded. (“I get caught up in the details,” Allen admitted.) Kye the carpenter did expert finishing work; he’s proud of how he made a set of cabinets found on Craig’s List look as if they were custom designed for this kitchen. Despite the problems, Tramble praised Allen for sticking with the project. “We’re happy with the way the house turned out,” Tramble said. Now the living, dining and kitchen flow together to create one large space. Allen achieved this feeling by eliminating the central hallway. He got rid of a large picture window in the living room, giving the residents two solid walls for putting furniture against. He also tore out that ugly fireplace in the living room. “It was a big albatross,” Allen said. “I love fireplaces but it wasn’t worth saving.” In the kitchen, multiple overhead lights eliminate shadows, making the kitchen a safer place to wield a knife. A programmable thermostat, energy-efficient spray-foam insulation and windows that keep out heat and cold air were part of the company’s green building efforts. Allen put glass block in a bathroom wall to allow natural light to reach the shower; on sunny days there’s no need to flick on a light. Allen knew that the Woods intend to stay in their new house for years. So he created a first-floor bedroom, and made sure all doors and hallways are wide enough for a walker or wheelchair. On the second floor, Allen divided up the formerly open space to create an area where the Woods’ two daughters can hang out with friends away from the adults. A useless attic is now valuable living space with an extra bathroom, two big bedrooms and two nooks. The Fuller Avenue project is part of the brothers’ longstanding goal of becoming real estate developers. They grew up in Euclid and pursued degrees at Cleveland State University (Lassiter) and Ohio State University and the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University (Allen). The pair read books on finance to prepare for a foray into real estate, and in 2003 bought a four-unit apartment building. “No one told us it was condemned,” Allen said. Without a security system, the building was an easy target for copper thieves. Despite the setback, they were able to complete repairs and rent it. They want to continue to renovate abandoned Cleveland properties to provide energy efficient, affordable and well-designed homes to working-class families. “We want to remake how people live in Cleveland,” Allen said “You can have a quality home life regardless of your economic station.” Homes Features Full House: Julie Washington on Homes PDIY: Do-it-yourself tips Ask Dog Lady Show off your coloring book masterpieces Can resist coloring in our cardinal in flight? Post a photo of your completed artwork Grown-up coloring books are latest hot sellers Upload your artwork now

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Facebook exec's new book urges women to 'lean in' By BARBARA ORTUTAY | March 7, 2013 | 11:29 AM EST FILE - In this Thursday, April 7, 2011, file photo, Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook's chief operating officer, speaks at a luncheon for the American Society of News Editors in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File) NEW YORK (AP) — For a book that has yet to be released, Sheryl Sandberg's "Lean In" — part feminist manifesto, part how-to career guide — has got a lot of people talking. In the weeks leading up to the book's March 11 release, pundits and press hounds have been debating its merits. New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd called Sandberg a "PowerPoint Pied Piper in Prada ankle boots," and countless bloggers have suggested that Facebook's chief operating officer is the wrong person to lead a women's movement. "Most of the criticism has to do with the position she is coming from," said Susan Yohn, professor and chair of Hofstra University's history department. Sandberg, 43, hopes that her message of empowerment won't be obscured by the lofty pedestal from which she speaks. But is the multi-millionaire with two Harvard degrees too rich to offer advice? Too successful? Does her blueprint for success ignore the plight of poor and working-class women? Does the book's very premise blame women for not rising to top corporate positions at the same rate as men? And just how big is her house? The questions keep coming largely because few people have actually read the book. But in it, Sandberg seems to have foreseen much of the criticism. The book acknowledges that critics might discount her feminist call to action with an easy-for-her-to-say shrug. "My hope is that my message will be judged on its merits," she writes in the preamble. Sandberg recognizes that parts of the book are targeted toward women who are in a position to make decisions about their careers. Still, she writes, "we can't avoid this conversation. This issue transcends all of us. The time is long overdue to encourage more women to dream the possible dream and encourage more men to support women in the workforce and in the home." Published by Alfred A. Knopf Inc., "Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead" will be launched Thursday with a reception in New York City hosted by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Arianna Huffington. It's true that Sandberg is wealthy. She also has a supportive husband. Mark Zuckerberg is her boss. And, yes, her home is a 9,000 square-foot mansion in Menlo Park, Calif. But as a woman in Silicon Valley, Sandberg hasn't exactly had it easy, and her tale shows she's no armchair activist. After all, not many women would march into their boss' office and demand special parking for expectant mothers. But Sandberg did just that when she worked at Google. Company founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin complied. After Sandberg moved to Facebook in 2008, she became even more outspoken on the issues facing women in corporate America. At a time when other executives, male or female, have largely stayed quiet, Sandberg has delivered speeches on topics such as "Why we have too few women leaders." And she's no workaholic. In an age of endless work hours, Sandberg is famous for leaving the office at 5:30 to spend time with her family. She does admit, however, to picking up work once her kids have gone to bed. Of the many inspirational slogans that hang on Facebook's walls, her favorite asks "What would you do if you weren't afraid?" ''Lean In" is about pushing past fear. "Fear is at the root of so many of the barriers that women face," she writes. "Fear of not being liked. Fear of making the wrong choice. Fear of drawing negative attention. Fear of overreaching. Fear of being judged. Fear of failure. And the holy trinity of fear: the fear of being a bad mother/wife/daughter." Sandberg peppers the book with studies, reports and personal anecdotes to back up her premise — that for reasons both in and out of their control, there are fewer woman leaders than men in the business world and beyond. For example, the Fortune 500 has only 21 female CEOs. Sandberg is among the 14 percent of women who hold executive officer positions and the 16 percent of women who hold board of director seats, according to Catalyst.org. For minority women, the numbers are even bleaker. Women of color, she writes, hold just 4 percent of top corporate jobs and 3 percent of board seats. "A truly equal world would be one where women ran half our countries and companies and men ran half our homes. I believe that this would be a better world," she writes. "The laws of economics and many studies of diversity tell us that if we tapped the entire pool of human resources and talent, our collective performance would improve." At less than 200 pages, plus a good chunk of footnotes, "Lean In" does not purport to be the end-all solution to inequality. It deals with issues Sandberg sees as in women's control. "Don't leave before you leave" is one of her catchphrases, aimed at successful women who gradually drop out of the workforce in anticipation of children they may someday bear. "Make your partner a real partner" is another. She says everyone should encourage men to "lean in" at home by being equal partners in parenting and housework. "Lean In" is, by and large, for women who are looking to climb the corporate ladder (which Sandberg calls a jungle gym), and ideally their male supporters. She hopes it's the start of a conversation. To that end, Sandberg plans to donate all of the proceeds to her newly minted nonprofit, LeanIn.org. Sandberg's book shares personal details that reveal a fair share of stumbles and lesser-known tidbits. Did you know she was an aerobics instructor in the 1980s —big hair, silver leotard and all? The book paints a picture of an exceptionally successful woman who admits to lacking confidence at various points in her career. Sandberg writes about the "ambition gap" between men and women in the workplace — that while men are expected to be driven, ambition in women can be seen as negative. She writes about parents' gender-based approaches to child rearing that teach girls to be "pretty like mommy" and boys "smart like daddy," as she's seen on baby onesies sold at Gymboree. And she writes about "feeling like a fraud" — that insidious notion, felt largely by women but men as well, that success is due not to one's own merit but to some sort of gross oversight or accident. Sandberg's book comes half a century after Betty Friedan's "The Feminine Mystique," which identified "the problem that has no name" among largely white, suburban housewives who felt unhappy and unfulfilled in their roles at home. Friedan, too, was criticized for focusing on a privileged swath of womankind. "Lean In" is a call to action to make it easier for women to become leaders. It's a call for women to take space at the table, raise their hands, speak up and step up. It's a personal account of a woman who, through a mix of talent, luck and ambition, but also with plenty of internal and external obstacles along the way, managed to do that. Feminist icon Gloria Steinem, whom Sandberg thanks in the acknowledgements and cites as inspiration, praises "Lean In" on her Facebook page, saying that it "addresses internalized oppression, opposes external barriers that create it and urges women to support each other to fight both." She adds that even the book's critics "are making a deep if inadvertent point: Only in women is success viewed as a barrier to giving advice." Follow Barbara Ortutay on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BarbaraOrtutay Lean In the nonprofit: www.LeanIn.Org and facebook.com/leaninorg Video of Sheryl Sandberg's 2010 TED talk that is the basis of her book: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18uDutylDa4 Printer-friendly version

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* Sri Lanka Marxist party demands the government to resolve the health crisis Tue, May 6, 2014, 10:21 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka. May 06, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Marxist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said the issues in the health sector have escalated into crises due to the sluggishness of the government and demanded the government to take immediate measures to solve the crisis. The party in a statement to the press said a serious crisis situation has developed within the health sector due to certain issues relevant to the health service and the trade union action resulted from these issues has unavoidably brought suffering to a large number of patients as they were made to suffer due to the idiotic decisions of the authorities. "What should be stressed here is that the sluggishness of the government and the idiotic decisions by the administration has escalated the issue into a crisis," the JVP said. The nurses' trade unions in Sri Lanka launched an island wide strike last Thursday demanding the government to provide midwifery training to nurses. However, the country's state sector doctors and the midwives vehemently oppose training nurses to carry out midwifery duties. The JVP however, blamed the government for its inaction and its failure to take the responsibility to resolve the crisis and allowing patients to suffer severely. "The government has allowed the rivalry between various professionals, not only in the health sector but also in all other state sectors, to develop so that a person may come to believe that it is the administrative process of the government," the JVP said. The party condemned the government's policy and demanded the government to take immediate measures to solve the crisis. ColomboPage - Recent 10 Stories

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A hero at home -A A +A Columbine grad returns from Afghanistan to save people at party By Emile Hallez Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 5:38 pm (Updated: June 8, 2:27 pm) JCEA awards Excellence Fund scholarship Chatfield grads cherish their memories, look to the future That’s a wrap for Reed School district, teachers union reach contract agreement Superintendent: Options exist for addressing facilities needs Developer outlines plans for homes in Deer Creek-Ken Caryl area First section of Peaks to Plains Trail to open in July Jury convicts Littleton man in slaying of common-law wife more An enlightening experience in the dark AEDs helping hearts beat the odds Chatfield High winter guard places second at state championships Prom kings, queens find royal threads Belmar Library hosts annual Prom Swap A week of life is missing from Marcus Uribe’s memory.Matthew JonasScars are visible on U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Marcus Uribe's head, caused by an incident in Texas. Uribe pushed friends out of the path of a truck but was run over himself.Buy this photoMatthew JonasScars are visible on U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Marcus Uribe's head, caused by an incident in Texas. Uribe pushed friends out of the path of a truck but was run over himself.Buy this photo The Columbine High School graduate awoke last November in a hospital bed at the University of Texas, a machine controlling his breathing via a tube in his throat. The Marine, burly from a weight-training regimen, struggled to free himself upon regaining consciousness, an early show of hope that he might recover from the brain injury he sustained when he was run over by a speeding truck days before. He was a hero — or so people tell him. With no recollection, Marcus has only others’ accounts of the incident, including an apparent flash decision on his part to jeopardize his own life to potentially save others. Shortly after returning home from seven months in Helmand Province in Afghanistan, where the 22-year-old, a former tight end on Columbine’s state championship football team, drove large supply trucks, he made a trip to Texas. “I went down to meet with some buddies. When we were in Afghanistan, we always planned on going and getting a beach house down where they live in Surfside, Texas,” he said. At a party, a group of unwelcome guests arrived, apparently causing trouble. “When they showed up, they were being disrespectful to my friend’s mother. They weren’t welcome there, and so they ended up getting kicked out,” he said. “They didn’t like that.” One of the men got into his truck. Rather than leaving, he allegedly began running down party guests in front of the house. As the truck approached, witnesses said, Marcus began pushing people out of its path. The vehicle narrowly missed a friend, but Marcus, then on the ground, did not have time to get out of the way. Four people, including Marcus, were hit before the driver allegedly sped away. “I fell from pushing him and almost immediately got run over,” he said, relaying his friends’ accounts. “That day to about a week after, I don’t recall anything.” But for his parents, South Jeffco residents Jeff and Katie Uribe, the memory of that day remains vivid. Their nightmare began in the early hours of Oct. 30, with a phone call from police. “I always tell people the story by starting out that on Oct. 30 at 3 a.m. … Katie’s phone and my cell phone rang at the same time. And we both sat up in bed and went, ‘Oh, no,’ ” Jeff said. “The experience was pretty traumatic I think for everybody, because initially, the tone that the responding officer took was, ‘You need to get here, immediately.’ I don’t think that she believed he was going to make it.” Hours later, the two were on a plane, anxious to learn of their eldest son’s fate. At first, the news seemed grim. Among other injuries, Marcus suffered a fractured skull and a brain hemorrhage. “What I’m concerned about is ultimately what happens with the rest of his life. Because we’ve seen the MRI,” Jeff said. “He’s got black spots all over his brain.” The black spots indicate areas where neurons no longer connect — diffuse patches that may never regenerate. But with the brain’s ability to delegate viable cells to take over the lost functions, Marcus has hope. “It’s not so much the long-term memory. It’s more the short-term memory. … I can sometimes remember stuff from yesterday, but most of the time it’s like, ‘What’d we talk about 10 minutes ago? I don’t know,” he said. “Processing, thinking about what I’m going to say, it’s gotten better, but the headaches and my back hurt every day. … I’m just thankful to be alive.” After his initial treatment, Marcus spent two months in a rehabilitation program at Craig Hospital in Englewood. Doctors have said he could recover within a year, though that is too long for Marcus. “It’s been slow to me, because I just want to get better,” he said. “The doctors at Craig are saying that I’m recovering faster than normal.” With Marcus now well into the recovery process, he and his family are not afraid to fit a few laughs into an otherwise austere situation. “We didn’t realize how hard a head he had,” Jeff said. “He took on that kind of injury. But we’re so glad he’s alive. That’s the most important thing.” Notable too, Katie said, is that Marcus had returned home from Afghanistan in the best physical shape of his life. Months of slow recovery have eroded a bit of his muscle mass, though the Marine had additional concerns. “I lost my tan, too,” he said, inducing chuckles in all. As an extension of his rehabilitation, Marcus is being stationed at the Wounded Warriors Battalion at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, Calif. Doctors will continue to re-evaluate him every three months, until he can be determined fit for deployment or other operations. With two years remaining in his enlistment, the lance corporal said he hopes to remain in the Marines, and might even sign on for an additional hitch. But if he is honorably discharged for medical reasons, he said he hopes to find a career that embodies the same discipline, structure and camaraderie he loves about the Marines. Particularly, he said, he would consider taking classes in criminal justice, with the goal of a law-enforcement job. Currently, Marcus is uneasily dealing with the experience of being labeled as a hero. On March 4, he was given the American Red Cross Military Lifesaver Award at the local chapter’s Breakfast of Champions. As for the incident he can’t remember, he attributes his training as a Marine and a football player in guiding a decidedly altruistic reaction. “It’s an honor and everything, but … I feel like I didn’t really do anything. I just kind of reacted and did what anybody would’ve done,” he said. “It just kind of happened. … I’m not used to it. I’m just a normal guy that just gets through the day.” Contact Emile Hallez Williams at emile@evergreenco.com or 303-933-2233, ext. 22. For updates, check www.ColumbineCourier.com.

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> Titanic Artefacts Up For Auction Titanic Artefacts Up For AuctionBy WENN on 30 December 2011 Picture: Artefacts recovered from the Titanic are set to go under the hammer next year (12) as part of a celebration to mark the centennial of the sinking of the luxury liner.The ship struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage to America and sank in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean on 15 April, 1912, killing more than 1,500 passengers and crew. Divers at salvaging company Rms Titanic Inc. have recovered thousands of items from the wreckage over the years and now the firm's bosses will be entitled to a large windfall after a Virginia judge ruled they own the rights to their sunken treasure. As per a court order, the trove must be kept together and made available to "present and future generations" for public display and scientific and scholarly research, but the collection will include more than 5,000 pieces of fine china and still-fragrant perfume bottles, worth an estimated total of $189 million (£118 million). Historians, romantics and fans will be able to bid for the relics at New York's Guernsey's auction house on 1 April (12) as part of a sale to mark the Titanic tragedy's 100-year anniversary.Contactmusic

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View full site SEARCH The deafening sound of a dying forest Dexter GillLewis, CO The sound of a dying forest is deafening! You can literally hear the beetles gnawing the wood. You can hear the roar of the raging fires as they explode up the hillside. You can hear the crash of trees as they fall from high winds and snow loads.Where is that forest? Right here! All areas that are called �old growth� and all areas that are too thick with trees, which is much of our forest in Colorado. Today, many of our forests carry approximately 10 times the number of trees that existed 200 years ago. We tend to think that what we see today is the way it always has been. Records and pictures refute that concept. The forest we are so proud of today has been developed because of how it has been used in the past. It was logged, mines were opened, it was grazed, firewood was harvested, roads to do this were constructed, water tanks and lakes were constructed.Without this past use, we would not have the availability of water for man, wildlife, recreation, agriculture and industry, nor would we have the dense, beautiful forest of today. The aged and dying forest of early times has been replaced by a dense, growing forest that is now also becoming stagnated and beginning to die a premature death, since we have decided not to develop and manage it or use it any longer.We have seen thousands of acres of timber burned this past summer, along with thousands of acres of beetle-killed timber, waiting for the next fire. They say there is not much that can or could have been done since �there is no market� for the wood. The word �market� is incorrect since the United States imports more softwood lumber than the entire rest of the world combined. It takes about 10,000 board feet of lumber for an average single-family house. Most of our forests contain more than that on a single acre, and we burned up thousands of acres of it this one summer.We do currently lack the milling capacity to use what we are now wasting. Why? Simply put, it is due to self-serving and misguided efforts of pseudo-environmentalists imposing federal laws and regulations that have severely limited and even eliminated most beneficial uses of the forests and the industry that made use of the resources for our economy.This has not been in the best interests of the forest resources and the state of Colorado. Of the thousands of acres of timber we lost this year, how much could we have used locally instead of importing it from Chile, Canada and Germany like we do? Today, we see our lakes at an all-time low, as are the streams. We hope for a good snowpack and wet summer to come. Will that help? Some, but not to the level it should. The 10-times overdense forest is preventing much of the water from reaching the streams and lakes and ponds. In a dense pine, spruce and fir forest, approximately 45 percent of the rain and snow may never reach the ground as it is intercepted in the branches and directly evaporates. The moisture that does reach the ground is used by the trees in the growing season in the amount of 10+ gallons per tree per day, depending on actual availability of water in the soil and the species of tree. In dry years, that doesn�t leave much for streams and lakes or anything else when you have an overly dense forest. Is there a correlation with our current dried-up springs, seeps, lakes and streams, with an overly dense forest?The forage needed to sustain and improve the livestock and elk herds is greatly affected by the lack of moisture reaching the ground in the dense forest area. Is there a solution? Certainly, but not quickly, but it must be started as soon as possible. First, we have to get off of the misconception that locking up any forest area from management and multiple uses is �saving� or �preserving� it. Just the opposite is true! Its future as a viable growing forest is being destroyed by these efforts!Second, we must initiate development of the wood-products industry to thin out the dense areas and use the constantly dying trees for beneficial uses, thus reducing the imports, and produce employment and new wealth locally. There is the potential for biomass-fuel power generation, which would have many added benefits. There are numerous remanufactured wood products and byproducts that can be explored and developed.We need to revitalize the livestock industry�s use of the forest for cattle and sheep, which will help improve the forage and watershed protection, along with the wildlife. As a minimum, these would begin the effort to reduce the losses from wildfires and diseases, improve watersheds, improve the local economy, improve opportunities for recreation, improve our wildlife habitat, and all, simply, as an output of revitalizing and conserving the forests for future generations.Dexter Gill, a Lewis resident, is a retired state and tribal forester. Most Read in Columnists Legalized discrimination didn't fly in Colorado House bill would allow of presidential primary, local caucus

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Home Page »Dolores Star »DS - Living » 40 Years Ago Taken from the pages of the Dolores Star, Friday, Jan. 26, 1973 Larry and Marilyn Pleasant, Editors Burglars entered Taylor Hardware sometime Monday night and made off with a large amount of merchandise valued at over $1,000. Officers are still investigating some clues found in the snow outside.************************** The Cub Scouts of Dolores will hold their annual Pinewood Derby at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 29, 1973 at the Baptist Church in Dolores.************************** The School Board at their regular monthly meeting held last Thursday night, gave their approval to the establishment of an elementary school library. The library will be set up in the old elementary school music room and already has 2,700 books available to stock its shelves. By next fall it is hoped to have 3,700 books available for those younger students.************************** Yes, frozen water lines can cause house fires. At least four home fires and numerous cases of burned out electrical wiring have been reported to Empire Electric in the past week and were caused by amateur efforts to thaw frozen water pipes with welders.************************** County commissioners Monday discussed a recent meeting with State Health Department personnel concerning the county's hotmix plant that was cited last summer for smoke pollution. The commissioners will join with Cortez town board members to discuss a proposal for a joint city-county jail facility and police building.************************** Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gonzales attended an open house at the new home of MR. and Mrs. Avon Kirks near Totten Lake Saturday night. Others attending were Mr. and Mrs. Gene Walters, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Bauer and Mr. and Mrs. Jerry McComb.************************** Mrs. Dorothy Roth has returned home to Durango after being in Southwest Memorial Hospital recently for surgery.************************** Bill Swank has been released from the hospital in Denver and he and his wife, Emma, returned to their home east of Dolores on Saturday evening. Their daughter, Karen Newell, from San Jose, Calif. is here and will remain for about two weeks to help them.************************** Callie Lofquist entertained her bridge club on Friday evening with two tables to play. Those present were: Homa Louise cline who won 1st, Lenore Lee who won 2nd, MIldred Denby winning bingo, Margaret Nielson, Dianna Steel, Rowena Porter and Emmy Froede.************************** Almost everyone in Dolores is either down with the flu, just getting over it, or staying home trying not to catch it, according to all reports************************** Mrs. Lois Rash arrived by plane Sunday from New Orleans where she had spent the holidays with her daughters and their families, the Paul Abadies and the Lloyd LeBlancs. She was gone a month and enjoyed a very wonderful time, and saw many interesting things. She also saw the fire and parts of the terrible fighting between the sniper and the policemen and firemen at the Howard Johnson hotel, where the sniper killed many people and wounded others. It was something not to be forgotten soon, and to be thankful to know one lives in a country where tragedies like this do not happen.************************** Mr. and Mrs. Glen Willbanks from Cortez were Sunday evening visitors of the L. V. Hills this last weekend.************************** Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Willbanks were the lucky recipients of a four day vacation trip to Orlando, Florida this last week. The trip was won through the Co-op.************************** Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Sanders plan to leave Dolores on Feb. 1 to move to Anchorage, Alaska to make their home.************************** Mrs. Mildred Denby substituted for Mrs. Daly at the Dolores School 2 or 3 days this past week.************************** Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Fox enjoyed a two week long vacation trip to Arkansas where they visited with their parents and to Texas where they visited with their children in Orange and Houston. They returned home on Jan. 8.**************************

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Home Page »News »Local News » Wire fraud charges filed Wire fraud charges filed Former Cortez resident out on $50K bond A former Cortez resident was indicted last week by a federal grand jury in Durango for wire fraud and income tax evasion, the United States Attorney's Office and IRS-Criminal Investigation announced. Brian K. Shoults, 42, of Mesa, Ariz., was arrested on Feb. 8, and has appeared before a U.S. magistrate judge in Durango. He was released on a $50,000 unsecured bond and is expected to be back in court on April 19 for arraignment, which will also take place in Durango.According to the indictment, from April 8, 2008, through Aug. 25, 2011, Shoults executed a scheme to defraud the Copy Shop Inc.(doing business as Office Outpost) in Cortez in an effort to embezzle more than $250,000 from that company.Shoults, a bookkeeper for Office Outpost, would allegedly electronically wire money from the Office Outpost accounts for his own personal use without the knowledge of any other employees or owners of the Office Outpost. He is accused of electronically logging into Office Outpost's accounts at Community Banks of Colorado to transfer money from the Office Outpost's accounts into two of his personal bank accounts over which he had signatory authority.As bookkeeper, Shoults oversaw Office Outpost's payroll, including the calculation and payment of payroll checks to Office Outpost's employees. He had the authority to access Office Outpost accounts and draw on those funds in order to pay payroll expenses as well as other business expenses incurred by Office Outpost. Shoults also had sole responsibility for reconciling the Office Outpost's bank statements with its internal books and records. This allowed him to write checks from the Office Outpost's accounts without supervision from or the knowledge of other employees or owners of Office Outpost.Shoults allegedly committed tax evasion for years 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 by willfully failing to report all income he actually received from the business. For each corresponding year, he was required to report all income on his U.S. Individual Income Tax Form 1040 which was required to be filed the following year by April 15. Using his position at Office Outpost, he manipulated his W-2 form to show less income than he actually received from Office Outpost. Such additional taxable income substantially increases the amount of tax due."The old adage, 'Trust but verify,' is particularly important for business' books and financial records," said U.S. Attorney John Walsh. "All too often, leaving one person in charge of bookkeeping opens the door to massive theft as is what happened in this case."This case, like most embezzlement cases, is a prime example of how only having one employee overseeing the businesses' banking accounts can end up in a big loss for the business," said Cortez Police Department Detective Lt. Jim Kingery. "The thefts start out small but once they've tested the waters and gotten away with it they generally go for more. Thankfully with the Cortez Police Department and the IRS - Criminal Investigations working together there can be a positive outcome."Shoults is charged with 123 counts of wire fraud and four counts of attempting to evade or defeat tax, also called income tax evasion.If convicted of wire fraud he faces up to 20 years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count. If convicted of tax evasion, he faces not more than five years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count. This case was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Cortez Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Candelaria.

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Home Page »News »Local News » Dunn could face more charges Dunn could face more charges DA looks at additional felonies after plea deadline passes Enlargephoto Dunn The Cortez man accused of firing a handgun inside two residences Sept. 30 was informed by the the district attorney's office on Tuesday afternoon that the advisement of more charges is forthcoming. Mark Dunn, 46, was arrested for aggravated robbery, criminal mischief, two counts of felony menacing, felon in possession of a firearm, 3rd degree assault, theft, prohibited use of a firearm, two counts of reckless endangerment and domestic violence.At Tuesday's court hearing before District Court Judge Douglas Walker, Deputy District DA Lynda Carter said there was an offer of a plea deal for Dunn, but the deadline to accept the offer passed last Friday.Carter informed the court the DA's office would now like to pursue additional felony charges and to increase Dunn's $10,000 bail amount. The potential new charges are two felonies and a habitual criminal enhancement by taking into account Dunn's felonies from other jurisdictions.Carter said the DA's office agreed to hold on to the additional felony charges until the plea deadline passed.Dunn's new defense attorney David Greenberg objected to the amended charges and said his client would enter a not guilty plea in writing, but was not prepared to address any new bond amount.Carter said she needed about a week to address the bond stipulations as well as the advisement on the new charges. Because of the possible additional charges, Walker scheduled a preliminary hearing for March 14.Because Greenberg has replaced Richard Simms as one of Dunn's attorneys, Walker asked Dunn if he wished to waive his right to a speedy trial, which must occur within six months of the not guilty plea.Carter said the DA's office received the substitution of attorneys late in the case, and added that the DNA evidence was not going to be used in trial so there would be no reason to delay the trial for this reason.Dunn waived his right to a speedy trial, and Walker set June 10 as the new trial date for the start of the five-day trial.Walker said all motions must be filed with the court by March 15, and the hearing on those motions is scheduled for April 29. The pre-trial conference will take place on May 21. The aggravated robbery charge stems from Dunn allegedly taking a handgun from his brother's house after the two fought for the weapon.According to a Cortez Police report, Dunn became upset with his wife, who questioned him on whether he should be drinking and driving, and he responded by pulling a gun from his waistband and firing a shot above and to the left of her head.After Dunn left the residence he eventually made his way to his brother's house where more gun shots were allegedly fired.According to the police report, once Mark Dunn entered the residence of Todd Dunn, there was a struggle for the gun Todd Dunn was holding at his side, which eventually was taken by Mark Dunn.Todd Dunn told police that his brother fired the gun three to four times in the house.The report said that Mark Dunn was taken into custody at his home at about 3 a.m. on Oct. 1 after police followed him to his house.michaelm@cortezjournal.com

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We should never forget 11:59 AM, Monday, December 31 2007 | 1099 views | 0 | 7 | | By Sean Ingram News EditorSirens. I couldn't remember hearing so many sirens downtown. It wasn't noon Wednesday, when they used to test the emergency warning systems.Then, there was police radio scanner on the kitchen island. Dec. 27, 1987, was the only day I heard that scanner work in five years. I thought it would never quit. It didn't until Ronald Gene Simmons was arrested after killing two and wounding more in Russellville 20 years ago.Unfortunately, as we learned when law enforcement investigators made their way to Simmons' home on Broomfield Road near Dover, that wasn't the end of this horrible tragedy.I was halfway through my sophomore year at Arkansas Tech University, enjoying the holiday break by helping my mom at the residence of the late Francis Paulk, who she took care of in western Russellville. When I wasn't in classes, I would help mom at Mrs. Paulk's with errands, take them out for a drive or watch television with them. I came in from Atkins that day, and mom said there were some prescriptions to get, and Mrs. Paulk's car needed gas and oil. I jumped at every chance to run errands in that pristine Lincoln Town Car that had the best stereo system I ever heard in an automobile. It's amazing I never blew out the speakers.It was a little after 10:30 when I headed for the Town Car, but all I heard outside were sirens. It seemed like they were coming from downtown, but I forgot about them when I cranked up that stereo system.I drove by the offices of Taylor Oil Company at 2600 Main St., where I saw several police cars, a couple of ambulances, emergency personnel and people with guns around. Something definitely was going on.After stopping at the Exxon full-service gas station near the U.S. Forest Service offices to get the car checked out, I noticed more sirens and police. More emergency personnel again driving somewhere behind the station.I drove through downtown and again heard sirens, this time on the east side of town. I hadn't heard of a drill or read anything in the newspaper, so I headed back to the Paulk residence before noon. The garage door was shut and no lights were visible through the windows as I pulled in the driveway. Did they go somewhere? I then wondered if there was a drill related to the nuclear plant, with the house being a couple blocks from the Main Street-Marina Road intersection."Get in here and be quiet," Mom said as she met me at the front door. "A man's going through town shooting people."Mrs. Paulk's daughter, the late Dana Paulk Jones, was a security guard at the Firestone plant. She had called mom and said to lock down the house, turn on the scanner and find out where I was, because she heard bullets whizzing by from the nearby Woodline Motor Freight, where Simmons finally surrendered to police.That got my attention. As we sat in the rec room near the kitchen, hundreds of voices at the same time seemed like they were trying to break out of that scanner. We couldn't believe what was happening. This didn't happen in Russellville, or anywhere around here. If that wasn't enough, more shock and disbelief unfolded in the days to come as the details of Simmons' murderous rampage came to light. Newspapers and national magazines from around the country - Time, Life, Newsweek - and the national network news anchors reported Simmons had killed 14 members of his family before heading into Russellville on Dec. 27, 1987. Kathy Kendrick was killed at the Peel Law Offices. Jim Chaffin lost his life at Taylor Oil Company, where Rusty Taylor was wounded. After shooting and wounding David Salyer and Roberta Woolery at the Sinclair Mini Mart (across East Main from where the Wal-Mart Supercenter is today), Simmons gave up at Woodline Motor Freight, but not before he shot and wounded Joyce Butts.Not much is said or heard about that day. One year, five years, 10, then 20 years have passed. I've thought of those days when other shootings have occurred, innocent lives have been taken, for reasons only known to those who do the shooting. I've wondered how the victims have coped through the years. I wonder how surviving family members have been able to go on with their lives.Last week, we received a letter to the editor titled "Never forget":"It was 20 years ago this year that the Simmons family tragedy happened in Dover. May we never forget the precious children lost in this senseless Christmas-time murder. "We never hear about it anymore. Memories for lesser tragedies seem to rise everywhere, but it seems like we just want this one to go away, which is a shame."We need to remember the children and the loved ones and the innocent victims."I've mentioned the victims from the Russellville shootings. The following are Simmons' family members whose lives were also taken much too soon:Sheila, Dennis and Sylvia McAnulty; Renata and William H. Simmons II; Simmons' wife, Becky; Ronald Gene Simmons Jr., Barbara, Rebecca, Marianne, Eddie and Loretta Simmons; and infants Michael McAnulty and William H. Simmons III.I believe the author of the above-mentioned letter is right. While we never hear about the Simmons tragedy anymore - and so many more have taken place since then - we shouldn't want them to go away, but remember their victims. While it's so painful to many, there's nothing that can make it go away. We may not like it, we may not want to mention it, but it happened. What we can do now is say a prayer for members of the Simmons family who were taken away too soon. We can pray for the Russellville victims and their families.We should remember this tragedy not for the sirens downtown or the constant buzz of the police scanner or the national attention it brought to the Arkansas River Valley. Those 16 men, women, boys and girls may have had their lives taken by one selfish and evil man, but I remember them by believing they were lifted to a better place. Hope Beyond the Grave BY REV. NICHOLAS DAVELARR Loved ones launch Chad Wise Memorial Scholarship Entergy aims to stop phone scam

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John Brennan's bombshell could explode on him By BRIAN TUCKER LinkedIn Google+ When the news hit our newsroom yesterday that MetroHealth Medical Center's new CEO was ending before he could begin, it caused a lot of us to scratch our heads.Not only had Dr. John Brennan accepted the job, he already had been in for a meeting with our editorial board.I am sorry for the folks at MetroHealth who went through what I'm sure was an arduous task of seeking candidates, sifting through the applicants, trimming the list to interviewees, and then settling on a contract for the new CEO.Then, just like that, Dr. Brennan lays a bombshell on MetroHealth by saying, "Oops!"I know. He probably didn't say that, but what on earth was he thinking by going through that entire process, taking the job, and then withdrawing, only to stay at the hospital where he already was working?His reason, according to MetroHealth, was driven by a combination of family issues and the opportunity to play a bigger role in the system that operates his existing hospital in New Jersey.To that I can only say one thing: I really hope he likes it where he is because I doubt any other American hospital would seriously consider him for their top job after this debacle.Having been involved as a Kent State University trustee in its search process for a president, I know how much time goes into it, and how many steps the institution and the chosen candidate must take.And then to have it end like this?Wow.

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Fumes and a Seething Debate Surround Plant Ron Scherer MARGARETVILLE, N.Y. — THERE is a chemical smell to the air outside the sewage plant here.A worker assures a visitor that the effluent is 97 to 98 percent pure after it leaves the plant and enters a tributary of the East Branch of the Delaware River that feeds into the Pepacton Reservoir and eventually into New York City residents' taps.But this particular sewage plant, owned and operated by New York City, has a history of violating its operating permit. Local residents claim it has spewed raw untreated sewage. Not so, says Marilyn Gelber, the city's commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection.She claims Margaretville got its pipes mixed up at the local high school and ran its own sewage through its drinking-water pipes.But she admits there have been violations at the plant, which is now budgeted for a $30 million reconstruction. As part of an arrangement worked out with the village, the city is spending $500,000 on community projects such as environmental studies for children.''I can't wave a wand and make it go away,'' Ms. Gelber says. But the city is spending $120 million to upgrade its sewer facilities.In the future, it hopes to divert some of the waste water into other areas that have extra capacity or empty it into underground storage. Hurricane Sandy released billions of gallons of sewage Change Agent To tackle polluted runoff, cities turn to 'green' strategies How sewage is bridging the Israeli-Palestinian divide in Jerusalem

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Towns pitch in to save 'meth orphans' of Appalachia As drug busts rise, locals build foster homes and donate toys to help children left behind after arrests By Patrik Jonsson, Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor Meat Camp, N.C. - It is a disturbing scene that plays out all too often across the hog hollows of Appalachia. Authorities raid illicit meth labs set up in rickety trailers and mountain shacks: Using hoses, scrubs, and soap, they decontaminate children on the spot and throw away tainted blankets and teddy bears.The loss of personal items may seem like a small price for the crimes of their parents, but for many experts, it symbolizes the plight of the region's growing ranks of "meth orphans:" losing their childhoods to what's called the "scourge of the mountains."Now, however, a growing number of communities across Appalachia - where methamphetamine use has become a virtual pandemic - are finding ways to care for the hundreds of children separated each year from their parents as a result of drug busts. In some towns, residents are building group homes and taking in the children. In other areas, business people and Brownie troops are donating clothes and toys to replace at least some of the contaminated belongings that have been discarded. And in places where as many as 60 percent of meth lab busts involve children, authorities are now changing their tactics to take into account the welfare of broken families when making arrests. "It's become a rescue mission," says Betty Dotson-Lewis, a historian in Somersville, W.Va. "Our communities are having to assume the responsibility to save these children."The task is a large one. The underworld of meth labs, in which people combine or "cook" household chemicals with readily available over-the-counter drugs to produce powerful stimulants, has become a significant problem nationwide. But is particularly entrenched here in the mountains of Appalachia.Up Meat Camp Road in this steep valley just outside Boone, N.C., for instance, black-painted pickup trucks and broken-down shacks are the outward manifestations of a hollow where "there's six labs cooking right now," says Harry Ray, a car mechanic who's lived in the valley most of his life.In and around the valley where Indians once hunted buffalo to trade the meat at the camp up on Snake Mountain Gap, officials have noted one of the greatest concentrations of meth labs in the country. As the meth trade moved West from California and through the heartland over the past 30 years, experts say it's found a home in the region where the Feds and moonshiners once battled it out over another illicit enterprise.Indeed, officials say a 400 percent rise in meth arrests in Boone alone in the past two years only hints at the scope of a problem that may now be worse than the days of the stills.And it's children who are increasingly getting wrapped up in the lawless culture - both as participants and innocent bystanders.Here in North Carolina's Watauga County, for instance, one elementary schoolboy recently recited to his class in detail the recipe to cook meth, to the astonishment of his teacher. In another local case, a boy was working for his parents, removing striker strips from the sides of matchbooks to distill a key ingredient (red phosphorus) used in making the home-brewed drug.Often, small children are found playing on the floor, where the dangerous fumes congregate. On Dec. 15, investigators in White County, Tenn., found a stash of ingredients under an 11-year-old's mattress - in an area where 80 kids were put into foster care last year.But children are also playing a part in stopping the scourge: A recent case in Tennessee involved a 14-year-old girl who informed on her parents after they kept telling her younger brother they were going to stop manufacturing meth and never did.For police, it's sometimes hard to tell the innocent from the lawless: In Myrtle Beach the week before Christmas, police arrested a man and a wife and their two teenage boys after discovering a meth lab in their motel room.Children caught in the middleFor the most part, though, children are being caught in the middle. In Tennessee some 500 children have been placed in foster care in just the past few years because their parents were arrested for making methamphetamine."Our system is overwhelmed right now," says Russ Dedrick, the US attorney in Knoxville, Tenn.As a result, officials are taking greater care in trying to protect the children being caught in this netherworld of "crystal" and "crank." In some cases, the approach is to discourage the parents from involving them at all. Missouri, for example, now makes it possible to be sentenced to life in prison for cooking meth in front of a child.But those laws have yet to make it into the hidden crags of Appalachia, where there's still a deep distrust of - and solidarity against - outside authorities. Thus local officials are developing other procedures to help the young, such as involving social workers early in the process and decontaminating children at the scene of raids.Boone has changed the name of a local meth task force to the "Drug-Endangered Children's Program." A dozen other mountain counties have sent representatives to the town to learn its methods. A conference in Tennessee in early December brought 300 deputies and social workers for a first-of-its-kind conference on the meth pandemic.On a recent Friday, dozens of families came to the Social Services building in Watauga County, N.C., to donate toys and clothes for the dispossessed children. More dramatically, Cumberland County, Tenn., recently bought an old church and turned it into a foster group home mainly for "meth orphans.""Everytime we've needed something, it's just shown up," says Butch Burgess, the county sheriff.One man's crusadeMr. Burgess himself is an example of how people are pitching in. Last year he took in a foster boy from a drug-addled family - one of 31 foster kids he's cared for in the past 11 years, many of them meth orphans."He was three years old and 22 pounds when we got him and now he weighs 40-something," says Mr. Burgess. "The first four days he didn't speak at all, but last night at the Christmas service at the church, he led the closing prayer for 10 minutes. We couldn't understand half of what he was saying, but there wasn't a dry eye in the church when he finished. It just tells me that if we can break the cycle with these kids, we've done something positive."All the attention is yielding results. "What we're finding is that more people are [cooking meth] away from their homes and their kids," says Roslyn Thompson, a supervisor at Watauga County Social Services. 'Breaking Bad' in China: how meth is spreading across rural heartland 'Breaking Bad' crystal meth action figure: Good idea for Toys 'R' Us? (+video) N.C. residents' question: How much is 'bathroom bill' going to cost us?

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Fathers around the world A Yemeni girl held by her father chants slogans along with antigovernment protesters during a demonstration demanding the resignation of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in Sanaa, Yemen, on April 27. Muhammed Muheise/AP US tennis champion Serena Williams contemplates, as her father Richard looks on, during a break in play against Russia's Vera Zvonareva during their second round single tennis match at the Eastbourne International grass court tournament in Eastbourne, England, on June 15. Sang Tan/AP Kate Middleton arrives with her father Michael Middleton at Westminster Abbey before her marriage to Britain's Prince William in London on April 29. Suzanne Plunkett/AP/File Dressed in the purple colors of the Colorado Rockies, MacKenzie Roark rides in a baby carrier worn by her father, Greg, as they watch the Rockies at batting practice in Denver on April 9, 2010. David Zalubowski/AP/File Expectant mom Ali Landry and celebrity dads (from l.) Drew Lachey, Shonn Greene, and James Van Der Beek join Pampers at the 'First Father’s Day Cook-Out' celebration in New York on June 16. Diane Bondareff/AP Nikolas sits on his father's shoulders and waves as his father shouts slogans in front of the Greek Parliament during a peaceful rally in Athens on May 29. Kostas Tsironis/AP Tyson Chandler II sits atop the shoulders of his father, Dallas Mavericks' Tyson Chandler, during the NBA basketball team's victory parade in Dallas on June 16. The Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat for the NBA championship title. G.J. McCarthy/The Dallas Morning News/AP Cory Higgins (r.) looks back at his father, Rod Higgins, president of basketball operations for the Charlotte Bobcats, during a pre-draft workout for the NBA team in Charlotte, N.C., on June 16. Chuck Burton/AP Boston Bruins' Tim Thomas looks up at his father Tim and mother Kathy as he holds on to the Conn Smythe Trophy following his team's win over the Vancouver Canucks in Game 7 of the NHL Stanley Cup final at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on June 15. Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press/AP Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, watches as her husband Prince William and father-in-law Prince Charles (r.) pass in a procession during the Order of The Garter Service in Windsor, England, on June 13. Kirsty Wigglesworth/Reuters Venus Williams prepares to leave the practice court as her father Richard Williams looks on before her second round single tennis match at the Eastbourne International grass court tournament in Eastbourne, England, on June 15. Sang Tan/AP Macy Grace Miles sings 'Amazing Grace' as her father, LSU football head coach Les Miles, looks on at a local LSU Alumni Association luncheon at East Ridge Country Club in Shreveport, La., on June 14. Greg Pearson/The Times/AP Paul Hardesty follows behind his father, Blair, with his toy lawn mower as he pretends to help cut the grass in front of their Springfield, Ohio, home on May 9. Bill Lackey/Springfield News-Sun/AP Junrey Balawing, 22 inches tall, is carried by his father Reynaldo in Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte, in southern Philippines on June 11. The Guinness World Records recognized Mr. Balawing as the new 'Shortest Living Man' on his 18th birthday on June 12. Erik de Castro/Reuters Samin grabs the face of his father, Peru's president-elect Ollanta Humala, as Mr. Humala was interviewed on the patio of his home in Lima, Peru, on June 5. Karel Navarro/AP President Barack Obama says goodbye to his family, from left: mother-in-law Marian Robinson, first lady Michelle Obama, and daughters Sasha and Malia, at Cape Canaveral, Fla., as he continued on to Miami and they returned to Washington on April 29. Charles Dharapak/AP/File A race he always won As his father’s car rounded the bend, he would sprint down the street to home. Dave Zangaro I outran my father's car almost every day for a great portion of my childhood.

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UN chief Ban Ki-moon weighs in on Falkland Islands dispute Latest News Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement Friday expressing 'concern about the increasingly strong exchanges' between Argentina and Britain over the Falkland Islands By Anita Snow, Associated Press Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman, left, meets with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, at the U.N., Friday, Feb. 10, 2012. (AP Photo/UN, Eskinder Debebe) View Caption About video ads of United Nations — Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed hope that Argentina and Britain can avoid an escalation of their Falkland Islands dispute when he met Friday with the South American country's foreign minister, Hector Timerman, the UN chief's office said.Ban "expressed concern about the increasingly strong exchanges" between the two governments and said the U.N. would be happy to help mediate the dispute if asked, according to a summary of the meeting by the secretary-general's office.Argentina and Britain fought a war over the islands in 1982, and tensions between the two countries have risen in recent weeks over the status of the territory off the Argentine coast in the South Atlantic Ocean. Why all the attention on the Falklands? Five key questions. RELATED: Five key questions about the Falklands The islands, which are a British dependency, are also claimed by Argentina, which refers to them as Las Malvinas.Argentine President Cristina Fernandez has said her country will formally complain to the U.N. Security Council that Britain has created a serious security risk by sending one of its most modern warships to the region. The British government said it recently sent destroyer HMS Dauntless to replace another ship in a routine operation.Britain's Foreign Office has repeatedly ruled out negotiations unless the Falklands' inhabitants say they want change.Timerman also had meetings planned Friday with Togo's Ambassador Kodjo Menan, who holds the rotating U.N. Security Council presidency, and Cuban Ambassador Pedro Nunez Mosquera, who heads the U.N. Decolonization Committee.Timerman is addressing the press Friday afternoon. British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant has scheduled his own news conference afterward.RELATED: Five key questions about the Falklands Much ado about the Falklands Prince William, oil, honor: Why Argentina is pushing to reclaim Falkland Islands

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Video appears to show Hezbollah and Iraqi Shiites fighting in Syria Latest News The video's production and open dissemination highlight how fighters outside Syria are jumping into the fray – and growing more bold about showing it. By of Beirut, Lebanon — An unprecedented and slickly-produced video is being circulated around Shiite areas of Lebanon showing alleged Shiite combatants fighting in Syria. The video's production and open dissemination highlight how fighters outside Syria are jumping into the country's ongoing civil war – and growing more bold about it.According to Lebanese sources close to the militant Shiite Hezbollah, the combatants seen in the video are a mix of Hezbollah members and Iraqi Shiites, but the video was produced in Iraq.Hezbollah’s leadership has played down persistent reports that its fighters are helping defend the beleaguered regime of President Bashar al-Assad. But the video, which was clearly made with the consent of the combatants, appears to reflect the growing conviction within Shiite circles in Lebanon that the war in Syria is no longer one between an embattled autocratic regime and a grassroots opposition but a sectarian confrontation against the emerging and increasingly influential Salafi Jihadist groups that view Shiites as heretics and Hezbollah as an enemy. Sunni and Shiite Islam: Do you know the difference? Take our quiz. “I don’t feel that Hezbollah is defending the regime. They are defending themselves because once the regime goes, they are next,” says Ali, a glazier and staunch Hezbollah supporter from southern Beirut. The conflict in neighboring Syria presents Hezbollah and its Iranian patron with a strategic dilemma. Assad’s Syria represents the geopolitical lynchpin that binds Hezbollah to Iran and is a core component in the “Jabhat al-Muqawama” or “Axis of Resistance,” the pan-regional alliance challenging Israel and Western ambitions in the Middle East. If Assad falls and is replaced by a moderate Sunni regime that turns away from Iran and towards Saudi Arabia and Turkey, Hezbollah could become isolated on the Mediterranean coast and potentially threatened by a Sunni resurgence in the Levant.Sources in the Syrian opposition, the rebel Free Syrian Army, and Western embassies concur that Hezbollah is participating in some fighting and also training regular Syrian troops in urban warfare tactics and turning the pro-regime Shabiha militia into an effective paramilitary force.In October, Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah admitted that some members of the party were fighting to defend a string of villages just inside Syria that are populated by Lebanese Shiites.Initially, there was some unease among Hezbollah supporters over the party directly assisting the Assad regime in its brutal suppression of a popular uprising. Some fretted that Hezbollah’s image as a champion of the oppressed would be tarnished and that fighting in Syria would distract its attention from the struggle against Israel.Hezbollah involvement debatedIn October, Fawwaz Traboulsi, a Lebanese political scientist and author, called on Hezbollah to withdraw its forces from Syria.“I appeal to them for the sake of Palestine; for the sake of preserving the credibility of the party and the role of the Islamic Resistance [the party’s military wing] in the Arab-Israeli struggle; for the sake of preserving the honor of the weapons of the resistance, so that they may continue waging their jihad against the Israeli enemy only,” he wrote in an opinion piece published by Lebanon’s daily As-Safir newspaper.However, as the conflict in Syria has intensified, atrocities reportedly committed by the rebels combined with the rise of extremist Sunni groups appear to have diminished misgivings previously felt by some Lebanese Shiites at Hezbollah’s presence in Syria. Radical Salafi jihadist groups, such as Jabhat al-Nusra, the largest and militarily the most successful of the rebel groups in Syria, are regarded by Hezbollah as a potent threat because of their Takfiri ideology which treats Shiites as heretics.“It’s not a secret anymore [about Hezbollah in Syria]. Hezbollah may not be talking about it openly but everyone knows they are going over there,” said a Lebanese Shiite who lives in the Hezbollah stronghold of southern Beirut but asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the subject.Still, Hezbollah fighters are not the only Lebanese playing combat roles in Syria. Several hundred Lebanese Sunnis have joined various rebel Free Syrian Army units, and clandestine logistical support networks for the rebel forces have been established in parts of north and northeast Lebanon.Key Shiite tombThe video shows fighters in the Sayyida Zeinab quarter of southern Damascus, a key battlefront in the struggle for the Syrian capital. Sayyida Zeinab is the site of the tomb of Zeinab, the Prophet Mohammed’s granddaughter and daughter of Imam Ali, the founder of the Shiite sect. The golden-domed tomb is a major pilgrimage site for Shiites.The rousing combat video carries in the corner of the screen a logo of a furled green banner and the name “the Abu Fadl al-Abbas Brigades,” which could refer to a small Iran-backed faction that launched sniper and roadside bomb attacks against US and coalition troops in Iraq between 2005 and 2008. The Abu Fadl al-Abbas Brigades subsequently became part of Kataeb Hezbollah, one of a handful of Iran-supported factions described by the US as “Special Groups.” US officials have accused Iran and Hezbollah of training the Iraqi Special Groups, and Kataeb Hezbollah was designated by the US as a foreign terrorist organization in 2009.Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah referred to the Abu Fadl al-Abbas Brigades in a speech in 2007 as one of several groups that “confirm the existence of vast strong and effective resistance on the Shiite level” in Iraq.Hezbollah’s Al-Manar television station was the first to broadcast many of the Iraqi group’s combat videos. The Iraqi origins of the Sayyida Zeinab video are also illustrated by a fighter gazing reverently at a poster of Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Sadeq al-Sadr, father of current prominent Iraqi Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr, who was murdered by the regime of Saddam Hussein in 1999.An almost identical version of the video circulating in Lebanon was uploaded to YouTube on Dec. 30, 2012 by “Saydanas,” who appears from previous uploaded material to be an Iraqi Shiite who follows the Sadrist line. The 4 minute 5 second video carries footage of fighters in combat stances, firing AK-47 rifles, sniper rifles, and rocket-propelled grenades, interspersed with iconic Shiite images. The film is set to a backdrop of a stirring martial song “O Zeinab.”One shot shows five uniformed fighters armed with an assortment of weapons sitting on a street with a caption reading “the resting place of the fighters who are defending the holy site of Zeinab.” The film concludes with the caption “produced and directed by the unknown soldier.”Evidence of HezbollahThere is no mention of Hezbollah in the film and it is not possible to confirm that the militants shown are from the Lebanese organization. But there are small clues suggesting that the fighters belong to Hezbollah, or at least have received training from the organization. For example, most of the fighters featured hold the AK-47 by the magazine when firing rather than the wooden grip beneath the barrel, a Hezbollah method that is supposed to allow them to swing the weapon more quickly. Another hint is that the fighters fire their AK-47s in semi-automatic mode rather than fully automatic, a technique taught to Hezbollah combatants to improve accuracy and save ammunition.Although the faces are blurred out to prevent identification (another Hezbollah trait), they appear to range in age from late 20s to mid 30s, conforming to reports that most of the Hezbollah men deployed to Syria are combat veterans rather than raw recruits.Sayyida Zeinab has become an important battleground in the ongoing struggle for Damascus. It represents a wedge of regime-controlled territory in southern Damascus where rebel forces are attempting to form a homogenous opposition belt extending through the northern, eastern, and southern suburbs. Sayyida Zeinab also holds a significant emotional appeal for Shiites given the presence of the shrine which served as the inspiration for the stirring combat video.“I think Sayyida Zeinab is really important to Iran, even beyond the current fight,” says Joseph Holliday, a senior research analyst at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War. “Certainly it has huge operational significance right now … the neighbourhood is an island of regime control in Damascus' southeast.”A Western diplomat with contacts within the regime and opposition confirmed that Hezbollah militants were fighting in south Damascus. He added that if Sayyida Zeinab were to fall, “the FSA would be one big step closer to having jumping off positions for an attack on the city center.” The diplomat adds: “It could be quite a crucial battle with all those Hezbollah around." Leaked video: Iran guiding thousands of Shiite fighters to Syria

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Print Email Font ResizeCrews quickly extinguish kitchen fire in south Boulder home ThursdayBy Joe Rubino, Camera Staff WriterPosted: 10/11/2012 10:19:20 PM MDTFire crews quickly extinguished a kitchen fire in a south Boulder home Thursday afternoon after the blaze was called in by a next-door neighbor who spotted the smoke and flames while doing yard work. Fire crews responded at about 2:30 p.m. to a fire on the 3300 block of Case Circle, according to Boulder Fire Department spokeswoman Kim Kobel. When crews arrived on the scene, they entered the home through the front door, at which point a dog that was trapped inside ran out, Kobel said. Once inside, crews encountered heavy smoke coming from the kitchen. "The fire was confined to the kitchen, and there was significant smoke damage in the kitchen," Kobel said. By 3:15 p.m. the fire was out, though the smell of smoke was still noticeable in the surrounding neighborhood. The homeowner was not home at the time the fire broke out but did arrive on the scene after it had been extinguished. He said he has two dogs, both of which are fine. The cause of the fire is under investigation, Kobel said. Print Email Font ResizeReturn to Top RELATED

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Superstorm victims becoming frustrated with rationing, no power Police direct cars to pumps while people stand in line with containers for gas on Friday, Nov. 9, 2012 in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Police were at gas stations to enforce a new gasoline rationing plan that lets motorists fill up every other day. Drivers fill-up at a station in New York, Friday, Nov. 9, 2012. A new gasoline rationing plan that lets motorists fill up every other day went into effect in New York on Friday morning. Police were at gas stations to enforce the new system in New York City and on Long Island. A New York City Police Department officer manages the line of cars waiting for gasoline, in New York, Friday, Nov. 9, 2012. A new gasoline rationing plan that lets motorists fill up every other day went into effect in New York on Friday morning. Police were at gas stations to enforce the new system in New York City and on Long Island. NEW YORK -- A gasoline shortage caused by Superstorm Sandy forced 1970s-era rationing on New Yorkers Friday, adding a fuel-gauge obsession to their frayed nerves and dwindling patience. "I take passenger, I look at gas. I take another passenger, I look at gas," said New York City taxi driver Shi Shir K. Roy. "Tension all the time." Though rationing that allowed private motorists to fill up only every other day seemed to help with gas lines, it didn't answer motorists' questions about why they had been waiting for days in hourslong lines to fuel up. The confusion led some, like Angel Ventura, to panic. Ventura, who drives a delivery van for a camera rental company, has taken to hunting for gasoline every time his gauge drops below a quarter of a tank. "It makes me crazy, thinking I might hit empty and not be able to find it," he said. As drivers waited on police-monitored lines, thousands more in the region got their power back for the first time since Sandy came ashore 12 days ago. More than 420,000 customers were still without power in New Jersey and the New York City area. President Barack Obama, who visited the battered Jersey coast two days after the storm, said he would survey the damage in New York next week from the storm, which the American Red Cross said will create its largest U.S. relief effort since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The gasoline rationing -- first in the nation's largest city since the 1970s Arab oil embargo -- forced motorists to line up depending on whether their license plate ends with odd or even numbers. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said one-third of the city's gas stations were open Friday, compared to 25 percent the day before, and cautioned, "there's no guarantee that odd-even is going to make a big difference." His estimate was countered by the Energy Department, which said that more than 70 percent of the city's stations have gas available for sales. Industry officials first blamed the shortage on gas stations that lost power, but now say the problem has shifted to supply terminals, which are either shut or operating at reduced capacity. Drivers are also quicker to top off tanks because they're afraid gasoline won't be available, AAA spokesman Michael Green said. Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at the Oil Price Information Service, said the densely populated New York-New Jersey area has fewer stations per capita than any other major metropolitan area, making the shortage an even bigger problem. He said rationing earlier might have helped in New York City. "It does curb some of the manic or panic behavior," Kloza said. Gasoline moves millions of New Yorkers, just as the subway does. Hundreds of thousands of people drive to work, especially from the outer boroughs, and taxis and delivery vans are part of every gridlocked intersection. Friday was an "odd" day in the rationing plan, although not everyone had gotten with the program. "Even? Odd? Whatever it is, I didn't have the right one," said Joe Standart, a 62-year-old artist whose even-numbered car was ordered off a West Side gas station line by a police officer. Teniele Newbury, a mother of three, defended her need to use a car to go about her daily routine. "People probably think we can take the subway," she said, "but I've got three kids I've got to drop off at three different schools. You try that on the subway with three little kids." On Long Island, where odd-even rationing also began Friday, a spot check found shorter lines -- 30 to 40 cars at most -- and more stations with gas. In Brooklyn, car service owner Gary Lindenbaum said waits last week had been five or six hours. "The rationing really helps us a lot," said Lindenbaum, owner of Court Express. "We need to work. We need the gas." Lindenbaum drew the line at one hoarding technique: He posted a sign that said, "Drivers, do not carry full gas containers in your car." Some cab drivers have been doing just that. One taxi reeked of gasoline from the extra cans sloshing around in the back seat with a passenger. Desperate drivers weren't paying much attention to prices, but in New Jersey, seven gas stations were among the eight businesses sued by the state Friday on price-gouging claims. Meanwhile, many officials were pointing to power companies as the culprit in the region's slow recovery. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has called for investigation of the region's utilities, criticizing them as unprepared and badly managed. On Friday, two congressmen from Long Island urged the federal government -- even the military -- to come in and help the Long Island Power Authority restore electricity. "When the lights went off in Baghdad and the lights went off in Kabul, it was the Army Corps of Engineers that went into Baghdad and Kabul to turn the lights back on," said Rep. Steve Israel. "We don't need to turn the lights back on in Kabul and Baghdad. We need to turn the lights back on in Plainview and Great Neck and the south shore." Long Island's main utility, the Long Island Power Authority, has declined to respond to criticism, while New York utility Consolidated Edison Corp. has called the storm the worst in its history. Obama said Friday that he will meet with affected residents and first responders in a tour of the hardest-hit areas of the city. Some residents of Toms River, N.J., were given a precious hour Friday to see their storm-wrecked houses for the first time and grab warm-weather clothing, important pictures -- whatever belongings they could. When Steve Dabern saw his flooded house, the floor was torn in pieces, the refrigerator was on its side and the kitchen furniture was in the living room. "Sickness. I felt sick," he said. Bloomberg said the gas shortages could last for a couple of weeks, worrying many New Yorkers who say gas is vital to their lives. At St. Mary's Children's Hospital in Queens, workers who visit 4,000 sick children have been getting up as early as 2 a.m. to get on gas lines, said chief administrative officer Hope Mavaro Iliceto. Some have run out of fuel while waiting in line, she said. At the Brooklyn gas station, Ruben Quinonez and Edgar Luna were in the delivery truck they drive for a bakery in Mahopac, north of the city. They normally work from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., making deliveries in Brooklyn and Manhattan, but every day since the storm they have added a long wait in a gas line. "You can't take the risk," Quinonez said. "Bread has got to be fresh."

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Was £2million happiness study a waste of money? It revealed jobs, health and family are important to us James Chapman for the Daily Mail Jobs, health and family are the key factors in people’s happiness.That, somewhat unsurprisingly, is the conclusion of a controversial Government drive to measure ‘life satisfaction’.Such an obvious answer seems sure to fuel criticism of the £2million exercise, which some have labelled as a waste of money. Happiness index: A study has revealed that jobs, health and family are crucial to our happiness and feeling of well-being For the research – the brainchild of David Cameron’s ‘blue-skies thinker’ Steve Hilton – the Office for National Statistics was asked to draw up ways to calculate general wellbeing.More than 2,000 people have so far been quizzed to provide a fuller picture of the state of society than is given by traditional economic indicators. To the surprise of no one, the statisticians have concluded job security, relationships with families and health top the list of what makes people content, with 88 per cent of respondents stating that these things matter most to them in life.People are more interested in having a steady job than wealth, concerned about their children’s future, and also cite freedom of society and religious beliefs.Paul Allin, of the ‘measuring national wellbeing programme’ at the ONS, said: ‘The most relevant measures of wellbeing should encompass the elements of life that matter to people most.’ He added: ‘Objective measures such as crime, employment and life expectancy rates will be combined with subjective measures such as fear of crime, job satisfaction and self-reported health, to give a more complete picture of national well-being.’Ultimately, more than 200,000 families are to face questions about their lives to produce a regular happiness index. Mr Cameron has previously conceded the initiative will be seen by some as ‘airy-fairy and impractical’.

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UTOPIA remains a mystery to many Murray residents By Tom Haraldsen, Deseret News Published: Wednesday, March 7 2012 1:00 p.m. MST A survey done in 2010 showed 54 percent of Murray residents didn’t even know about the fiber-optic network UTOPIA, and at the time, only 10,000 residents were using the system. The Valley Journals MURRAY--Bring up the Utah Telecommunication Open Infrastructure Agency, and you’re bound to get a variety of responses. UTOPIA is the group of Utah cities that banded together to create a fiber-optic network for residents and business owners. The network operates as a wholesale supplier, and allows subscribers to choose their own service provider from a list of companies including XMission, Veracity and InfoWest that offer Internet, television, telephone and other products. Part of the problem is many people don’t understand how UTOPIA works and, with some serious financial problems delaying construction several years ago, residents seem to be leery about signing up for the high-speed service. A survey done in 2010 showed 54 percent of Murray residents didn’t even know about the fiber-optic network and, at the time, only 10,000 residents were using the system. Long-time Murray resident Jenny Bates said she heard about UTOPIA a long time ago, but didn’t hear anything else for several years. “I know it’s an Internet service,” Bates said. “But that’s about all I know. But I have noticed I’m seeing UTOPIA signs on the lawns in some of the neighborhoods around us.” Despite the confusion, Murray Mayor’s Chief of Staff Jan Wells said the UTOPIA infrastructure continues to grow, and the Murray Fiber Committee is looking for ways to use the fiber already in place and provide more benefits to Murray residents. “Right now, two-thirds of Murray has fiber in the roads or on the poles,” Wells said. “People who live in the area where the fiber is available have the option to connect to the network. This speed is as fast as you can get.” UTOPIA is a big draw for businesses that want fast connection and greater clarity. Being connected to the network means customers don’t share bandwidth because the fiber-optic line is attached directly to the business or home. Murray city leaders are considering ways to promote the network so residents can see the benefits of using the system. Hot spots in Murray Park might be available in the future, and leaders are trying to connect as many city facilities to the network as possible. At $3,000, the connection fee for the network might seem steep to the average homeowner, but Wells said the cost can be added into the monthly provider fee and paid out over several years. And with upload speeds up to 10 Gbps, Wells is sure fiber-optics will be the technology of the future. “I’m excited about the work [UTOPIA] is doing,” she said. “They’re pulling in all the loose ends and creating a good, strong infrastructure.” Tom Haraldsen is the assistant managing editor of The Valley Journals newspaper group, and is currently president of the Utah Headliners Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Recommended Stories someonewhocares Murray, UT Another mystery that most Murray residents don't understand is that the Citypays UTOPIA $2 million a year to subsidize this service. That means everyMurray property owner is paying the bill for the few Murray residents that useUTOPIA. These are

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Home Page »News »Local News » Get ready to be screened Get ready to be screened All visitors to County Courthouse will be checked Beginning March 4, all visitors to the La Plata County Courthouse, not just those visiting the courtroom, will be subject to a security screening process before they enter the building.According to new security measures announced Friday, all visitors to the building will be required to enter through the southwest doors near the clock tower, where they will be screened by a metal detector staffed by a Sheriff�s Office deputy. Until now, the metal detector was used only at the entrance to the courtrooms on the second floor of the building. The secured entrance will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. All other doors to the building will be locked. All bags, purses and other small items will be screened, as well. Cellphones and other electronic devices will be allowed into the building, but the Sheriff�s Office reserves the right to refuse any objects deemed a security hazard, according to a news release. Even those with a concealed-weapon permit may not bring a gun into the building, the release said. People who must visit the courthouse after 5 p.m. for special meetings or events will be able to enter but will not be screened, said Dan Bender, spokesman for the La Plata County Sheriff�s Office. The new security measures were the result of �much discussion� among the county, Sheriff�s Office and 6th Judicial District Court, sheriff�s Capt. Garrett Valencia said in the news release.The purpose is to provide �reasonable safety and security� for employees and visitors, he said.Public comment was not solicited in making the decision because �it is a best-practice and security issue from Sheriff�s Office perspective,� Assistant County Manager Joanne Spina said. The cost for the new screening process will be about $14,500, Spina said. Additionally, county commissioners approved $51,300 in the 2013 budget to add one deputy, who will be assigned to the courthouse. La Plata County�s new security measures are tighter than surrounding counties. Archuleta and Montezuma counties have metal detectors only at the entrance to county courtrooms, not the entire courthouse, county officials said.Across the state, though, more counties are stepping up their security and screening procedures, said Eric Bergman, policy and research supervisor at Colorado Counties Inc. �It is a trend we�re unfortunately seeing in a lot of counties based on issues in the past couple of years,� Bergman said. �Of course, there is an inconvenience factor, but at the end of the day, they are trying to keep everybody safe.�ecowan@durangoherald.com

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Homepage | The Durango Herald Mobile SEARCH Man gets 38-year prison term A Farmington man suspected of shooting and killing an Ignacio man last year was sentenced Thursday to 38 years in prison – twice his age.Elijah Anglin, 19, appeared weepy and unsteady as he read from a prepared statement in 6th Judicial District Court in Durango.He apologized to the family of Joey Benavidez, who was shot and killed April 3 in his own home on Mountain Dew Circle, about two miles southwest of Ignacio.“I believe that if I was not intoxicated that day, things would not have happened the way they did,” Anglin said.He was facing 24 to 48 years in prison after signing a plea agreement with the District Attorney’s Office. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.Prosecutors said Anglin drove co-defendant Tommy Lee Mitchell from Farmington to Ignacio to pay revenge on Benavidez, who owed $740 as part of a drug deal.Both men entered the house and fired multiple shots, hitting Benavidez numerous times in the back as he tried to flee, according to statements made Thursday in court.Mitchell, whom prosecutors describe as the ringleader, is charged with first-degree murder. He is scheduled for trial in mid-October.Family members said Anglin had a rough childhood. His mother said he struggled with a learning disability, didn’t have a father figure, watched his mother endure an abusive relationship and lacked self-worth.But District Attorney Todd Risberg said a lot of people have had rotten childhoods who don’t commit murders.He called it a senseless crime.“This didn’t have to happen,” Risberg said. “A series of bad decisions led him here today, and they are his decisions.”Despite the violent crime, Risberg said there are good reasons why Anglin shouldn’t spend the rest of his life behind bars, including his sincere remorse, willingness to cooperate with prosecutors, minimal criminal history and his young age.Public defense lawyer Kent Pace said Anglin turned 18 only 19 days before the shooting. He asked Judge Greg Lyman to consider Anglin’s life as a whole and not define him by the single action of killing Benavidez.“Kids don’t turn into adults on their 18th birthdays,” he said.Mitchell gave Anglin drugs – crack, methamphetamine and marijuana – in exchange for car rides, Pace said. His criminal history consists of two speeding tickets, a careless driving ticket and a citation for possession of marijuana, Pace said.“This is his only violent interaction,” he said.He was arrested about 20 minutes after the shooting. Investigators questioned him and released him. But Anglin voluntarily returned to the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office and confessed, Pace said. He also has agreed to testify against Mitchell.Criminal defendants typically serve about three-fourths of their prison sentence before becoming eligible for early release. Anglin will receive 466 days’ credit for time already served.shane@durangoherald.com Most Read in News Police say marijuana robbery led to killing of Fort Lewis College student

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Brazil activists honor gay pride, call for laws by Adriana Gomez LiconAssociated PressSunday May 4, 2014 PRINT Gay rights advocates called for a Brazilian law against discrimination as they gathered by the hundreds of thousands in Sao Paulo on Sunday for one of the world's largest gay pride parades.The city blocked its main central avenue to allow room for colorful floats and exuberant crowds of people dressed as drag queens with stilettos and wigs, the Statue of Liberty, flamenco and cabaret dancers."As long as there is this prejudice, we are going to be in the streets," said actor Valder Bastos, who is well known as drag queen Tchaka. "We are fighting against different types of prejudice: racism, homophobia. We are here together to show there are plenty of us."Sao Paulo Gov. Geraldo Alckmin announced that he would restore a historic house in Avenida Paulista, where the parade strolls, and turn it into a gay museum.The activists and parade organizers said a law that would ban discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people is overdue in Brazil. Criminalizing displays of discrimination against gays would reduce violence against members of the LGBT community, advocates said.Last year, President Dilma Rouseff launched an effort to set up centers that would promote and defend LGBT rights, and she reminded people on Sunday about a hotline they can use to report hate crimes, according to a message published on her Twitter account.Activists at the parade said they also want to see Brazil pass a gender identity law like that in neighboring Argentina, where people can legally change their gender without needing a surgery or a judge's approval.Copyright Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Comments

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Interview With Photographer Alfred Wertheimer April 30, 2011 - 11:11:18 AM In 1956, Alfred Wertheimer was a struggling twenty-six year old free-lance photojournalist in New York City, Wertheimer's good fortune gained him access to Elvis Presley during that first, heady flush of fame in 1956. The resulting photos captured the everyday Elvis, relaxed and off-guard during down times. Now, Al Wertheimer's classic photos are the most esteemed collection of pictures of Elvis Presley ever taken. Video : Alfred Wertheimer talks about photographing Elvis Presley Macromedia Flash Player 9.1+ required to play this video. Apple iPad Compatible. Latest Audio (and video) updates : Video courtesy of Elvis Presley Video Central. Q) How did you get the job photographing Elvis Presley? A) I got a call from Ann Fulchino with RCA Victor in March of 1956. She asked me if I was available for a shoot on March 17 at Studio 50, which was one of the CBS studios. I said I was available and asked what she wanted me to photograph. Ann said it was for the Dorsey Brothers Stage Show. I said 'That's great. Tommy Dorsey is one of my heroes'. That's when Ann told me she didn't necessarily want me to photograph Tommy Dorsey. She said 'I want you to photograph Elvis Presley'. I said Elvis who? I had never heard of him! Above, Alfred Wertheimer in 1956 (on an airplaine). Q) Tell us about your first meeting with Elvis A) It was at the rehearsal for the Dorsey Brothers Stage Show. I was brought to Elvis' dressing room and there were two people sitting inside. One was a young man and one was a middle-aged man. The middle-aged man was showing the younger man a line of jewelry and the younger man kept looking at his right hand. Ann said to the younger man, 'Elvis, this is Al Wertheimer. He'll be taking some pictures of you. I hope you don't mind'. Elvis just kept looking at his hand and says 'Yeah, that's ok. Why not?' Of course at that point Elvis didn't have a gold record, so he was just a well-known regional singer. I soon realized what he was looking at was his brand new gold horseshoe ring. Since he wasn't very talkative with me and was focused on his ring, I decided to take out my two cameras and become like the fly on the wall. I started taking photographs. Q) Tell us about that rehearsal A) Elvis' job on that show was to perform for six minutes, or two songs. Elvis took the stage with his trio - Bill Black and Scotty Moore. They went through the songs and I could see that Elvis was really holding back. When he was rehearsing, Elvis was one kind of temperament, and when he was on stage during the actual take, he was very different. During the rehearsal, he was getting some advice from the back of the theater, from two William Morris agents. There's this one picture I love very much where each one of the agents is on one side of Elvis and he's getting advice from both. And he's taking this advice. It's astounding that he would even allow some of them to put their hands on him. The basic advice that was being given at that time was 'Don't wiggle around so much. Be very careful about what you do below your waist'. Q) How many times did you work with Elvis and how many photos did you take of him? A) I have approximately 2,500 images of Elvis and that's from a period of two groups of shootings. Several were taken throughout 1956 and then I met up with him again on September 22 ,1958 on the day he left at the Brooklyn Port of Embarkation for Germany as a soldier in the U.S. Army. All in all, I had eight shooting days with Elvis. A lot of people feel that I captured more of the essence of Elvis than anyone else. The only thing I wanted Elvis to do was to be himself. Everyone else had something they wanted him to do. Q) Were you surprised at they way people, especially young women, reacted to Elvis? A) I didn't understand it, but I took the attitude that even if you don't understand, keep shooting. Q) What is your favorite photograph of Elvis? A) There's one that's very little known. I call it 'Gentlemen, What Would You Like?' It's a picture of a waitress just standing there with her little pad and pencil and she's looking at Junior Smith and Junior Smith is looking back at her. And Elvis is asking 'What do you have?' He's in a restaurant and he's really paying more attention to her than to what she's saying. Five minutes later, Elvis had her arms around her waist. Another shot that I like a lot is where Elvis is on the train. I call the photo 'One-Eyed Jack'. Two hours outside of Memphis heading to his home, July 4, 1956. He's got one-eye open and he's looking dead-on at me. I'm shooting him from about two feet away. It's almost like he's saying 'I've got an eye on you, so watch yourself'. One of the most popular pictures of course is 'The Kiss', but I like the one that was taken prior to 'The Kiss' where Elvis overshot the mark and bent the poor girl's nose. There's also a few other pictures where Elvis is messing up the girl's hair because he hated hairspray. Elvis permitted closeness. He permitted you to go as close as three feet from his face and he wouldn't act any different than if you were twenty feet away. He was able to focus so much on what he was doing. He also made the girls cry. Anytime a performer can make the girls cry, he's a winner. Because you can make them jump, scream, yell... you can make them do all kinds of things through public relations. But you cannot make them cry. Crying is an emotion that comes from deep down and Elvis was able to reach deep down. Elvis Presley : Mosque Theater, Richmond, Va : June 30, 1956 Elvis Presley : On The Train to, Memphis, Tennessee : July 3, 1956 Elvis Presley : Russwood Park, Memphis, Tennessee : July 4, 1956 Q) What was your relationship with Elvis like? A) I used him and he used me in a symbiotic way. You see, he was almost at the point where he was being recognized as a national star, but not quite. I'll give you an example. Once, in a railroad station in Chattanooga, Tennessee, we were waiting to change trains. Elvis went over to a magazine rack and picked up a movie magazine. He found a photo of himself inside and says to me 'Al, can I have a pen?' I gave him one and he scribbled his name inside the magazine. Then he goes over to the two girls working at the magazine rack. He had the spread open to his picture, showing it to them. He's also looking back at me with a huge Cheshire Cat grin. Their reaction was 'That'll be 35 cents sir'. (laughing) Elvis said to them 'No, this is for you. I'm Elvis Presley'. Finally the girls agree that it is. In the meantime, I'm capturing pictures of all of this, which is really what Elvis wanted. He knew one day that he would be very famous, and he wanted to capture on film these kinds of moments. Elvis on Stage Show : Jan 28, 1956 Photographing Elvis RCA Victor Records bought Elvis' contract from Sam Phillips for $40, 000 in December 1955. Their new artist was hot in the mid-south and southwest, but unknown in the rest of the country. So, it was important for them to get Elvis booked on national TV. On January 28, 1956, Elvis made his first of six appearances on Stage Show, which starred Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey. About halfway through this engagement, RCA realized they had nothing in their photo file on Elvis. They needed to get a few publicity shots. In early 1956, Al Wertheimer shared a studio with six other photographers. One of them, Paul Schulzer, introduced him to Ann Fulchino in the Public Relations department of RCA Victor Records. She put Wertheimer on a list of free-lance photographers she would call as various assignments came up. When jobs went out to people, they would move to the bottom of the list. Al Wertheimer happened to be on the top of that list when she needed the Elvis pictures, so he got the call. She asked if he was free on March 17 to take some shots at the Dorsey Brothers show. Wertheimer was a fan of big band music, so he jumped at the chance. Then she told him he would actually be photographing Elvis Presley. After a pregnant pause, Wertheimer said, 'Elvis who?' He had never heard of Elvis Presley. He also had no clue how drastically this job would change his life. It was just a one-day assignment at the rehearsal and telecast of Elvis' fifth Dorsey Brothers Stage Show in New York. RCA wanted photos for release to newspapers: head shots; Elvis at the microphone; Elvis with fans; or, best of all, Elvis with celebrities. Al Wertheimer took the required photographs, but he didn't stop there. Elvis : March 56 New York By the time he parted company with Elvis that night, Wertheimer had snapped over 400 photos of Elvis, nearly all of which caught casual off-stage moments. Wertheimer was able to shoot before, during and after the Dorsey show rehearsal, as well as back stage before the live telecast. But, in between the rehearsal and the national telecast, Elvis had hours of free time, and Wertheimer tagged along for every bit of it. They walked back to the Warwick Hotel together. Along the way, there was a stop at the Supreme Men's Shop where Elvis considered several shirts but purchased none. Then, it was up to Elvis' suite. At that point, Elvis had known Wertheimer for only five hours, but he obviously felt comfortable around the young photographer. Elvis stretched out on the couch and looked through 200 fan letters he dumped out of a sack. Wertheimer took more shots, then settled into a nearby chair and fell asleep. Sometime later, Wertheimer woke up to the buzzing of an electric razor. Elvis had showered and was getting ready for the TV show. Wertheimer asked if he could step inside the bathroom and snap more pictures (Elvis had pants on), and that was fine with Elvis. Soon, Wertheimer got to observe from the closest perspective the nuances of Elvis doing his hair combing ritual. Elvis performed 'Money Honey' and 'Heartbreak Hotel' on the Dorsey Show that night. After the TV telecast was over, Elvis left through the stage door and was surrounded by approximately 100 screaming teenage girls. Wertheimer suspected that Ann Fulchino of RCA had encouraged this by contacting local fan clubs, but he could tell the enthusiasm was genuine. Elvis launched into serious autograph signing, obviously loving every minute of it. Al Wertheimer climbed on an up-side-down trashcan and clicked away from behind what he called 'this sea of hair'. After Wertheimer was back on the ground, a girl asked him 'Are you anybody?' Sadly, he had to tell her 'No'. Elvis : March 17, 1956 New York Wertheimer turned in to RCA Victor the dozen shots he felt were best suited to their needs. They licensed the rights to use them for promotional purposes like press kits, or to put them on the back of future album covers. RCA also got what are called 'Contact Sheets', Each one contained the images from a roll of his film, and they provided an inventory of other available photos. However, all the negatives belonged to Al Wertheimer. He didn't know how much good these pictures would do him, but he had a hunch. Right, when Elvis finished his March 17 performance on Stage Show there were only a hand full of fans at the stage door for autographs. In just a matter of weeks, the relative calm of this photograph would be replaced by a frenzy of fan attention that last for the rest of his life. Two months later, Alfred Wertheimer was hired for a second round of photos. Elvis was all over the news then. There had been a national outrage over his wild performance of 'Hound Dog' three weeks earlier on his second Milton Berle Show appearance. Elvis' gyrating hips were blasted as 'suggestive and vulgar' by dozens of newspapers and hundreds of preachers in pulpits. No sooner was rehearsal over, when Elvis and crew headed to Penn Station to board a train. In the day-and-a-half opening between the rehearsal and the actual Steve Allen Show telecast, they had to ride overnight to Richmond, give two concerts, and ride the train back to New York. This was precision logistics thanks to Col. Parker, who also put no restrictions on Wertheimer during the train rides. Wertheimer had free reign during the Richmond concerts, too, because Col. Parker spent the whole time up-front dealing with business matters. Mosque Theater June 1956 It was during the Richmond performances that Wertheimer had his real epiphany about Elvis. While Elvis sang, Wertheimer watched the audience and was amazed at how many teenage girls were crying -- hugging each other and crying. Wertheimer now says, 'In my experience, nobody's ever made the girls cry. They've made them jump, scream, yell, cheer, but not cry … That was my clue. Anybody who could make the girls cry is going to be a huge success. And, I better stick around'. Once the train arrived back in New York, they all headed to the Hudson Theater where the Steve Allen Show originated. During the dress rehearsal, Elvis had fun with the basset hound, and Wertheimer got a whole sequence of shots. Steve Allen was determined that nothing like what happened on the Berle show would happen on his. The tuxedo and the basset hound on a pedestal effectively cut down on the movements Elvis could do. Wertheimer observed that Elvis knew he was being controlled but was a good sport about it. That night Elvis performed two songs, 'I Want You, I Need You, I Love You' and 'Hound Dog'. Elvis : Steve Allen Show rehearsal The next day Wertheimer accompanied Elvis to the RCA Victor recording studios in New York and witnessed the birth of 'Hound Dog' and 'Don't Be Cruel'. Colonel Parker was not at this recording session, allowing Wertheimer more unimpeded access. This time, Wertheimer brought two rolls of color film along, as well as all the usual black-and-white. That turned out to be a smart move. Later that year, he licensed the rights for one of the color photos to TV Guide for the first of their many Elvis covers. He received $250, big bucks back in 1956. The next day was July 3, and Elvis had a benefit concert to do in Memphis on the night of the Fourth of July. So, it was back to Penn Station to start a twenty-seven hour train ride to Memphis. This trip was unlike the train rides to and from Richmond. They were at night and everybody slept. This trip provided daylight travel during large portions of two days. Wertheimer got to spend lots of time with Elvis – and the Colonel. Wertheimer took some shots of Colonel Parker. Although it may not have been intended, this warmed up Parker, and he and Wertheimer had several good conversations. After watching Col. Parker in action and talking with him, Wertheimer said, 'This guy is pretty smart. He's thinks like a chess player. You know, he's thinking way ahead – three or four moves ahead. He has a great understanding of cause and effect' Elvis : July 3, 1956 There has to be some hi-jinks on a long train ride, and this trip had some. A huge stuffed Panda showed up from nowhere. Wertheimer thought maybe the Colonel snuck it in. Elvis and the guys loved it. The Panda moved around and got used as a pillow a lot, but it always had his own seat next to somebody. That night, Wertheimer went to Elvis' compartment, where he was listening to acetates of the recent recordings. The Panda was on his upper berth, strapped in with its legs coming through the webbing. The next day Elvis put the Panda on his hip and walked down the aisle of the passenger car. It became a prop as he flirted with the girls on board. When two teenagers didn't believe he really was Elvis, he pointed to Wertheimer and said, 'See that photographer over there? Would he be taking my picture if I wasn't Elvis Presley?' Wertheimer was now traveling on his own tab. He took it upon himself to complete his Elvis photo story by accompanying Elvis to Memphis to see him at home with his family. When the train arrived in Memphis, Wertheimer got to spend the afternoon hanging out at Elvis' recently-purchased house at 1034 Audubon Drive. Gladys and Vernon had no problem with Wertheimer coming into their home and snapping all kinds of pictures. He got along so well with Gladys that historians consider him an authority on her. He says, 'I seemed to become the resident expert on Gladys Presley, even though I was only around her a few hours'. Wertheimer was interviewed extensively about her for a book, and Elvis Presley Enterprises has also gone to him to get a sense of what she was like and her relationship with Elvis. Elvis : Russwood Stadium : July 4, 1956 At 7:30 that night, Col. Parker showed up at Elvis' home. Shortly after that, the local Sheriff arrived. He drove Elvis, Parker, and Wertheimer to Russwood Stadium for the homecoming concert. Wertheimer got one shot in the squad car and dozens at the concert. This was Elvis' triumphant return home. As he told the 14, 000 fans, 'You're going to see the 'real' Elvis Presley'. When it was over, the Sheriff drove Elvis home, and Col. Parker took Wertheimer to the train station. During the two-day trip back to New York, Alfred Wertheimer had time to reflect on what had happened during the past six days: a TV show rehearsal and telecast, a concert in Richmond, a major recording session at RCA Victor, three long train rides, an afternoon with Elvis' family at their home, and a big holiday concert in Memphis. To simply share all that with Elvis would be reward enough, but Wertheimer also had rolls and rolls and rolls of film. The exact number of pictures has been subject to speculation and two earlier magazine articles on Wertheimer used the round number of 4000. He says this is too high; that what really counts is the number of marketable photos. After culling out the unusable shots (too dark, out of focus, etc.), Wertheimer says he has 2053 photos to license for future commercial ventures. Elvis Impersonates The Colonel Wertheimer abstained from using flash bulbs. He took the attitude of being 'a fly on the wall', unnoticed and able to catch the casual un-posed moments. So, he used two small and very quiet 35 mm Nikon S-2 Rangefinder cameras with no flashes, which kept Elvis oblivious to Wertheimer's presence most of the time. In the picture at right you see Elvis amusing his companions on the trip with an impersonation of The Colonel. According to Wertheimer, Elvis took the Colonel's hat, tilted it to one side and began barking orders in an exaggerated Southern drawl. The Colonel oblivious to it all, just keep on talking. Elvis shrugged his shoulders and put the hat back on the rack. Without a flash, it was often necessary for Wertheimer to use very slow shutter speeds to get enough light for a good exposure. This technique is called using 'available light', but Wertheimer pushed it to extremes and coined the phrase 'using available darkness'. He says, 'The darker your environment, the more people let it all hang out'. That certainly worked with Elvis. Wertheimer's photos of Elvis have now appeared in countless books, calendars, watches, posters, and gallery prints. The book Elvis '56, published in 1979, is a remarkable collection of Wertheimer's pictures that, as one critic noted, 'Had the intimacy of a diary and the authority of a historical document. Elvis '56 is also the title of a 1987 video that used about four hundred of Wertheimer's images, many of which have not appeared in print. One of Wertheimer's most famous photos is Elvis wearing a cool motorcycle cap and sitting on his Harley Davidson. If you're an Elvis fan, you've seen this picture. It was taken at Elvis' first house at 1034 Audubon Drive on July 4th, 1956, minutes before he took a few of the fans for short rides around the area. Wertheimer finally got up enough nerve to ask if Elvis would take him for a ride, too. Elvis agreed and off they went. Not for just a few blocks, but for a good long ride out into the suburbs. Naturally, Wertheimer took along his camera, but he had already snapped many photos, so there weren't too many shots left. And he did not bring any extra rolls of film. Although Wertheimer had taken almost 4, 000 photos of Elvis during the previous week, he had no shots of himself and Elvis together. He tried to correct that while they zipped along on the cycle. He held the camera out as far as he could with one hand and shot back toward their faces. It was a big guessing game as to the proper angle and alignment, so Wertheimer moved the camera around and kept snapping until he ran out of film. A few minutes later, Elvis' Harley ran out of gas. Wertheimer expressed concern that this could be a problem, because Elvis had a huge holiday concert due to start in a few hours. However, Elvis told him not to worry, something would happen to solve their problem – and it did. A young mother and her three-year-old daughter passed them, and she quickly slammed the car to a stop. She recognized Elvis, just like he figured somebody would. Once Elvis explained the problem, she drove off, and in short order, she was back with a jerry can of gasoline. Elvis filled up the Harley's tank, and they were ready to go. Elvis never offered to pay for the gas, but when he thanked the lady, he gave her a big kiss (Do you think she would have preferred cash over that?). He walked around to the other side of the car and kissed the little girl, too. Wertheimer was so frustrated because he had no film to capture these charming moments. He was even more frustrated when he developed the prints and discovered his guesses at the correct shooting-backward camera positions were all wrong. He got Elvis' cap, his nose, and a few full-face shots of Elvis, but none contained his own face, too. Oh well, at least he got to ride on the Harley with Elvis. How many people can say that? Elvis Departs For Germany When Elvis was drafted into the Army in 1958, the press reported he would be treated just like any other GI. Perhaps he was during basic training in Texas, but when it was time for him and 6, 000 other soldiers to board a troop ship in New York Harbor, strange things happened. Col. Parker made sure Elvis' send-off was a big event. For one thing, it was estimated that 250 reporters, photographers, and cameramen were on the scene. One of them was Alfred Wertheimer, who had taken thousands of photos of Elvis back in 1956. This time, he did not have an exclusive, but he got plenty of good pictures. He was also in position to see the master marketer, Col. Tom Parker, in action. Wertheimer didn't know if the official Army Band was present at all major troop deployments, but they were there the day Elvis shipped off. Perhaps Col. Parker arranged for their appearance, perhaps not, but he still engineered a first in Army history. He printed up copies of the music to several Elvis songs and passed them out to all the musicians. Songs they played that day included 'That's All Right', 'Hound Dog', 'Don't be Cruel', and others that Wertheimer can't remember. No John Phillip Sousa marches to mark this occasion. Dressed in full Army parade uniforms, the band played Elvis rock & roll. Elvis held forth with a half-hour press conference. Who but Col. Parker could have arranged this? He probably worked out a deal with the Army brass, because Elvis stood in front of big 'Join the Army' posters. There was one Army General who would not leave Elvis' side. He enjoyed being in the spotlight so much that he hovered around Elvis the entire time. The hoards of photographers and cameramen wanted to get film of Elvis going up the ramp from the dock to the second deck of the ship. Five soldiers were selected to join Elvis in the shot to make it look natural. Of course, Elvis was carrying going-away presents as well as his duffel bag. He was also in his dress uniform, while the other guys were in fatigues. When one cameraman flubbed the shot, he asked them to repeat the trek up the ramp. Wertheimer couldn't believe it when they actually complied. The ship had four decks and soon Elvis appeared on the top one – along with Col. Parker. Wertheimer wondered to himself, 'What is Parker doing on a troop ship?' To give something to Elvis, it turned out. Elvis opened a box from Parker, and guess what it contained? Dozens of playing-card-sized autographed photos of Elvis. Then, Elvis flipped then one-by-one over the railing, and they fluttered down to lucky fans standing on the dock four decks below as the band played 'Hound Dog'. Just your average troop deployment. © Copyright 2016 by Elvis Australia : www.elvis.com.au & www.elvispresley.com.au

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Explosions Rock Beirut; Lebanon Supply Routes Cut Print BEIRUT, Lebanon – Israel and Hezbollah fought bloody ground battles and exchanged fierce air and missile strikes Friday — including bombing raids that severed Lebanon's last major supply link with Syria and the outside world, and the guerrillas' deepest rocket attack inside Israel to date. Loud explosions resounded in Beirut early Saturday as Israeli warplanes renewed their onslaught, carrying out several strikes on southern suburbs, local media said. Israeli helicopters, meanwhile, attacked suspected Hezbollah positions in the southern city of Tyre, according to residents. After days of desultory diplomacy, Washington said it was near agreement with France on a U.N. cease-fire resolution, possibly by early next week. But Israel and Hezbollah showed no signs of holding their fire. Israeli aircraft on a mission Friday to destroy weapons caches hit a refrigerated warehouse where farm workers were loading fruit, killing at least 28 near the Lebanon-Syria border. And three Hezbollah rockets landed near Hadera, 50 miles south of the Israel-Lebanon border; 188 rockets rained on other towns, killing three Israeli Arabs. Given the determination of both Hezbollah and Israel to look victorious when the conflict finally ends, the worst of the fighting may still lie ahead with the militant Shiite guerrilla fighters perhaps making good on their threat to rocket Tel Aviv and Israel launching an all-out ground offensive, pushing northward to the Litani River. Israeli military officials said Friday they completed the first phase of the offensive, securing a 4-mile buffer zone in south Lebanon, though pockets of Hezbollah resistance remained. Defense Minister Amir Peretz told top army officers to begin preparing for a push to the Litani, about 20 miles north of the border — a move that would require Cabinet approval. Peretz vowed his forces would complete "the whole mission" of driving guerrilla fighters out of missile range, a defiant response to the Hezbollah leader's threat to launch missiles into Israel's largest city. Israeli airstrikes destroyed four key bridges after dawn, severing Beirut's final major connection to Syria and raising the threat of severe shortages of food, gasoline and medicines within days. The attack in the Christian heartland just north of Beirut killed four civilians and a Lebanese soldier. Israel said it targeted the bridges to stop the flow of weapons to Hezbollah from Iran through Syria. Those weapons include not only missiles, but sophisticated anti-tank missiles said to be responsible for most of the 44 Israeli soldiers killed in more than three weeks of fighting. CountryWatch: Israel | Lebanon | Syria | Iran However, aid workers said the destroyed highway was a vital conduit for much-needed food and supplies, with Christiane Berthiaume of the World Food Program calling it Lebanon's "umbilical cord." "This (road) has been the only way for us to bring in aid. We really need to find other ways to bring relief in," she said in Geneva, Switzerland. Hospitals were in danger of closing soon because medicines, hospital supplies and fuel for generators was fast running out. Staples like milk, rice and sugar were growing short across the country. Lines at Beirut filling stations stretch longer by the day. Dr. George Tomey, acting president of the American University of Beirut, said its Medical Center, one of the prime and best known medical facilities in the Middle East, will stop receiving new patients as of Monday, except for emergency cases. Dr. Ghassan Hammoud, who runs a 320-bed hospital packed with war wounded in the southern port city of Sidon, said he may have to shut down within 10 days. On the 24th day of the conflict, the State Department said Friday that the United States and France were nearing completion of a U.N. resolution designed to halt the fighting in Lebanon and to set out principles for a lasting cease-fire. "We are very close to a final draft with the French on a text," the department spokesman Sean McCormack said. In a sign of billowing support for Hezbollah's Shiite fighters across the Arab world, tens of thousands of Shiite Muslims protested in Baghdad's Sadr City slum, chanting "Death to Israel, Death to America," the biggest rally in support of the militant Shiite organization since the fighting began. As of Friday the Associated Press count showed at least 559 Lebanese have been killed, including 482 civilians confirmed dead by the Health Ministry, 27 Lebanese soldiers and at least 50 Hezbollah guerrillas. Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora said that 1 million people — or about a quarter of Lebanon's population — has fled the fighting. Others estimate some 800,000 Lebanese have been made refugee. Since the fighting started, 74 Israelis have been killed, 44 soldiers and 30 civilians. More than 300,000 Israelis have fled their homes in the north, Israeli officials said. Lebanese security officials and the state news agency said Israeli airstrikes flattened two southern houses Friday and that more than 50 people were buried in the rubble. Israel denied attacking the villages, Aita al-Shaab and Taibeh. Visit FOXNews.com's Mideast Center for more in-depth coverage. Friday's attack on the refrigerated warehouse in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley killed at least 28 farm laborers as they loaded peaches and apples onto trucks bound for the Syrian market, Lebanese security and hospital officials said. Syria's official news agency, SANA, reported that 33 people were killed in the raid, including 23 Syrian workers. Israeli army spokesman Capt. Jacob Dallal said the army suspected the warehouse was used for arms because it tracked a truck it believed was carrying weapons that went into the warehouse from the Syrian side. He said the truck stayed inside for about 90 minutes before returning to Syria. Israel contends that Hezbollah gets almost all of its weaponry from Syria and by extension Iran. That's why it says cutting off the supply chain is essential — and why fighting Hezbollah after it has spent six years building up its arsenal is proving so painful to Israel. On Friday, the army confirmed a Hezbollah anti-tank missile killed three soldiers and wounded two others in southeastern Lebanon. In the last two days alone, these missiles have killed seven soldiers and damaged three Israeli-made Merkava tanks — mountains of steel that are vaunted as symbols of Israel's military might, the army said. It said Hezbollah has fired Russian-made Metis-M anti-tank missiles and owns European-made Milan missiles. Hezbollah's sophisticated anti-tank missiles are perhaps the guerrilla group's deadliest weapon in Lebanon fighting, with their ability to pierce Israel's most advanced tanks. Experts say this is further evidence that Israel is facing a well-equipped army in this war, not a ragtag militia. In the second front of Israel's offensive against Islamic militants, an airstrike early Saturday in the southern Gaza town of Rafah killed at least two Palestinians and wounded five others, officials said. The Israeli army said its aircraft fired at several armed Palestinians. Visit FOXNews.com's Mideast Center for more in-depth coverage. Advertisement

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Mormon farmers in Idaho abstain from alcohol but earn living by supplying barley to brewers Print BOISE, Idaho – Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo might seem like an unlikely person to be pushing a bill to cut federal taxes on small beer-makers: A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he abstains from alcohol. But Crapo's effort, with senators from Oregon, Massachusetts and Maine, illustrates the deep bond between Idaho Mormons and the beer industry. Mormon farmers raise barley for Budweiser and Negra Modelo beers, and last year, Mormons in the Idaho Legislature helped kill a plan to raise beer and wine taxes to fund drug treatment, fearing it could hurt farmers. Crapo touted the tax cut for brewers during a recent appearance at the Portneuf Valley Brewing Co. in Pocatello and said his position is simple: He won't impose his own religious beliefs on others, especially when it could affect a growing industry. "The (Idaho) wine industry is growing, too," he told The Associated Press. "I'll probably get asked to help the wine growers out. And I probably will." Most Idaho barley is grown in the southeastern part of the state, where more than 70 percent of the population belongs to the Mormon, or LDS, church. Church founder Joseph Smith offered this revelation in 1833, "Strong spirits are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies," and members have practiced abstinence since. But the church, which declined to comment for this story, doesn't demand everybody quit drinking. While teaching members to avoid alcohol, it urges public policies that establish "reasonable regulations to limit overconsumption, reduce impaired driving and work to eliminate underage drinking." In Utah, the Mormon heartland to Idaho's south, policymakers also appear to be softening. Gov. Jon Huntsman, a Mormon, and the Legislature normalized liquor laws last year, breaking up a 40-year-old system in which private clubs were one of the few places patrons could buy hard liquor. Even so, Idaho's Mormon barley farmers acknowledge an ambiguity in what they grow. "I've often wondered about the correctness of doing it," said Scott Brown, president of the Idaho Grain Producers Association and a Mormon who grows barley on 5,000 acres near Soda Springs. "But somebody is going to grow it, whether members of the LDS church do." Idaho is the No. 2 barley growing state behind North Dakota, and three-fourths of the nearly 50 million bushels produced by its farmers last year went to malters — and beer. Crapo's bill would cut the federal excise tax on brewers' first 60,000 barrels of beer in half to $3.50, saving brewers up to $210,000 a year. While Idaho has just 17 craft breweries, signs of its beer industry are impossible to overlook. Anheuser-Busch's barley malting plant outside Idaho Falls juts into the sky, and Grupo Modelo, Mexico's largest brewer, completed an $84 million malting facility in Idaho Falls in 2005. Great Western Malting Co. has operations in Pocatello that supply brewers and distillers worldwide. Coors has bought barley from Idaho's Mormon growers for going on four decades. Many are descended from Mormon pioneers who pushed north from Utah after the 1850s and put down roots near the upper Snake River, in the western shadows of the Grand Teton mountain range. With cool nights and a short growing season on land a mile above sea level, the area is suited for fast-growing, hardy barley. Idaho farmers also use ample irrigation, which makes their crop more predictable for brewers than barley from Montana or North Dakota, where many farmers don't irrigate. With the brewers offering good prices, the crop just makes sense, said Kelly Olson, Idaho Barley Commission administrator. "I know of some LDS growers who won't raise malt barley, because they know it's ultimately destined for malt brewers," she said. "But by and large, most farmers make planting decisions based on economics." Still, Mormon scholars said there's a tension for those aiming to balance LDS principles and economic pragmatism. The ethical question, said Armand Mauss, a professor emeritus in sociology and religious studies at Washington State University, is this: "As long as the personal behavior and beliefs of the church member are in accordance with the teachings of the church, is he free as a church member to engage in commerce which is legal but which has the effect of promoting behavior that the church disapproves of?" Clark Hamilton, a Mormon farmer originally from Utah, was harvesting 3,000 acres of barley near Ririe last week. The golden, rice-sized cereal grain was destined for companies that make Natural Light and Corona beers. He's heard the question before. "People will look at me and say, 'You're a Mormon, why do you grow barley?' " he said. "I just don't have a problem with it. I don't think people who drink beer are bad." Advertisement

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Dursley 11°c More NewsGloucestershire Yate and Sodbury Send us your Photos Yate Carpet Giant competition will see winner's home re-carpeted The largest independent carpet retailer in the South West is celebrating its tenth anniversary by launching a competition – and the winner will have their whole house re-carpeted. The competition is free to enter and will run until September 5, with the winner being announced the following day. The competition is being held in recognition of the store’s 10th year based in Yate. The carpeting and flooring specialist initially began as Carpetman in Stonehouse over 20 years ago, before moving to the present site in Yate and became Carpet Giant in 2004. Carpet Giant came to life under the direction of James Price and Dan Morgan. Mr Morgan is the son of the original Carpetman, Steve Morgan, who founded the firm with his business partner Bill Moreton in 1993. With an ingrained passion for flooring instilled by his father, Dan Morgan teamed up with childhood friend James Price to buy the thriving store and take on the family business, re-naming it in the process to indicate their growing intent. Managing director of carpet giant James Price said: “It’s been a fantastic 10 years for us. The business has gone from strength to strength and has built up a great reputation in that time, expanding so much that it’s now the largest independent retailer in the region. “We’re enormously proud of what we’ve achieved and we’re keen for people to get in the same celebratory mood as us, which is why we’re holding the competition. We want to mark the occasion by giving something back to the community. “Carpeting somebody’s whole house is a big undertaking and will make a huge impact on the lucky winner’s home. With our passion being flooring solutions, it’s something that we can offer with pride that we know will have a lasting impact. We’re really looking forward to seeing who the winner is so that we can raise a glass with them and enjoy the moment.” As well as the main prize, which is worth up to £1000, there will be a number of other prizes on offer, including a £250 store discount, a £100 discount, free underlay, free fitting as well as many more. For more information on Carpet Giant’s products call in store or contact James Price on 01454 322828 or email sales@thecarpetgiant.co.uk

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Defying veto threat, House OKs health law change Associated Press Friday, November 15, 2013 President Barack Obama meets with representatives of health insurance companies in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington on Friday, Nov. 15. The president said he brought health insurance CEOs to the White House to brainstorm ways to make sure Americans know what their coverage options are under the law. INTERACTIVEClick here to check out an interactive from the Associated Press on the mistakes made in the federal rollout of the health insurance website. Analysis: How Obama can save his cherished health law Councils set community forum on health care law WASHINGTON—Brushing aside a White House veto threat, the Republican-controlled House voted by a healthy bipartisan majority Friday to weaken a core component of “Obamacare” and permit the sale of individual health coverage that falls short of requirements in the law. In all, 39 Democrats broke ranks and supported the legislation, a total that underscored the growing importance of the issue in the weeks since millions of cancellation notices went out to consumers covered by plans deemed inadequate under government rules. The final vote was 261-157 as lawmakers clashed over an issue likely to be at the heart of next year's midterm elections. The measure faces an uncertain fate in the Senate, where Democrats seeking re-election in 2014 are leading a move for generally similar legislation. “For the last six weeks the White House stood idly by ignoring the pleas of millions,” said Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and lead sponsor of the legislation. “Our straightforward, one-page bill says, if you like your current coverage, you should be able to keep it. The president should heed his own advice and work with us, the Congress, as the founders intended, not around the legislative process.” But Democrats said the measure was just another in a long line of attacks on the health care bill from Republicans who have voted repeatedly to repeal it. “It would take away the core protections of that law. It creates an entire shadow market of substandard health care plans,” said Rep. Henry Waxman of California. The vote came shortly before President Barack Obama welcomed insurance company CEOs to a White House meeting, and one day after he announced a shift toward making good on his oft-repeated promise that anyone liking his pre-Obamacare coverage would be able to keep it. In brief opening remarks, he did not refer to the House vote, and showed no give in his commitment to the program known by his name. “Because of choice and competition, a whole lot of Americans who have always seen health insurance out of reach are going to be in a position to purchase it,” he said. The events capped a remarkable series of politically inspired maneuvers in recent days. The president and lawmakers in both parties have sought to position themselves as allies of consumers who are receiving cancellation notices—yet have made no move to cooperate on legislation that could require those consumers' coverage to be renewed if they wanted to keep it. Neither Obama's new policy nor the bill passed in the House would ensure that anyone whose policy is canceled will be able to keep it. Instead, both would permit insurance companies to sell coverage renewals if they wish—subject to approval by state insurance commissioners. The White House meeting came as the industry and state commissioners began adjusting to the president's one-day-old change in policy. Under the shift, Obama said insurers should be permitted to continue to sell to existing customers individual coverage plans that would be deemed substandard under the health care law. Without the change, many existing plans would have been banned beginning next year, and the president's announcement was an attempt to quell a public and political furor triggered by millions of cancellation notices. The House measure went one step further. It would give insurance firms the ability to sell individual plans to new as well as existing customers, even if the coverage falls short of the law's requirements. Democrats sought to substitute a plan of their own that consisted largely of Obama's new policy, but failed on a party-line vote. Even so, the combination of the president's announcement and his party's alternative apparently siphoned off a large number of Democratic votes from the GOP measure. In a veto threat Thursday night, the White House accused Republicans of seeking to “sabotage the health care law,” and said their measure would allow “insurers to continue to sell new plans that deploy practices such as not offering coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, charging women more than men, and continuing yearly caps on the amount of care that enrollees receive.” A veto would come into play only if both houses approve legislation and send it to the White House for the president's signature. Political calculations were evident as Obamacare produced yet more controversy. The political arms of both parties in both houses churned out attacks all week that underscore the importance of the issue in the 2014 elections. Additionally, Obama made an unusual attempt on Thursday to shelter any Democrat who may have said when the bill was under consideration in 2010—as he did—that anyone wanting to keep current coverage would be permitted to. “They were entirely sincere about it,” he said of the lawmakers. “It's not on them, it's on us.” In the Senate, a handful of Democrats who face tough re-election races next year, led by Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, are supporting legislation to require insurance companies to renew policies cancelled because of the law. Under the law, plans generally are required to meet numerous conditions to qualify. Among them, they would have to accept all customers, regardless of pre-existing conditions, would be limited in additional premiums they could charge on the basis of age and could not cap lifetime benefits. They also would have to provide coverage in a wide range of areas—doctor and hospital care for adults and children, laboratory services, preventive coverage and prescription drugs among them. The cancellation issue is only part of the woes confronting the president and his allies as they struggle to sustain the health care law. Obama has repeatedly apologized for a dismal launch of www.healthcare.gov , which consumers in 36 states were supposed to use beginning on Oct. 1 to sign up for new coverage. The website is so riddled with problems that the administration disclosed earlier this week that fewer than 27,000 signups have been completed—a number that Republicans noted is dwarfed by the flood of cancellations issued due to the law. Compounding the administration's misery, the poor quality of the website has made it that much harder for consumers receiving cancellation notices to shop for alternative plans. It is unclear what, if anything, the administration is prepared to do to alleviate the threat of a break in coverage for those consumers.

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House fire displaces Darien family DARIEN—A town of Darien family was displaced from their home after a wood burning stove chimney fire spread into the attic Saturday morning, according to a Darien Fire Department spokesman. Firefighters from 21 fire departments in four southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois counties provided mutual aid to the Darien Fire Department. The fire was reported at 8:54 a.m. Saturday at W8726 School Section Road, between Old Highway 89 and Highway 14 in the town of Darien, said Fire Chief Justin Schuenke. Residents of the two-story single-family structure were home at the time of the fire but were all out and safe when firefighters arrived on scene, said Brian Shinkus, second assistant fire chief. The American Red Cross was called to assist two of the three family members, Schuenke said. The fire resulted in an estimated $150,000 of “significant smoke, flame and water damage” to the house, valued at around $200,000, he said. The fire was doused with 50,000 gallons of water and extinguished two hours after it started, Schuenke said. One firefighter suffered a minor injury while battling the blaze but was not taken to a hospital for treatment, he said. Schuenke reminded homeowners to check their smoke alarms monthly and to replace batteries twice a year in addition to having your home's chimney or wood stove inspected and cleaned annually by a certified chimney specialist.

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Daniel DeFraia Kerry cancels UAE trip in effort to revive peace process US Secretary of State John Kerry, left, speaks with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas at the World Economic Forum at the King Hussein Convention Centre in Jordan on May 26, 2013. Secretary of State John Kerry, in his continued effort to re-start peace talks between Israel and Palestine, called off his trip to the United Arab Emirates, an official said. Due to arrive in Abu Dhabi to meet with his UAE counterpart on Saturday, Kerry instead ran between Jerusalem and Amman to meet with leaders from both sides. "The secretary appreciates our partnership with the UAE, has phoned his counterpart Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed (al-Nahayan) with his regrets, and looks forward to visiting again in the future," State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said. "Because Secretary Kerry's meetings on the peace process remain ongoing in Jerusalem and Amman, we will no longer be able to make a stop in Abu Dhabi," Harf added. An unidentified Israeli official with knowledge of the talks told Reuters that Kerry's many visits could result in both Israel and Palestine consenting to a meeting backed by the United States and Jordan. "There is such a possibility, but it is not certain," the official told Reuters. Kerry is on a long international tour that has taken him to India, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and India. He is scheduled to fly to Brunei on Monday for an Asian nation meeting. About

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Rick Ouellette Family Benefit A benefit in honor of Rick Ouellette, Neighbors Helping Neighbors, will be held on Saturday, November 13, 2010. Rick recently passed away from pancreatic cancer and all proceeds will go to help the family with expenses they have accumulated during this time. The event will take place from 4 to 11 p.m. at the Steel Tech Shooting Range and will feature food, music and fun for the entire family. Robby Cox will play from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and Six Miles South will take the stage from 7:30 to 11 p.m. Admission will be $8 for everyone over the age of 8. Kids 8 and under are free! Soccer squad ends season with 1-12 record With the Henry County boys’ soccer team deciding to forgo its chance at a postseason this year, the season finale for the Wildcats was last Tuesday night in a 10-0 loss to Martha Layne Collins High School. Veterans Day Assembly The annual HCPS Veterans Day Assembly will be from 10 to 11 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 11, in the high school gymnasium. All veterans and their families as well as members of the community are invited to attend. Veterans also are invited to a free breakfast prior to the assembly. Report directly to the cafeteria by 8:50 a.m. and sign in at the registration table. The meal is sponsored by the HCHS Corps of Cadets and the Youth Services Center. Breakfast guests will be escorted to their assembly seats at 9:45 a.m. Click here to read more... Henry Co. knocked out by Lexington Catholic Playing against a middle school that doesn’t even exist, the Henry County Middle School football season came to an end on Saturday in the quarterfinals of the Division 2 State Playoffs. Henry was perfect at 8-0 during the regular season, and beat Owen County and Western in the first two rounds of the playoffs. But against Lexington Catholic — a team composed of separate middle schools in the Lexington area but is allowed to play as a single team — Henry lost 14-12 to end what was a remarkable season. Maybe the best ever for HCMS. Ky Chamber PAC endorses Rick Rand With four weeks left before the election, it is make-or-break time for many candidates. In Kentucky, our legislature contains many true statesmen who should be kept in office. Rep. Rick Rand is of these statesmen. Response to Letter by Dr. Steven D. White The letter by Dr. White on Oct. 6 presented numerous questions and comments. The following will provide responses to some of the questions, and provide further detail relative to various comments. EHS Hall of Fame inducts its sixth class this weekend Highlighted by the 1939 boys’ basketball team, the Eminence Hall of Fame inducts its sixth class this weekend, in conjunction with the high school’s football game against Trimble County on Friday night. Home sweet home, the Grange has been in same family since 1840 Staff writer/photographer When The Grange was built in 1840 things were different. The land grant for the 1,200 acre property was given to John Shelby Jenkins for his service as an officer in the War of 1812. The two-story brick house is in the federal/Greek revival style. Keep our jailer, re-elect J.C. Suter I just want to say we don’t need a new jailer. J.C. has done an excellent job. Starvin? Marvin might be able to help you Starvin’ Marvin’s Country Kitchen at 11 Lake Jericho Road in Pendleton promises to live up to its name by serving authentic country dishes made from scratch with the freshest ingredients. Owners Marvin and Julie Whitehouse came upon the location, which used to house Mom’s Restaurant, while visiting friends in the area.

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Who'll do the cleaning after the glass ceiling is smashed? AMONG many joyful scenes in the new stage musical 9 To 5 – to which audiences in Glasgow will be treated later this month – is an all-singing, all-dancing office transformation. Desks are brightened up, family photos liberated from drawers and pot plants defiantly plopped on tables. "Productivity's up!" declare the show's feminist heroines shortly thereafter, reminding the audience that a more human approach to business benefits everywhere. What's great about the scene, and indeed the rest of the show, is that at no point does it pit the female workers against their male colleagues, who are just as keen to challenge outmoded rules and stick it to The Man when the man in question is a bullying, backwards, chauvinist boss. If only such divisions weren't implied by the policy debate currently surrounding employment, which conceives of two distinct, homogeneous groups – women and men – scrapping over scarce jobs. Look a little closer, however, and it becomes clear that in many cases "women" is being used as a synonym for "mothers" – and that when it comes to parenting, mothers are being treated as the only ones who matter. As recently reported in The Herald, Holyrood's Equal Opportunities Commission is consulting on women and work over the next two months. Childcare is just one of five main topics of focus, but closer inspection suggests the woman-equals-carer assumption informs several of the others. The notion that women are the ones who suffer when flexible or part-time hours are less available perpetuates the idea that only women should or do seek to fit paid work around unpaid caring. Fathers who might wish to do the same don't get a look-in – a fact that won't help change the attitudes of those who still view non-breadwinning dads as emasculated anomalies. Women are under-represented in boardrooms and CEO posts in the UK, and it would appear motherhood does not account in full for this discrepancy. But while initiatives aimed at encouraging girls to pursue non-traditional careers are always to be welcomed, given the sexism that has held us back for centuries, we must be careful we don't stigmatise those who pursue more stereotypically "feminine" work such as caring and cleaning. The MSPs point out that women are "taking on part-time, low-status or low-paid work" – but who do they imagine will do such work after the glass ceiling has been smashed? There's a catch-22 here: an implied acceptance that these "womanish" jobs will always be low-paid and perceived as low-status ... because it's generally women who do them. Commentators may believe women are being pushed into such roles (after being elbowed out of the running for other jobs by men), but what message does this send to those women who choose such work? That they are letting the side down? That they only believe they have an aptitude for these occupations due to false consciousness? Feminism should not be about increasing options for women only to despair at them when women make the "wrong" choices. Women in higher-status fields are also caught in a bind. The sisterhood is divided not only in terms of work type – drudgery versus brain stimulation – but in terms of life priorities. A woman can be a mother (actual or aspiring) or she can be a "career woman" (or, worst of all, a "career girl"). There is no in-between. There is no woman who chooses neither to have children nor to attempt climbing the greasy pole all the way to the top. Such a woman would have to be conceived as somehow thwarted. But perhaps – just perhaps – there really are some who not only don't want "it all", according to the popular definition, but want different things altogether. Radically, they may want a comfortable life, a decent income, a stimulating job, and free time to enjoy with a partner, family or friends. Shockingly, a man might wish for exactly the same. It's time we looked beyond simplistic divisions. What we don't need right now is a them-versus-us scrap that conceives of any reduction in flexibility as an attack on women – all women, and only women. What we need are more good-quality jobs for all.

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Riding up and down the waterfront Hoboken, Weehawken, Jersey City join in regional bike share program by Dean DeChiaro Reporter staff writer Hudson Reporter Dec 29, 2013 | 4378 views | 0 | 103 | | slideshow The city of Hoboken announced last week that it had entered into a partnership with the city of Jersey City and the Township of Weehawken to bring a joint bike sharing program to the three municipalities that will allow residents to rent one of 650 bikes available up and down the Gold Coast. The Regional Bike Share initiative, as its being called, will build on a pilot program that Hoboken conducted throughout this past summer, which allowed a company called SoBi (Social Bicycles) to install several rent-a-bike stations throughout town. Under the tri-municipality plan, hundreds of bikes will be available at strategic locations in all three cities. In Jersey City, a minimum of 300 bikes will be installed in 30 locations throughout the city. In Hoboken, there will be a minimum of 250 bikes and a minimum of 100 bikes in Weehawken.Additionally, the three municipalities will jointly issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to bike share vendors, instead of each municipality handling their proposals separately. The city council in each respective city is planning on voting to approve the RFP at upcoming meetings, according to a release issued by the municipalities. Additionally, the program is being designed in a way that will allow for subsequent inclusion of other Hudson County towns. Mayors hail sharing program“Following Hoboken’s extremely successful bike share pilot this summer, we are ready to scale up to a full-scale, regional bike share program,” said Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “Hoboken has the highest rate of transit commuters in the country, and this program will improve our region’s transportation resiliency and provide another low-cost, healthy transportation and recreation option.”Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop said that he hopes the program will encourage the residents of each city to grow closer and become more aware of sustainable transportation options._____________“Following Hoboken’s extremely successful bike share pilot this summer, we are ready to scale up to a full-scale, regional bike share program.” – Dawn Zimmer____________“We are pleased to partner with Hoboken and Weehawken to bring this bike share program to our three cities, as it will provide a viable and affordable transportation alternative to motor vehicles for our residents, employees, and visitors,” said Mayor Fulop. “We know that our transportation network is a regional one that connects our three waterfront communities, which is why it was important to partner on this initiative.”Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner said that he hopes residents of that township will use the program to visit their neighbors to the south. “Weehawken Township, in conjunction with Jersey City and Hoboken, looks forward to the initiation of this bike share program,” he said. “Weehawken residents will have the opportunity to not only utilize the bike service within Weehawken, but will also be able to use it while visiting their neighboring communities.”How will it work?The bike share program will allow users to rent a bicycle from any station throughout the three participating cities and return it to any other station, regardless of what municipality the rider has traveled to. Like the program that existed in Hoboken this past summer, users can register for the program online or on their smartphones. Payment plans and user agreements can also be done via iPhone or Android operating systems. Someone who hasn’t pre-registered for the program, such as a tourist or typical motorist, will also be able to participate by signing up directly at a rental station. Interestingly, each bike will be equipped with a GPS that will log user data continually, in an effort to allow the municipalities to adjust the program according to the habits and needs of residents. It isn’t yet clear how much the program will cost to use, though a statement from the municipalities did note that various payment options and plans will be available to residents based on how frequently they plan to use the bikes. A timeline for the plan’s implementation has not yet been set. Dean DeChiaro may be reached at deand@hudsonreporter.com Unnecessary battle? Jersey City Medical Center holds Memorial Service honoring EMS workers

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My Conversation With the Dalai Lama: The Convergence of Science and Spirituality, Part 2 (VIDEO) London -- At a lunch in the crypt at St. Paul's Cathedral before the Dalai Lama received the Templeton Prize on Monday, I was seated next to Canon Mark Oakley. "We need to move beyond relevance to resonance," he said. It was a call to move beyond the shallows to the depths, beyond the passing novelties of the moment to the echoes of the soul. The Canon summed up the vicious circle we too often find ourselves caught in: "We are," he said, "spending money we don't have on things we don't want in order to impress people we don't like." To find the peace of mind that alone can replace this aimless search which has led to an epidemic of stress, anxiety, and drugs -- legal and illegal -- the Dalai Lama is looking to science (specifically neuroscience) to convince a skeptical, increasingly secular society of the power of contemplation and compassion to change our lives and our world. As he wrote in his 2005 book, The Universe in a Single Atom: The Convergence of Science and Spirituality: The great benefit of science is that it can contribute tremendously to the alleviation of suffering at the physical level, but it is only through the cultivation of the qualities of the human heart and the transformation of our attitudes that we can begin to address and overcome our mental suffering... We need both, since the alleviation of suffering must take place at both the physical and the psychological levels. It is for this decades-long passion to bring together science and spirituality that he was awarded the Templeton Prize, a $1.7-million honor given to "entrepreneurs of the spirit" who make "an exceptional contribution to affirming life's spiritual dimension, whether through insight, discovery, or practical works." The prize, the motto of which is "how little we know, how eager to learn," has been given annually since being established in 1972. In awarding the Templeton Prize to the Dalai Lama, the organizers cited his "engagement with science and with people far beyond his own religious traditions," and the fact that "for the past 25 years, he has focused on the connections between the investigative traditions of science and Buddhism and encouraged serious scientific investigative reviews of, for instance, the power of compassion and kindness and its broad potential to address the world's fundamental problems." Contained within that citation are three themes I focused on in my interview with him: his work combining scientific investigation with religious exploration; his thoughts on compassion; and his techniques for increasing our capacity for it, including, of course, sleep! Of course, these three themes are all inextricably bound together. According to the Dalai Lama, science and Buddhist thought share many things: On the philosophical level, both Buddhism and modern science share a deep suspicion of any notion of absolutes. ... Both Buddhism and science prefer to account for the evolution and emergence of the cosmos and life in terms of the complex interrelations of the natural laws of cause and effect. From the methodological perspective, both traditions emphasize the role of empiricism. While the Dalai Lama contends that religious claims must give way to the empirical findings of science, he also believes we must "ensure that science never becomes divorced from the basic human feeling of empathy with our fellow beings." Or, as he put in his 2004 book, The Wisdom of Forgiveness, co-authored with Victor Chan, "To utilize technology more constructively, inner peace is the most important factor. That's the main reason to have closer relations between modern science and ancient human thought." When the two come together, the result is the cultivation of connection -- of empathy and compassion. What's extraordinary about the Dalai Lama is his capacity for empathy in the face of all that he's endured -- sustained onslaughts not just against his people but against him, as well. China, of course, has been brutally occupying his homeland since 1951, and he has been in exile since 1959. The list of human rights abuses against the people of Tibet is appallingly long, and those abuses continue to this day. According to the Human Rights Watch, China responded to a 2008 uprising in Tibet by "brutalizing detainees and torturing suspects in custody." In the past year alone, some 30 Tibetan monks have self-immolated in protest. And though the Dalai Lama has been in exile for over 50 years and strictly advocates non-violence, such is the power of his teachings that the Chinese government treats him as an enormous threat. Among the attacks it has made on him are claims: That he encourages the monks to set themselves on fire: "The Dalai Lama is deliberately encouraging Tibetans to self-immolate." That he enjoyed the deaths of Chinese earthquake victims: "Sources said that the Dalai Lama was in inexplicable ecstasy." That he's like Osama bin Laden: Obama meeting with the Dalai Lama was as if China met with "Osama Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda leaders." That he's like Hitler: "The Dalai Lama's speeches can't help but make people think of the fanatical Nazis during the second world war." That he loves Hitler: Because he's said that his rules of compassion must apply even to Hitler, the official news agency Xinhua says he "cherished the memory of Hitler." Despite this relentless demonization, he's remained among the world's foremost practitioners of the cultivation of compassion. "We have to make every effort to promote human affection," he says. "While we oppose violence or war, we must show there is another way -- a nonviolent way. Now look at humanity as a whole. Today's reality: whole world almost like one body. ... Our future depends on global well-being." At the heart of this approach is the Buddhist belief in the mutability of consciousness -- the idea that we can, through certain practices, change our inner being. "It means that the cultivation of loving-kindness can over a period diminish the force of hate in the mind," he explains. Unlike our physical qualities, "the qualities of the mind have the potential for limitless development," which means that "it is possible for a mental quality like compassion to be developed to a limitless degree." How can this be done? One way is through the practice of mindfulness, focusing one's mind by focusing on a single process, most commonly breathing. Another technique is one he calls "giving and taking." This is how he describes it: "I make visualization: send my positive emotions like happiness, affection to others. Then another visualization. I visualize receiving their sufferings, their negative emotions. I do this every day. I pay special attention to the Chinese -- especially those doing terrible things to the Tibetans." One of his goals in bringing science and Buddhism together is to study and enhance the transformative effects of these practices. Since 1987, he's been organizing dialogues between scientists and Buddhist thinkers and practitioners on a range of subjects, from physics and astronomy to empathy and compassion. "These are times," he says: ...when destructive emotions like anger, fear and hatred are giving rise to devastating problems throughout the world. But I believe we have a valuable opportunity to make progress in dealing with them, through a collaboration between religion and science... Experiments have already been carried out that show some practitioners can achieve a state of inner peace, even when facing disturbing circumstances. The results show such people to be happier, less susceptible to destructive emotions, and more attuned to the feelings of others. These methods are not just useful, but cheap: you don't need to buy anything or make anything in a factory. You don't need a drug or an injection. So how can we spread these ideas? How can we scale them to meet the huge challenges we're facing all over the world? A good way to start is by trying to emulate this remarkable man's approach to living: "The important thing is that my daily life should be something useful to others," he said last year. "As soon as I wake up in the morning, I shape my mind. The rest of the day, my body, speech, mind are dedicated to others." Call it step one on our journey from "relevance to resonance." Watch my conversation with the Dalai Lama here (with a video slideshow here). Add your voice to the conversation on Twitter: twitter.com/ariannahuff Follow Arianna Huffington on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ariannahuff Arianna Huffington Buddhism Religion And Science Dalai Lama Tibet On Becoming Fearless...in Love, Work, and Life by Arianna Huffington Third World America: How Our Politicians Are Abandoning the Middle Class and Betraying the American Dream

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Business Today is May 25th, 2016|Hudson Valley Press - More Than News |Bookmark HVPress!Tweet June 5th, 2013Groundbreaking celebration for Oak Ridge ApartmentsA groundbreaking ceremony was held recently in Middletown for Oak Ridge Apartments, an affordable housing apartment complex. MIDDLETOWN - New York State Homes & Community Renewal (HCR), the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), Occupations, Inc., and Warwick Properties, Inc., recently celebrated the construction of Oak Ridge Apartments in Middletown. The 78-unit apartment complex will offer affordable workforce apartments, including 15 for people with developmental disabilities. Oak Ridge Apartments is the first affordable housing apartment complex in the State of New York funded under HCR’s Leveraged Loan Program with OPWDD, part of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s efforts to increase access to supportive housing in the New York. Darryl C. Towns, Commissioner/CEO of HCR said, "Oak Ridge Apartments will stand as a model of partnerships and the effective use of investments to help people live in the communities where they work, and to help those with developmental disabilities live independently. Governor Cuomo is dedicated to increasing the State’s commitment to supportive housing. HCR’s collaboration with OPWDD onthis development is a prime example. By using our resources in the smartest, most efficient ways possible, we are able to build safe, affordable, energy efficient homes with the services people need. Thank you to Warwick Properties, Occupations Inc., CPC, and everyone who came together to make Oak Ridge a reality." Courtney Burke, Commissioner of OPWDD said, "OPWDD is pleased to be a partner in this innovative project with HCR, Occupations, Inc., and Warwick Properties. It embodies all of the components of Governor Cuomo’s Medicaid Redesign Supportive Housing Development program and helps OPWDD fulfill our mission of helping people with developmental disabilities live richer lives by providing affordable, accessible, and integrated housing opportunities." Jonah Mandelbaum, President of Warwick Properties said, "Warwick Properties is proud to be part of this special collaboration, a creative and a unique partnership utilizing public and private equity investments with the support of local Town, County and two State government offices, Department of Homes and Community Renewal and OPWDD, providing much needed housing support for people with developmental disabilities and their families. James B. DeStefano, President of Occupations System of Care said, "We are honored to be a part of this special collaborative effort between, local government, county government, and two state offices, with private equity funding to provide these apartments for residents with special needs in our community. Under the leadership and funding of the New York State Homes and Community Renewal, with construction financing and supports from the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, fifteen apartments will be designated for people with developmental disabilities, and sixty three will be for work force and special needs. We are grateful to all our partners for this innovative model to support people with special needs to achieve greater independence." Amy Anderson-Winchell, Chief Executive Officer of Occupations System of Care said, "Occupations is honored to be working with Jonah Mandelbaum of Warwick Properties, the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, and New York State Homes and Community Renewal on the Oak Ridge Apartments affordable housing project. In addition to the much needed beautiful, accessible, and affordable apartments, this project will support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to choose to live in their own apartments with the supports they need. This opportunity supports Occupations to further our mission to support people with disabilities to live meaningful lives of their choice fully integrated in our community." "At CPC, we believe that providing stable, supportive homes for vulnerable populations is an essential aspect of building strong, collaborative communities," said Doug Olcott, Senior Vice President and Hudson Valley Regional Director, The Community Preservation Corporation. "We are proud to provide a $8 million construction loan and a $2.6 million NYS Pension Fund permanent loan for the development of Oak Ridge Apartments. In collaboration with the OWPDD, Occupations Inc., and long-time partner Jonah Mandelbaum, we will be bringing 78 much-needed units of housing to the workforce and special needs population of Middletown." Dominick Buffa, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions for First Sterling Corporation said, "First Sterling is proud of its commitment to affordable housing throughout the United States. It is particularly proud of its investment in Oak Ridge Apartments, where Jonah Mandelbaum and Occupations Inc. were able to work with HCR, OPWDD, SONYMA and CPC to build into the plan the ability to serve a wide variety of people and families in need in this community. We are proud to have played a role in such a noble and worthwhile effort." 5 / 5 (6 Votes) Copyright 2006-2016 The Hudson Valley Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Let Your Voice Be Heard ... Fill Out the Reader Response Form Below

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2016-22/0601/en_head.json.gz/1884

Subscribe to Posts(no spam!) Email address:Delivered by FeedBurner OtherStuff Jennifer Balderama Thomas Barnett Blog Sisters danah boyd BradSucks Tim Bray Dan Bricklin Susan Crawford Betsy Devine Richard Edelman Paul English Tom Evslin Harold Feld Seth Finkelstein Dan Gillmor Mathew Gross Steve Himmer Joi Ito Kalilily Kenyan Pundit Valdis Krebs Liz Lawley Jessica Lipnack misbehaving Charlie Nesson Reed/Frankston Scott Rosenberg Karen “Freerange” Schneider Wendy Seltzer Tim “Librarything” Spalding Fred Stutzman Tim Hwang Joe Trippi M. Sue Willis Ethan Zuckerman November 18, 2011 [avignon] afternoon session Notes on the first afternoon session. I was in the first half of this, which I am not blogging. It was ably moderated by Eric Scherer of France TV. (He looks ahead for them.) NOTE: Live-blogging. Getting things wrong. Missing points. Omitting key information. Introducing artificial choppiness. Over-emphasizing small matters. Paraphrasing badly. Not running a spellpchecker. Mangling other people’s ideas and words. You are warned, people. Eric asks Cynthia Fleury (philosopher): What would the Net be like without curating? We would never find out. There is no walk in the woods without a path. The idea is that this puts innovation on the periphery. But it should be in the center. 45% of Net users speak English. The typical user is male, under 35, a graduate. The network architecture revolves around the US. Only 2% [of what] is accounted for by African countries. Cultural diversity is limited, affecting curation. There are positives: A more open public space. We are all our own media, as Castells has said. Chomsky’s logic is still there, however. Friedman’s statement that the world is flat is wrong; the Internet creates more concentration and relief through curation because these aren’t open systems. FB brings you into contact with people you already knew. At the same time there is no culture without cultural co-creation. There is a utilitarian approach here; people go through three pages of Google and stop. Also you’re under pressure of breaking news, rumors, low-quality voice. So curation is important. So use different search engines, go beyond the 50th page of results. But, as PAscal says, the ground has to be prepared — you have to be open and ready to discovery. I am interested in our ability to destructure mediation — go straight to a source, bypassing the authorities. Demediation. Then you remediate: you check what you have against what the mainstream media say about it. The former head of Google France gets asked if someday we’ll know more about the Google ranking algorithms? He says the algorithm will enter the public domain in 2014. They’ll try to keep it secret as long as possible. There’s so much at stake that it is a strategic choice by Google to say as little as possible. Can there be neutral listing? Cynthia: No. Maybe there are good reasons to become transparent. Gilles Babinet (Pres. opf French National Council of Digital and Eyeka). Google is a Western thing. But emerging cultures have lots and lots of mobiles. Also: I find fascinating the polarization of Net and the art. When you create a new web site, you are close to artistic creation. You have to avoid this idea that art and the Net are partitioned. It’s like the Salon that didn’t want the Impressionists; that what we have to avoid. Gilles: I don’t know if any other country has as rich a cultural heritage as France. The French National Council ought to be making the most of it. As Pres. Sarkozy said, trying to control things is reactive and will cost more energy than it’s worth. Cynthia: What’s most interesting about Internet: The balance between expertise and transmission. If you have successful curating, it means money to some, and learning and power to others. That’s the history of transmission. We need to have a certain amount of lack of understanding because that’s what keeps us interested and pulls us forward. The Internet is calling expertise, intellectualism, and commitment into question. Gilles: The Americans tells us they need to find a way to protect cultural goods just as they protect technical goods. Cynthia: Obviously I agree with that. Indigenous knowledge must enjoy IP protection. It’s crucial to know who the author of a work of art is. And it has to be passed over into the public domain. Categories: copyright, culture, liveblog Tagged with: avignon • copyright • culture Date: November 18th, 2011 dw 1 Comment » [avignon] President Sarkozy They move us into the grand hall — vaulted ceilings — for a talk by Pres. Nikolas Sarkozy. Sarkozy has not exactly been a friend of the Internet. The last time I heard him talk was at LeWeb when he was a candidate. Among the three candidates who spoke there, Sarkozy’s talk was clearly the most hostile to the Internet, viewing it primarily as a site of gossip and slander. NOTE: Live-blogging. Getting things wrong. Missing points. Omitting key information. Introducing artificial choppiness. Over-emphasizing small matters. Paraphrasing A SIMULTANEOUS TRANSLATION badly. Not running a spellpchecker. Mangling other people’s ideas and words. You are warned, people. President Sarkozy: I was going to give a prepared speech but instead will speak off the cuff. Never before have cultural protagonists — politicians, heads of gov’t — had to make so many efforts to come up with imaginative, new responses to the challenges that humans have never had to face before. I know my presence here surprised some observers. Why talk about culture in such a crisis? Because culture is the bedrock, and the bedrock of our response. The French response to the crisis is to invest massively in culture and anything having to do with culture. That is the French way of doing things. France believes that cultural goods are essential goods. That is the basis of the choices we have made. To live, man needs to feed himself, be healthy, and needs culture. France is the only developed country that has not cut into its cultural budgets — and around in Europe cultural budgets are being cut 20, 30, 50% — but we have increased those budgets. I’m an optimist. The world has never needed cultural protagonists the way we do now. You give life sense, you build links, you create collective sense. The offshoot of globalization is that citizens need a sense of belonging to their country. What better way than through the adhesion to one’s culture. Why have we had to show such boldness? Because all cultural protagonists are facing a crisis of distribution. This is a matter of extreme seriousness, if we consider — as I consider — it is no service to culture to say that it is free for all. The disappearance of traditional distribution methods threatens traditional culture itself. You used to go to a record store or a DVD store. That is shattered. So, we have to reengineer a viable economic model from A to Z. This is not simply a matter of imaging. You have to be courageous. I will be blunt. I have always believed that there would be no form of creation if there were no longer to be respect for upholding and respect for copyright and author’s rights. This is of the essence and shapes all the rest. Bon Marche invented the very concept of author’s rights. A musician has ownership over the music he writes. An author has ownership over the book he publishes. To deny the ownership of artists on their work amounts to negating all forms of creation. What was the status of creators before they had ownership? They were simply court jesters. Those were the lucky ones. Your predecessors long ago might find a benefactor who fell in love with a particular musician’s works and would protect him. What enabled artists to break out of that yoke? What give musicians and writers independence and freedom? What enabled them to recovery their ownership. Copyright. The idea that you could live on the benefits of what you created. There is no independence when you rely exclusively on the genersoity of benefactors. I am determined not to accept that a tech revolution, even as positive as the Net in other respects, should call into question the ownership rights of a creator over his or her works. To challenge that is to acknowledge anuy economy of culture. Why is it so complex? I remember the 2005-6 debate where people on my side said you shouldn’t defend these ideas even if they’re right because youth will rise up against you. But one should not renounce one’s beliefs simply because you have to explain things to people before you persuade them. I even had people say I would lose this election if I did not understand this extraordinary revolution that has turned all on its head. We imposed, against much resistance, legislation (HADOPI) against piracy and to protect author’s rights. I don’t want there to be any ambiguity, so I want to respond to those who ultimately believed what I believe, but decided not to defend a just idea for political reasons. First, I was indeed elected as president. One can uphold copyright without alienating the majority of people. People are down to earth and can understand if you explain it. Second, I was told I lost that war. Piracy is part of people’s lives, I was told. When I saw certain sites where daily newspapers were offering their articles free and people weren’t buying the paper any more. How little respect you have for what you do! And how stupid to think that people would pay for what they would get for free. Within a few months of HADOPI, there was a 35% drop in privacy, so the battle wasn’t lost. The internet society has to be guided by rules, just as real society is. The great USA went about it our way. NZ, S Korea likewise. The battle is not lost. Now we have to tackle the streaming web sites and there is no reason not to do so. What was ambiguous was that p2p pirating was based on an ideology that was based on an initially positive ideology: sharing. The approach wasn’t in and of itself negative. On streaming sites the ideology of sharing has gone out the window; they’re about making money. They claimed I’m a fanatic. But HADOPI is just a means to an end. Tech is evolving, so the law must too. All we want to do is protect author’s rights. Once the principle of protecting author’s rights is enshrined, why not? And at the Digital E8, I said lets invite the Net giants to talk with us. I was told that they’d think we’re trying to gag them. When you invite people to talk, you’re not gagging them. So, we sat down and talked, and there was no tension. The idea is not to protect our backyard but to pull these worlds together. The Net revolution is a phenomenally positive development, but we need to talk. And to utter the forbidden word: Taxation. [Google pays no taxes in France.] I cannot accept that these companies pay no taxes in France. You can’t have all your clients in one customer and your team in another customer, and pay taxes ina third country where the taxes are the lowest. We can support this Net revolution while still talking with Google, Zuckerberg, Microsoft, and talk about author’s rights, taxations, the fact that the latest Marakesh bombing was done by someone who discovered how to make a home-made bomb on the Internet. In our mind, there isn’t an opposition between the Net world and cultural world. There is a need to get together, speak the same language, lay the foundations for an economy that is viable for Net giants and creators and that doesn’t ruin what the creators create. Culture is an investment that will get us out of this crisis, not a mere expenditure that one can cut back on. Culture is not a luxury. So, I felt it my duty to be here you in this beautiful city, even though there are heavier burdens to shoulder. Q: I’m a Bollywood actress and writer. I am French. I am also Indian. Completely both. For me culture means the ability to choose among our own passions, and not the ideas that are fashionable. For this we need cultural diversity. So: What is culture? A: For me, culture is meaning. “Culture is the response one gets when one wonders what one is doing on Earth?” [He’s quoting someone I couldn’t get.] What gives our life meaning. There is a spiritual and cultural answer to this. Culture is the only area in which there is no notion of progress because culture is the only way man has found to better his condition. When you go to L’escaux Caves you realize it’s the Sistine Chapel of the time — the same sense of transcendence, getting man out of the Kantian chains that bind us. If I take off my head of state cap, I would simply say that culture is an investment. France welcomes 20M tourists a year. What would France be without its culture? If I look at it as a politician, culture is what binds a society. It is the lifeblood. It is why men and women do not know one another share common emotions. Without culture there is no sense of nationhood. If I were to speak as a reader or listener, culture is emotion. A special sort of emotion experience by the composer or writer, but that has universal value. The more personal the feelings expressed, the more unique, the more universal. And, to come around full circle, how can you define culture as what it is not. It is not that extra bit of soul — I hate that expression — for the well-fed society that can afford it. It is not part of the whole. It is the whole. From culture you achieve cohesiveness. You don’t have life and then the spangle of culture. Culture is our identity. Finally, what is culture not? It is the very opposite of sectarianism, of the accepted dogma, of conservativism, of the sheep mentality, of the Pavlovian reflex, of the automatic geographical alignment, of the concern for image at whatever cost. Q: I am an American anthropologist from India. It is music to my ears to hear that music is a necessity. If there were no investment in culture, my discipline would disappear, which would not be a sorry for the world, but would be for us anthropologists. When you make it clear that culture is a non-negotiable priority even or especially in this time of fiscal crisis, how can make this argument in other countries? Can you draw on your experience with other locations? A: Need only look at what has happened throughout the world. When the Spanish steel industry was swept around, the city of Bilbao was ruined because its economy rested on it. They made a tremendous wager, betting on architectural quality (Frank Gehry) and culture (Guggenheim Museum). Bilbao generates 220 million euros because of this. Bilbao was saved by cultural investment. When Germany reunited, they decided that the capital would be in Berlin, and built an exceptional capital. Culture is what Berlin has to offer. They’ve had a time attracting companies to Berlin, so real estate prices have stayed low, attracting artists. But 13% of the jobs in Berlin are in the arts and culture. Liverpool’s response in the crisis was to invest massively in cultural terms, and it worked. The cities of the Ruhr are another example. I have had to make painful decisions in Moselle [?] and Metz [spelling!] where 30% of jobs were military. We had to redeploy bases and barracks once my predecessor, Chirac, abolished compulsory military service. So, we abolished military jobs. The implications were colossal. So, we decided to build the Bourbon [?] Center in Metz. It received more than one million visitors. We’re going to dig our heels on this. We’re going to build a Louvre in Lens [?], which has suffered two brutal revolutions: the collapse of the mining industry and the textile crisis. That will project will be a success. We’ll have the museum of the Mediterranean in Marseilles. The Impressionists housed in the ___ museum, the dream I have is of a magnificent museum in Normandy. When the crisis befell us, we came up with a plan to relaunch the economy which included 400B euros worth of additional money for culture. I think there were 83 cathedrals needed to be restored, of hwihc 50 have been restored. And the living arts! Art is always living art — people go on stage and perform. We have not touched one penny of that money. It is our certainty that the best way to respond to the crisis is to invest in culture, just as in aerospace. And if you look at the history of art, creation has never been better than in countries that feel good about themselves. The two phenomena are intimately interconnected. When I look at French cinema, I think Thank heavens our predecessors set up systems that I have done everything to protect. That’s why the French film industry is not in the situation of some of our neighbors that have seen their film industries go down the drain. I may be bold but I have a sense of risk. Q: [A film maker – Vanya [?]] Barbara Hendricks this morning said that art is as important as air and water, and you said the same. I am a member of Culture and Diversity. Our goal is create cultural opportunities for poor kids. We want to bring them toward art and art schools, but often the importance of art is often quite removed from their lives. They receive art passively through tv, internet and films. But they have little opportunity to be active. What can we do? A: Look at the extraordinary way the US puts films, music, etc., at service of their economic interests. The brands take root. I’m not saying it’s deliberate, but it works. There’s a steamrolling effect. The generosity of French artists and film directors is equaled elsewhere. We are very happy to screen American films and show American artworks. We do want our American friends to remember that there are other countries. That’s another debate. Reciprocity has to exist in the cultural industry. Beyond exchange. We have to be able to defend this principle. It’s not just the under-privileged. The privileged don’t always appreciate culture. We want to use this extraordinary instrument — the 5,000 colleges in France — to create the new audiences for opera, theater, film, etc. We have started a program where we by the rights to 200 films and make them available to all these colleges. This was not a way of competing with the film industry, but the idea was that if you start watching films in college, you will continue as an adult. We have 264 national theaters, 600 theater troupes, a huge reservoir of plays. But where are the audiences? I’d like to see these plays, once they have toured, to go to the colleges and schools, to shape and form the audiences of tomorrow. Take opera. The cost of a seat is pretty prohibitive, yet the operas are full. I’d like to buy up the rights to these operas and enable these shows to play in schools and colleges. Then there are underprivileged. We’re taking an initiative bringing exhibitions…going out to meet the people. In one case only 19% had ever been in a museum. We’re trying to decentralize, e.g., the Mobile Pompidou exhibition. It’s a simple stage under a tent so people aren’t intimidated. Suddenly they lay their eyes on a Picasso. Can you imagine the effect? That work of art now is not foreign. It’s part of one’s village. Culture is too often sensed as foreign. Whatever you background, when you set your eyes on a work of art, you appreciate it. There is no pre-determinism. Art’s value should be self-evident. You walk down the street and see something beautiful. You don’t need to be told or have it explained. The more you know the more you need to be told. When it’s simply about emotion, nothing needs to be explained to you. [Wow is that false. And it’s inconsistent with his Net views. If we respond to art without training, then why hasn’t the Net clustered around works of art?] Q: How about free access to museums? A: I don’t think that’s the ultimate response because you don’t respect what is free. Everything has a price. Everything has a value. There has to be a bit of an effort for there to be pleasure. But we have for 18-25 and teachers access to museums should be free. The number of visits as a result of this decision: 2.7M youths have gone in. Teachers: 500K. Culture is an amazing, fantastic domain that holds true. You have to be pragmatic, generous, open-minded. I am against access to museums being free because they need to sustain themselves. But for young people and teachers this was a good move. If teachers don’t get into the habit of going to museums, how can their pupils learn. Q: [a Swedish student] Ever since I was a child, I wanted to make a difference. First as a poet. Then wanting to become the Sect’y General of the UN. My generation was born into the Internet. We invented Facebook, Skype, and Spotify. This has changed how we communicate and interact, across borders. From my point of view, these are great developments. Culture is beautiful and is in all that we do and are. Everything that isn’t developing is degenerating. Values are changing. Why is the defense of IP fundamental in your policy? Isn’t it in opposition to access to culture you’ve stood up for? Isn’t the fight against piracy a hopeless case. A: I see haven’t persuaded all of you. An artist who wants music to be disseminated free of charge always has that option. I am challenging the pirating of works who do not want that. Who would buy the film or music if you can access it free of charge. There is now a quite cheap offering on the market. It’s right that you should pay less for a record or CD you buy on the Internet. For music we’re going to set up a system comparable to the CNC system we set up for film. I want providers to contribute musical creation just as a certain number of actors contribute to creation in the film industry. Just as there’s a national film center (CNC) there should be a national music one, which should be partially funded by the providers. When there are no writers or music, what is your generation going to get? For music there has to be composers, for films etc. If they don’t have ownership, what will they become of them? The famous will remain in the catalog until their rights fall into the public domain. If your first film or record is not enough to live on, how will you do the second? I asked Zuckerberg — who is remarkable and I admire — if he’d like his work pinched, and he said “Of course not.” Explain to me why a famous author or film maker should have fewer rights than those who are not famous. Go ask Google or Microsoft. Don’t tell me I’m not in favor of the free market! We should fight harder for author’s rights! I think it’s beginning to sink in. I know in Sweden, regulation is a dirty word. We defend our rights, but we’re not refusing the Internet. France is where the Net has developed the fastest and the most. Let us not ask the wrong questions. Illegal streaming sites are doing untold damage and I fully intend to fight them. I do not want to see profit made from the simple theft of other people’s work, just as in the national bond issue, I have earmarked a lot of money so Frederic Mitterand can digitize what are in the French national libraries. Big companies wanted to do it, but we said no. Freedom needs laws. Not too many regulations, but when there is no regulation, it is those who have the most clout and fewest scruples win. Q: When we try to understand the current revolution, we should look back to the Printing Revolution. Technological rev is not only a change in tools, but influences all levels of culture.: distribution, production, communication, and sharing of culture. We have to rethink all aspects concurrently. We need mediation and explanation. With my students we explore other economic models, or a global license. Shouldn’t we try to reconcile technology and our culture in a period of massive piracy? A: Yes, it’s a massive revolution, but that shouldn’t lead us to turn our backs on our democratic traditions. We have to find the right balance. On a global license: I am completely against this completely crazy idea. I believe that the identification between the author and his work is of the essence. If we all into some kind of melting pot, we are denying everything that is individual and specific. No one is defending this crazy idea. We are indeed facing challenges. E.g., digital TV that puts on the same screen the traditional, regulated services and the Internet world, which is not regulated and that does not contribute to the film industry the way the traditional services do. The latter will be stealing audience share. So we are going to have to work on how to regulate digital, connected TV era. Or, cloud computing: There again, what happens to your private copy that no longer needs to be uploaded? The battle against illegal downloading will become a matter of the past because in cloud computing there won’t be any need to download anything. But as I said initially, we’re ready to have a third or fourth version of our anti-piracy laws. We believe in protecting author’s rights and them getting individual remuneration for their work. The ways and means of doing this will change, and no one could not say that the Net is not a major step in social connection. But we don’t want our democratic principles thrown out the window. Of course we have to regulate and do it within a framework. It takes 3 mins to download a film. We want to be flexible but stick to our fundamental principles. Q: [economist] I work on the economics of art and culture. You’ve today demonstrated how clearly you understand the connection. You’ve made the tax system a priority in your own cultural policy. The VAT on some cultural goods has risen in France. Is this consistent with your support of culture. A: For France, the VAT on the same goods should be the same, whether hardcopy of digital versions. I understand the problems that may arise out of this for the European Commission. But as of Jan 1 2012 we’ll apply reduced VAT for hardcopy goods. Why should it be 7% on the Net and 19.6% for hardcopy. The globalization caused by the Net leads to major distortions in competition, which we cannot accept. So, I’m requesting that VAT on digital and ebooks be the same, at a reduced rate. It will be implement on Jan 1., and I hope that the European Commissioner will not come down to us too hard. This is a personal message to her. I do not understand that there should be a VAT differential to books, films, records, music, because in my mind cultural goods are the same and should have equal standing. In France cultural goods are considered to be essential goods, like food. Now, why we have increased VAT from 5.7 to 7% on cultural goods, is a way of protecting that sector; VAT in France is 19%. I cannot ask the French to tighten their belts and hear one sector complain about a rise from 5.7 to 7%. We have maintained VAT at 2.2% for living arts and press. So let no one say we’re being unfair to culture. We have protected the cultural area ferociously. We have smoothed the burden across the board. I hope the EC lets me work calmly on the record industry. I take this very seriously. Your memories are of smell and music. The systematic destruction of the music industry I cannot simply shrug off. That’s why I’m thinking about reduced VAT for music, as I’ve done for films. Categories: censorship, copyright, culture, net neutrality, open access, policy, social media Tagged with: avignon • copyleft • copyright • culture • france • piracy • sarkozy Date: November 18th, 2011 dw 4 Comments » [avignon] Forum d’Avignon intro, and second session The Forum d’Avignon is an annual meeting of invited guests, heavily from the French culture industries, with a handful of Internet people sprinkled in, and interesting international representation. It is a high end conference for sure: beautiful hotels in beautiful Avignon, a welcome reception in the historic and ornate Town Hall, dinner in the Palais de Papes — the Palace of Popes, a visit from Pres. Sarkozy in a couple of hours. The sessions themselves are held in a long hall lined with seats facing one another. The overall topic this year — the 4th annual Forum — is “investing in culture.” The sessions consist of group interviews in the middle. James “Jamie” Boyle is here, I’m very happy to say. He speaks tomorrow. They sat me next to him at dinner last night (yay!) and among other wise things, said that conferences always have narratives. It’s not yet clear to me what the narrative for this Forum is, although I have apparently been asked to play the role this afternoon of The Bringer of Discomfort, or possibly, He Who Should Be Heard Once and then Ignored. I am very appreciative to have been brought here (expenses paid). And I am double appreciative to be one of the relative few people who are given a chance to speak. But I have to say that this conference cries out to be an unconference. Antoine Gosset Grainville makes a case for investing in culture. Urbanist Charles Landry says that culture needs to move into the center again because of the rapid pace of development and globalization. The right question is: What is the cost of not thinking about culture, art, design, green, etc.? So, of course we want a lot of artists. But we also want interesting and provocative art. Vincent Frosty (investor) has looked at who is investable and at 50 cultural projects. They’ve found that cultural and non-cultural investments are treated roughly the same. Charles: Urban engineers think of city-making in terms of creating infrastructure, vs. the sensory experience of cities. Hardware is not the totality of life. The engineering approach can sometimes be insensitive, although engineering is a wonderful discipline. E.g., Chicago Millennial Park that transformed a parking lot. A city is a place of meeting, transacting, exchange, etc. Cities are aiming at reinventing the art of conviviality. That’s how culture is reinvigorated. This is intangible, confounding accountants. Creative city-making is a paradigm shift. The best cultural policy: 1. Link us to enlightenment. 2. Life our spirits; empowers us. 3. Entertains us. 4. Employability. 5. Economic impact. [Why is it not clear here that when it comes to culture, the Internet is the new city? It is where culture is happening and accelerating, even though from the outside it looks like a warren of pickpockets, drunks, and prostitutes.] Vincent: My policy guidelines: Open to partnerships. Sustainable beyond the creators. Charles: I looked at 6 European cities. All have used culture in one way or another. Often they use old buildings. Culture is increasingly embedded into the economy in subtle ways, and new forms of working that are less hierarchical. Vincent: Demand is strong for culture. But culture alone is not going to get us out of the economic crisis. Charles: We want to create conditions in which ordinary people make the extraordinary happen. Vincent: Viviendi has made cultural enrichment a target by which executives are measured. Now new people come to the panel. David Throsby is an Australian economist. Jochen Gerze is an artist. Syhem Belkhodja is a Tunisian choreographer. David: How do economists regard culture? “Cultural capital” has economic and cultural value. Expenditure on culture is an investment in culture. Now we can use the methods of economic analysis. Five examples: 1. Bengarra Dance Company in Australia turns aboriginal people’s stories into contemporary dance. It’s a risky investment, but the payoff is that it contributes to the viability of the dance company, plus the obvious cultural payoff. 2. A new museum (“M9”) in the city of Maestra next to Venice, with cultural benefit plus economic payoff in increased tourism, etc. 3. Skopje in Macaedonia is investing in the old bazaar in its historic center. Local businesses benefit, with an important social payoff because before the investment there was a lot of inter-ethnic conflict there. Now it’s a social space. 4. In Papua New Guinea, basket weavers using traditional methods are making products sellable on the international market, especially empowering women. 5. The National Theatre Live project in the UK transmits live performances to cinemas all over Europe. Finally, we need a model of the cultural economy that puts the core creative artists at the center. [Liked this until that last point. I would have preferred a networked model, rather than the concentric circles David displayed.] Jochen: Much of what we’ve heard this morning is true and useful. But we’re making a mistake by basing ourselves on the Renaissance view of art in which you bid people to stand in admiration of a work and keep their mouths shut. Democracy informs our cultural practices. E.g., I did a year-long project called “Two Three Streets,” an artistic project in the public space. Today’s art always raises the question of whether it is art. So, we invited people to spend a year rent-free in exchange for contributing to a common text to be written, and to change a street in three cities in the Ruhr area [?]. 1,500 people applied from all over the world. 78 [?] participants were accepted, between ages 17 and 90. Changing a street in a disadvantaged part of town…that is not an art project. For a year, 800 people participated in writing a shared text. The Net brought them together, 16 languages, 3,000 pages. It sold out. An ebook is being prepared, and instead of being sold for 80 euros it will cost around 8 euros. In 1837 Novalis said: “Perhaps one day we shall write, think and act in common. Someday perhaps an entire nation will create a work of art.” Some have stayed on to continue the community work of this project, not as art but as an economic, social, and cultural project. Art can affect an entire culture, but not necessarily by artists. It is like aspirin that dissolves into the entire system. Syhem: The elections in Tunisia have made it harder than ever to talk about culture. Women had some freedom under the old dictator. 28 yrs ago when I started dancing, women could not participate in politics, but we could have our own cultural spaces. It was hard because it is an Islamic culture, but you just had to cheat a little, and talk about entertainment or majorettes rather than dance. To my dismay, after the revolution I realized that perhaps we’d been naive and they’d exploited us. In 2002 I organized a contemporary dance festival, working with Martha Graham and others, and I called the whole dancing clan and …[translator fails]. I’m a moderate, modern Muslim and think that women are free. [Sorry, but the translator is incomprehensible.] In 2006, I said we have to make it free of charge. 24 Koranic channels today. I respect the decision of the voters, but out of 4M voting, only 1.6% voted for the Islamicists. It’s not a lost cause. [The French speaking audience applauds. But the translator pretty much gave up. [Afterwards my friend and moderator Eric Scherer vouched that she was fantastic. I wish I could have understood it.]] Moderator: Jochen, what do you think the potential role of art is in learning democracy? Jochen: Whatever happens has an impact on art. Art cannot survive unchanged in a changing world. Art is not there to accompany life. It has to be part of an honest dialogue; we have to get away from the tiresome culture of privilege. Syhem: New tech is great, but what about the ethics for someone who speaks out? Thanks to the new tech, the Tunisians are holding their heads high. We were pioneers without any foreign help. It’s important that we not break the link [not clear to me which link]. You have to understand influence. If there’s a move away from your values in Egypt, or Libya, but you have to remember there are values out there. It’s not through oil and petrodollars that you can convince people of your values. Moderator: Today we have the Greater Paris plan. [He introduces someone without naming him, and he’s not listed in the program.] Person: Greater Paris is a paradigm shift. It is a fruitful encounter bringing together an economic side — clusters of businesses and universities — and then the transport cluster. We have links between suburbs and habitat. Housing has to be intelligent. Culture is going to be like the blood feeding the different organs. Categories: misc Tagged with: art • avignon • culture • open internet • tunisia Date: November 18th, 2011 dw 2 Comments » Joho the Blog by David Weinberger is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

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U.S.EditionsAustralia EditionChina EditionIndia EditionItaly EditionJapan EditionSingapore EditionUnited KingdomUnited States May 25, 11:20 AM EDT SubscribeEverything You Need To Know, Right Now. Everything You Need To Know, Right Now.The IBT Pulse Newsletter keeps you connected to the biggest stories unfolding in the global economy. Please enter a valid email Search Search BusinessTechnologyWorldNationalMedia & CultureMillennial Money Subscribe Sports Oscar Pistorius’ Ex-Girlfriend, Samantha Taylor, Tells Police Athlete Was Reckless With Guns By Jill Heller @jiillx On 08/16/13 AT 11:11 AM CloseSamantha Taylor, an ex-girlfriend of South African Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius, dubbed “the Blade Runner,” has reportedly given police information about the athlete’s history with guns that could result in additional charges.Pistorius, 26, who is scheduled to return to court on Monday, faces a charge of premeditated murder in the death of his late girlfriend, 29-year-old FHM cover model Reeva Steenkmap. Steenkamp was discovered by police lying in a puddle of her own blood after having been shot four times in Pistorius’ home on Valentine’s Day. Katlego Mogale, a police spokeswoman, said law enforcement officials discovered a 9mm pistol at the crime scene, the Chicago Tribune reported.According to South Africa’s City Press, Taylor, a marketing student who dated Pistorius last October when she was 18, before he began his relationship with Steenkamp, told police about at least one incident during their relationship in which Pistorius was allegedly reckless with his guns.Taylor told police that she was driving in a car with him on a highway when he recklessly discharged a gun. “Oscar allegedly stood up and fired shots through the sunroof,” a source told the newspaper.Taylor’s formal comments to police echo harsh remarks she made about Pistorius after their breakup. Shortly after news of Steenkamp and Pistorius’ relationship became public, Taylor told the City Press, "Oscar has such a way with women. She's probably not the only one he's got."Continue Reading Below "Oscar is certainly not what people think he is,” Taylor added. She also told the press that she would reveal “what he made me go through,” but later followed up that comment with a letter from her attorney, saying that she would not comment any further.Then, one day after Steenkamp’s death, Taylor’s mother, Trish Taylor, wrote a public post on Facebook in which she accused Pistorius of being reckless with his guns and saying she was grateful that her own daughter was out of his “clutches.”"I am so glad that Sammy is safe and sound and out of the clutches of that man,” Taylor wrote in a Facebook post, according to the Herald Sun. “There were a few occasions where things could have gone wrong with her and his gun during the time they dated. My condolences to the family whose daughter has passed away. My heart breaks for you.”According to City Press, the new information Taylor gave the police could prompt the state to add two additional counts of reckless and negligent discharge of a firearm to their case against him. Pistorius, who is to appear in court Monday, is already being charged with murder and unlawful possession of ammunition.Pistorius, who has denied the premeditated murder charge, admitted that she shot Steenkamp four times through a closed door in his Pretoria home, but said that he mistook her for a burglar. He added that he had no intention of killing her. Pistorius claimed that he awoke in the middle of the night to bring a fan inside from the balcony, but heard noises when he returned to his pitch-dark bedroom.Pistorius received bail in February, but was required to surrender his firearms, passports and not attempt to get a new passport. He was also required to report to a police station every day.In a statement published on his personal website in June, Pistorius’ team wrote, "Oscar is not contemplating a formal return to athletics and his training is not aimed at preparing for competition.”"His focus at this time remains entirely on the court case,” the statement continued. “His family, and those close to him, have encouraged him to spend a few hours a week on the track to assist him in finding the necessary mental and emotional equilibrium to process his trauma and prepare for the trial." Related Stories Springblade Adidas Shoe Evokes 'Blade Runner' Cheetah Legs By Roxanne Palmer If you've ever envied sprinter Oscar Pistorius' cool blades, a new running shoe contains a similar design element.

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Mexican Red Cross distributes aid following hurricane Odile - IFRC Americas Antigua and Barbuda Mexico Once more, walls and fences are dividing the world Why the Strongest Hurricane on Record Was No Catastrophe IFRC Secretary General praises the work of the Mexican Red Cross in its 105th Anniversary Mexican Red Cross ambulance service and volunteers bridging the healthcare gap Mexican Red Cross distributes aid following hurricane Odile Nayarit and Jalisco to support people affected by Hurricane Odile Spontaneous volunteers inspire the Red Cross action in Mexico Mobilizing the National Societies in the name of road safety Red Cross action on the road to saving lives in Latin America and the Caribbean Published: 25 September 2014 18:09 CET México D.F. 21 September, 2014.- Mexican Red Cross President, Fernando Suinaga Cárdenas, with the support of 40 volunteers, distribute 20 tons of humanitarian aid to the community of Ampliación Vista Hermosa in the municipality of Los Cabos, in the state of Southern Baja California. The aid consist of 800 food parcels, 800 personal hygiene kits, aimed at helping 7,200 people in the aforementioned community which was one of the hardest hit by hurricane Odile. Volunteers, most of them from the Sonora branch of the Mexican Red Cross helped facilitate the services delivered by six ambulances and two other units belonging to the municipality of Los Cabos. Furthermore 350 food parcels will be distributed to different towns in the city of La Paz, capital of the state of Baja California. The help is expected to reach some 400,000 people. Mexican Red Cross has mobilized 70,000 kilos of humanitarian aid to the state of Southern Baja California which will be distributed to those affected in the municipality of Los Cabos, the zone most heavily affected following hurricane Odile. As of the moment the donation collection centre at National Society Headquarters has received 7 tons of humanitarian aid with the support of 120 volunteers. . With the emergency far from over, the Red Cross has called on all sectors of the population to keep helping the affected in Southern Baja California. The articles being received at Mexican Red Cross donation collection centres are: Tuna, sardines, rice, beans, sugar, salt, coffee, noodle soup, lentils, canned vegetables, mayonnaise, cooking oil, cookies, chocolate, and powdered milk. Likewise they will be collecting, cleaning materials like soap, buckets, brushes, towels, brooms, squeegees, detergent, as well as personal hygiene items, like diapers, toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo, hand soap, and shaving razors. It must be noted that bottled water will only be received if its one litter. Water containers beyond one litter will not be received due to the difficulty in transferring them to Southern Baja California. Mexican Red Cross calls on the general population to help their fellow countrymen through this tragedy, where never they may be using the open bank accounts to make their donations. Bancomer 0404040406 and Clabe Interbancaria 012180004040404062. In this way ensure assistance for those who need it the most as quickly as possible The following articles will not be received by the Red Cross at any of the collection centres: clothing, medicine. The Mexican Red Cross headquarters collection centre is located at Juan Luis Vives No. 200, Col. Polanco, behind Hospital Central de Polanco de Cruz Roja Mexicana and is open from 8:00 to 20:00 hrs. Due to security reason food will not be received outside this schedule. Map

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PRESS RELEASE: International Press Association Announces Their Not Another Photo Contest, Contest Almost $8,000 In Prizes IPA's first contest includes Amateur and Pro categories and is just in time for the holidays. Keyport, New Jersey…October 1, 2010…International Press Association (IPA) has announced a unique photo contest to help launch their new Member Support Blog on their web site and encourage photographers and journalists not familiar with IPA to visit their website and see what they do. The contest was the idea of IPA president Len Rapoport, who stated that "Our contest is meant to be an inclusive and fun contest, one meant to involve the photographer and their fans. We want them to go out and encourage voting so they can not only have a better chance to win, but also win by getting the exposure and credibility we at IPA believe is essential today for success. This is not just another photo contest because we really want it to motivate photographers and have a way for us to introduce IPA to the many photographers who don't seem to know how to make their work pay and who may have given up". The Contest: Unlike so many other contests, IPA states that this one is easy to participate in. There are no fees to enter, no contributions to the contests favorite charities, no restrictions on the subject matter (within reason of course), two levels of entry, pro and amateur and so many prizes that the chances of winning are quite good. The winning entries will be determined by a formula similar to those used on the popular television talent shows. The contest will be using the viewer votes (25%) and the judges votes (75%) to determine the final winners. There will be first and second place awards, one in each, for each of the two categories, the professional photographer and the amateur photographer. Then there will be the Honorable Mention awards and a special Bonus drawing for the IPA independent staff members. The Prizes: First place winners will receive over $1800 in prizes each, second place winners receive over $500 in prizes and ten Honorable Mention winners will receive over $150 in prizes each. IPA members who make it to the top 14 winners will also receive Bonus prizes to include some of the cool IPA embroidered logo merchandise and other cool stuff. Contest Dates: The contest will begin on October 1, 2010 and final submissions will be accepted until November 31, 2010. Contest winners will be announced on December 15th. IPA has simplified the entry process with a simple email entry sent to their contest address: photocontest@internationalpress.com. How To Enter: Photographers may submit up to three digital images which will have to pass the first level of screening to move on in the contest. If they make it past the initial judging, they will then be published with their © and name on their entries in the contest galleries. IPA has designed the contest to encourage the heavy voting these types of contests receive. "Having viewer voting gets everyone involved in the contest. it is all planned to give our photographers the exposure they deserve and in some cases, may even get them discovered" stated Mr. Rapoport. Complete information and Rules can be found on their web site. Winners will not only receive mega prizes supplied by Alien Skin software, Manfrotto and International Press Association, but winner just may have have the prizes in time to shoot their holiday season photos. Notice: Due to copyright and other legal restrictions, this contest is open for submissions from residents who reside in the United States and the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom. The Judges: Len Rapoport A photographer for over 50 years who's early iconic photos of Neil Diamond has appeared in and on millions of album covers, books, and other publications. For over thirty years he has been a corporate executive, communications consultant, business owner, writer and photographer. You can view his full resume on the IPA blog. Twenty years ago he realized the importance in offering independent photographers the education they needed to learn their skills and offered a number of local seminars and work shops. With the invention of the internet, YouTube and the digital age, he embraced the technology and created the first version of the IPA website and member organization. With the many new possibilities the IPA concept evolved to what it is today. His leadership and vision keep IPA growing and his dedication to his members continues as it did 20 years ago when he first created this company. At 67 years of age, he continues to shoot and publish his works and still does some outside corporate commuication consulting. He resides and works from his home in a small community on the New Jersey shore. Tom Welsh Tom has been developing products at Alien Skin Software for 7 years. He has worked on Eye Candy, Snap Art, Image Doctor, Blow Up and Exposure. Before he worked at Alien Skin he did research in computer graphics and worked on a variety of projects in medical imaging and computer vision. Jeff Foster Has authored several technical, graphics and animation production books, has been an Adobe Certified Expert and has served as an instructor and featured speaker at conferences such as Photoshop World, Macworld, Adobe MAX and the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) Post-Production Conferences. He has been producing and training for traditional and digital images, photography, illustration, motion graphics and special effects for the digital video and film industries for over 20 years. Some of his clients include: Tribune Broadcasting, Motorola, McDonnell Douglas, Nestl?©, FOX Television, Spike TV, Discovery/TLC, Deluxe Digital, Universal Studios and Disney. He is also a 2010 Telly Awards recipient for his ‚"Documercial" video productions. Jeff is currently operating his informative blog and company PixelPainter from his studio in beautiful Ojai, CA. The Sponsors: About International Press Association IPA is a 20 year old organization and completely web based for close to 15 years and has become a respected, credible and legitimate media outlet that receives millions of page views each year. IPA independent staff members are primarily international photographers and journalists of all skill levels. IPA publishes their members photographs and articles on their main site and this member content also appears on the members IPA professional portfolio on the site. IPA has become known for not only its interesting and informative site content, but for supporting the thousands of members past and current who have achieved credibility and exposure by being part of IPA and publishing their articles and photos on the site. IPA is a firm believer that one of the best methods of teaching professional skills is by actually having the members learn how to gain the access and then do the work and publish the articles and photos from those assignments on the site. "Do The Work", has become the IPA mantra and their member support blog has informative articles that help the members do just that. IPA maintains groups on many of the leading social networking sites including Facbook, MySpace, Twitter, YouTube and others and encourage all of their social networking fans and friends to enter their photos in this contest. More information and benefits of membership can be found on the IPA website's new blog. About Alien Skin Software Alien Skin Software makes Photoshop plug-ins for photographers and graphic designers. We distill advanced math and cutting edge research into simple tools that render beautiful pictures. Our reputation for bug-free software and fast, friendly tech support has grown worldwide since 1993. For more information, visit our website at www.alienskin.com. About Manfrotto Based in Northern Italy at Bassano del Grappa, Manfrotto designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of camera and lighting support equipment for the professional photographic, film, theater, live entertainment and video markets. The product line includes an extensive range of camera tripods and heads, lighting stands and accessories. Manfrotto products are sold by its own distribution companies, Manfrotto Distribution, in China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, plus independent distributors in over 65 countries around the world! The unrivalled strength of the international distribution network and the team efforts between the company and the distributors is a key element in the success of the lines. The group owned distribution companies provide direct access to the market, trends and requirements which is essential in keeping the company at the forefront of development and innovation. About KATA In 2005 KATA joined the VITEC Group plc and under its Imaging Division the company has expanded and flourished world wide working together with its sister companies; Manfrotto, Gitzo, Avenger and others. Today Kata is a well known and respected brand in the Video and Photo market, which is distributed in over one hundred countries around the world. Kata produces advanced cases, bags, vests, and carrying systems for photographers, videographers and filmmakers. They are noted for their exceptional quality and are tough and lightweight. KATA products offer extraordinary protection for digital photo gear, video, audio, lighting and film equipment and unprecedented comfort for the user. The range of Kata products includes, everything from camera and photo bags of all sizes and kinds to computer and tripod/lightstand bags and cases. ### (First posted on Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at 14:56 EDT)

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NewsUKCrime Man shot dead in village street Andy Philip Friday 28 October 2011 14:30 BST A murder inquiry has been launched after a shooting in a village street.Strathclyde Police said John Finnegan, 48, was walking down Bank Street in Neilston, East Renfrewshire, when he was approached by a man and shot last night. He was taken to the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow where he died. No-one else was injured in the incident and detectives said the man may have been targeted. The suspect is described as stocky, about 5ft 7in and was wearing dark clothing and a dark hat. Police said the suspect made off on foot from Bank Street into Hillside Road following the shooting around 8pm yesterday. Detective Superintendent John McSporran said: "It is still very early in our inquiry and we have yet to establish a motive for this crime. However, we believe the man may have been targeted. "I'm sure there will be people in the community who will have information about this crime but who may have reservations about getting in touch with us. "I would appeal to them to please contact us as a matter or urgency, it is vital we trace whoever is responsible for this. "I understand people will have many concerns about the incident yesterday but I would like to reassure them that this was not a random attack and they should not be worried about their safety. "Additional officers will be patrolling the area to provide reassurance to the public. If anyone has any information, I urge them to please get in touch with us." Police confirmed Mr Finnigan had been shot close to his home in a targeted attack after returning from taking his stepdaughter to a Halloween disco at a school. He was shot at close range with a handgun. He was alone at the time. Mr McSporran said Mr Finnigan was known to police but he would not give further details. He said: "While he may have been involved in crime in the past, this was a callous attack on a man in the middle of a busy street. "Mr Finnigan had a family. He had children. He had people who loved him and this is without question a terrible, brutal crime. "I have no doubt that there are people within the community who will know about this murder." He added: "Someone knows who did this." He said police had not yet determined whether the murder was linked to ganglands or if it was a personal feud. PA More about:

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News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties BRENDAN CHARLES The mother of an Antrim woman who flew the nest to pursue a high-flying career in a top London law firm has bravely spoken of her “complete and utter devastation” following her daughter's sudden death.Tracey McGuckin was enjoying a night out with friends in one of the capital's karaoke bars two weekends ago, but it all ended in tragedy when she stepped out into the street – and into the path of a car which was hurtling past.The ambitious 29-year-old, who had dreamed of becoming a lawyer from her early days at Antrim Primary School, quietly slipped away on that busy city street. Her family, so many miles away, had no idea that their lives were about to change forever. [Source: Antrim Guardian] Historic Killeavy Castle and estate, nestled in an area of outstanding beauty, has been put on the market for almost $1.6 million. The 200-year-old castle has lately been the focus of a restoration campaign, spearheaded by local art student, Deaglan Mulgrew. Deaglan had spoken to The Examiner in recent months about his concerns for the building and set up a series of meetings to discuss restoring the castle to its former glory.Bell’s Castle, as it is also known, has been part of south Armagh’s heritage since the first half of the 19th century, having been built by the Foxall family and subsequently owned by the Bell family until the death of Maureen Bell in 2000. [Source: Examiner Newspaper] CARLOWA long-lost letter has sparked an American man to track down his Carlow pen-pal from days of yore.Mark Lobes, a teacher from Lockport, Illinois stumbled across an old letter written in the 1980s by a girl named Karen from Carlow Town while cleaning his house, and now he hopes to track her down.His quest to discover his pen-pal, to whom he wrote while he was in first grade and attending St. Joseph’s School in Downers Grove, Illinois, began after he found an old letter and picture of her in a previously forgotten-about box. Curiosity getting the better of him, Mark set about e-mailing Scoil Mhuire gan Smál – where Karen went to school – in the hope that they could provide him with more information.His aim, he says, is to respond to the final letter she sent on February 28, 1985. [Source: Carlow Nationalist]CAVANAn Oireachtas committee has vowed to visit the earmarked frack-zones in the Lough Allen basin after a “thought-provoking and insightful” discussion of the potential environmental implications at a meeting last Wednesday.The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications heard from policymakers, experts and a campaigning group on the possible environmental implications of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, as a means of exploration in Ireland. [Source: The Anglo Celt] CLAREFurther developing Clare’s gastronomic potential will see more money coming into and staying in the county, according to one of Ireland’s top food writers.The Irish Food Guide was published last week and more than 50 Clare businesses feature in the 2012 publication, compiled by John and Sally McKenna.Clare is “right up there with the best” and is the “template” for other counties to follow, John McKenna told The Clare Champion.“Clare is right up there with the best. It is as simple as that. This is the 10th edition of the book. When you look back and see the development of Clare, it is very interesting. It is the perfect example of what you need for a good food jigsaw. It has strength and depth. What you have in Connemara, for example, is lots of excellent destinations but no infrastructure. It has a few salmon smokers and a few people doing seaweed but it has no growers, no cheese makers, no strong artisan brands. It is a busy tourist destination but it is ultimately, as a tourist destination, a failure. What happens in Connemara is that the money comes in and goes right out again. The money is not spent on Connemara food, because it doesn’t exist.” [Source: Clare Champion] CORKProvidence Resources said last Wednesday that the amount of oil that can be recovered from a huge oil field off the Cork coast is much greater than was previously thought.The company announced that two new technical studies found that about 280 million barrels could be recovered from the Barryroe field, 30 miles off the Cork coast. At the moment Ireland imports all of its oil.The amount of money generated by the find will depend on the market value at the time of extraction and on licensing arrangements.Providence Chief Executive Tony O'Reilly, Jr. hailed it as the beginning of an Irish oil industry. He described the find as a huge success story, after decades of exploration around the Irish coast. [Source: Cork Independent]DERRY

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• • Date of Issue: April 26, 2007 Investigation continues in beach shootings The state attorney's office continues to interview witnesses in the Easter Sunday shooting at Coquina Beach. The incident, which occurred with more than 40 law enforcement personnel policing the beach, sent three brothers to the hospital with gunshot wounds to the chest and propelled local officials to resume debate on how best to secure the Manatee County property. Authorities arrested two people in the April 8 shooting - Santiago Delgado Jr., 21, and Renee Vasquez-Mendoza, 22, both of Plant City. They are allegedly involved in the Norte 14 street gang. A Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputy has described Vasquez-Mendoza as a certified member of the gang. Delgado, who is represented by public defender Phillip Paine, faces charges of carrying a concealed firearm, improper exhibition of a firearm and discharging a firearm. He is scheduled for an arraignment hearing on May 18. Vasquez-Mendoza, represented by public defender Matthew Gish, faces the following charges: three counts of attempted first degree murder, carrying a concealed firearm, improper exhibition of a firearm and discharge of a firearm in public. He is scheduled for an arraignment hearing on May 18 before Judge Janette Dunnigan. Assistant state attorney Jeff Quisenberry said his office is interviewing witnesses, including law enforcement officers and people who were on the crowded beach that day - authorities estimate that there were some 3,000 gang members among 19,000 people on the beach for the holiday. Quisenberry also is reviewing the physical evidence in the case. The victims were brothers from Arcadia - Jose Estrada, 20, Salvador Estrada, 27, and a 17-year-old identified by Bradenton Beach police as F.E. They were taken by helicopter to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg. Police documents filed at the Manatee County Courthouse in connection with Delgado's arrest state that "during a taped interview, the defendant admitted to carrying a concealed firearm (revolver), then discharging the firearm in a public place with several families around." Delgado, according to the documents, said he shot the gun into the ground to "scare the other rival gang away." The Estrada brothers are believed to be connected to the Sur 13 street gang. Delgado allegedly had been carrying the gun in his front pocket. After the shooting, as law enforcement officers surrounded the area, Delgado allegedly threw the gun, which was recovered. "The defendant was in the presence of more than one person and did exhibit in a rude angry threatening manner. Not in self-defense," the report also stated. The shooting and the arrest occurred in a matter of minutes. An account from the Bradenton Beach Police Department said the shooting took place at 4:22 p.m. and Delgado's arrest at 4:29 p.m. The police report on Vasquez-Mendoza's arrest alleges that the defendant approached the three brothers with a semi-automatic gun hidden in a red shirt and that "words were exchanged by all parties." "The defendant shot all three men several times," the report stated. "The defendant was positively identified by several witnesses that gave taped statements in Spanish." A semi-automatic weapon that authorities believe Vasquez-Mendoza used was recovered. Vasquez-Mendoza, whose bail was set at $1.5 million and who remains in the Manatee County jail, has denied involvement in the shooting. The Plant City man also was arrested in a Hillsborough County shooting that took place in January. In that incident, authorities say Vasquez-Mendoza shot at a 28-year-old man but missed, hitting the victim's car, which then crashed. The victim allegedly identified Vasquez-Mendoza as the shooter. The incident on Coquina Beach put law enforcement officials throughout the Tampa Bay area on alert. It also was the catalyst for Island and Manatee County officials to resume a conversation about curbing criminal activity at the beach. Meanwhile, on a recent weekday afternoon, a dozen people bathed in the sun on the beach, approximately where the shootings took place. The majority were vacationers unaware of the incident. "Geez, you just don't expect that in such an idyllic place," said Joe Ramone of Philadelphia. "If you said there had been a shark attack, I'd be less shocked." But Travis Brooks of Ames, Iowa, was not surprised. "No place is safe," Brooks said. "There's the killings at Virginia Tech. Gang fights on the beach. Crystal meth factories on the family farm. You tell me where it's safe and I'll tell you you're living in fantasy land." Have your say:No comments for this page. Feel free to be the first

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Boys warm themselves around a fire at a damaged building where they come to play in the rebel-controlled area of Maaret al-Numan town in Idlib province, Syria, Tuesday. | REUTERS World Syrian forces retake key base in south, drive back rebels with help from airstrikes AP Dec 30, 2015 Article history Online: Dec 30, 2015 Print: Dec 31, 2015 Last Modified: Dec 30, 2015 BEIRUT – Syrian forces have retaken a key southern military base after heavy fighting with rebels and an al-Qaida affiliate, and seized mountain villages after driving out Islamic State fighters, the government and opposition activists said Tuesday. The advances came after the army killed 17 fighters from Islamic rebel factions gathered at farmhouses in the southern Daraa province late Saturday, and also eliminated a powerful rebel leader on the outskirts of Damascus a day earlier. On Tuesday, government forces backed by allies captured the base of Brigade 82 in the town of Sheikh al-Maskeen, also in the Daraa area, which rebels had captured last January, the two sides said, adding that the troops also took control of the northern part of the town. The area is some 90 km (56 miles) from Damascus. “It’s a very important gain for the regime forces. They’ve now cut the road between Daraa and Damascus,” said Rami Abdurrahman of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Daraa was the birthplace of the 2011 uprising against President Bashar Assad, which began with mostly peaceful protests but escalated into a civil war following a harsh crackdown on dissent. The conflict has killed more than 250,000 people and generated a massive refugee crisis. Abdurrahman said the fighting began a day earlier and that among the rebels were fighters from al-Qaida’s Syrian affiliate, the Nusra Front, as well as various Islamic factions. Government troops were bolstered by Iranian officers, pro-government militiamen and Lebanese Hezbollah fighters, as well as some 80 airstrikes from the government side, possibly including some from Russian aircraft, he added. Assad’s forces have been on a major push since Russia began an air campaign in Syria on Sept. 30. Syrian troops and allied militiamen have launched ground offensives in different parts of the country, including areas near Damascus. The latest developments could boost the government’s position ahead of peace talks in Geneva next month. Ahmad al-Masalmeh, an opposition activist in Daraa, said rockets, artillery, mortars and heavy machine guns had been used in and around Sheikh al-Maskeen. He said the government had advanced on the base but had not completely captured it. State news agency SANA said the army inflicted heavy losses on the militants, but did not give a death toll. Abdurrahman said dozens were killed on both sides, without giving a breakdown. Al-Masalmeh said the rebels lost some 20 fighters in two days of fighting, with 35 killed on the government side as well as eight civilians. All sides said fighting in the area was ongoing. Meanwhile in the Maheen area to the southeast of the central city of Homs, government forces took several towns and positions, consolidating their hold of an area around the city, the Observatory and SANA said. Homs was once known as the “capital of the revolution,” but is now under almost complete government control. The Observatory, which relies on local activists across Syria, said government warplanes carried out dozens of raids on Islamic State positions. SANA said Syrian troops had established full control of Maheen town and the nearby mountains, as well as the villages of Al-Hadath and Hawareen. Government forces managed to “wipe out” the last group of Islamic State fighters in the area and are now pursuing their remnants toward al-Qaryatain city, SANA said. airstrikes, al-Qaida, Bashar Assad, Islamic State, Nusra Front, rebels, Russians, Syria World

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Home » Sections » Features » Features On The Jewish World » JEWISH PRESS PRINT ARTICLE For 5,200 Rabbis and Guests, a Night of Inspiration It was the culmination of four days of learning, togetherness and inspiration that the Lubavitcher Rebbe first encouraged his shluchim to convene back in 1983. By: Karen Schwartz Published: November 6th, 2013 Lubavitch rabbis from around the world went to the Rebbe's resting place to reflect on their mission. Photo Credit: LNS Eleven-year-old Levi Leibowitz couldn’t wait to tell his friends and family back home in Tokyo about his experience Sunday night. He was a guest at the International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Emissaries banquet at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal in New York, thousands of miles from Japan, where he lives. “I’m going to tell everyone about it, that it was really fun, and the food was very good,” he said. Seated in Chiavari chairs under grand chandeliers, he and thousands of others involved in the organization – 5,200 emissaries and lay leaders from around the world – gathered for an evening of camaraderie and inspiration. “I like talking to all the different Jewish people in my family all over the world,” said Leibowitz. He was there with his father, David Leibowitz, also of Tokyo, and his grandfather, Alan Leibowitz, of Miami. The theme, “Through Darkness a Shining Light,” prompted speakers to focus on the impact Chabad continues to build through its global outreach and varied programs. Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, director of the International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Emissaries and vice chairman of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, Chabad-Lubavitch’s educational arm, charged those gathered with connecting with more Jews and inspiring even more mitzvahs. They heard from former U.S. senator Joseph Lieberman, who thanked the emissaries for their work and spoke of his personal connection to the organization, which often made sure he had Shabbat provisions and kosher food during his political travels. Rabbi Dov Greenberg, co-director of Chabad on Campus at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif., took to the podium as a representative for the emissaries. He talked about the 86,000 Jewish students who visited 200 Chabad centers around the world. Rabbi Greenberg defined a Chabad House as a place “where every Jew feels at home.” Businessman David Leibowitz agreed. He connected with Chabad a quarter-century ago when he was walking down the street in Bondi Beach, Australia. Wearing a tank top and no kippah, he just so happened to run into a man with a black hat and a beard. The rest, he said, is history. “Chabad embodies everything about my heritage and what I want to pass on,” he said. Leibowitz, who moved to Japan 20 years ago and wound up staying, said Chabad continues to be key to his Jewish life there. “To have an organization like Chabad and a rabbi like Rabbi Mendi Sudakevich, who gives us all this Yiddishkeit in such a vacuum, is such a blessing.” As for the Kinus, he said, “we already booked our tickets for next year.” Josh Wonder, head of finance at the Yeshivah Centre of Melbourne, Australia, attended the Kinus for the first time this year. Coming to New York and taking part in the weekend, he said, represented a chance for him to envision how he fits in to the bigger puzzle. In the past, like many living overseas who haven’t been able to fly in for the events, he watched the main proceedings online. “It’s always like you want to be there,” he said. “That’s what brought me here this year.” He enjoyed the chance to catch up with old friends and said he leaves wanting to do even more to bring people closer to Judaism: “I come away with my batteries recharged. I’m pumped up and ready to take it all on again.” Karen Schwartz 5 Responses to “For 5,200 Rabbis and Guests, a Night of Inspiration” Keith Gilbert says: November 7, 2013 at 5:59 PM The Rebb has an awesome reach…I know. His picture is prominently displayed in my living room and I have to add: His shluchim are some of the bravest and most important people I have ever been so honored to meet. Would that I could have been there…I know my Rabbi was. Yechiel Baum says: November 7, 2013 at 7:54 PM Who paid for this? Cody Flecker says: November 8, 2013 at 2:02 AM Thank G-d for Chabad. If not for Chabad, I would have had to visit Synagogues that would make Christians cringe with disgust. Chabad is for praying, and seeking oneness with G-d, regardless of what level of Judaism one follows. Deborah Mgedzi says: November 8, 2013 at 5:35 AM What a joyous day. God Almighty continue to bring you together. More Articles from Karen Schwartz JEWISH PRESS PRINT ARTICLE For 5,200 Rabbis and Guests, a Night of InspirationIt was the culmination of four days of learning, togetherness and inspiration that the Lubavitcher Rebbe first encouraged his shluchim to convene back in 1983. Jewish Soldiers Find Spiritual Home At Fort Jackson, S.C.When Rabbi Henry Soussan went through training at Fort Jackson in 2002, area Jewish options were limited, and being able to participate in Jewish holiday celebrations was tough. Nearly 10 years later, the instructor at the Columbia, South Carolina installation’s chaplain school is proud of the Chabad-Lubavitch-run Aleph House, which gives civilians and soldiers a Jewish base while they’re away from home. Management and Design by WebAds. Development and maintenance by Marc Gottlieb Creative Solutions | Log in Printed from: http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/for-5200-rabbis-and-guests-a-night-of-inspiration/2013/11/06/

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Jimma Carter rides again http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com | Jimmy Carter has come out sniveling. Writing in The Washington Post, he airs his disgust with the current administration's handling of international affairs -- starting with its supposed "abandonment" of interest in human rights and extending to its support for Israel. Carter, as you may not recall since he cast quite a small shadow as president, made "human rights" the foundation of his foreign policy. No longer would we judge nations by whether they were on our side or with the communists. No indeed. Early in his term, Carter freed us from an "inordinate fear of communism." Instead, we'd make respect for human rights our only concern. Before it was all over (his four-year term lasted at least a century), 13 new countries were overtaken by communist coups d'etat, American helicopters lay burning in the Iranian desert, and U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young had burbled that the United States shouldn't criticize the Soviet Union since we had plenty of political prisoners of our own. Carter doesn't quite remember it that way. (And don't ask him to tell you what interest rates were on the day he left office, either.) He wrote: "Formerly admired almost universally as the preeminent champion of human rights, our country has become the foremost target of respected international organizations concerned about these basic principles of democratic life." Translation: When I was president, the whole world loved and respected the United States. Today, that's all gone down the drain. Many years ago, I happened to find myself at the same dinner table with George McGovern. I asked him why he thought he had lost the 1972 election. He answered unhesitatingly, and rather as if it were so obvious as not to require explanation, that it was the "Eagleton business." Sen. Thomas Eagleton had been McGovern's first pick as Vice President and was forced to leave the ticket. This caused a fleeting scandal -- but it was scarcely a drop in the ocean of unsuitability McGovern demonstrated throughout that campaign. Experience is the best teacher -- but not every student is capable of learning. Carter is deluding himself rather massively. Far from engendering worldwide admiration, his combination of self-righteousness and weakness invited scorn. During the 1970s, the Soviets became convinced that what they called the "correlation of forces" had shifted dramatically in their favor. And thugs from Grenada to Tehran felt emboldened to stick their thumbs in Uncle Sam's eye. Worse even than Carter's sanctimony was his obliviousness. For while he claimed to view human rights as the loadstar of his foreign policy, he assiduously ignored the massive human-rights nightmare of the communist world. What are these "respected international organizations concerned about these basic principles of democratic life?" There are some wonderful countries in the world, but it's difficult to think of a single international organization that is more devoted to liberty, human rights and the rule of law than the United States. Regarding Iraq, Carter reassures us that "there is no current danger to the United States from Baghdad. In the face of intense monitoring and overwhelming American military superiority, any belligerent move by Hussein against a neighbor, even the smallest nuclear test ... or sharing this technology with terrorist organizations, would be suicidal." There is an example of the kind of thinking that convinced the American people that they could do without a second Carter term. How would we know whether a terrorist group obtained a nuclear weapon from Saddam? Our intelligence agencies can't find 5,000 Al Qaeda members living in the United States. And is Carter suggesting that we must wait until New York or Washington is incinerated and then retaliate against Iraqi civilians with a massive nuclear counterattack? Is that preferable to military action now, before Saddam has nuclear weapons? Why is Carter so eager to believe (against all the evidence) that a criminal like Hussein is so tractable? We can all hope that Saddam Hussein will prove sane and reasonable. The difference between Carter and the foreign policy team he so derides is that they are unwilling to bank on it. Enjoy this writer's work? Why not sign-up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.

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Study: Nazi propaganda had lifelong effect on many Germans U.S. Study: Nazi propaganda had lifelong effect on many Germans June 15, 2015 3:57pm A Hitler Youth activity in the 1930s. (Federal German Archive) (JTA) — Germans who grew up during the 1930s are far more likely than their younger countrymen to have negative attitudes about Jews, according to a new study of anti-Semitism in Germany. The study, released Monday by American and Swiss researchers, found that anti-Semitic views were particularly strong among Germans raised in regions of the country that were known for anti-Semitism even before Hitler came to power, The Associated Press reported. According to the researchers, who analyzed surveys conducted in 1996 and 2006, the findings indicated that Nazi propaganda was highly effective, especially when it confirmed existing beliefs. “It’s not just that Nazi schooling worked, that if you subject people to a totalitarian regime during their formative years it will influence the way their mind works,” Hans-Joachim Voth of the University of Zurich, one of the study’s authors, told AP. “The striking thing is that it doesn’t go away afterward.” Voth added that the propaganda was particularly effective when “the overall environment where children grew up was already a bit anti-Semitic. It tells you that indoctrination can work, it can last to a surprising extent, but the way it works has to be compatible to something people already believe.” SPONSORED: "Why Be Jewish?" Edgar Bronfman's clarion call to a generation of secular, disaffected and unaffiliated Jews. Next: Orange CEO received death threats over Israel boycott controversy > Featured Stories

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Sgt. Butch Baker Family Speaks on Death One Year Later Son Will Go Back to Force POSTED: 06:43 PM PST Feb 26, 2014 UPDATED: 07:01 PM PST Feb 26, 2014 Small Text SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - Santa Cruz Police Detective Butch Baker's son, Adam, says he wants to go back to the police force on the one year anniversary of his father's death.Time may not heal every wound, but with a lot of support from the Santa Cruz community, Adam, Kelly and Jillian Baker are starting to laugh again. "It's a big milestone, we've gotten through a year," said Jillian Baker.The wounds are still fresh from the day when from the day when detective Sgt. Butch Baker and his partner detective Elizabeth Butler were ambushed by Jeremy Goulet on what was supposed to be a routine check up. Those nightmares are still real, "I found out the news over the radio that was extremely hard for me," said Adam Baker.Adam was a community service officer and was on duty the day his father was killed.For the first time in an interview with Central Coast News Adam wanted people to know, he will be joining the police force again."I'm happy to say I am going back to work and that is my plan." For Butch Baker these officers weren't co-workers, they were family and it's where he raised his family. So for people who may have opinions about Adam doing police work in a place where his father was murdered, "It was in Butch and I know it's in Adam too," said Kelly Baker, Butch's wife. It's the officers and community support that is the reason Kelly Baker said she shows up to events; to make sure they know she is okay."The hardest part is losing my soulmate, my love, but in conjunction with that it's been amazing...I lost Butch but it brought so many people into my life and we're just doing what we can with what we've been given."Now, using each day for a good, hearty belly laugh, telling Central Coast News stories about the police sergeant with a notoriously devious streak and about his passion for his work.Seems like it would be just the way Butch would have wanted things to turn out. Copyright © 2014, KION. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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By Brian Foster Gunshot victim dies after car crash at 89th and Holmes Police say man was attempting to get to hospital UPDATED 11:47 AM CDT Oct 05, 2013 A man who was shot at a Kansas City gas station later died after their vehicle got into an accident at 89th Street and Holmes Road on Friday night.Police said the man was shot at a gas station at 1331 Bannister Road at about 10:20 p.m. Friday. The man fled the area in a vehicle which later crashed at 89th and Holmes while attempting to take the man to a hospital.He later died at an area hospital.Police continue to investigate the incident.

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The Korea Herald > National > Defense Captured sergeant left suicide note Updated : 2014-06-24 21:32 The captured sergeant apologized to his family and the families of the five soldiers who were killed in a shooting rampage last Saturday in a note he wrote right before he attempted suicide on Monday, the Defense Ministry said.The 22-year-old sergeant, only identified by his surname Lim, underwent surgery for a self-inflicted gunshot wound between his chest and left shoulder, and was recovering at a hospital in Gangneung, Gangwon Province. Medical staff injected him with sedatives and put him to sleep to prevent contingencies.“In a note, ... Sgt. Lim apologized to his own family and the bereaved families,” said ministry spokesperson Kim Min-seok during a press briefing. “He repented, saying that what he committed was huge.”Lim was captured alive on Monday after special commandos and his father and older brother persuaded him to surrender. Last Saturday, he detonated a grenade and fired some 10 shots in and outside his barracks, killing five soldiers and wounding seven others in his unit of the Army’s 22nd Division near the eastern inter-Korean border.Medical team and military officials wait outside the hospital ward in Gangreung, Gangwon Province, on Monday. (Yonhap)Local media reported that the note also indicated that bullying might have been a possible cause of his shooting rampage. He was reported to be on bad terms with his senior and junior colleagues, who treated him as an outcast.Lim’s family also told media that they saw signs that he struggled to get along with his fellow soldiers.“When he came out on a break last month, he talked little and looked frail, a reason why we were worried (about his life in the military). (We guessed) he was on bad terms with his colleagues,” a family representative said.During his school life, Lim did not get along well with his classmates, according to his family. His troubled relationship with them was a reason why he dropped out of school and opted to take the state exam for a high-school diploma, his parents said. The funeral ceremony for the five victims is to take place on Friday, the ministry stated. The ceremony will be presided over by the two-star division commander. The ministry also said that the five victims will be honored as martyrs of duty, not as war dead. The bereaved families have demanded that the victims be designated as war dead, a status highly respected in the country. The investigation team was gathering statements Tuesday from wounded soldiers and witnesses to determine the exact motives behind the shooting. After Lim recovers, he will be questioned, officials said.Under the military criminal code, a soldier who kills his or her senior staff or sentinels is to be given capital punishment or life imprisonment. But given that the country has not carried out the death penalty since 1998, a life sentence is likely for Lim, legal pundits commented.Meanwhile, the military authorities came under fire for using a fake soldier to pose as Lim to divert the attention of reporters thronging the hospital. Most media outlets carried photos of Lim being transported to the hospital, but the man lying in a stretcher with a blanket covering his body turned out to be a different one. The military said the medical staff requested that a fake soldier be prepared, as throngs of reporters could hamper the process of treating Lim.By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com) 영어뉴스를 통한 ListeningㆍReading 실력 향상 단기 학습 프로그램 [NEST]

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Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or RSS Trucking news: Schneider rolls out Northeast Regional service By Jeff Berman, Group News Editor Schneider National, a provider of transportation, logistics, and intermodal services, said this week it has made the final upgrades to its nationwide Regional service offering with its new Northeast Regional service. This service is geared towards shippers in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont, according to company officials, bringing the total number of regional-serviced states to 48. Schneider spokesperson Janet Bonkowski told LM this expansion is the result of shippers moving to a just-in-time model to improve their supply chains, which require the agility and responsiveness that regional service offers. Schneider initially launched its Regional service in 2008 in the Western region of the U.S., and launch dates for subsequent regions were moved up due to customer demand, said Bonkowski. “As customers continue to explore ways to improve their supply chains, they’re finding that regional service is a smart solution for the total length of haul,” said Marc Rogers, senior vice president and general manager of Schneider Van Truckload, in a statement. “Our Northeast Regional service – which specializes in shipments that are 500 miles or less – is the perfect complement to our Long Haul, Expedited, Dedicated and Intermodal services and ensures that Schneider National can offer a tailored program for each customer’s needs.” Shipper benefits: Bonkowski noted that shippers in the Northeast appreciate that drivers who have been working in the region and really know the area are moving their freight, which translates into a firsthand familiarity with the area, the routes and, ultimately, the customer, which results in the dependability customers need. “One of our Northeast customers, a pallet and container pooling services provider, has an on-site Schneider team that serves as an extension of their transportation team,” she said. “A Regional service gives customers the control and predictability of a private fleet without the expense.” In terms of resources dedicated to the Northeast Regional service, Schneider is looking to allocate roughly 300 drivers to its Northeast Regional fleet. The company services hundreds of shippers with some degree of regularity in this region and expects that number to grow as customers become aware of Schneider’s Regional offering and the benefits it brings to their supply chain. News · All topics

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Sewer pumps drive Chelmsford candidates' debateBy Grant Welker, gwelker@lowellsun.comUpdated: 03/29/2013 06:37:16 AM EDTCHELMSFORD -- Selectmen candidates made their last push for votes Thursday at the final debate before the Tuesday election. Four candidates fighting for two seats debated government transparency, mandated employee liabilities, an energy-efficiency proposal, sewer pumps and more during a debate sponsored by the Democratic Town Committee. The fifth candidate, Roland Van Liew, was traveling and not able to attend. Candidates differed most on employee liabilities, such as health care and other benefits, and grinder pumps, the underground pumps that hundreds of homeowners in scattered pockets around town have, instead of traditional tie-ins to the townwide sewer system. Among 13,000 households, nearly 500 have grinder pumps because, according to the town, topography made it too difficult for regular sewer connections. A group has been considering asking Town Meeting to approve an annual tax abatement for residents with grinder pumps, having the town pick up costs for pump maintenance and repair, or creating a maintenance fund with an amount set aside each year to cover those costs. "There's a lot of things these folks are facing," said Patrick Maloney, who said he recently attended a meeting of the group to better understand the issue. "It is something the town should look at ... to see if there could be some kind of equitable solution for all residents of the town, not just those residents with grinder pumps.Advertisement " Matt Hanson, who is running for his second term, didn't offer a specific proposal but said he didn't see why "the town couldn't take on some of the responsibility for maintaining" the pumps. "These residents have this great burden that's been placed on them," Hanson said. Bob Joyce, a former sewer commissioner, said residents knew during the planning phases that not all homes would be tied into the system. He would consider alternatives if elected, he said. "The truth of the matter is these people were never planned on being sewered," he said. "So the fact that they got sewered and they had to have private pumps was well explained to them, and they did receive some compensation for it." Janet Askenburg said any group of residents who feel they're not being treated fairly should have their concerns heard. "As a community, we definitely need to hear their concerns and find an opportunity to find a solution," she said. Candidates also debated what's commonly called other post-employment benefits, for which the town's liability was last estimated at $169 million. Town Meeting last fall approved putting $1 million into a fund that had only $280,000 at that point. To fully fund those costs for last fiscal year, Chelmsford would need to pay $12.2 million, according to town estimates. "It's one of those things that almost keeps me up at night," Askenburg said. "It's a scary thought that such a large number is looming out there." She called it disappointing that the state hasn't provided more help or offered solutions, and said the town should lobby the state for aid. "It's a heavy weight on our shoulders," she said. Joyce called for the town to put aside a set amount of money each year to cover the liabilities, as it does for things like capital expenses. Next year's capital budget is proposed to rise by more than $427,000, but Joyce said that difference should instead be put toward paying off employee benefits. "Quite honestly, some of those projects getting done could wait," he said. The town could also reduce its debt load and use that money instead to pay off the benefits, he added. Hanson cited the $1 million that was devoted last year and said selectmen have a goal to set aside at least the same amount each year in the future. "At least the town of Chelmsford is being responsible for starting to pay off this great debt," he said. Maloney said he's not in favor of adding a budget line item each year or taking from capital projects, many of which he said have been on hold for years. In the coming years, as funding for major capital projects lessens, the town should begin addressing the liabilities, he said, also urging seeking relief from the state. Follow Grant Welker at Twitter.com/SunGrantWelker.Print Email Font ResizeReturn to Top Welcome to your discussion forum: Sign in with a Disqus account or your social networking account for your comment to be posted immediately, provided it meets the guidelines. (READ HOW.)

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Instant Cappuccino The Web Home of Maha Rafi Atal About Maha Contact Maha Archive for ‘Economics’ Urban Air Pollution Is a Public Health Emergency By Maha Rafi Atal, 22 January, 2016, No Comment I’ve finally returned to Cambridge after spending the better part of 2015 conducting field research in India, South Africa and Kenya. With luck, I’ve now got all the data I need to finish my thesis, and I’m going to be chained to my desk from now until I finish writing it. Naturally, I am procrastinating by writing assorted other things instead, including my monthly blog at SciDev.net. My most recent piece covers the air quality crisis affecting the developing world’s major cities. India, where I spent much of the summer, is home to many of the worst offenders, and Delhi is the most polluted city of all. I have been visiting Delhi regularly for the past decade, and the change is visible. Many a rickshaw journey consists of wondering exactly how the driver knows to break before crashing into a car in front of him, when neither he nor I can see the road in front of us. The situation in African cities is not as bad, but Nairobi, where I spent the fall, is getting there. Yet despite traveling regularly in the developing world, often in the company of asthma sufferers in my family and household, statistics saying pollution kills more people than HIV and malaria combined, still shock. We are making progress, and huge credit is owed here to my mother, the incredible Shazia Z. Rafi, who campaigned successfully to get air quality targets included in the new Sustainable Development Goals. This should put pressure on governments, but it is not just a government problem. Urban air pollution in the developing world is a direct product of economic growth, of the fuel consumed both by industrial operations and the transport workers use to reach those new factories. Businesses who are driving this wave of industrialized urbanization bear some responsibility here. My piece, which you can read here, lays out some steps companies can take to clean up their act. Back to the thesis now, I swear… Bangladesh and Sweatshop Economics By Maha Rafi Atal, 10 May, 2013, No Comment Very belatedly, posting the link to my debut piece for the Guardian. I look at the debate about the economics and ethics of sweatshops that has erupted in the wake of the Dhaka factory collapse last month. In particular, I’m intrigued by the logic of sweatshop apologists, who argue that because individual workers chose to work in these sweatshops over available alternatives, sweatshop jobs are the best possible jobs in Bangladesh. This is rational choice theory taken to an absurd Panglossian extreme, where everything that happens in a market economy must be good because if it wasn’t good, it wouldn’t be happening. It’s a way of thinking that strips out A. any normative analysis of what is a good choice B. any real engagement with the context in which choices are made. You can read the piece here. China’s ‘String of Pearls’ – Real or Fake? By Maha Rafi Atal, 2 February, 2013, No Comment I’ve got a new post up looking at the Chinese investment strategy in South Asia, and in particular, the theory that China is acquiring a ‘string of pearls,’ a network of strategic assets in Pakistan, Burma, Nepal et al that will encircle and contain India. My post is a response to a post by Dan Drezner at Foreign Policy, in which he contends that the ‘string of pearls’ is something western journalists cooked up in our imaginations because it feeds into fears about Big Scary China. I disagree. My post argues that the ‘string of pearls’ is a real strategy, an extension of longstanding Cold War alliances China had in the region, and that its primary function is economic, not military. But I concede that the strategy may be failing or weakening, in part because China is growing wary of Pakistan, in part because China is growing less wary of India, and in part because the U.S. presence in Afghanistan has altered regional dynamics. Read it all here. Thoughts on the 3rd Presidential Debate: Foreign Policy By Maha Rafi Atal, 23 October, 2012, No Comment I watched last night’s presidential debate with a group of wonks and journalists at the Council on Foreign Relations. It was interesting to be among people who care deeply about international affairs, given that most voters don’t. Indeed, knowing that foreign policy won’t win them this election, both candidates took every opportunity to pivot the discussion to the economy. Moreover, the candidates agreed with one another on almost all the issues they touched on. Together, the tactics of agreement and evasion made for an uninformative 90 minutes. But, a few things that jumped out at me: 1. As expected, the candidates used the question on ‘America’s role in the world’ to spar over the defense budget. Most viewers will remember this segment for President Obama’s quip equating Romney’s push for greater naval spending to a demand for ‘horses and bayonets.’ But what I found notable was the contrast between Romney’s planned cuts to government social spending and his desire to double down on military spending that even the Pentagon doesn’t recommend. The important thing to understand about this debate over defense spending is that it has very little to do with foreign policy and everything to do with economic stimulus. As Daniel Drezner put it in his comments at CFR yesterday, defense expenditures are about the only form of Keynesianism the contemporary GOP supports. 2. I tweeted on Sunday that it would be a big surprise to see either candidate talk seriously about the centrality of women – their empowerment, their role in public life and in civil society – to American foreign policy. Last night, I was pleasantly surprised to see the topic come up, and even more astonished to find that it was brought up by Mitt Romney. Most likely, that’s because Romney has a wide gap to close with women voters, but I welcomed the comments nonetheless. 3. I was pleased that Bob Schieffer raised the topic of drone warfare. At CFR, Rachel Kleinfeld of the Truman Security Project noted that her organization’s polling of its audience indicates that drone warfare is among President Obama’s most unpopular policies, rivaled only by his failure to close Guantanamo Bay. Given that, it’s a shame that Mitt Romney didn’t use the opportunity to push back against the policy: the American public deserves to hear the issue debated in full. It’s not just a humanitarian issue – though the civilian casualties from drone warfare are an outrage. It’s also a strategic issue, in that the use of a deeply unpopular policy hurts American soft power around the world. Most concerning to me is the fact that this kind of high-tech war often takes place away from the public eye. We focus heavily on the use of drones in Afghanistan and Pakistan as part of a broader debate about the ground war there. But how many Americans know that the U.S. is also using drones to intervene in Yemen, or Somalia? Because drone warfare can be pursued without putting any boots on the ground, those interventions have happened with little to no public scrutiny. To my mind, a military technology that can be deployed without public debate is a technology that makes wars more likely, and that’s dangerous. I talked about this, and the rest of the Afghanistan portion of the debate, on Huffington Post Live this morning. You can watch my segment here. UN Week Blogging By Maha Rafi Atal, 8 October, 2012, No Comment Belatedly, taking note of two blog posts I’ve written for Forbes recently based on events I attended during UN Week. 1. The UN hosted an event on energy access and sustainability that was notable because it tried to bridge the gap between environmental activism and anti-poverty work. Energy access is a critical prerequisite to poverty reduction, necessary for everything from heating homes to delivering public services to powering the businesses that create jobs. Emerging powers sometimes paint these economic imperatives as incompatible with the fight against climate change. They see emissions caps as an unfair restriction on their economic advancement. But they’re wrong. The IEA’s most recent World Energy Outlookconcluded (see p. 488) that achieving universal electricity access by 2030 would result in only a 2% increase in global emissions. That’s because the 1.3 billion people living without electricity today live in the world’s poorest countries. And poor countries that do have universal electricity today draw far less power, on a per-capita basis, than rich ones. Of course, the ultimate aim of expanding energy access is to spur economic growth and allow poor countries to become richer. But even with dramatic economic growth, these countries won’t be approaching the kilowatt-hours consumed in the developed world until long after 2030. And by that time, we could and should have viable, affordable carbon-neutral energy systems in place. 2. The Concordia Summit held a panel discussion on women in Afghanistan that was notable because it highlighted the role the U.S. government has played in helping Afghan women achieve economic and political freedom, just days before U.S. government officials began telling the press that the U.S. won’t have much role in the postwar peace. But the most important, and least frequently discussed danger (it gets no mention in the Timesstory) is the fate of Afghan women. One of the few goods to have come of the ISAF presence in Afghanistan is an Afghan constitution that gives women equal legal status to men (Article 22), the right to go to school (Articles 43 and 44), access jobs (Article 48) and hold political office (Article 84). Not only would a postwar government with Taliban members reverse such gains, but many woman who have made social, political and economic gains in the last decade would be in danger of suffering violent retribution and shaming from the men in their communities. I’ll be discussing what NATO withdrawal means for Afghan women on HuffPost Live today at 10:30AM Eastern. You can watch it here. How to Lie With Statistics, Women and Child Care Edition By Maha Rafi Atal, 3 August, 2012, No Comment My latest post is up at Forbes, highlighting two research papers that look at the impact women’s earnings and the cost of child care have on women’s decisions on whether to have children and whether (or how much) to work. They are good papers, but they both make a critical error: Both papers assume that men commit full-time to the labor force, and that the choices families are about the balance of women’s working hours and caring hours. It’s one of the most infuriating aspects of the work-life debates that the choice is so often framed that way. The reality is that in addition to earning potential and cost of child care, the degree to which male partners share in child care duties is a major factor driving women’s career and family choices. Leaving working fathers out of the choice equation tarnishes the studies’ results, and can have a dangerous effect, if policymakers feel that the solution suggested by papers like these is to expand the choices available to women without expanding choices for men. Framing the work-life conundrum as a women’s issue only makes it more likely that it will remain women’s burden. The research error becomes self-fulfilling. This case is a perfect example of the problem outlined by Darrell Huff in his classic book, How to Lie With Statistics. I’m a great advocate for inserting more data into debates about work and family, but it’s equally important to be skeptical of the data presented to us. Ask not just, ‘Does this data answer the question we’re asking?’ but also, ‘Are we asking the right questions?’ At the moment, I’m not convinced we are. Some Recent Things Wot I Wrote By Maha Rafi Atal, 26 June, 2012, No Comment I try to keep this blog up to date with what links to things I write elsewhere, but (as those who follow me on Twitter will know), this site’s been experiencing some downtime of late, and for much of the last week, I wasn’t even able to log in to it to post a status update. So, just in case you’ve missed these pieces, here’s what I’ve been up to during the hiatus: 1. Commenting on a slightly paradoxical hunger crisis in India: more agricultural output, but less food in the hands of the poor. Cause: Corrupt and inefficient government food subsidy program. 2. Examining the economic impact of Title IX, which is 40 years old this week. Short version: it made American women richer and more successful and helped narrow the gender achievement gap. 3. Taking the Atlantic to task for a cover story about “Why Women Still Can’t Have It All.” My take: neither can men (a fact the author overlooks) and who ever said ‘having it all’ was the goal? The piece is touching a nerve with a lot of readers, and I’m getting a lot of fascinating, often critical, feedback which I may revisit in a follow-up post. I didn’t mention this in my Forbes piece, but the Atlantic does seem to have a penchant for personal essays in which individual writers frame regrets or frustrations about their experiences in critiques of feminism from within feminism. This piece reminded me quite a bit of last year’s ‘All the Single Ladies‘ and the previous year’s “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” in that respect, even though those pieces were about romantic, rather than professional, struggles. There’s an awful lot that’s wrong with being a woman today, but feminism isn’t the root of it. It’s almost always our best shot at making things better. I’m so very tired of the Atlantic suggesting otherwise. On Unions and Gender By Maha Rafi Atal, 8 June, 2012, No Comment I’ve got a post up at Foreign Exchange, my Forbes blog, today about some new research on the British labor movement. The paper takes two trends of the last 30 years – increasing numbers of women in the workforce and declining union participation – and wonders whether they are related. The researcher, Getinet Haile, finds a few ways they are: 1. As more women enter a workplace, union participation falls. Namely, workplaces with more than the median percentage of women see a 12-percentage point decline in union density relative to workplaces where the balance is below the median. 2. That decline has more to do with men than women. Men in the workforce are 15 percent less likely to be union members if their workplace – and therefore their union – has an above-the-median level of female participation. Women in the workforce are just 7 percent less likely to be union members in a diverse workplace. 3. In female-dominated workplaces, common in fields like education or social care, union membership is still strong, and indeed, actually increases with overall diversity – i.e. the entrance of men into these fields. 4. All of the above trends are stronger in the private sector than in the public sector. Haile goes on to explain how cultural tensions inside unions may explain some of these trends. It’s a powerful reminder that while we talk about unions as built on an assumption of class solidarity, the union movement has historically relied on the common demographic makeup of the workforce (mostly white, mostly male) to act as a kind of social glue between workers. As the workforce grows more diverse – something we should celebrate – unions may have to find new ways of binding workers together. Or they may simply fade from relevance. Grexit: It’s a question of how, not if, Greece will leave the euro Over at Foreign Exchange, I’ve got a post up on the euro. Short version: all signs now point to a Greek exit, and Christine Lagarde has given a statement indicated there is no turning back. It sounds as if she’s essentially saying to the Greeks and others in Europe, you’ve had a nice time and now it’s payback time. “That’s right.” She nods calmly. “Yeah.” And what about their children, who can’t conceivably be held responsible? “Well, hey, parents are responsible, right? So parents have to pay their tax.” That fits entirely with the strict language she used when I interviewed her in August: She knows this is a tough sell. “You first have a period [after making cuts] where growth takes a hit and goes negative”—and with that come unavoidable human costs in lost jobs and social services. Political feuding over controversial cuts will only make the pain worse. How should ordinary people cope? She pauses. “It takes courage.” What are the implications of this tough stance: Hypothetically, should Germany refuse to loosen the terms of its loans to Greece, the IMF could offer a bit of rope on its loans to Greece that would allow a left-wing Greek government to save face without upsetting the eurocart. But. as those of us who have followed her closely expected, Lagarde has unequivocally squashed that possibility in her remarks tonight. Read the whole post here. Are Men Threatened By Women At Work? Some of them are, according to a new study I’ve written up at Forbes. Researchers at Harvard and UNC-Chapel Hill surveyed men in three kinds of marriages: traditional (wives who don’t work), neo-traditional (wives working part-time) or modern (wives working full-time). And they found that the more traditional a man’s marriage, the harder he was likely to be on the women he works with. There is an obvious reason for this: that men who live in traditional marriages are more likely to have more traditional worldviews overall and less likely to have been exposed to feminist or gender-egalitarian ideas. The more interesting suggestion is that these men are acting out of self-interest. We know that the earnings premium for married men is highest for those whose wives don’t work outside the home, and instead provide supportive labor in the home that enables their husbands to be better employees. And so the authors of this paper suggest that men with stay-at-home wives are enforcing in the workplace an order that they know benefits them personally, seeing the women who work for them as proxies for what their wives could become. The values these men express – that women aren’t competent at their jobs, that marriages work better when women stay home– are actually rationalizations for a self-interested reaction to a perceived threat. I am an academic researcher working at the intersection of business and international affairs. I am a PhD Candidate in the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Cambridge, where my thesis examines the role of multinational corporations as governing authorities in India, Kenya and South Africa. I am also the the co-founder and Executive Director of Public Business, a nonprofit supporting reporting, research and discussion about the wider impact of business actions; and the former Editor-in-Chief of the Cambridge Review of International Affairs. I have five years' experience as a journalist and I continue to write professionally, as well here on my blog. Recent Posts What Men Must Do To End Violence Against Women Divided We Can Change the World Some Things I’ve Written, or I’m Still Alive On Charlie Hebdo and the culture of free expression Categories Apocalypse Series All content on Instant Cappuccino is © 2008-2016 Maha Rafi Atal and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Instant Cappuccino powered by

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Mass. police unions ask President Obama for apology in Henry Louis Gates arrest Photo by Elise Amendola / Associated PressCambridge police Sgt. James Crowley, far left, listens as a multiracial group of officers and union leaders hold a news conference in Cambridge Friday to show support for Crowley who was the arresting officer of Harvard professor Henry Lewis Gates at his home. Photo by Elise Amendola / Associated PressCambridge police Sgt. Leon Lashley speaks to reporters in Cambridge Friday to express support for fellow officer Sgt. James Crowley. Lashley, who was with Crowley at the scene of the arrest, says he supports "100 percent" how Crowley handled the situation. This is a 5:15 p.m. update of a story originally posted at 12:36 this afternoon. The complete text of comments made by President Obama today may be found at the end of this story. By BOB SALSBERG and DENISE LAVOIE Associated Press CAMBRIDGE - A multiracial group of police officers on Friday stood with the white officer who arrested a prominent black Harvard scholar and asked President Barack H. Obama and Mass. Gov. Deval L. Patrick to apologize for comments the union leaders called insulting. Obama said Wednesday that Cambridge police "acted stupidly" during the disorderly conduct arrest of his friend, Henry Louis Gates Jr., in his own home near Harvard University. Patrick said Gates' arrest was "every black man's nightmare." Dennis O'Connor, president of the Cambridge Police Superior Officers Association, said Obama's remarks were "misdirected" and the Cambridge police "deeply resent the implication" that race was a factor in the arrest. Photo by Ron Edmonds / Associated PressPresident Obama, speaking about his initial comments concerning the incident with Henry Louis Gates Jr. and police officer James Crowley, Friday in the White House pressroom in Washington, said, "I could've calibrated those words differently." "President Obama said the actions of the CPD were stupid and linked the event to the history of racial profiling in America," O'Connor said. "The facts of the case suggested that the president used the right adjective but directed it to the wrong party." Officers responded to Gates' home on July 16 after a woman called 911 and said she saw two black men with backpacks trying to force open the front door. The woman, Lucia Whalen, has not responded to repeated attempts for comment. Gates has said he returned from an overseas trip, found the door jammed, and that he and his driver attempted to force it open. Gates went through the back door and was inside the house on the phone with the property's management company when police arrived. Police said he flew into a verbal rage after Sgt. James Crowley, who is white, asked him to show identification to prove he should be in the home. Police say Gates accused Crowley of racial bias, refused to calm down and was arrested. The charge was dropped Tuesday, but Gates has demanded an apology, calling his arrest a case of racial profiling. Gates, 58, maintains he turned over identification when asked to do so by the police. He said Crowley arrested him after the professor followed him to the porch, repeatedly demanding the sergeant's name and badge number because he was unhappy over his treatment. Crowley has refused to apologize, saying he followed protocol. Meanwhile, earlier Friday, a second police officer who was inside Gates' home during his arrest said he and the arresting officer "followed protocols." Patrolman Carlos Figueroa said he and needed to be sure everyone was in the house legally. He said that's why Crowley asked Gates for his identification. Figueroa said Gates shouted "No, I will not!" He also said Gates was shouting at Crowley, calling him a racist and saying, "This is what happens to black men in America!" Figueroa told The Associated Press on Friday that he and Crowley did what they were supposed to do. Meanwhile in Washington D.C., the White House said Friday that it is the media's "obsessions" that are keeping alive President Obama's comments about the arrest. Asked whether Obama regretted commenting on the matter, spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters that the president probably would regret distracting the media with "obsessions." Gibbs says Obama has "great respect" for police officers and understands what a hard job they have. He also says Obama has said most of what he's going to say on the matter. When questioned Wednesday night about the incident, Obama said police had "acted stupidly." In an interview a day later, he said "cooler heads should have prevailed." Later Friday, however, Obama told reporters he has called Crowley and he believes him to be an outstanding police officer. The president said he continues to think both the officer and Gates overreacted during the incident - but Obama also faulted his own comments. Making an impromptu appearance at the daily White House briefing, Obama told reporters: "I could've calibrated those words differently." Text of Obama's remarks on arrest of black scholar Here is the text of President Obama's remarks at a White House briefing Friday, as transcribed by CQ Transcriptions. A video of these remarks can be seen at YouTube. I wanted to address you guys directly, because over the last day and a half, obviously, there's been all sorts of controversy around the incident that happened in Cambridge with Professor Gates and the police department there. I actually just had a conversation with Sgt. Jim Crowley, the officer involved. And I have to tell you that, as I said yesterday, my impression of him was that he was a outstanding police officer and a good man, and that was confirmed in the phone conversation. And I told him that. And I - because this has been ratcheting up and I obviously helped to contribute ratcheting it up, I want to make clear that in my choice of words, I think, I unfortunately, I think, gave an impression that I was maligning the Cambridge police department or Sgt. Crowley specifically. And I could have calibrated those words differently. And I told this to Sgt. Crowley. I continue to believe, based on what I have heard, that there was an overreaction in pulling Prof. Gates out of his home to the station. I also continue to believe, based on what I heard, that Prof. Gates probably overreacted as well. My sense is you've got two good people in a circumstance in which neither of them were able to resolve the incident in the way that it should have been resolved and the way they would have liked it to be resolved. The fact that it has garnered so much attention, I think, is a testimony to the fact that these are issues that are still very sensitive here in America. And, you know, so to the extent that my choice of words didn't illuminate, but rather contributed to more media frenzy, I think that was unfortunate. What I'd like to do then is make sure that everybody steps back for a moment, recognizes that these are two decent people, not extrapolate too much from the facts but, as I said at the press conference, be mindful of the fact that because of our history, because of the difficulties of the past, you know, African-Americans are sensitive to these issues. And even when you've got a police officer who has a fine track record on racial sensitivity, interactions between police officers and the African-American community can sometimes be fraught with misunderstanding. My hope is that as a consequence of this event, this ends up being what's called a teachable moment, where all of us, instead of pumping up the volume, spend a little more time listening to each other and try to focus on how we can generally improve relations between police officers and minority communities, and that instead of flinging accusations, we can all be a little more reflective in terms of what we can do to contribute to more unity. Lord knows we need it right now. Because over the last two days, as we've discussed this issue, I don't know if you've noticed, but nobody's been paying much attention to health care. I will not use this time to spend more words on health care, although I can't guarantee that that will be true next week. But I just wanted to emphasize that - one last point I've guess I'd make. There are some who say that as president I shouldn't have stepped into this at all, because it's a local issue. I have to tell you that that thing - that part of it, I disagree with. The fact that this has become such a big issue I think is indicative of the fact that, you know, race is still a troubling aspect of our society. Whether I were black or white, I think that me commenting on this and hopefully contributing to constructive, as opposed to negative, understandings about the issue is part of my portfolio. So at the end of the conversation, there was discussion about - my conversation with Sgt. Crowley, there was a discussion about he and I and Prof. Gates having a beer here in the White House. We don't know if that's scheduled yet, but we may put that together. He also did say he wanted to find out if there was a way of getting the press off his lawn. I, I informed him that I can't get the press off my lawn. He pointed out that my lawn is bigger than his lawn. But if anybody has any connections to the Boston press as well as national press, Sgt. Crowley would be happy for you to stop trampling his grass. All right? Thank you guys. PREVIOUS COVERAGE, DISCUSSION: » Thursday: Cambridge police commissioner says officers 'deeply pained' by President Obama's 'acted stupidly' remark » Thursday: Cambridge Sgt. James Crowley, cop who arrested black scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr., teaches class about profiling » Wednesday: President Obama says Cambridge police acted 'stupidly' in arresting black scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. » Tuesday: Disorderly conduct charges dropped against Henry Louis Gates, black scholar at Harvard University

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Nurse Duped By Kate Middleton Royal Prank Call Found Dead in Apparent Suicide A nurse who was duped by two Australian radio DJs seeking information on Kate Middleton's hospitalization earlier this week has been found dead in an apparent suicide, according to the hospital.In a statement to TVGuide.com, King Edward VII Hospital said that Jacintha Saldanha was found dead Friday morning near the hospital and was the recent "victim of a hoax call." Scotland Yard is treating the death as a possible suicide."Our thoughts and deepest sympathies at this time are with her family and friends," hospital CEO John Lofthouse said in the statement. "Everyone is shocked by the loss of a much-loved and valued colleague."On Tuesday, Australian DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian called the hospital at 5:30 a.m. as part of their show. Greig and Christian put on British accents and pretended to be the Queen of England and Prince Charles, asking to speak with "my granddaughter Kate," who was hospitalized Monday for acute morning sickness. Saldanha, who was working at the reception desk at the time, provided details about Middleton's condition that were broadcast on the air. Audio of the prank call was published by several websites Wednesday and Thursday.See photos of Kate MiddletonAfter a public rebuke from the hospital, the radio station issued an apology Wednesday, saying: "We were very surprised that our call was put through. We thought we'd be hung up on as soon as they heard our terrible accents. We're very sorry if we've caused any issues and we're glad to hear that Kate is doing well."The station and the DJs have yet to comment on Saldanha's death. The hospital added Friday that it had been "supporting [Saldanha] throughout this difficult time."Middleton, who was discharged Thursday, and Prince William also issued a statement Friday after hearing the news."The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Jacintha Saldanha," the statement read. "Their royal highnesses were looked after so wonderfully well at all times by everybody at King Edward VII Hospital, and their thoughts and prayers are with Jacintha Saldanha's family, friends and colleagues at this very sad time."Saldanha had worked at the hospital for more than four years.View original Nurse Duped By Kate Middleton Royal Prank Call Found Dead in Apparent Suicide at TVGuide.comOther Links From TVGuide.com Prince WilliamKate Middleton

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10 killed, over 100 injured in South Korean resort collapse Seoul: At least 10 people, nine of them college students, were injured and more than 100 injured when a resort building in a South Korean city collapsed under the weight of heavy snow, a media report said here on Tuesday. A South Korean resident lies beneath debris at the scene of a collapsed building at the Mauna Resort in Gyeongju, in South Korea's south eastern Gyeongsang Province, on February 17, 2014. The incident occurred when a gymnasium at the Mauna Ocean Resort in Gyeongju, some 370 km from Seoul, caved in at around 9.15 p.m. local time Monday, Xinhua quoted police and fire authorities as saying. As many as 565 students of the Busan University of Foreign Studies (BUFS) were participating in a reception party for freshers when the gymnasium collapsed. As of 5.50 a.m. Tuesday, nine students and one party organiser died and 101 students were wounded, with 17 of them under treatment for serious injuries. Three students and 11 party organisers remained unaccounted for, with those estimated to be buried under the building yet. Over the past week, the Gyeongju city and its surrounding areas witnessed about 50 cm of snow. About 400 rescue workers, including fire and police officials and troops from nearby Marine Corps and Army units, were dispatched to the scene. But they had difficulties in rescue operation as the building is located at the top of the mountain and snow laid thick on the ground. Most of rescue workers had to walk several hundred meters through the slippery and narrow road to the scene. 10 killed in South Korean resort collapse building collapse in South Korea Snow fall in South Korea Previous StoryEthiopian Airlines hijacking: Nightmare returns after 18 yearsNext Story Tele serial fan Obama asks HBO chief for advance copies of episodes

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Detroit, Oregon, town wants to change its name Print The Grand Rapids Press staff Detroit just can't get any respect. First, a new TV show, "Detroit 1-8-7," depicts it as a run-down, unsavory and dangerous place. Now, an Oregon tourist town with the same name wants to change its moniker. Detroit, Oregon, says Detroit, Mich., is giving it a bad name. Voters in the 300-resident village will decide Tuesday whether to dump the moniker it shares with the Motor City, according to reports from The Associated Press and the Detroit News. The ballot proposal would change the name of the town nestled in the Cascades foothills, and best known for its boating and skiing, to Detroit Lake, the AP article says. Nothing like kicking a town when it's already down.

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It’s a match An officer noticed a familiar car in a gas station parking lot one day. The window was smashed out of the vehicle which caught his attention. It turns out the officer dealt with this subject just a month prior during a domestic violence incident. The officer knew from that incident that the man�s licence was suspended. However, he had dispatch run the tag to be sure. Then he waited. The suspect eventually came out of the gas station and got in his car and drove off. The officer followed him and conducted a traffic stop.He asked the driver for his license, to which the driver replied he didn�t have it on him.The officer then told him he knew his license was suspended. That�s when the driver admitted that he had not signed up for a driving class he was required to take from a DUI he got in 2007 in Florida. He said because of this he could not get a South Carolina license.He was charged with driving under suspension and released. Latest Videos

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http://www.newcanaannewsonline.com/news/article/Retirement-Maze-detailed-at-Senior-Men-s-Club-3984708.php 'Retirement Maze' detailed at Senior Men's Club Published 2:09 pm, Friday, October 26, 2012 Lou Primavera, above, and Rob Pascale will discuss their new retirement book at the Senior Menís Club Nov. 2 meeting. Rob Pascale and Lou Primavera will address the Senior Men's Club of New Canaan in Morrill Hall at St. Mark's Church on Friday, Nov. 2, at 10 a.m. about their book, "The Retirement Maze: What You Should Know Before and After You Retire." The authors will explain how retirement isn't nearly as easy as it might seem and will describe the pleasures and pitfalls of retirement. They will describe the struggles faced by retirees in building new lives outside of the workforce, and provide an honest assessment of retirement, how to prepare for it, and how to deal with it, based on the not-always-acknowledged fact that it is a difficult transition with pitfalls and obstacles to be overcome. They conducted a nationwide survey among retirees and pre-retirees. and performed in-depth interviews letting retirees express their concerns and describe the challenges in their own words, to fully understand why even those who say they enjoy retirement experience some uneasiness as they adapt to a life lacking in structure and direction. Pascale began his career as a market researcher, and in 1982, founded Marketing Analysts Inc., a quantitative market research company, which over the years has grown into an international research firm. Primavera is a New York state licensed psychologist trained in behavior and rational emotive behavior therapies. He has maintained a private practice for more than 25 years specializing in marriage counseling. Primavera is the dean of the Graduate School of Psychology and the dean of the School of Health Sciences at Touro College. Previously, he was the dean of the Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies at Adelphi University, was department chairman and served as associate dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at St. John's University, and has held full-time faculty positions at Hofstra University, St. Francis College and Molloy College. The Senior Men's Club of New Canaan is open for new members. For information, visit www.smcnc.org or call Membership Chairman Jerry Transue at 203-966-6050.

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Sam Daly, right, performs with his brother Scott, in the variety show he put on May 4 as his senior project at Bedford High School, which benefitted the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. (COURTESY) Bedford High senior puts on variety show for senior project BEDFORD — Behind every great performance, there are a lot of hard-working people.That's what Sam Daly, 18, a senior at Bedford High School, figured out May 4 as he was completing his senior project — producing and performing in a variety show that was a mix of stand-up comedy, live skits and videos..."I had a lot of my friends help me out with this," he said. "I learned that it takes a ton of hard work to put something like this together. It also taught me that I've got some of the greatest friends in the world."..Daly estimated that anywhere between 20 and 30 of his friends and fellow students put some time in to his project, assisting behind the scenes with lighting and stagecraft, rolling film for videos, giving pointers on what content was working and what wasn't, and selling tickets..."They gave up a lot of their free time to help me, and it showed that they've got my back," said Daly. "I couldn't have done this without their help."The variety show took place at the Bedford High School auditorium, and it was a fundraiser for an organization that is close to Daly's heart – the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Each ticket sold went for $5, and the variety show raised $1,200, all of which will go to the Dana Farber Institute...Daly chose Dana Farber to honor the memory of his mother, who died of colon cancer three years ago. "She was a great lady who touched a lot of people," he said. "The amount of support we got from Bedford was amazing. We got a ton of condolence letters from people I didn't even know. That was really cool to see."..One person who helped in producing the variety show was Daly's brother, Scott, a sophomore at Bedford High. Daly said his brothers inherited his mother's math skills while he inherited her sense of humor...The hours of practicing and honing his delivery didn't prevent the butterflies in the moments before the lights went up on his show, which included a standup routine that lasted more than 40 minutes. "About 20 minutes before, I got real nervous," Daly said. "But once I told my first joke and people started laughing, I felt a lot better."..Despite his ability to make people laugh, Daly believes the variety show was his last foray into the entertainment arena. "This was probably a one-hit wonder kind of thing," said Daly, who plans on studying business when he attends Fairfield University in Connecticut this fall. "It's not out of the question that I might do something with performing, but I don't really think so. If something presents itself, then maybe, but I'm not planning on anything."..hmetz@newstote.com..

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World Refugee Day allows opportunity to share tales of past and visions for future By DOUG ALDENNew Hampshire Union Leader | June 20. 2013 10:52PM Burundi drummers from the Burundi Association of NH march to the front of the State House during the World Refugee Day celebration held at the State House on Thursday. (Thomas Roy/Union Leader) CONCORD — The east lawn outside the State Capitol was a medley of music, dance and brilliant colors Thursday in a celebration of reaching a common destination through very different journeys.It was World Refugee Day and members of New Hampshire’s varied and growing refugee population gathered on the Statehouse steps, sharing stories of their new lives in the Granite State while contributing a cultural taste of music and dance from their former homelands. “It’s definitely amazing hearing everybody’s stories,” said Jane Yen, who was a child when her family fled war-torn South Sudan in 2003. “They’re not always the same, but in a way it’s similar because we all came here because of war or it was not a protective society.” Now 17, Yen is finishing her junior year at Concord High School and plans on becoming a doctor. She said the education she has received since arriving in Concord as a 6-year-old was a wonderful opportunity she would not have had if her family wasn’t relocated. “It was very devastating because of the war. I lost so many friends and family. It motivated me to become someone to reach higher even though it seemed impossible in the moment,” she recalled. “I saw people in South Sudan standing in line and they couldn’t get in to see a doctor because there wasn’t enough medicine and there were not a lot of doctors.” Yen was one of a handful of designated speakers at the event and closed by singing a song she wrote and titled “I Have Hope.” It was a fitting message she delivered to others who arrived much more recently, seeking safety and opportunity. The event was put on by Lutheran Social Services for New Americans, the Friends Program, the Bhutanese Community of New Hampshire and several other groups that helped recognize Refugee Day separately from Concord’s annual multicultural festival, which will still be celebrated this fall. “They used to celebrate it in the (refugee) camps while waiting to come here,” said Kerstin Ahlgren, an education and employment specialist with LSS who helped organize the festivities. “It’s a very familiar holiday for them.” The celebration started at 3 p.m. and Ahlgren said people were still coming as afternoon turned to evening. One of the last events was a fashion show featuring styles and vibrant colors from literally around the world and not often seen at the Capitol. Dawn Higgins, director of cross-cultural education at New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord, estimated the students learning English at the small school have a total of around 55 native languages. “We’re definitely starting to see the population on campus is growing and it’s representative of the community’s growth as well,” Higgins said. “It shows that the community is growing, not only in language but in new ideas and new ways of thinking about things.” dalden@unionleader.com Nashua officials debate pros, cons of tablets Marathon bombing victim home at last, if briefly State union workers receive raise, alter health coverage Officials balk at proposed Rockingham County dispatch fees Hampton man indicted for trying to hit woman with car Berlin budget avoids worker layoffs, minimizes tax increase Photostream

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John Cassidy: Pushing Off the Payments “I am not the first President to take up this cause,” President Obama said toward the beginning of his much-anticipated address about health-care reform, “but I am determined to be the last.” In that, if nothing else, his ambitions are likely to be frustrated. As Bill and Hillary Clinton learned to their cost, and as Obama is now discovering, health care is too big and incendiary an issue to be resolved in one swoop. Barring a remarkable change in the political climate over the next couple of months, the best that can be hoped for is an ongoing reform process, which will certainly involve more than one Presidency. The speech was detailed, forceful, and, in parts, moving. Obama rightly pointed out that the American system of private insurance has three deep-rooted problems: insecurity, exclusion, and cost. It is increasingly clear that he will tackle the first two, leaving the third and most difficult for somebody else, or, just possibly, his second-term self. He laid out a series of measures that will prevent insurers from dumping existing customers who get sick, excluding new customers with preëxisting conditions, and capping an individual’s medical coverage. Such long overdue changes can be enacted by administrative fiat: New York and other big states have already introduced them. Extending coverage to the uninsured, or most of them, is also reasonably straightforward. Tax breaks and subsidies can be used to make coverage more affordable; laws can be introduced requiring people to buy it. (Obama compared them to existing laws obligating drivers to obtain auto insurance.) Being popular, all of these measures are likely to be enacted. The problem is that they cost money: about nine hundred billion dollars over ten years, according to the White House. And yet, Obama insisted twice that he “will not sign a plan that adds one dime to our deficit, either now or in the future.” How will he square the circle? By taxing so-called “Cadillac” insurance policies, reducing waste in Medicare and Medicaid, and setting up an “independent commission” of doctors and other experts to come up with further cost cuts—or so he says. Forgive me if I sound cynical, but after twenty years writing about Washington, the phrases “independent commission” and “reducing waste” make me chuckle. The Congressional Budget Office has already cast doubt on the White House’s sums. And even if Obama somehow makes them add up, his plan doesn’t adequately address the larger issue of rising medical costs for people who already have insurance. That was where the “public option,” which the President spoke of fondly but is apparently willing to do without, at least for now, was supposed to come in. And that is the destination to which he, or one of his successors, will eventually be forced to return. The President and his advisers must know all this. Although they can’t say it publicly, they are playing a long game. For now, expand coverage and eliminate some of the insurance system’s most obnoxious features. After that, rely on rampant cost inflation and the threat of fiscal collapse to force Congress to consider more radical changes. Health-care reform is coming, but it is going to be a very lengthy process. Sign up for the daily newsletter.Sign up for the daily newsletter: the best of The New Yorker every day. E-mail address

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John Cassidy The “New Obama”: Michelle Keeps Hope Alive The climax of the first night of the Democratic National Convention was billed as an opportunity for Americans to meet the new Obama—a Hispanic Obama, Julián Castro, the thirty-seven-year-old mayor of San Antonio—and for the First Lady, Michelle Obama, to say some nice words about the old Obama, the rapidly graying one who is running roughly even in the polls with a stuffed shirt called Mitt Romney. It didn’t work out like that. Castro, after a slow start, got off some choice shots at the Mittster, and generally gave a good account of himself, but the First Lady, in a bravura performance, completely overshadowed him. Combining personal testimonials (“I love my husband even more than I did four years ago”) with behind-the-scenes details from the White House (the President “strategizing over middle-school friendships” with his daughters) and Reaganesque rhetoric (“never forget that doing the impossible is the history of this nation”), she threw off the cloak of domesticity that she has been wearing for the past three and a half years and emerged as a major figure in her own right. By the end of her speech, Twitter was full of speculation about her running for President someday, though Jodi Kantor, who wrote a book about the Obamas, said that it would never happen: if Michelle ran for office, Kantor said, she would eat her book. There’s nothing like a story-starved press pack to get ahead of itself. For now, let us simply state the obvious: Michelle Obama gave a speech that her husband, the speechifier, would have been proud of. After a night of enthusiastic but predictable denunciations of Romney’s Swiss bank accounts and laudations for Obama’s decision to save the auto industry, end Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and pass universal health care, she lit up the Time Warner Cable Arena, home to the Charlotte Bobcats. When she left the stage, many people in the audience were calling for an encore, and so, surely, were her husband and daughters, who were watching her on television from the White House. Inevitably, comparisons will be made with Ann Romney’s speech in Tampa last week. Facing the tough task of humanizing a financial engineer who made hundreds of millions of dollars by piling debt on companies and wringing efficiencies from their operations, Ms. Romney performed admirably. But Ms. Obama outdid her. In part, that was because her speech, which she apparently worked on with a speechwriter for weeks, was superior. Beginning by offering praise for the many outstanding Americans, particularly military veterans and their families, she has met during the past four years, she arced through her personal history with Obama, her initial reluctance to move to Washington, the hard-working father who inspired her, the hard-working grandmother who inspired her husband, and finally back to the life she and her husband have led in the White House, where, “He didn’t care whether it was the easy thing to do politically—that’s not how he was raised—he cared that it was the right thing to do.” It wasn’t just a good speech, it was a dramatic performance. Clad in a very pretty pink and silver dress designed by Tracy Reese, which showed off her well-toned arms, she appeared on the bright blue stage to a two-minute standing ovation. After a couple of early stammers, which some folks on Twitter suggested were strictly for effect, she spoke seamlessly and flawlessly. Although she was standing in front of a teleprompter, she had clearly memorized the speech to the point where she appeared to be speaking spontaneously. I thought the best bit came when she talked about the values their parents and grandparents had imbued in her and Barack. She retold the story of her father, who defied multiple sclerosis to get up at dawn each day and work at a city water plant, where he earned enough to help pay for his share (after financial aid and loans) of his children’s college-tuition fees. And every semester, he was determined to pay that bill right on time, even taking out loans when he fell short. He was so proud to be sending his kids to college … and he made sure we never missed a registration deadline because his check was late. You see, for my dad, that’s what it meant to be a man. Like so many of us, that was the measure of his success in life—being able to earn a decent living that allowed him to support his family. And as I got to know Barack, I realized that even though he’d grown up all the way across the country, he’d been brought up just like me. It was powerful stuff, and it didn’t stop there. She went on: We learned about dignity and decency—that how hard you work matters more than how much you make…. That helping others means more than just getting ahead yourself. We learned about honesty and integrity—that the truth matters…. That you don’t take shortcuts or play by your own set of rules … and success doesn’t count unless you earn it fair and square. We learned about gratitude and humility—that so many people had a hand in our success, from the teachers who inspired us to the janitors who kept our school clean…. And we were taught to value everyone’s contribution and treat everyone with respect. Those are the values Barack and I—and so many of you—are trying to pass on to our own children. That’s who we are. In the final part of the speech, she drew the threads together, insisting that her husband, in fighting for things like equal pay for women, universal health care, and a thriving auto industry, was simply doing what he had always done. Barack knows the American Dream because he’s lived it … and he wants everyone in this country to have that same opportunity, no matter who we are, or where we’re from, or what we look like, or who we love. And he believes that when you’ve worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity…you do not slam it shut behind you…. You reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed. So when people ask me whether being in the White House has changed my husband, I can honestly say that when it comes to his character, and his convictions, and his heart, Barack Obama is still the same man I fell in love with all those years ago. He’s the same man who started his career by turning down high-paying jobs and instead working in struggling neighborhoods where a steel plant had shut down, fighting to rebuild those communities and get folks back to work…. Because for Barack, success isn’t about how much money you make, it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives. If that last line was an indirect jab at her husband’s opponent, it was about the only one in the speech. Rather than trying to tear down Romney and the G.O.P., she tried to elevate her husband and his works, assuring disappointed Democrats and independents that, she, for one, still had faith in him. Obviously, it was a one-sided speech. She glossed over Obama’s comfortable upbringing in Hawaii, failed to mention his role in bailing out Wall Street banks, and didn’t mention the housing crisis, the soaring deficit, or the fall in median income. But that was hardly her role. She came to bolster Obama, and in doing so she demonstrated that effective speeches don’t have to be full of attack lines. Direct statements, sincere expressions of personal feeling, and a bit of poetry can do the job just as well. So, let us praise Michelle Obama, a tall, glamorous, intelligent, and strong-minded daughter of the Windy City who finally came into her own, without any apologies or histrionics. She may well be sincere when she says that she has no political ambitions of her own. But after Tuesday evening, the option will always be there. For more of The New Yorker’s convention coverage, visit The Political Scene. You can also read Cassidy on Obama’s and Paul Ryan’s false statements about the economy; Ryan Lizza on Julián Castro’s keynote address and the relationship between President Obama and Bill Clinton; Amy Davidson on the gay-rights platform and whether Democrats are better off than they were four years ago; and Alex Koppelman on Obama and the American Dream. I’ve updated this post to take account of reports that Michelle Obama worked on the speech for weeks with a speechwriter. Originally I said that the speech “presumably was written for her.” Sorry for the error. Photograph by J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo. Get the latest from John Cassidy delivered straight to your inbox.Get the latest from John Cassidy delivered straight to your inbox. E-mail address John Cassidy Share

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Newark man is fatally shot inside Maplewood home Google MapsPolice are investigating a homicide inside a home in Maplewood on Jacoby Street. MAPLEWOOD -- A 29-year-old Newark man was fatally shot inside a relative's home early this morning, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said. The victim, James White, was shot at around 5 a.m., on the 100 block of Jacoby Street, said Anthony Ambrose, chief of detectives at the prosecutor's office. White, of Elwood Avenue, had gone to a club in Irvington earlier that evening, Ambrose said. He was pronounced dead at the scene, Ambrose said. Detectives are still investigating the motive. No arrests have been made.

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Christie and five past N.J. governors to raise money for Liberty Hall Museum View full sizeGovs. Christie and Kean, shown here in the Statehouse, will join four past governors for a fundraiser Monday at Liberty Hall Museum.Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-Ledger TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie and five of the state’s past governors will attend a posh fundraiser and coming out party Monday evening for Liberty Hall Museum at Kean University. The pre-Revolutionary War mansion, built in 1772, was the home of New Jersey’s first elected governor, William Livingston, and six generations of the Livingston and Kean families. “It’s one of the most historic homes in the state if not the most historic home in the state,” said Gov. Tom Kean, who credited his cousins with preserving his family’s legacy. He and Christie will join Jim Florio, Donald DiFrancesco, Jim McGreevey and Richard Codey for the first-ever Governors’ Ball, billed as “an elegant evening of dinner and dancing under the stars.” An orchestra will entertain guests in the English garden. The museum, situated on 23 acres in Union, houses a trove of priceless documents. “Liberty Hall’s history is that of New Jersey’s history as well as the nation and to have access to the quality of primary documents from our founding fathers arguably puts it among the more valued historic repositories in our state,” McGreevey said. Kean University purchased the structure and grounds for $5.1 million from a foundation tied to family members, and pays $200,000 in maintenance costs. CONNECT WITH US On mobile or desktop: • Like Star-Ledger Politics on Facebook • Follow @NJ_Politics on Twitter And check out our redesigned mobile site by visiting NJ.com from any mobile browser. The event will raise about $500,000 to expand the museum’s programs, make repairs and lay a foundation for future preservation projects, said Susan DePauw, the event coordinator and a Kean graduate. The museum already has a separate endowment that cannot be spent as readily, she said. “It takes money to raise money,” she said. “It’s the home of the first governor so we are doing our first big coming out party for the museum.” As honorary chairman of the event, Christie will give remarks and introduce donors, said Heather Kelley, a museum spokeswoman. “Some them have never been to the museum,” she said, “to what we consider to be this lovely hidden gem, which has so much of New Jersey’s history right at your fingertips.”

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Cotton: The Times-Picayune covers 175 years of New Orleans history Kimberly Quillen, The Times-Picayune The United States exported its first shipment of cotton to England in 1784, opening up a new market for Louisiana farmers and paving the way for cotton to grow into one of the state’s major cash crops. England’s clothing industry, which had previously relied heavily on wool, was catching on to the benefits of sewing with cotton, especially when it came to producing lighter-weight garments for summer. 175 years of history New Orleans through the years, as covered by The Times-Picayune A look back at the evolution of The Times-Picayune's front page Compared with the cotton English merchants had been receiving from India, cotton shipped from the American South had longer fibers and was stronger.The crop really took off when Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin in 1793, making the pesky task of separating small seeds from the cotton much easier. Whitney’s invention helped transform cotton from a fiber that was used primarily in home spinning and weaving into one of the state’s major cash crops, along with sugar cane. As demand for cotton exploded, Louisiana emerged as a leader among U.S. cotton-producing states. Cotton plants thrived in the state’s soil, which was nutrient-rich thanks to occasional flooding from the Mississippi River. By 1860, aided by slave labor, Southern states including Louisiana were producing 75 percent of the world’s cotton. The cotton industry got another boost in the 1920s when the mechanical cotton picker was invented. Each cotton picker could replace more than 100 hand laborers.Though the fibers in Louisiana cotton are longer than those on cotton from India, it is still considered to be short-fiber cotton. Also known as upland cotton, it remains the predominant cotton grown today and differs from the long-fiber cottons used to make the velvety pima and Egyptian cottons. The acreage devoted to Louisiana cotton has declined in recent years, but most of the state’s crop is still harvested in northeastern Louisiana. View/Post Comments

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New Orleans Affordable Homeownership leaves lingering headaches Three and a half years after it produced one of the biggest scandals of former Mayor Ray Nagin's tenure, the quasi-city housing agency known as New Orleans Affordable Homeownership is finally dissolving for good. But a different anti-blight agency, the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority, also known as NORA, isn't thrilled that it has to pick up the mess left by its sister nonprofit.View full sizeEllis Lucia, The Times-Picayune archiveThe city awarded millions in federal grants to a nonprofit, Desire Community Housing Corp., to restore the blighted Bayou Apartments, but had to seize them back when they remained in disrepair. Why they were transferred to NOAH is unclear. The apartments were photographed in October 2002. NOAH was supposed to have shut down in 2008 after blogger Karen Gadbois and television reporter Lee Zurik found that it had paid $1.8 million in city money for contractors -- some of whom had ties to NOAH's then-director Stacey Jackson -- to gut and board up 870 storm-damaged homes that in many cases did not get remediated.As the agency closed up shop, FBI agents swooped in and took out boxes of documents. The federal investigation into NOAH "is alive and well," U.S. Attorney Jim Letten said Friday.A few weeks ago, Gadbois, now working for The Lens, and Zurik, now at WVUE-TV, found out that NOAH still had a one-person board and was still renting out a handful of properties, including one to one of the contractors tied to Jackson who was accused of collecting city money for work he never did.After The Lens and WVUE began asking about those properties, Mayor Mitch Landrieu replaced NOAH's remaining board member, Ed Shanklin, with three city officials. The new board voted to transfer the agency's remaining assets -- nine properties and $26,000 in a bank account -- to NORA.NORA is set to approve those actions at a board meeting Monday. At a NORA committee meeting Thursday, Assistant City Attorney Brenda Breaux said while there are code enforcement liens against three of the nine parcels and back taxes owed on one, NORA would get clear titles so it could dispose of the properties quickly. Most of the properties are in Treme or eastern New Orleans,Some of the properties received special U.S. Housing and Urban Development grants known as HOME Funds, and Breaux said NORA will have to seek proposals from developers with experience handling those grants. In particular, two properties on Chef Menteur Highway have a troubled past. The city awarded millions in federal grants to a nonprofit, Desire Community Housing Corp., to restore the blighted Bayou Apartments, but had to seize them back when they remained in disrepair. Why they were transferred to NOAH is unclear. "This is a hot potato, hot potato, hot potato," said NORA board member Ellen Lee. "We've all seen the news reports."The stickiest issue raised in the recent reports is that at least four of the NOAH housing units appeared to be occupied this year, according to city lease records, and at least two of them have ties to the NOAH contracting scandal.City records collected by The Times-Picayune show that Sterling Doucette, a contractor who received more than $15,000 to gut NOAH properties after Hurricane Katrina, lives and operates a business out of one of the units on Gov. Nicholls Street and pays the rent for another tenant in a separate unit.WVUE reported that Doucette listed his residence after Katrina at a house in eastern New Orleans that was owned by former NOAH director Jackson and that NOAH donated another property to Doucette.City officials say they are looking at the records, tracking the spotty rent payments and trying to figure out what to do so they can close the book on NOAH. Breaux said city and NORA inspectors may have to evict one tenant."What we're doing right now is reconciling what little paperwork we do have and what rent checks we do have," mayoral spokesman Ryan Berni said. "That will be part of this reconciliation."Berni said the city is also still trying to recover money from four of six contractors that it sued in March 2009, seeking the return of about $218,000. The suit came after an investigation conducted at the behest of Nagin, whose brother-in-law was one of NOAH's main contractors. The city attorney's office conducted that probe and found that six firms -- including two that figure in a state ethics complaint -- had not performed the work for which they were paid, to the tune of about $218,000.Berni said that the city was reimbursed about $3,000 by one contractor. Another had his case dismissed because of a lack of evidence. The other four cases "are still active," he said.Two of the contractors enmeshed in the controversy, as well as Jackson, are the subject of charges filed in late 2009 by the state board of ethics. But a panel has yet to hear those charges and mete out a punishment.NORA's executive director Joyce Wilkerson tried to calm the fears of skeptical board members like Lee, who said she was nervous about "taking one for the team" by taking on NOAH properties."We're not trying to get into the rental business," Wilkerson said. "That's not what we do. We're simply disposing of the properties."Berni said NORA is the natural repository for the properties and that it would move the parcels back into commerce, just as it is tasked with doing for thousands of abandoned properties purchased by the state through the Road Home program.David Hammer can be reached at dhammer@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3322. Find Local

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Sub NavigationEntertainmentSpyCelebrityReviewsVideoTVMoviesMusicGamesCultureWhat's onSideswipePuzzlesHoroscope Nigella Lawson abused by her mum: 'she just didn't like me' 3:26 PM Monday Nov 5, 2012 Nigella Lawson has faced plenty of tragedy in her life. Photo / File Nigella Lawson recently spoke of her worries about whether she was good enough as a mother, saying: "One is always aware of what one isn't doing right." Now it appears that any skills she may have as a parent were learned in spite of, rather than because of, the way she was treated by her own mother. The 52-year-old television cook, who has two teenage children, has revealed that she was physically abused by her mother when she was a child. A violent and depressed woman, Vanessa Salmon - who was married to Conservative politician Nigel Lawson, the former Chancellor - would lash out when her children made too much noise, Lawson said. She said she faced her mother's wrath because she "just didn't like me". Lawson, who is married to 69-year-old art collector Charles Saatchi, was 25 when her mother died of liver cancer aged 48. In the past she's spoken about how her mum inspired some of her signature dishes, including a "praised chicken", the smell and taste of which "says 'family' to me and my siblings, and brings our long-absent mother back to the kitchen and the table with us". However, she has now revealed that her relationship with her mum was complicated and abusive. "I never thought I could please her," said Lawson, one of four kids. "She was funny but depressed and so sensitive to noise. The sound of a plastic bag being crinkled would send her deranged. She'd shout at all of us and say, 'I'm going to hit you till you cry', and so I never would cry. I still don't. Continued below.Related Content Nigella Lawson says the domestic goddess tag doesn't suit Living near a bar = rise in risky boozing Jamie cooks up nearly $250 million in book sales "It wasn't a calculated thing; it was hot-blooded hitting, a thrashing out of things. Once she had to stop hitting Dominic [Nigella's brother] as she hurt her hand. "She just didn't like me; maybe because I came after Dominic the princeling and I was my father's girl she was jealous, I don't know. "I would say I'm sorry for whatever it was, some mess, and she'd say, 'Why do you think being inconsiderate is an excuse?' "It was like children of alcoholic parents who know right away when they've been drinking, we always would know in an instant if it was going to be bad." Lawson, who studied at Oxford University and is estimated to have earned £15million from her cookery career, had a far closer relationship with her father, who divorced his wife in 1980. She said Lord Lawson was a relaxed parent, who would congratulate her on being a terror at school but well-behaved at home. He also encouraged the teenage Lawson to have a drink of whisky with him as she studied for her A-levels because he did not like drinking alone, she said. Lawson has faced plenty of personal tragedy in her life. Her younger sister, Thomasina, died from breast cancer at 32, and her first husband, journalist John Diamond, died of throat cancer in 2001, aged 41. She had her two children with him, Cosima, now 18, and Bruno, 16. Dismissing suggestions that she flirts on screen, she said her complicated childhood had led to her developing a relentless need to please people. - DAILY MAIL Email

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Sub NavigationNationalNZ Herald FocusCrimePoliticsOpinionEmploymentHealthEducationEnvironmentWeatherMaoriQuizzes Kiwi hang glider faces new charge after woman's death 10:14 AM Wednesday Feb 27, 2013 File photo / Thinkstock A New Zealand hang gliding pilot is facing a new charge in Canada over the death of a woman who fell 300 metres from a glider while he was taking her for a flight. William Orders, 50, has been charged with criminal negligence causing the death of Lenami Godinez-Avila, the CBC News website reported. In April last year, Orders was flying over Fraser Valley, in British Columbia, with Ms Godinez-Avila, 27. Thirty seconds into the flight, she slipped and fell - in full view of her boyfriend who had booked the trips as an anniversary present and was waiting for his turn. She had clung to Orders' body for a short time and pulled his shoe off but fell when she couldn't hold on any longer. Orders holds a New Zealand passport and has worked here as a hang gliding pilot. He had already been charged with an obstruction of justice charge for allegedly swallowing a memory card that was believed to contain a video of the fatal flight. An investigation by the Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association of Canada last year found multiple distractions before takeoff contributed to the pilot's failure to ensure Ms Godinez-Avila was properly harnessed to the glider. Orders apologised to the victim's family for his "panicked action" which he blamed on "overwhelming stress" that included having his 12-year-old daughter waiting where the flight was supposed to land. He said he realised his actions had caused further pain for Ms Godinez-Avila's family and brought negative attention to the hang-gliding industry that had been his passion for nearly 20 years. "I have concluded that I cannot and will not return to hang gliding,'' he said. He was due to appear in Chilliwack provincial court next week. - APNZ

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People in photo still a mystery Photo location identified; participants unknown Park Burroughs Mystery Photo 23 Our readers were quick to point out where last week’s Mystery Photo was taken, but who the four young men in the photo are may never be known.Peters Township resident Reed Day emailed us to let us know that the photo was shot on the west side of Canonsburg Lake, looking toward Route 19.That white building is the Sam McDowell farm, now the site of Kmart. Day said the brick house amid the trees is home of Bill and Christine McDowell.Mark Sanders agreed the picture was taken on the North Strabane side. He added that the lack of leaves on the trees indicates the photo was taken in early spring, possibly the first day of trout season in early April.A look through late March and early April editions of the O-R on microfilm from 1971 and 1972 turned up nothing, so it’s possible the photo was never published.Bill Puchi, a former Peters Township police officer, said that people did camp on that side of the lake, which is now asphalt, not mud.The body of water was created in 1943. Known then as Alcoa Dam, it supplied the corporation’s forging plant. It was later renamed Canonsburg Lake, even though there’s not a drop of it in that borough. The lake forms part of the boundary between North Strabane and Peters townships.The five lads standing around a campfire with their clothes drying on sticks might have been from anywhere. They would be in their late 50s now and probably have less hair. We’d still like to know who they are, if anyone has a clue.Look for another Mystery Photo in next Monday’s Observer-Reporter. Retired Executive Editor Park Burroughs has been with the Observer-Reporter since 1972. He is the winner of numerous state and regional awards for feature, column and editorial writing. He is the author of two books, “Enter, With Torches: Recollections of a Grumpy Old Editor,” and "Washington County Murder and Mayhem." He retired in September 2012 but continues to contribute to the O-R’s news pages.

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‘BUCKWILD’ star, 2 others found dead in W.Va. Associated Press April 1, 2013 Shain Gandee SISSONVILLE, W.Va. – A cast member of the MTV reality show “BUCKWILD” was found dead Monday in a sport utility vehicle in a ditch along with his uncle and a third, unidentified person, authorities said. Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department Cpl. B.D. Humphreys said the bodies of cast member, Shain Gandee, 21, his uncle, David Gandee, 48, and the third person were found Monday in a remote area near Sissonville. Authorities had been searching for the men since early Sunday morning. They were last seen about 3 a.m. Sunday at a bar in Sissonville and they told people they were going driving off-road. Humphreys said state police were getting ready to send out an aviation unit to search for the men when authorities received a call Monday morning a vehicle was found wrecked in a muddy area a few miles from Gandee’s home in Sissonville, about 15 miles outside of Charleston. Authorities found the 1984 Ford Bronco that belonged to the Gandee family in a ditch with all three men inside. Humphreys did not provide details on the condition of the vehicle or the bodies. He said no foul play was suspected. The terrain in the Thaxton Hollow area was “very muddy, very rough,” Humphreys said, adding authorities had to use all-terrain vehicles to get to the site. Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper said the news was devastating for the small community near Charleston. “It’s a very sad day for the Sissonville area and for these families,” he said. “This is a small community, and most of us know directly members of these families. We’re keeping them in our hearts and prayers.” Shain, nicknamed “Gandee Candy” by fans, was a breakout star of the show that followed the antics of a group of young friends enjoying a wild country lifestyle. It was filmed last year, mostly around Sissonville and Charleston. MTV issued a statement saying it was shocked and saddened to learn of its star’s death. “We are waiting for more information but at this time, our main concern is for the Gandee family and their friends,” the network said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them. Shain had a magnetic personality, with a passion for life that touched everyone he met and we will miss him dearly.” A neighbor, Swanna Frampton, said she had known Shain Gandee since he was a small child. “He loved to live and have fun. He was a great person,” Frampton said. “He did what (the show) wanted him to do, but he wasn’t like that. He was a real person. If you needed help, if (you) needed something, he would come help you no matter what.” Shooting for the second season of “BUCKWILD” had begun, but MTV spokesman Jake Urbanski said Monday afternoon it has been suspended. He had no further details. MTV said the half-hour series in the old “Jersey Shore” time slot was pulling in an average of 3 million viewers per episode since its premiere and was the No. 1 original cable series on Thursday nights among 12- to 34-year-olds. Shain Gandee is the third BUCKWILD cast member to make headlines. Last week, 24-year-old Salwa Amin was sent back to jail for violating the terms of her bond following a February arrest. She was charged with two counts of drug possession with intent to deliver and initially jailed on $200,000 bond. That was later reduced to $100,000, but Amin remained behind bars without bond Monday. State police say a multi-agency task force arrested Amin and two other people at a Summersville residence after receiving a tip from an informant. A search found oxycodone pills, heroin and $3,000 in cash. Another cast mate, Michael Douglas Burford, was charged in February with driving under the influence. Urbanski said none of Gandee’s cast mates was available to do an interview Monday, and none immediately planned to issue a statement. But their feelings came through on Twitter, where Ashley Whitt called her friend “the most amazing person I’ve ever known.” “I know you will be watching over me every time I hit a mudhole. You will always be my best friend, I love you!” she wrote. Cast mate Cara Parrish and others asked fans to pray for Gandee’s parents, Loretta and Dale. “This is the emptiest I’ve ever felt,” she wrote in a tweet.

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Entertainment Columnists SUBMIT entertainment / Entertainment Columnists « Everyone and everything Glimpses of India visits Dun...» Shaw Festival, performances peak in August Save | NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, ONT. - Theater at the Shaw Festival is among the finest theater in the world, performing theater pieces written during the long life of its patron, George Bernard Shaw. That would be approximately from 1850 to 1950. The festival is now at it's peak period of operation, and it's only a bit more than two hours' drive from Jamestown, and closer to Dunkirk. After Labor Day, the number of performances will gradually be reduced until the season ends, in early November. As have many things in the world, the Shaw Festival has been bruised by the economic slowdown of the past two years. Compared to last season's 11 productions, they're presenting only eight this year, but the jaw-dropping sets, perfect costumes, and world class acting are still there, to stimulate your thinking and challenge your heart, in a way few other places can hope to achieve. Article Photos Submitted PhotoLady Lillian is prepared to flee from her stuffy husband and run away to Egypt with adventurer Hugh Paton, but life has a surprise for her, in J.M. Barrie's play ``Half an Hour.' Diana Donnelly and Gord Rand are the actors. My wife and I saw five plays in two days at the festival, this year. Let me tell you a bit about how to get there, and then share my thoughts on the five productions we witnessed: HOW TO It's possible to leave in the morning, see one or two plays at Shaw Festival, and return the same evening - around midnight, if you attend an evening performance. It's a reasonable feat, although there is so much to do in Niagara-on-the-Lake, it's a shame to spend so little time there. For decades, I've recommended driving east on I-90, to the intersection of I-290. Then, go west on I-290 to the intersection of I-190. Take it north, across the Grand Island Bridges and straight to the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge. Enter Canada, and once admitted, take the first exit and follow the signs to Niagara-on-the-Lake. I usually caution that readers note the difference between Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake, because they are different places, and you want to arrive at the one you want. Typically, it has taken a few minutes more than two hours of driving to get there. These days, it's wise to allow some more time for the border crossing, and more for possible traffic problems. This year, we encountered a stalled vehicle which closed the Grand Island Bridges for a very long period of time, and nearly made us late to our first performance, so you might want to consider getting off I-90 at the exit for I-190, then following signs for the Peace Bridge. Once admitted to Canada, follow the Queen Elizabeth Way, or QEW, toward Toronto, until you see the exit for Niagara-on-the-Lake. It's a bit more driving, but less prone to traffic back-ups. The festival operates three, good-sized theaters. In peak season, each of them presents a 2 p.m. matinee and an 8 p.m. evening performance, every day but Monday. Each year, one of the theaters operates an additional ''Lunch Time Performance,'' which is a one-act play, somewhat less expensive than the big productions, which makes it possible to see three performances in a single day, if you're up to that. If you're interested, you can obtain a schedule of what performances are offered when, by phoning (800) 511-7429, or go by computer to www.shawfest.com. You can order tickets with either of those methods, as well. If you're able to stay over and spend more time in the area, there are a number of ways to go about it. The Chamber of Commerce, for a small fee, will book you into available hotel rooms or bed and breakfast houses. Their phone number is (888) 619-5981. There are a number of luxury hotels in the small community, and many of the bed and breakfast places are on the posh side, but the bookers are surprisingly willing to go after the best price or the desired features, to the best of their ability. Just a few of the things which are available in addition to fantastic plays, are winery tours, golf, spa treatments, shopping, horse-drawn carriages, displays of gardening which will knock your socks off, hiking, historic architecture, and an all-summer music festival, in which performances of all kinds of music take place, both in free, public venues, and in performances spaces, for a fee. We've been going for more than 30 years, and it's always a highlight of our summer. Just remember, to return from Canada, our country now demands that you have a valid passport, an extended driver's license, or one of a few acceptable forms of identification. Canada usually won't admit you without the form of I.D., either, because if the U.S. won't let you back in, they're stuck with you, so be sure you have a legal I.D. before you go. Now, let me tell you about the plays. AN IDEAL HUSBAND Playwright Oscar Wilde, the world knows, was far from an ideal husband, but he wrote a play which suggests that perhaps women are better off not having one. The plot of ''An Ideal Husband,'' which plays at the Festival Theatre through the end of October, concerns a British politician, Sir Robert Chiltern, who appears in every way to be such a husband. His reputation is flawless. He is respected by both parties, and by the public. There is no blot on his reputation, and his wife, Lady Gertrude, respects him for exactly that. Then, one evening, there comes to their home, as a party guest, a beautiful woman named Mrs. Cheveley. She happens to have evidence that once, when he was just beginning his career, the noble Sir Robert shared some information which was supposed to be secret. The substantial profit from that one indiscretion, was the basis of his fortune, which has made him immune to later bribes and temptations. She wants his influence for her profit, in government contracts, or she will ruin his reputation and career. Sir Robert has a close personal friend, Viscount Goring, who undertakes by means honest and otherwise, to silence the inconvenient lady. The noble thing to do would be for Sir Robert to resign, and to retire in disgrace. Does Lady Gertrude want him to do the right thing, or is she perhaps more flexible than she thought, when the play began. Patrick Galligan is a strong and well-spoken artist as Sir Robert, and Steven Sutcliffe clearly has a wonderful time as the questionable viscount. Moya O'Connell is wonderfully seductive and sinuous as the nefarious Mrs. Cheveley, and Catherine McGregor makes the starchy Gertrude more believable than many actresses could accomplish in today's day and age. Jackie Maxwell directs with a clear focus and movement, almost like an elegant dance. Designer Judith Bowden uses just enough exaggeration to drown the audience in the atmosphere of the 1890s, when the action takes place. It was a period of too much everything, including too much self-righteousness, and she makes the audience live in that situation. The strong point of the play are the author's witty words and mind-challenging morals. You won't see any car chases. THE WOMEN When Clare Boothe Luce wrote her play ''The Women,'' men spent their time in businesses and in clubs for men only, while women spent their time keeping their houses and in ladies only organizations, and the twain intersected only in the rarest circumstances. Ms. Luce thought that both men and women tended to idealize the natures and the activities of women, and she wrote her play to demonstrate that women's lives were every bit as competitive and cut throat as men's were. They were just better at seeming sweeter, while they did it, she suggests. When the curtain rises, Nancy Blake is entertaining a few of her female friends. Whenever she leaves the room, they boil over with gossip about the fact that Nancy's husband is seeing ''a blonde,'' named Crystal Allen. It turns out that Nancy is aware of her husband's activities, but she has resolved to keep her home together. The girls, especially Sylvia Fowler, are dead set into pushing Nancy into a divorce. As the central women wend their way through activities such as luncheons in tea rooms and shopping in high-end department stores, and especially at the beauty parlor, they demonstrate how women were expected to live in the early 1930s, and how they really lived. Once again, the sets and costumes, by William Schmuck, are the tools which director Alisa Palmer uses to show us a different time and world, and to remind us that elements of that time are underlying all kinds of domestic and cultural situations in our own time. The entire production is visually dazzling. Jenny Young was strong and made us care about Nancy, while Deborah Hay created a female Iago as the determined Sylvia. Moya O'Connell was once again seductive and appealing as the other woman, while Wendy Thatcher provided both comic relief and a heart-rending portrayal of the Countess de Lage, a woman whose great wealth has brought her everything she ever wanted in life, and now she doesn't want it. You have to care about what women are like and what they could be like to enjoy this play, but if you do care, it will please you greatly. It's being performed at the Festival Theatre. HALF AN HOUR If you know playwright J. M. Barrie only for his masterpiece - ''Peter Pan'' - you might be quite startled by his play ''Half an Hour.'' The play is this year's one-act, Lunch Time Special, taking place at the Royal George Theatre. Central characters are stuffy, gruff Richard Garson and his disaffected wife, Lady Lillian. Also, there is an Indiana Jones-like adventurer named Hugh Paton, who has fallen for the wife and wants her to run away with him to Egypt, where they can live together, away from the scorning tongues and rigid rules of Victorian England. At the opening, Lillian decides to make the move. She writes Richard a note, puts her emeralds and her wedding rings into the envelope, and puts them all into the drawer of his desk, then she rushes off to join the dashing Hugh. And then, as it so often does in real life, something happens which destroys her plans. She quickly weighs her reasonable options, and decides that her best bet is to get home, destroy the note, and to host the dinner party her husband has planned, before he learns of her flight. She needs to get home, reclaim the note, dress elegantly, fix her hair and make up, and somehow convince the only witness to her recklessness, to hold his tongue. And she realizes that she will have to do it all within 30 minutes, while appearing calm. I thought director Gina Wilkinson made Lady Lillian more sympathetic than the playwright had in mind. Casting lovely Diana Donnelly in the role, automatically made us sympathetic. Her negative qualities, of which there were several, received a soft pedal. Peter Krantz was most effective as the disagreeable Richard, showing us in a hundred subtle ways what a barren existence it would be, to be under his control. Strong-faced Gord Rand was an appealing adventurer, not traditionally good looking, but possessed of an energy and a dynamism which made him seem likely to sweep a woman off her feet and onto a boat on the Nile. Designer Tyler Sainsbury produced the stylish drawing room which was Lillian's prison, and contrasted it by making the adventurer's living quarters resemble a tent on an exotic safari, which considering that it was an apartment in London, called for a bit of a leap of faith. It's an entertaining hour, both rife with the practices of an earlier day, yet retaining much to be aware of in our present world. Save | Subscribe to Observer Today Dunkirk Weather Forecast, NY

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MLK parade celebrates civil rights icon Jan. 19, 2014 12:00 a.m. By Brittany Woolsey Register Writer Facebook LONG BEACH Hundreds of people celebrated the life of Martin Luther King Jr. in a parade in his honor Saturday morning in Long Beach. The parade, called “50 Years Strong & the Dream Lives On,” traveled north on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue from Anaheim Street. It commemorated the civil rights leader by showcasing schools, organizations and community groups. “We are very fortunate to have individuals in our community that reach beyond the everyday challenges to include serving others in a way that uplifts the entire community. It is the people like these that have helped shape our neighborhoods,” said Councilman Dee Andrews in a statement. Honorees included the Pearl Foundation, actor Henry Salcido, Food Bank of Southern California, Prach Ly, Leonard Adams, Logan Baughman III and New Generations. Naomi Rainey, president of the Long Beach Branch of the NAACP, served as the honorary chairwoman for the parade. The parade was followed by a celebration at King Park.

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news@eotfocus.com Contact Emailnews@eotfocus.com History opinion COLUMN: Baseball movie leads to 2010 inspiration Wed, Jan 06, 2010 - 3:22pm Welcome to the new year, a new decade, and once again congratulations on surviving the scare that was Y2K in 2000. That hysteria still strikes me as funny, even 10 years later. Now, here we are one week into 2010 and I imagine around 89 percent of the country has already betrayed their New Year's resolutions. I'm not one to make formal resolutions. I know what I need to do and generally don't find it necessary to announce what I would like to accomplish in the coming year. Mainly, because I am weak-willed and have the resolve of a 3-year-old. Therefore, my resolutions don't stick. News Corn drying to the new year Wed, Jan 06, 2010 - 3:13pm The cold, wet fall pushed this season's corn harvest back well into the winter, and what's still standing in snow-covered fields is likely to stay until spring. The corn farmers were able to harvest came rolling into the Leaf River Ag bins in New York Mills in November and kept the new dryer humming through Christmas. Doug Weller runs the plant, and with steam rising continuously from the dryer, gravity boxes lined up as farmers looked to get their corn moisture-tested in late November and December. News NY Mills School hosts flu vaccination clinic Tue, Dec 29, 2009 - 2:28pm With the heart of flu season for this area upon us, Otter Tail Public Health is reaching out to vaccinate as many people in this part of the county as possible. Public health nurses were at New York Mills Public School last week to administer both H1N1 and seasonal flu shots to students, staff, and members of the community. Nurses administered 270 H1N1 vaccinations through both shots and the nasal mist in NY Mills, along with an unspecified number of seasonal flu shots, according to Diane Thorson, OTC Public Health Director. A vaccination clinic is also being conducted at the county health News, education NYM school levy set at 10 percent decrease Wed, Dec 23, 2009 - 7:00am The New York Mills School Board on Monday set the 2009-10 levy at a total decrease of 10.17 percent over last year. The board certified the 2009 levy, payable in 2010, at the "maximum" amount of $683,288.60. Business Home Sweet Home assisted living to open in NY Mills Tue, Dec 22, 2009 - 4:13pm An assisted living facility in New York Mills has new owners and is set to re-open Jan. 11. New York Mills natives Missy and Brent Steinbach own and operate Home Sweet Home at 412 Hummingbird Lane in the North Fork addition. The facility originally opened about five years ago under the name of the Nelson Home. Brent and Missy look forward to the opportunity to serve the community with the assisted living facility, and both bring experience in care-giving to the business. Missy is currently an Occupational Therapy Assistant at the nursing home in Staples. News Road project could shut down crossing for a year Tue, Dec 22, 2009 - 3:51pm New York Mills residents could run into a lengthy detour around the South Main railroad crossing during a scheduled street reconstruction project next summer. With the Otter Tail County Highway 67 project slated to begin in 2010, engineers recently met with railroad officials to discuss the crossing on South Main/67. The initial assessment indicates travel to the south side of town could create inconveniences as the crossing could possibly be shut down for one full year. The street reconstruction rehabilitation is a joint project between the county and the city, but to complete the project News New York Mills named among nation's best schools Tue, Dec 22, 2009 - 3:28pm New York Mills High School is one of 28 Minnesota schools among the nation's best, this according to information released by U.S. News & World Report. The magazine included NYM High School in the Bronze Medal Category. Other area schools named were Battle Lake, Rothsay and Underwood. Todd Cameron, Superintendent of Schools in New York Mills, made the announcement to staff on Dec. 21, congratulating the school for receiving the honor. Business Homebuyer incentives could help city developments Fri, Dec 18, 2009 - 7:00am The first-time homebuyer credit extension is one of the many temporary tax breaks Congress created to stimulate the economy. News, education Grant allows NYM Elementary to add literacy coach Thu, Dec 17, 2009 - 7:00am Teri Bauck is leaving the classroom to take on a new teaching role as the K-3 Reading First Literacy Coach in New York Mills. This new position is for one year and is made possible through a state grant the school district received. Bauck, who has been a 2nd grade teacher in Mills for 15 years, plans on working with elementary teachers in grades K-3 to improve literacy at the primary grades. "We're going to establish best practices and find out what is best to use in their classrooms, and determine the most effective strategies," Bauck said. The purpose of the Reading First Literacy Coach News, education Third graders handed valuable classroom tool Fri, Dec 11, 2009 - 7:00am New York Mills 3rd graders now have an important educational tool in their hands. Ryan McQuiston of the Wadena Elks showed up at NY Mills Elementary on Monday to give each 3rd grader (48 total) his or her own dictionary. This is the first year the Elks provided dictionaries and McQuiston told the students he hopes the Elks can continue the gesture each year. He said the dictionary is designed for 3rd graders and the Elks donated a total of 264 to students in Mills, Wadena, Sebeka, Verndale, and Bertha. "Reading is very, very important. Pages1234next ›last » Account

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Bartow to get Dunkin Donuts Share this story: People may have seen the sign on U.S. 98 but there not only will be a Dunkin’ Donuts coming to town. There will be about 25 to 30 jobs that come with it. “It’s going to be right before the McDonald’s,” said franchise owner Alex Fernandez. “And it will be open in the next 60 days.” The Fernandezes live in the Orlando area but he said he has the development rights for Dunkin’ Donuts in Polk County. Previously he’d been a McDonald’s franchise owner in Chile. He is also planning to open franchises in Lake Wales, Aburndale and Plant City. The Lake Wales store will be open 24 hours and is under construction at the Shoppes on the Ridge on U.S. 27. Fernandez said the location is a highly traveled road and lends itself to being open all night. The other stores will be open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Among the four stores Fernandez said there will be about 100 new jobs coming to Polk County. The stores will be open seven days a week. The only day it is closed is on Christmas Day. Currently Fernandez said he is hiring people for management positions. After that he said signs will go onto the franchises that they are interviewing for shifts, of which there will be three to four. He said they may be minimum wage jobs for the shifts but he isn’t sure yet. Historically a doughnut and hot coffee chain, Dunkin’ Donuts now offers frozen and iced beverages, a full bakery assortment including bagels and muffins, breakfast sandwiches, and an all-day Oven-Toasted menu which includes flatbread sandwiches, hash browns and buttermilk biscuits. The new platform marks the most significant change to Dunkin’ Donuts’ product lineup since the company launched espresso-based beverages in 2003. He said in launching the franchises, town populations and growth are both examined and though Bartow, Lake Wales and Auburndale populations are smaller than most cities, they meet the requirements of the store. “It’s a combination of several pieces,” he said. “These may be small towns, but the traffic is there and in Bartow there’s the county office and the courthouse and that generates traffic,” he said. Also, being among very few doughnut shops in town may be an advantage but that won’t make it necessarily easy to make the store successful. “You’ve still got to work at it. You’ve got to have a good product, good service and a good price. If you don’t have those three things people won’t go to your store,” he said. Reader Comments (0)

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Sign in or Subscribe. See Offers News Posted November 2, 2013 NYC subway vigilante Goetz arrested on drug charge Bernie Goetz was trying to sell $30 worth of pot to an undercover officer. The Associated Press Share Comment Read Article NEW YORK — Subway vigilante Bernie Goetz, who ignited a national furor over racism and gun control after he shot four panhandling youths on a train in the 1980s, has been arrested on drug charges, police said Saturday. Goetz was nabbed in a sting operation in Union Square park Friday afternoon for selling $30 worth of pot to an undercover officer, police said. He asked the woman if she wanted to get high, then went back to his apartment, where he has lived for decades, and returned with marijuana, authorities said. He was arrested on charges of criminal sale of marijuana. Goetz wasn’t being targeted specifically; he just happened to cross paths with the undercover officer assigned to crack down on drug dealing in the park, authorities said. The 65-year-old was in custody awaiting arraignment Saturday and not reachable for comment. Goetz became a household name as the skinny, bespectacled white man who, on Dec. 22, 1984, rose from his seat on the No. 2 train in Manhattan and shot four black teens inside a subway car with an illegal handgun. The teens had sharpened screwdrivers and were asking him for $5. Goetz said it was self-defense and the youths intended to rob him. The shooting brought to the surface long-smoldering urban issues of race, crime and quality of life. It also thrust Goetz, a self-employed electronics expert, into the role of spokesman for what some New Yorkers considered a justified form of vigilantism. The era was vastly different. Subway cars were spray-painted with graffiti tags and inhabited by muggers, panhandlers, junkies and the homeless. And crime was out of control — there were about 40 felonies per day in the nation’s largest mass transit system. Last year, there were about eight per day, and the figure is declining. Goetz was cleared of attempted murder charges in 1987 and spent 250 days in jail the same year for a weapons conviction in the case. In 1996, a Bronx jury awarded one of the teens, Darrell Cabey, $43 million in his lawsuit against Goetz. Cabey’s attorney, Ron Kuby, said Saturday his client remains paralyzed in a wheelchair and has never received a penny from Goetz, who had declared bankruptcy. He had since slipped into relative obscurity, surfacing infrequently, like in a 2001 failed bid for mayor. Share

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Videos Live Videos Features Release Dates Interviews Columns & Editorials Events Reviews Listening Session Remix Contests Contact Advertise Christian Hip Hop News Against the Tide, Christian Rap Grows and Goes Mainstream Details Chad Horton Created: 24 March 2014 Trip Lee, KB, and Andy Mineo perform onstage at the 44th Annual GMA Dove Awards on October 15, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Rick Diamond/Getty Images) "Hip-hop is an expression of what is dearest to you," says Christian rapper KB. "It's coming from who I love. And who I love is Jesus." The religious artist's passion was rewarded earlier this month when his most recent EP, "100," became a minor crossover success -- in part because of a special promotion that involved free devotions for fans through the YouVersion Bible app. 100 went on to hit No. 1 on Billboard's Christian Albums chart, No. 4 on Rap Albums and No. 22 on the Billboard 200, selling more than 14,000 the first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The release, about living life with love, is the latest hit for Atlanta-based Reach Records, founded in 2004 by Christian rap star Lecrae. The label is making inroads into the mainstream, much like its owner, who last year performed at Los Angeles' Rock the Bells concert with Kendrick Lamar and Wu-Tang Clan. In addition to working with Christian hip-hop artists who are appearing on secular charts, Reach has created a more receptive environment for the genre, which a decade ago struggled to be taken seriously. Read the full story by Deborah Evans Price, on Billboard.com. About the AuthorChad Horton has co-owned and operated Rapzilla.com with Philip Rood since 2010, bringing with him a decade of music business experience. Horton is also the Director of Marketing for Syntax Creative, the largest independent digital distributor of Christian & Gospel music, among other genres. Originally from Northern California, Horton rooted himself in San Diego with his wife of nine years, as well as two beautiful daughters. BREAKING NEWS: Lecrae signs to same label as Beyonce, Adele Sevin Says the Gospel Music Industry has Become 'Disgusting' Why are so Many Mainstream Artists Doing 'Christian' Music? Lupe Fiasco tested Dee-1 by cursing on 'Against Us' remix 10 excellent albums you can use for ministry Is Christian Hip-Hop a Business or Ministry? 5 remixes of the viral single 'Panda' by Christians When BrvndonP's new album drops and who's on it (Lecrae, E-40 & more) DC Talk's Intermission is Over...Sort of 'Are You Down with the DC Talk?' Hot 97 launches Christian rap radio show NF wins vote to be new walkout music for UFC fighter Fr33man

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Register Home»Argentina Freedom in the World 2011 - Argentina Publisher Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2011 - Argentina, 12 May 2011, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4dcbf52816.html [accessed 25 May 2016] DisclaimerThis is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Capital: Buenos AiresPopulation: 40,276,000 Political Rights Score: 2 *Civil Liberties Score: 2 *Status: Free Overview High government spending, a manufacturing rebound, and booming trade with Argentina's main partner Brazil contributed to Argentina's economic rebound in 2010. The recovery helped bolster the falling approval ratings of President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. However, the sudden death of her husband and political partner Néstor Kirchner in October 2010 left her and the Peronist party in a state of political uncertainty. Separately, relations between the leftist administration of President Kirchner and an opposition-led Congress deteriorated in 2010. Corruption and government crackdowns on press freedoms continued throughout the year. Argentina gained independence from Spain in 1816. Democratic rule was often interrupted by war and military coups over the following century. The end of Juan Perón's populist and authoritarian regime in 1955 led to a series of right-wing military dictatorships that lasted until 1983. The beginning of civilian rule brought an end to Argentina's dirty war, waged against real or suspected dissidents by the far-right military regime. Carlos Menem, a populist of the Justicialist Party (PJ, commonly known as the Peronist Party) who ran on a platform of nationalism and state intervention in the economy, was elected president in 1989 amid hyperinflation and food riots. As president, however, he implemented an economic liberalization program and unconditionally allied the country with the United States. His convertibility plan, which pegged the peso to the U.S. dollar through a currency board, ended the country's chronic bouts of hyperinflation. Buenos Aires mayor Fernando de la Rúa, of the center-left Alianza coalition, was elected president in October 1999. Record unemployment and reduced government wages, effects of the highly overvalued and inflexible currency, spurred demonstrations and unprecedented economic insecurity. Government efforts to stop a run on Argentina's banking system sparked violent protests in December 2001, forcing de la Rúa to resign. He was replaced by an interim president, who was himself forced to quit less than a week later. On December 31, Congress selected Menem's former vice president, Eduardo Duhalde, as Argentina's new president. A steep devaluation of the peso and a debilitating default on its foreign debt left Argentina teetering on the brink of political and economic collapse throughout 2002. Unemployment soared and violent crime spiraled out of control. Néstor Kirchner was elected president in 2003 on a Peronist ticket. While working to stabilize the economy, Kirchner moved to purge the country's military and police leadership of authoritarian elements. He took steps to remove justices from the highly politicized Supreme Court – considered the country's most corrupt institution – and signed a decree that permitted the extradition of former military officials accused of human rights abuses. Kirchner also presided over a long-hoped-for economic recovery bolstered by high international soya prices and an increased demand for Argentina's principal exports. In 2006, Kirchner implemented a series of measures to centralize power in the executive branch. Congress granted the president the authority to reallocate government spending, as long as the overall appropriation remained the same. Kirchner also changed the tax system to limit the influence of historically powerful provincial governors and created new state-owned enterprises while nationalizing privatized ones. Kirchner successfully passed his concentrated power on to his wife, Senator Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, after she was elected president in October 2007. In practice, she began to govern in tandem with her husband, and the Argentine media commonly referred to their rule as a dual presidency, or "Los K". Fernández's once-strong political alliance and majority in Congress fractured following a standoff with Argentina's agricultural sector in 2008 over her administration's failed attempt to increase export taxes on certain farm products. Mid-term elections held in June 2009 brought significant losses to the Kirchners. The Union-PRO coalition fared especially well, capturing 47 seats in the Senate, while Kirchner's Front for Victory (FV)Peronist party took 36 seats – one less than needed for a majority. In the lower house, progovernment party representation fell from 141 to 112. Néstor Kirchner subsequently resigned from his post as leader of the Peronist Party. The government's defeat in 2009 was influenced by growing unemployment and poverty amid an economic recession. However, beginning in mid-2010, the economy began to recover, fueled by a more benign international economic environment and increased soya prices. The administration also increased spending on public works and the unemployed, including extending an annual $2.6 billion child-support system for poor families, distributing 250,000 laptops to secondary-school students, and subsidizing 15,000-20,000 mortgages for principally first-time buyers. Separately, the president's relations with the opposition-led Congress deteriorated, revealed by bitter and ultimately failed budget negotiations in November 2010. To finance increased spending, President Fernández pushed a law through Congress in February 2010 allowing the government to use $6.5 billion of Argentina's foreign currency reserves. Central Bank president Martín Redrado was fired by decree after refusing to support the plan, further eroding nominal Central Bank independence. The nationalization of $30 billion in private pension funds in December 2008 provided additional financial support. This move not only made the pension system one of the government's main creditors, but also gave the Kirchner administration increased control over those companies owned in part by these pension funds. Néstor Kirchner's sudden death in October 2010 left the policy direction of the executive branch unclear, and also left the 2011 presidential race wide open. Without the unifying enemy of Mr. Kirchner, the opposition became increasingly fragmented. Political Rights and Civil Liberties Argentina is an electoral democracy. As amended in 1994, the constitution provides for a president elected for four years, with the option of reelection for one additional term. Presidential candidates must win 45 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff. The National Congress consists of the 257-member Chamber of Deputies, directly elected for four years, with half of the seats up for election every two years; and the 72-member Senate, directly elected for six-year terms, with one-third of the seats up for election every two years. The midterm legislative elections in June 2009 were considered free and fair. The right to organize political parties is generally respected. Major parties include the Peronist party; the FV; the centrist Radical Civic Union (UCR), factions of which support the Peronists; the center-left Support for a Republic of Equals (ARI); and the center-right Union-PRO. The Peronists have been a dominant force in politics since 1946. Former president Néstor Kirchner's government initially made anticorruption efforts a central theme, establishing the public's right to information and other transparency guarantees. However, subsequent corruption scandals revealed the degree to which entrenched corruption plagues Argentine society, tainting his and his wife's administrations. In December 2009, Argentine courts upheld the indictments of former presidents Carlos Menem and Fernando de la Rúa on separate corruption charges, though neither case had gone to trial by the end of 2010. Allegations of vote-buying on the part of the government arose in 2010 due to various opposition congressmen voting against opposition-led reforms. One opposition senator also alleged that he was offered a large sum of money to vote in favor of the contentious 2008 agricultural export tax proposal. Argentina was ranked 105 out of 178 countries surveyed in Transparency International's 2010 Corruption Perceptions Index. Freedom of expression is guaranteed by law. In November 2009, Congress decriminalized libel and slander, and a February 2009 court ruling ordered the government to place state advertising in critical publications. Despite these encouraging rulings, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner's government has consistently limited press freedom in practice. A media reform bill passed in 2009 was designed to help break up Argentina's largest media conglomerate, Grupo Clarín, and limit monopoly abuses by large media corporations. However, the bill also contained provisions limiting freedom of expression, including the creation of a politically-appointed media regulatory body with control over interpreting and implementing the law. This commission was not yet created by the end of 2010. Additionally, President Fernández increased the government's advertising budget from $16 million in 2003 to $223 million in 2009, enabling it to purchase friendly coverage from media that rely heavily on advertising revenues. In August 2010, the government canceled the operating license of Fibertel, a broadband internet service provider (ISP) owned by Grupo Clarín, claiming the ISP's license had expired. In August 2010, the government also moved to take over Argentina's only newsprint company, Papel Prensa, and filed criminal charges against its owners for allegedly conspiring with the dictatorship to buy the company in 1976. On a positive note, on September 29, the Senate passed a right to information bill that would apply to all branches of the government; the Chamber of Deputies was reviewing the bill at year's end. The constitution guarantees freedom of religion, and anti-Semitism is reportedly on the decline. In June 2010, Fernandez appointed a Jewish foreign minister, the first person of the Jewish faith to become foreign minister in Argentina. Nevertheless, Argentina's Jewish community, the largest in Latin America, remains a target of discrimination and vandalism. The 1994 bombing of a Jewish cultural center continues to play a role in Argentine politics, as no convictions have been made. Academic freedom is a cherished Argentine tradition and is largely observed in practice. The rights to freedom of assembly and association are generally respected. Civic organizations are robust and play a major role in society, although some fall victim to Argentina's pervasive corruption. Labor is dominated by Peronist unions, though union influence has diminished dramatically in recent years due to internal divisions. While Néstor Kirchner appointed magistrates of professional quality, the tenure of scores of incompetent and corrupt judges remains a serious problem. Police misconduct, including torture and brutality of suspects in police custody, is endemic. The Buenos Aires provincial police have been involved in drug trafficking, extortion, and other crimes. Arbitrary arrests and abuse by police are rarely punished in the courts owing to intimidation of witnesses and judges, particularly in Buenos Aires province. Prison conditions remain substandard throughout the country. In 2005, the Supreme Court ruled that laws passed in the 1980s to protect the military from prosecution were unconstitutional. The decision laid the foundation for the prosecution of past military crimes, leading Néstor Kirchner to initiate prosecution proceedings against former officials involved in Argentina's dirty war. Former navy commander, Ricardo Cavallo, faced prosecution in 2008 for 431 cases of kidnapping, abuse, and disappearance. Cavallo was extradited to Argentina from Spain in 2008, but was still awaiting trial at the end of 2010. On December 23, 2010, former military dictator and principal architect of the dirty war, Jorge Videla, was found guilty of crimes against humanity. The 85-year old was sentenced to 25 years in prison; more than 20 other former military and police officials were also convicted. Argentina's indigenous peoples, who represent between 3 and 5 percent of the total population, are largely neglected by the government. Approximately 70 percent of the country's rural indigenous communities lack title to their lands. While the Néstor Kirchner administration returned lands to several communities, most disputes remain unresolved. In 2002, Buenos Aires became the first South American city to pass a domestic partnership law, and Argentina became the second country in the Americas – after Canada – to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide in July 2010. Women actively participate in politics in Argentina, as reflected by the 2007 election of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. Decrees also mandate that one third of Congress members be women. However, domestic abuse remains a serious problem. * Countries are ranked on a scale of 1-7, with 1 representing the highest level of freedom and 7 representing the lowest level of freedom. Copyright notice: © Freedom House, Inc. · All Rights Reserved

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Register Home»Indonesia»Country News Papua New Guinea: West Papuan refugees hope for citizenship Publisher Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), Papua New Guinea: West Papuan refugees hope for citizenship, 17 December 2012, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/50d04f242.html [accessed 25 May 2016] DisclaimerThis is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Access to citizenship could prove the best hope yet for thousands of West Papuan refugees living in Papua New Guinea (PNG). "I want citizenship. I've been here 28 years and want to get on with my life," said Donatus Karuri, a 57-year-old father of six, outside the shelter he shares with five other families at the Hohola refugee settlement. It is one of four settlements for West Papuan refugees in the capital Port Moresby. Like most West Papuan refugees, he is unable to work legally and has only limited access to public services. According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), there are more than 9,000 West Papuan refugees in PNG today, many of whom have been in the Pacific island nation for over three decades. Others know no other home and can't imagine living anywhere else. "I was born here. This is the only country I know," said Dan Hanasbey, 27, another refugee wanting citizenship. Flight from Indonesia Between 1984 and 1986, more than 11,000 West Papuans fled east into PNG from the western, Indonesian half of New Guinea Island to escape political turmoil and economic discontent; the area's longstanding secessionist sentiments towards Jakarta continue to simmer today. West Province, a former Dutch colony rich in natural resources, was later divided into two separate provinces - Papua and West Papua - however, indigenous West Papuans continue to refer to the entire Indonesian area as West Papua. At the time the refugees arrived, the PNG government was not yet a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention. It granted the West Papuans prima facie refugee status shortly after accession to the convention in 1986 - but with seven reservations, including Article 34 on naturalization. Of the close to 9,300 West Papuan refugees in PNG today, almost half live along the border area with Indonesia. Another 2,435 live in urban areas, while 2,290 live in East Awin, the only officially sanctioned area for West Papuan refugees to settle. There, regular assistance is available and access to 6,000 hectares of government land is provided - about 120km away from the Indonesian border. The site was established in an effort to resettle the refugees away from the border areas to avoid possible political problems with the Indonesian government. Those who resettle in the area for six months are provided permissive residency permits (PRPs), which allow them certain rights, including the right to work and travel internally (excluding border areas), and gives them access to health and education services. Few refugees, however, wish to resettle in East Awin, preferring instead to stay close to the border area and their land and families on the other side. Others frown upon its remote jungle location and inaccessibility. The government estimates only 40 percent of West Papuan refugees hold PRPs. As a result, most survive on subsistence farming - particularly in the border area. Those in urban settings live on private or government land, under constant risk of eviction, and often work illegally. The cost of citizenship Despite these challenges, many West Papuans - who share a similar Melanesian ancestry to Papua New Guineans - have integrated well in this nation of 7.3 million and would like to stay. "Local integration with the opportunity to be granted PNG citizenship is the best solution for many West Papuan refugees under the current circumstances," Walpurga Englbrecht, UNHCR country representative for PNG, told IRIN. "The problem, however, is the application fee is too high." Under PNG law, any foreigner - including refugees - wishing to apply to citizenship and who has fulfilled eight years of residency must pay a 10,000 kina (US$5,000) application fee. "We can't afford that. It's impossible," Freddy Warome, 58, a West Papuan community leader, complained. Under Article 34 of the Refugee Convention, signatory states should facilitate the assimilation and naturalization of refugees, and make every effort to expedite naturalization and reduce the costs as far as possible. To date, the PNG government appears mindful of this responsibility, but it remains unclear when they might act upon it. Speaking at a 2011 ministerial meeting to mark the 60th anniversary of the Refugee Convention, Moses Manwau, PNG's former vice minister for foreign affairs and immigration, confirmed the government's commitment to withdrawing its earlier reservations to the Convention, and to waiving all fees or introducing nominal fees for refugees seeking naturalization. "We are determined to give refugees the kind of life, liberty, peace and prosperity they deserve so that they can hold their own against any other citizens in Papua New Guinea," he said. UNHCR believes there should be a path to citizenship for those who desire it, while those West Papuans lacking PRPs who would like to remain in the country should be provided PRPs without having to relocate to East Awin, Englbrecht said.

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Register Home»Browse by Publisher»United States Department of State»Annual Reports Country Reports on Terrorism 2011 - Uganda Publisher United States Department of State, Country Reports on Terrorism 2011 - Uganda, 31 July 2012, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/501fbc9928.html [accessed 25 May 2016] DisclaimerThis is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Overview: The Ugandan government demonstrated increased political will to secure its borders, apprehend suspected terrorists, and coordinate with regional allies and the United States to counter terrorism. There were no reported terrorist attacks in Uganda in 2011, but Uganda remained vulnerable to attacks by the Somali terrorist group al-Shabaab, which killed 76 people including one American, in its July 2010 Kampala bombings. In addition to taking tangible steps to track, capture, and prosecute individuals with suspected links to terrorist organizations, Uganda began prosecuting several individuals arrested for orchestrating the July 2010 bombings. Uganda also increased its troop contributions to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and continued to pursue the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in coordination with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan, and the Central African Republic (CAR). Legislation and Law Enforcement: Uganda's Joint Anti-Terrorism Taskforce, which is composed of military, police, and intelligence entities and reports to the chieftaincy of military intelligence led Uganda's counterterrorism response, but was hampered by allegations of human rights abuses. The Police's Rapid Response Unit also conducted terrorist investigations, but was disbanded in December 2011 due to allegations of human rights violations. During the year, Uganda continued to build its counterterrorism capacity. With U.S. assistance, Uganda continued to expand its Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation System (PISCES) border control system to additional points of entry and upgraded this system to capture biometric information. Uganda also continued to participate in the Department of State's Antiterrorism Assistance program. In September, the Uganda High Court handed down sentences of five years and 25 years imprisonment to two of the 2010 Kampala bombing suspects for terrorism and conspiracy to commit terrorism. In November, Uganda also commenced prosecution of 12 other suspects accused of orchestrating the July 2010 bombings, but the trial was placed on hold shortly thereafter due to a legal challenge filed with the Constitutional Court. Although Uganda significantly improved its ability to investigate terrorist acts, additional training and resources are needed. Ugandan police, for example, replaced the outdated system of fingerprint cards with a modern criminal records management system to identify criminal and terrorist suspects. Countering Terrorist Finance: Uganda is a member of the Eastern and Southern Anti-Money Laundering Group, a Financial Action Task Force-style regional body. Uganda's financial sector remained vulnerable to money laundering, terrorist financing, and other illicit financial transactions. Legal and law enforcement measures to counter terrorist financing, based on the Anti-Terrorist Act of 2002 and the Financial Institutions Act of 2004, were inadequate and did not meet international standards. The Anti-Terrorist Act made terrorist financing illegal, but Ugandan authorities have not used this law to investigate any money laundering or terrorist financing cases. Uganda also lacked the capacity needed to effectively monitor and regulate money/value transfer services and wire transfer data. The Bank of Uganda asked local banks to report "suspicious" transactions, but there was no clear implementation mechanism for enforcing this or investigating potentially suspicious activity. The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ugandan Police Force was responsible for investigating financial crimes. However, until Parliament approves anti-money laundering legislation, the understaffed and poorly-trained CID maintained only limited authority to investigate and prosecute money laundering violations. The Inspector General of Government has not investigated money laundering or terrorist financing cases and Uganda did not prosecute any terrorist financing cases in 2011. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Finance distributed UN lists of designated terrorists or terrorist entities to relevant Ugandan financial institutions. For further information on money laundering and financial crimes, we refer you to the 2011 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), Volume 2, Money Laundering and Financial Crimes: http://www.state.gov/j/inl/rls/nrcrpt/index.htm. Regional and International Cooperation: Uganda is an active member of the African Union, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, the Community of Eastern and Southern Africa, the East African Community, and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region. During the year, Uganda worked closely with regional and international law enforcement agencies to respond to terrorist threats. Uganda was the largest troop-contributing nation to AMISOM. Uganda also coordinated with the DRC, CAR, and South Sudan to pursue the LRA. Countering Radicalization and Violent Extremism: After the July 2010 terrorist attacks, Ugandan police increased outreach to local Muslim youth considered at-risk of recruitment by violent extremist groups. Search Refworld by keyword and / or country All countries Armed groups / Militias / Paramilitary forces / Resistance movements

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Note: to read this at the original site, click here. Record's first editor dies By Barbara Bedell Avrom "Al'' Romm, the first editor of The Times Herald-Record and later vice president for news for its parent company, Ottaway Newspapers Inc., died Wednesday [12/29/99] in Boynton Beach, Fla. He was 73. Ottaway Newspapers board Chairman and CEO James H. Ottaway Jr. said Romm as "one of the founding editors of The Record, when it was a revolutionary idea in American journalism to use the first large scale offset printing process for newspapers in 1956. "Al also was a great teacher and inspirer of young reporters, like me, who worked with him during the early 1960s and 1970s," Ottaway added. Romm was born April 8, 1926, in Minneapolis, Minn., and grew up in Holyoke, Mass. He was a World War II veteran, having served in Europe with the 13th and 82nd Airborne infantry divisions. He returned to school after the war and graduated from the University of Massachusetts in 1948. A year later, he earned a master's degree in public law and government from Columbia University. Romm began his journalism career as a reporter for the Springfield (Mass.) Union. In June 1957, he was named city editor of the Daily Record in Middletown, the world's first cold type, offset daily newspaper. When The Record merged with The Times Herald under the Ottaway banner in October 1960, Romm was named editor of the resultant Times Herald-Record, a post he held until he was named editorial page editor in 1976. During his tenure as editor, Romm attracted talented reporters, editors and photographers who shared his love of community newspapering. "He was a journalist of great intellect, great conviction and uncompromising ethic,'' said David E. Brace, who succeeded Romm as vice president/news in 1991. "Everyone who worked with Al Romm, whether in a newsroom or a journalism workshop, ended their day a better journalist.'' Newsroom employees also remember the many social gatherings that took place in the Romm house on Highland Avenue in Middletown. "It was a great way to unwind,'' said Chris Farlekas, longtime Record reporter. "Every staffer looked forward to being there. "Al was like a professor-in-residence," Farlekas added. "He conducted workshops and sparked interesting conversations on current events and issues.'' Romm wasn't everyone's cup of tea. He had a gruff appearance, was demanding and usually sat in an office that smelled from a well-chewed cigar. "But once you got to know him, he wasn't brash and arrogant,'' said George Shepard, former Orange County Community College dean of students. "But it was clear, he was always the boss.'' When he left The Record 18 years ago, he became director of news quality and training for Ottaway Newspapers Inc., based in Campbell Hall, a job he held until retirement in 1991. Romm left his mark not only on journalism but on the community he lived in. He believed that the best way to know a place is to pitch in and get involved. He practiced what he preached. He championed opportunities to spotlight people for their talents and services through a newspaper-sponsored Citizen of the Year award. He led United Way campaigns and rolled up his sleeves to serve pancakes at the annual Kiwanis breakfast in Middletown. He also played an integral part in creating the Greater Middletown Arts Council in 1961, said Marvin Feman, whose late wife, Marian, was the council's first executive director. Mrs. Feman also was the music-drama editor of The Record. "Al Romm was a very forceful figure,'' said Marvin Feman, a retired Orange County Community College department head. "He was a dynamic speaker for the Arts Council. Through the newspaper space he provided to promote the arts, the Arts Council grew.'' Romm also was an active member of the Middletown Kiwanis. "Each year around Election Day, he organized a debate with the candidates,'' said Sal Napolitano, a member since 1959 and a past president. "He was a natural. It was excellent. To this day, no one has done it better.'' Romm also was a master bridge player, and was very competitive. "He loved the game and was good at it'' said his long-time friend and bridge partner Morris Borenstein of Middletown. "Some of those shoot 'em and kill 'em games started on Friday afternoon and continued through Sunday,'' Borenstein said. "The screaming and yelling at each other could be heard in Canarsie. But when it was over, we were friends again.'' Romm not only played tournament and rubber bridge, he taught the game in a Bridge Studio he owned in the Town of Wallkill. He also directed games at The Concord Hotel in Kiamesha Lake during its heyday, and directed numerous bridge cruises. "We had a lot of good times together,'' Borenstein said. "Al and I were very close. I loved him very much and I'll miss him.'' Romm is survived by his wife, the former Diane Kandel in Boynton Beach, Fla., and three sons by a former marriage: David, Daniel and Joseph. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today in Beth Israel Memorial Chapel in Delray Beach, Fla. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to Hospice by the Sea, 1531 West Palm Parkway, Boynton Beach, Fla. 33437, or to The Alzheimer's Community Care Association, 800 North Point Parkways, Suite 101B, West Palm Beach, Fla. 33407. Glenn Doty's obit doty.html Romm Home | Family Pictures & e-mail | Obituaries and text files | Picture GalleriesShockwave Sound Files | Shockwave Home Page

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Holocaust 'must never be forgotten' David Cameron warned that Britain must never forget the lessons learned from the Holocaust The Prime Minister has warned Britain must ensure the " memory and the lessons of the Holocaust are never forgotten" as survivors meet today to discuss plans for a lasting memorial to mark the atrocity. David Cameron said he was "awestruck" by the dedication of those who survived the death camps, who have shared their memories of the horrors they suffered to ensure that future generations do not forget them. He made the comments ahead of a meeting of hundreds of survivors of Nazi persecution held in London today as part of the Holocaust Commission set up by the Government. The meeting, hosted by television presenter Natasha Kaplinsky and believed to be one of the largest gatherings of survivors ever held in Britain, will hear ideas about how the Holocaust should be remembered. Speaking ahead of the meeting, David Cameron said: "I am awestruck by the work that so many survivors do teaching our young people about the Holocaust. We must ensure that the memory and the lessons of the Holocaust are never forgotten. "Today's event is important because it gives the Commission the chance to hear from survivors first-hand about how to best commemorate the Holocaust and to educate future generations of every faith and none. "With their help we can ensure that the memory and the lessons of the Holocaust live on for generations to come." The commission has been set up to investigate what more needs to be done to ensure Britain has a fitting memorial to the Holocaust and the right educational resources to educate future generations about the genocide, in which an estimated six million Jews were slaughtered. Actress Helena Bonham Carter, whose grandfather Spanish diplomat Eduardo Propper de Callejon helped thousands of Jews flee from occupied France during the war, is sitting on the project. Labour shadow chancellor Ed Balls, Liberal Democrat justice minister Simon Hughes and the Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis are also on the cross-party commission. It is due to report its findings to David Cameron at the end of the year - in time for the 70th anniversary of the British liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp next April. Concentration camp survivors will join those who fled to Britain on the kindertransport rescue mission, and those who were hidden from the Nazis as children, to give their views on how the Holocaust should be remembered in museums, monuments and education programmes Karen Pollock MBE, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said: "The Holocaust Educational Trust is proud to be part of this unique gathering of survivors and refugees - it is crucial that their voices are heard. "The fact that so many of our young ambassadors have given up their time to be here today is a testament to the powerful relevance that the Holocaust continues to have."

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Warm spell on way after flood chaos Torrential downpours caused flooding as thunderstorms followed the recent heatwave Flooding from summer storms that brought parts of the country to a halt over the weekend is gradually subsiding and forecasters say much of the UK will enjoy dry weather today and over the coming week. Homes and communities in south-east England were flooded after heavy downpours yesterday, with people stranded in vehicles, roads blocked by rising waters and properties damaged by lightning. Essex Fire and Rescue Service said properties were affected in Canvey Island and resources were stretched as crews were called to incidents in Southend, Harlow and Ongar, compounded by striking union members. Trains were cancelled after flooding near Billericay, while Southend University Hospital's accident and emergency department was temporarily closed due to flooding. The Lambeth Country Show at Brockwell Park in Brixton, south London, was abandoned after torrential rain. But weather experts say the weekend's torrential rain has now largely passed, with hot, dry weather to come. The Environment Agency has removed 28 flood alerts in the last 24 hours. Some 23 flood alerts still remain, the majority in the South East, along with three more serious flood warnings in the North East and East Anglia, as agency staff monitor river levels, though these are expected to fall. The Met Office has also removed the severe weather warnings it had in place over the weekend, with dry weather and sunshine expected in most parts today, with some isolated showers in the east. Temperatures are likely to soar again later in the week, with the mercury possibly topping 30C (86F). But the heat is again likely to bring with it the risk of heavy showers and thunderstorms, especially in the South, on Wednesday and Thursday. Laura Caldwell, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, said: "It is going to be warm, quite hot even, in places through the week. Pretty much everywhere across the UK will see above average temperatures, with peaks of 30C (86F) on Thursday and Friday. "Hopefully for the first day or two of the week it shouldn't be too unsettled, with dry and fine weather in most places. But as we get to Wednesday and into Thursday there is a chance of some heavy and thundery showers breaking out in south and south western parts. "On Thursday there are hints there could be widespread thunder storms, as we saw over the weekend, though it is hard to say whether they will be as intense."

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Rural Thoughts Search The Rhythm Women and Groove Daddies. We both play in this band. The songs are all original songs of the RWGD Some of Mark's songs recorded at E Studio in Edwardsville, Illinois A story in Mother Jones magazine in 1998 in which we were given their "hellraiser" of the month recognition List of links to Mark's columns that have been published on the Counterpunch website. Kristi is president of the Jackson Purchase Audubon society groupThe Heartwood blog where Mark has some writing posted about Heartwood related issues A PDF report about threatened roadless areas on national forests. Kristi has a picture and we are featured in a story about the Burke Branch area in Shawnee National Forest near our property A guest commentary that was aired on WKMS-FM, the NPR affiliate out of Murray State university in Murray, Kentucky A letter to the editor that I had published in the USA Today about nuclear power and greenhouse gasses This is by no means a full list of links related to our work and efforts that is on the web. But this should give you an idea about what we are into. We are very active in our community, and are speaking out for positive changes. There should be more of that in our society. Home › Sunday News Shows, 9/16/12 Sunday News Shows, 9/16/12 Mon, 09/17/2012 - 00:30 — mark donham The news shows today were focused on the middle east and the week of unrest there. It was a bad week for the U.S. in the middle east, as we had our consulate in Ben Gazi, Libya, overrun by a well- armed gang who killed the U.S. ambassador to Libya, along with 3 other people. For any country, having an ambassador killed due to a hostile attack is a very serious matter. For the U.S., right before a presidential election, it becomes even more significant. Before the discussion below, to me, one thing far and away outstripped everything in importance, was that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an interview with David Gregory on Meet the Press, clearly stepped away from Mitt Romney when given a chance to push for him. Big example # 1: Gregory really wanted to see if he could get Netanyahu to say that Obama had "thrown Israel under the bus," as Romney had said. Unfortunately for Romney, supposedly Netanyahu's "old friend," Netanyahu threw him under the bus by denying that Obama had done that. Netanyahu also said that there wasn't any difference in positions toward Israel between Obama and Romney. Me thinks Netanyahu has his own polls and sees the way the wind blows. Sure, he can attack Iran on his own, but he risks Obama saying that he didn't coordinate with the U.S. and the U.S. is going to stay out of it. Does Israel really want to take on Iran, Hezbollah, and Syrian patriots with the U.S. lukewarm? McLaughlin himself, during predictions, ended the show by saying that Obama had stared down Netanyahu and that Israel will not strike Iran before the election. We'll see. So, totally intertwined with all of this, the pundits were also talking about the so-called "Arab Spring," and whether it is possible for the unrest that was brought to the streets following the release of an inflammatory anti-Muslim video (that I haven't seen, but I'm assuming this is all true as reported repeatedly by the mainstream press). The discussion was pretty consistent among the shows I saw - (1) Obama is still doing OK, but he could be hurt if things spiral out of control anywhere and more really bad stuff happens. This could be the kind of thing that I have consistently referred to both in writing in this blog and in conversations with friends as something that could hurt the general public and be seen as something that Obama could have done something about and either didn't or his action failed. This kind of thing does have the potential to influence the election decisively, but it would take something really extreme, which is not impossible but improbable at this point, but up to this point, Obama has avoided any significant damage; (2) Romney screwed up in his response, by both having his facts less than exactly right, and having horrible timing. Romney is growing increasingly irritated by the fact that he keeps going down in the polls, and like most humans, when he's more irritated, he snaps a little more in his responses to questions. In addition, he is desperate to make any kind of point on Obama, so he jumps on any little opportunity, not really thinking through all the ramifications of what he is doing. As a result, he isn't really completely sure of himself when he makes important statements, and he stumbles on his words. Obama does on occasion, but compare the two strictly on speaking slowly, and not stumbling on words - no doubt that Obama is a much better speaker. They both could stand to take a playbook from Hillary Clinton, who undoubtedly has learned the hard way in her 4 incredible years as secretary state, to speak slowly, enunciate clearly, and never, ever have any kind of break in your sentence other than those that are a natural part of the sentence. She has become an incredible public speaker, and her statements have been the best coming out of our country thus far. She is ready to be president, no doubt about it. What this all comes down to is our great paradox. We want to preach "democracy" and have everyone freely elect their leaders, but a lot of times, especially in the middle east, they elect leaders who aren't on the take from us like the old dictators were. So, unbelievably, there are voices in the U.S., both in politics and in the media, that are longing for the good old days, when an unelected but friendly despot oppressed their people so that our corporations and military could exploit key resources on the cheap. This democracy stuff isn't working, they complain, because these people don't have the sense to elect the people we want them to elect. And now they are trying, without a lot of success thus far, to point a finger at Obama for suggesting that free elections might be a good thing. I don't think that kind of attack on Obama is going to gain much traction unless proof comes out that there was a lot of fraud in these elections that lead to a lot of this uprising. I don't think that will happen, but stranger things have happened. If democracy is a good thing, it's a good thing. If it's only a good thing when we get what we want, then all it is just another tool for us to keep the status quo. That is seen through quickly, and it doesn't make for a lot of good friends. And while the U.S. public is trying to sort all of this out, the campaign goes on. But Romney is just not a good speaker. He does not instill confidence in him when you listen to him, for reasons previously stated. Unless he changes that, which I doubt he can, he won't be elected president. And that brings us to the next part of the political discussions - Obama's rise in the polls since the conventions. It's pretty consistent across the board - the "credible" polls are indicating that Obama is pulling ahead in the polls, particularly in key states like Florida and Ohio. So, it's about to the point where the election is becoming Obama's to lose. It isn't likely that he will, although it is still possible. The debates are going to be interesting. mark donham's blog more more bird stuffCatch up on politicsmore bird stuffwhite eyed vireoheard whiporwill sing this morningpoliticsbirds in the news!history of word processingsaw a whiporwill this morningpresidential campaign further updatepresidential campaign updateThe presidential races - OMG!Saying too much at the wrong timeWeatherScalia passes awayNew Hampshire votingBirds around the feeder and yardpresidential races interestingIowa results not surprisingMy Fantasy Dream BandWendell Berry's book "Harlan Hubbard, Life and Work"migrants arriving todaymigrants arriving todayFirst political posting in a year and halffirst neotropical migrants this year earlier than normalmore spring thingsmore signs of springsigns of spring!Yeiser Art Center in Paducah, KY once again practices censorship but is called on it by local artistsTwo music shows I've seen/heard lately. Two important musical femalesmore

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This Just In Convicted killer says he’s changed Convicted killersays he’s changedBRATTLEBORO — A man who fatally shot his foster mother to death in 2000 in their West Burke home and served more than a decade in prison says he is now focused on being a contributing member of the community. Scott Favreau was released from prison in April 2013 and is now living in Brattleboro on furlough from prison.“What I did was horrible, but I’m not that person anymore. I’ve done a lot of things to change that,” said Favreau, now 31. “I made a mistake. I’ll move forward and do the best I can.” Favreau works at a local business and recently moved in with his girlfriend and her 7-year-old son.Favreau pleaded guilty in 2001 to second-degree murder in the shooting of Vicki Campbell-Beer, a Lyndon teacher. He was 17 at the time and had been taken in by her as a foster child.He was sentenced to 17-years-to-life in prison. He is out of prison on furlough, which means if he violates the conditions of his release he can be returned to prison with few formalities.“It’s up to him to continue to take responsibility and really attempt to make amends for his actions now that he is in the community,” Favreau’s probation and parole officer Melissa Barton told the Brattleboro Reformer.Then-14-year-old Tashia Beer, the teacher’s stepdaughter was also charged with persuading Favreau to kill Campbell-Beer. She has served prison time.Campbell-Beer’s family declined to comment to the Reformer when approached through victim services.

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US to give Syrian opposition $60 million more in non-lethal aid, Kerry says by Mark Memmott | NPR Secretary of State John Kerry during a news conference Thursday in Rome. Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images The Obama administration will ask Congress for an additional $60 million in aid to help the Syrian opposition council provide basic goods and services in areas under rebel control, Secretary of State John Kerry announced Thursday in Rome. NPR's Michele Kelemen, who is among the correspondents traveling with Kerry on his first overseas trip since becoming secretary, tells our Newscast Desk that the U.S. "is also offering non-lethal assistance to the free Syrian army — in the form of food rations and medical supplies." She adds that "U.S. officials say that the Syrian opposition laid out many other needs in talks with Kerry and the Obama administration is 'keeping that under review.' " The BBC starts its report on the news this way: "The U.S. is to step up its support for the Syrian opposition as it fights to topple President Bashar al-Assad, Secretary of State John Kerry says. Mr. Kerry said the US would provide 'direct support' in the form of medical and food supplies to rebel forces. He also promised an additional $60 million in aid to the opposition to help it deliver basic governance and other services in rebel-controlled areas. ... " 'President Assad is out of time and must be out of power,' Mr. Kerry said, adding that the Syrian leader could not 'shoot his way out' of the situation." As the BBC reminds its readers, "the U.N. estimates 70,000 people have died in the Syrian conflict since 2011." Thursday's announcement was not quite what The Washington Post, CBS News and some other news outlets were predicting a day earlier. As we reported Wednesday, they said the U.S. was also contemplating giving rebels "equipment such as body armor and armored vehicles," though not weapons. Today, the Post writes that: "Britain and other nations working in concert with the United States are expected to go further to help the rebel Free Syrian Army by providing battlefield equipment such as armored vehicles, night vision equipment or body armor. The Obama administration is weighing similar assistance, but Kerry announced only the first, small steps." View this story at NPR Source: npr.org Coast Guard: 2 Marine helicopters collide off Hawaii's Oahu Ex-NFL running back Lawrence Phillips found dead in prison Meet the veterans who have been deported Free weekend? 8 events to celebrate David Bowie UC Irvine lands $40m gift to open nursing school Coyote sightings cause concern in Culver City

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http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/737-800-crashes-in-Dutch-field-9-killed-1301082.php 737-800 crashes in Dutch field; 9 killed Four Boeing employees aboard; their fates are unknown P-I STAFF AND NEWS SERVICES Updated 10:00 pm, Wednesday, February 25, 2009 Photo: Peter Dejong/Associated Press A rescue worker walks through some of the wreckage of a Turkish Airlines jetliner near Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport on Wednesday. The Boeing 737-800 broke into three pieces when it crashed in a muddy field about two miles short of a runway. less A rescue worker walks through some of the wreckage of a Turkish Airlines jetliner near Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport on Wednesday. The Boeing 737-800 broke into three pieces when it crashed in a muddy field ... more AMSTERDAM -- A Turkish Airlines jetliner plummeted out of cloudy skies and plowed into a muddy field on approach to Amsterdam on Wednesday, but remarkably about 125 people -- the vast majority of those aboard -- survived. The nine dead included both pilots. The Boeing 737-800 en route from Istanbul to Amsterdam broke into three pieces when it hit the ground about two miles short of the runway at Schiphol Airport at 10:31 a.m. local time. The fuselage split in two, close to the cockpit, and the tail broke off. But the wreckage didn't burn and scores of people walked away from it. The Boeing Co. said four of its employees, all based in Seattle, were on the plane. They were identified as Ronald A. Richey, John Salman, Ricky E. Wilson and Michael T. Hemmer. Boeing said the employees were traveling on company business. Calls by the Seattle P-I to the men's homes Wednesday could not definitively confirm their conditions. Reached at her home in Clinton, Wilson's wife, Terry, said she was not certain of her husband's condition but believed him to be alive. She had been in contact with Boeing and the State Department, and would be departing soon for Amsterdam. Experts fret over 777 problem At Hemmer's home in Federal Way, a woman who answered the phone said she was unsure of Hemmer's status, but said the family believes he is alive. Calls to the homes of Richey and Salman were not returned Wednesday night. Boeing would not say what part of the company the four employees work at in the Puget Sound area. But a source said they are with IDS, Boeing's military and space division. Boeing has a large number of IDS employees in the Puget Sound area working on various military programs. The four work on the Peace Eagle 737 program for Turkey. The Peace Eagle program includes four 737 AEW&C (airborne early warning and control) aircraft plus ground support segments for mission crew training, mission support and system maintenance. Boeing modified the first aircraft at its facilities in Seattle. The remaining three 737s are being modified in Ankara. Survivor Huseyin Sumer told Turkish NTV television he crawled to safety out of a crack in the fuselage. "We were about to land, we could not understand what was happening, some passengers screamed in panic but it happened so fast," Sumer said. He said the crash was over in five to 10 seconds. Pieter van Vollenhoven, head of the Dutch Safety Authority investigating the crash, said it appeared the plane lost speed before crashing. "You see that because of a lack of speed it literally fell out of the sky," he told NOS radio after visiting the crash site. The plane's flight data recorders have been found and will be analyzed. The NTSB said it is sending four people to support the investigation, led by air safety investigator Joe Sedor. The FAA, Boeing and engine maker GE, which represents the CFM56 engine consortium, also are sending experts to help in the investigation. Turkish Transport Minister Binali Yildirim said it was "a miracle" there were not more casualties. "The fact that the plane landed on a soft surface and that there was no fire helped keep the number of fatalities low," he said. Experts said that might also have helped avert a fire resulting from ruptured fuel tanks and lines on the underside of the fuselage, which appeared to have suffered very heavy impact damage. Having almost reached its destination, the plane would have used up a major portion of its fuel. Experts say crashes involving modern airliners are more survivable due to engineering advances that have resulted in strengthened structures and fire retardant technologies used for cabin seats and furnishings, as well as better emergency training of both cockpit and cabin crews. At first, Turkish Airlines said everyone survived Wednesday's crash. But Michel Bezuijen, acting mayor of Haarlemmermeer, later reported the fatalities. He initially said 135 people were on board, but changed that figure to 134. A spokesman for investigators said two pilots and an apprentice pilot were among the dead. Six of the injured were in critical condition, 25 were seriously hurt and 24 had slight injuries, health authorities said. Survivors were taken to 11 hospitals, including an emergency field hospital set up by the military in the central city of Utrecht. The Turkish ambassador to the Netherlands, Selahattin Alpar, told Turkish news agency Anatolia there were 72 Turks and 32 Dutch citizens on board. Investigators will explore a wide range of possible causes of the crash, ranging from weather-related factors such as wind shear or icing, to fuel starvation, navigational errors, pilot fatigue or bird strikes. Experts say initial results could be made public soon because of the sophistication of the Boeing 737-800's black boxes, although the full report will likely not be ready before the end of the year. Weather at the airport near the time of the crash was cloudy with slight drizzle. But Candan Karlitekin, the head of the airline's board of directors, told reporters that visibility was good at the time of landing. "Visibility was clear and around 5,000 yards. Some 550 yards before landing, the plane landed on a field instead of the runway," he said. "We have checked the plane's documents and there is no problem concerning maintenance," he added. Turkish Airlines chief Temel Kotil said the captain, Hasan Tahsin, was very experienced and a former air force pilot. Turkish officials said the plane was built in 2002 and last underwent thorough maintenance Dec. 22. Turkish Airlines has had several serious crashes since 1974, when 360 people died in the crash of a DC-10 near Paris after a cargo door came off. More recently, in 2003, 75 died when an RJ-100 missed the runway in heavy fog in the southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir. Boeing's 737 is the world's best-selling commercial jet, with more than 6,000 orders since the model was launched in 1965. The 737-800, a recent version of the plane, has a "very good safety record," said Bill Voss, president of the independent Flight Safety Foundation in Alexandria, Va. "It has been involved in a couple of accidents, but nothing that relates directly back to the aircraft," he said, adding that the plane had the best flight data recorders, which should give investigators a rich source of information about the crash. Wim Kok, a spokesman for the Dutch Anti-Terror Coordinator's office, said terrorism did not appear to be a factor. Boeing's Web site shows it has delivered all 49 737-800s ordered by the airline. This was only the third fatal crash of a next-generation 737 in which passengers died. In 2007, a Kenya Airways 737-800 crashed in Africa during a driving rainstorm. The cause has not been determined. All passengers and crew were killed. Several months earlier, in 2006, a GOL Airlines 737-800 crashed in Brazil when the Boeing plane collided at cruise altitude with a Legacy business jet that was headed to the United States. The executive jet, manufactured by Embraer, was carrying seven passengers and crew, including Joe Sharkey, a journalist for The New York Times. The smaller plane managed to land despite damage to one of its wings. Everyone on the GOL jet was killed. The first of Boeing's next-generation 737 family of jets entered airline service in 1997. Rather than an all-new design, these next-generation planes are based on the older 737s, but with extensive improvements and new systems. The 737-800 entered airline service in the spring of 1998. There was also a fatal accident involving another next-generation 737 when a Southwest 737-700 was unable to stop after landing in a snowstorm at Chicago's Midway Airport. But the fatality was on the ground. The plane went through a fence at the end of the runway and hit at least two cars, killing a 6-year-old boy in one. Carlolyn Hax: I need to tell my father-in-law not to say grace... Clinton piles up lead in presidential primary that state... What they're saying: Seahawks have most talented roster, best... Carolyn Hax: Is it time to break off the engagement and dump him? Charges: Insider fleeced Seattle Children’s hospital

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Bob Bowman's East Texas » The Town With an Alias (October 2011) The Town With An Alias By Bob Bowman Omen, a small community of about 150 souls, may be the only town in East Texas that once went by an alias. Located on State Highway 346 in southeastern Smith County about two miles west of Arp, the Omen area was settled by Arnold O'Brien and his family in 1848. The following year, the Smith County Commissioners Court decided to build the Laarissa-Shreveport Road through the northern part of O'Brien's land, making the area accessible to other pioneers. When O'Brien established a post office in his home in 1849 the area was named Round Hill. But when Thomas N. Gregory replaced O'Brien in 1851, the post office got a new name, Canton. But the following year, the citizens named the town Clopton because there was already a Canton in Van Zandt County. The post office was discontinued briefly in 1854, but reopened with the name of Troup. Residents, however continued to call the town Canton, even in legal documents. In 1960, a deed called the town "Canton alias Troup" but a Masonic lodge was officially known as Canton Lodge. Canton-alias-Troup prospered during the Civil War, especially with the arrival of the International-Great Northern from Gregg County to about four miles south of Canton alias Troup. Many of the town's businesses moved south to Zavalla, a new railroad town, and the post office moved, too, but kept the name Troup. Professor A.W. Orr did a lot to revive the community with a successful private school, Summer Hill Select School, which attracted students from Smith and surrounding counties. Many boarded with local families and others moved into the vicinity to attend the school. In April of 1879, Dixon Bonner petitioned the U.S. Post Office Department to renew the local branch and the town got a new name, Old Canton. But a year later, Old Canton was renamed Omen at the suggestion of Dr. Orr. In four years, Omen had a population of 250, three doctors, a blacksmith, two carpenters and two grocers. By 1892, the town had 550 residents, including a justice of peace, a mayor, a constable and a sawmill. Summer Hill School had 335 students, a courthouse was built on the town square, and the post office at Lock was transferred to Omen. After merging its school with Arp in the early l940s, the town began to decline. Andrews' Store, the last business in the community, closed in the l960s and in the l970s Omen had two churches, about 40 dwellings, and two cemeteries. Its population in 2000 was only 150. (Bob Bowman of Lufkin is the author of 51 books about East Texas. He can be reached at bob-bowman.com) News and Projects

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http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Mission-District-rally-for-immigrant-rights-3170152.php Mission District rally for immigrant rights By Marisa Lagos Several hundred people packed a school auditorium in San Francisco's Mission District on Wednesday evening to decry the city's treatment of immigrants, making their case in front of a panel of city officials that included representatives from the Police Department, mayor's office, school board and Board of Supervisors. The mostly Latino crowd spoke out against the city's new policy of automatically reporting undocumented juveniles arrested for a felony to federal immigration authorities. The boisterous attendees - who punctuated many remarks with shouts of "¡Si se puede!" or "Yes we can!" - also denounced alleged racial profiling by San Francisco police and immigration raids in general. Guadalupe Carreno, a 15-year-old sophomore at June Jordan School for Equity, said her family has been in limbo since January when her father was deported after a raid at their Bayview district home. Now, Guadalupe and her two brothers - ages 14 and 20 months - are waiting to see whether their mother also will be forced to leave. The children are all U.S. citizens who have only visited Mexico once or twice, but their parents came to the country illegally 20 years ago. Guadalupe, an A student who has epilepsy, said she is worried about both her education and her health if the family is forced to move back to Mexico. "The only thing going through my mind is school," she said. "I want to go into child psychology ... but if we have to move, I feel like my education will be thrown out the window." Her principal, Matt Alexander, also spoke to the crowd in support of Guadalupe's family, saying she and her brother are model students. Alexander noted it is his job to teach about the country's history and values, including the inalienable rights spelled out in the Declaration of Independence: "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." "For Guadalupe, life means having access to health care in San Francisco, freedom means the freedom to live in her city of birth, and happiness means that she can work hard and go to college and give back to her community," he said. The meeting, organized by the S.F. Immigrants Rights Defense Committee - a coalition of more than 30 immigrants rights organizations, labor groups, faith organizations and other activists - came two weeks after Supervisor David Campos held a similar hearing at City Hall that focused on racial profiling. Campos and three other freshman supervisors - President David Chiu, John Avalos and Eric Mar - were in attendance. All four come from immigrant families. The supervisors, as well as Phil Ting, the city's assessor-recorder, denounced immigration raids and pledged to work on local and national reform to immigration polices. Chiu called the raids "illegal and unconstitutional." "I don't want my tax dollars going to raids, stopping people from working, stopping families from being together," Ting said. "We must work together to make sure our president and Congress get the support they need for real reform, because until we have a path to citizenship, our community can never be whole."

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Community helps local girl diagnosed with leukemia q:My step-mother is in her 90s and broke her hip last September. She had the joint replaced, and has recovered very wel... a:There is indeed. Your father is in need of respite care, which means "a break", where a caregive... Source: SCV-Family January 7, 2011 2:29 p.m. Mail donations to:For the Love of LibritiP.O. Box 55764Santa Clarita, CA 91390 Direct deposit to Chase Bank:Refer to account number 2981960673 and routing number 322271627. This story is posted in The Signal's SCV Raw section. Click here for more information about SCV Raw. In late 2010, the Greene family of Stevenson Ranch learned that their 5-year-old daughter Libriti, an inquisitive kindergartener with an illuminating spirit, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoma Leukemia (ALL). "For the Love of Libriti," a Facebook Page created by volunteers in support of the Greene family, is reaching out to the local community to collect necessities for Libriti and her family. Click here to visit the page. Suggested donations include gift cards for gas, local restaurants and grocery stores. Donations may also be mailed or deposited directly into a bank account. See Related Content for more information. Libriti's shocking diagnosis came less than a week after her parents, Senta and Russ, first noticed a quarter-sized bruise on her stomach. Noticing several more bruises and petechiae (red spots) randomly appear on her body in the days that followed, they brought Libriti to the doctor. In a span of 45 minutes, Libriti's blood was drawn, she was diagnosed with leukemia and immediately rushed to the hospital via ambulance, where she received a blood and platelet transfusion, a spinal tap and confirmation that she was, in fact, a very sick little girl. Libriti's strength, sense of humor and positive energy, along with the love of her big brother Hunter, father and mother -- due in March with little brother Ethan -- would get her through the next week. She was released in time to spend Christmas at home with her family. On Dec. 28, the Greene family received promising news. Based on a biopsy, they were told Libriti's leukemia had gone into remission. But doctors had also discovered something they didn't expect: a rare abnormal chromosome called "Philadelphia Chromosome (PH+)," which is found in 5 percent of all cases and linked with a 20 percent survival rate. What the Greene family is going through could happen to anyone at any time. It's unimaginable that a mom, known throughout the SCV and beyond for her important work as a child advocate, could suddenly be fighting for her own child's life. Senta Greene has made a life working with the families at a time they need her most. Now the self-employed mother, just weeks away from giving birth, needs the community to do the same for her. She and husband Russ, an investigator, work tirelessly to care for their daughter while continuing to provide for their family. But without a regular income, the cost of insurance premiums, additional medical bills and even just bare necessities could wipe them out.

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SMPD: Apparent Suicide On PCH Monday, 23 Apr 2012, 3:17:00 AM Parimal M. Rohit Photo from iStock.com(This is a police graphic, not an actual Santa Monica Police Department vehicle.) The Santa Monica Police Dept. reported a dead body was discovered near Pacific Coast Highway between Palisades Park and Santa Monica State Beach at about 9 a.m. Saturday morning. According to Sgt. Richard Lewis: “The case is under investigation at this time. It appears to be a suicide and the decedent has not been identified as of this time.” The deceased was reportedly found without identification or a note but described as a white male in his early to mid 30s, roughly 200 pounds, and about six feet tall. Reports also indicate northbound lanes of the PCH were shut down moments after police officers arrived on the scene. An autopsy has been scheduled, according to the SMPD. A full update will be made available in Friday's print edition of The Mirror. Copyright © 2011 by Santa Monica Mirror. All rights reserved.

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PA News Feeds Call for action on aviation policy Monday 25 June 2012 15:20 BST The Aviation Foundation says extra runway capacity is crucial to the UK's economic well-being The Government must aim for a secure and lasting aviation policy after "almost 50 years without effective action", aviation, business and union leaders have said. The call came in London as the Government put the final touches to its publication on aviation policy, including consultation, due in the next few weeks. The Government has accepted the need for further runway capacity in south-east England but is still opposed to an extra, third runway at the UK's biggest airport, Heathrow in west London. This has led the aviation, business and union leaders - members of the Aviation Foundation - to fear for the UK's future economic well-being, particularly as one of the alternative measures, a new Thames Estuary airport, would take years to come to fruition. Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways parent company IAG, said: "We've had years of government inactivity on aviation policy and this consultation must result in a plan of action and the commitment to see it through - not another fudge. "It's the UK that loses out while around the world they will rub their hands with glee as we stumble along our path of inactivity". John Longworth, director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "The Government must stop tiptoeing around on aviation because of short-term political considerations. Unless politicians grasp the nettle and make some tough decisions, both our export and inward investment potential will suffer." Earlier this year Prime Minister David Cameron said the Government was "not blind" to the need for more runways. A Department for Transport spokesman said: "The Government wants aviation to grow, but to be able to do so it must be able to play its part in delivering our environmental goals and protecting the quality of life of local communities. "This summer we will consult on a new aviation policy framework which will set out our overall aviation strategy. Alongside this, we will issue a call for evidence on maintaining the UK's aviation hub status. The Government's position on a third runway at Heathrow has not changed." Willie Walsh

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Wave of deadly explosions kill 16 across Iraq Rebecca Santana BAGHDAD >> A rapid-fire series of explosions in and around Baghdad killed 16 people Sunday, including 10 people who died when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowd of police officers, officials said. In total, at least 10 bombs exploded as Iraqis were headed to work in a reminder of the dangers Iraq still faces despite a drop in violence since the height of the war. At least nine of the dead were police officers, who often are targeted by insurgents hoping to weaken the security forces as an end-of-the-year deadline for American troops to go home swiftly approaches. It was the third major attack this month in which security personnel were targeted and took the most losses. Just last week, 27 people were killed outside a police station in the northern city of Kirkuk, and earlier this month 20 police officers in the southern city of Hillah died when a suicide bomber plowed his vehicle into a police compound. The worst single attack Sunday came near the city of Taji, which is 12 miles (20 kilometers) north of Baghdad. Police officers had gathered after a roadside bomb targeting a passing American military convoy blew up. When the police arrived on the scene, a suicide bomber walked into the crowd and blew himself up, police and hospital officials said. Seven police and three civilians died and 19 people, including 15 policemen, were injured, the officials said. Earlier in the capital, the beginning of the work week was shattered by a quick series of blasts in mostly Shiite neighborhoods. At about 7 a.m. a car bomb in a parking lot in eastern Baghdad’s Sadr City neighborhood exploded, injuring five people and damaging several nearby cars. “We woke up to a big blast nearby and the glass windows in front of the house were smashed. My young brother was injured by glass,” said Namiq Khazal, a 30-year-old who lives in Sadr City about 150 yards (meters) from where one of the blasts went off. “On my way to the hospital I saw many wounded people and several cars damaged,” he added. Minutes later, also in Sadr City, a bomb hidden in a pile of garbage exploded, killing one person and wounding five more. Then five minutes later another roadside bomb, this time targeting a police patrol, exploded; 3 policemen and four bystanders were injured in that blast. In the southwestern neighborhood of Bayaa, the morning calm was shattered by five explosions that went off in rapid succession. First a roadside bomb targeted a police patrol. Then a minute later another roadside bomb went off in a commercial street followed by two roadside bombs hidden in a pile of garbage on a highway. Finally, a parked car bomb went off on a road that marks the intersection between Bayaa and the adjoining neighborhood. In total, five people were killed in Bayaa, including 2 policemen, and 15 people were injured, including six policemen, police and hospital officials said. They did not have a breakdown of where the deaths occurred. The officials all spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. About 46,000 American troops remain in bases around Iraq, and they are slated to leave the country by Dec. 31. But as the deadline approaches, many Iraqis are worried about the ability of their own forces to protect the country from the ever-present threat of bombs and shootings. In the northern city of Kirkuk, police found on Sunday the dead body of a man believed to be in his late 20s, said the neighborhood police chief, Col. Anwar Qadir. The man’s hands were tied behind his back and he was killed execution-style with a bullet to the back of his head. U.S. officials have long worried that Kirkuk could be a flashpoint for violence especially when American forces who help maintain an uneasy peace in the city and province leave Iraq for good. Three main ethnic groups, the Kurds, Arabs and Turkomen, claim the city as their own, and all would like to control the massive deposits of oil found underneath the city and province.

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Routt County in photos: March 16, 2013 Room No. 215 has been sealed with tape to preserve the crime scene at the Quality Inn & Suites, where the body of a 32-year-old Yampa woman was found Friday. Friends: Woman found dead in Steamboat Springs hotel caught up in love triangle A former boyfriend of Gillian “Jill” Gentile, the Yampa woman whose body was found Friday in a Steamboat Springs hotel room, said Gentile asked him to help her mislead another woman about a relationship involving Sam Wisecup. Gentile’s death is being investigated as a possible homicide. Share By Matt Stensland You are at the last photo

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Back to: Letters to the EditorMay 28, 2013Follow Letters to the Editor Brown: Don't block the way to mass transit progress Related Media Summit Daily’s coverage of the possibility of 1-70 mass transit some time back stated that stations would require large pieces of ground. It also indicated that the Frisco Transfer Station area would be a likely possibility for a station. However unlikely the possibility of an I-70 mass transit system is, we should not do anything to preclude that possibility. Before the Town of Frisco gives the Whole Foods project developers total rights and encouragement for the development, I would like to see site plans that ensure that the development will still allow appropriate space for a potential mass transit station on the Transfer Station and/or “Interstate Parcel” properties. Selling the property outright, instead of leasing it, as the town apparently intends to do, makes this critically important. If the developers are to get the property for two-thirds of its appraised value, they certainly ought to be willing to allow the town to retain whatever portion of the property might reasonably be expected to be needed for the possibility of a mass transit station. If a station were to be built at that location, it would certainly dramatically increase the value of the development. Howard Brown Silverthorne Join the Conversation Stories you may be interested in Trending in: Letters to the Editor Summit Daily letters to the editor: Liquor and grocery stores in Colorado The Summit Daily Updated May 28, 2013 08:02PM Published Jun 3, 2013 12:33PM Copyright 2013 The Summit Daily. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Mobile Site

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