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Amid the threat of a Greek debt default and a recession in Europe, Carlos Slim Helú has some words of advice for political leaders: You're doing it wrong. Slim, a Mexican entrepreneur who built a $69 billion fortune over nearly five decades, thinks governments should stop trying to shrink budget deficits by shortchanging education. "I am very concerned about the world in general. I think the solutions that [political leaders] are looking at are not the right solutions," he says. "They are not looking for a different way to solve the problem."
The world's richest person, it turns out, has time these days to ponder weightier issues than where he should invest next. Since 2004 Slim, who recently turned 72, has stepped down from the boards of three of his largest companies. He wants nothing more than to tell me, when we meet at his Mexico City office in late January, how he would solve the challenges facing Europe, the US and Mexico. He likes to talk and likes to revisit his roots.
We are sitting in heavy wooden chairs against the wall of books in his office when he gets up to grab a notebook he kept when he was 17. In it he had recorded his pay, 200 pesos a week, for working at his family's company. Another entry noted that his mother had lent him 5,000 pesos to buy stocks.
Slim's business empire is dominated by telecommunications but also includes finance, mining, real estate, infrastructure, retailing and heavy industry. His biggest success by far began with the $1.76 billion privatisation of state-owned phone company Telmex in late 1990, led by his industrial conglomerate, Grupo Carso, alongside France Telecom and Southwestern Bell (now AT&T). Last year Telmex became part of América Móvil, a much expanded version of Telmex's onetime cellular arm. Slim's 43 percent stake in the pan-Latin American company clocks in at nearly $39 billion—more than half of his current net worth.
Given this history, it's not surprising that privatisation of state-owned assets is Slim's first suggestion for struggling European economies. "Let's talk about Spain. It has a lot of highways, and they are all free," he says. "They should charge users and sell [the highways] to the private sector." The government can use the money from selling the highways to avoid making big cuts in social programmes, Slim advises.
Unemployment must also be addressed, he says. "The problem is that people have no jobs and no hope." When I suggest that creating jobs takes time, he disagrees. "Some investments create a lot of jobs and other investments don't." His counsel: Invest in small and medium-size businesses, the engines of job creation, in labour-intensive industries such as tourism, health care, education and entertainment.
Turning to the US, Slim sees a pressing need for better regulation of the banking system, including the requirement that risky derivatives be carried on financial institutions' books. He reminds me that he founded his financial group, Inbursa, as a brokerage in 1965. It has since expanded to include a bank and an insurance company, and sports a market capitalisation of $14 billion. "We've had growth for 47 years. We have never lost money, even in the worst times of our country," he boasts, noting that Inbursa never needed the government's help. "We don't look for size. We look for quality." Take that, Citigroup.
Slim has put his sons, Carlos, Marco Antonio and Patrick, in charge of the industrial, finance and telecom companies he acquired or started. But he's clearly still engaged. His son-in-law Arturo Elías Ayub, who directs strategic alliances, communications and institutional relations at Telmex but essentially serves as one of Slim's right-hand men, tells me: "He decides what companies to buy, and I go and buy them."
What's next for the Slim conglomerate? For starters, more investment in his mining business, Minera Frisco, a company created in early 2011 when Slim spun off mining assets owned by Grupo Carso into its own Mexican-stock-exchange-traded entity. The decision was a smart one. Buoyed by high prices for precious metals, the market capitalisation of Minera Frisco has soared to a recent $11.7 billion, 25 percent greater than that of its former parent, Grupo Carso.
"This company used to be medium-size, but it has the opportunity to grow and become a great mining company," says Slim. Some would argue that Frisco is still medium-size—revenue for 2011 was $665 million. Investors are clearly expecting enormous growth.
As for telecom, América Móvil will invest around $9 billion annually over the next four years, improving its mobile and fixed-line networks throughout Latin America so it can transmit data more quickly. "We are going for faster speed," says Slim. One area of focus, he adds, is connecting small and medium-size businesses to the internet.
In Mexico many consider Slim a telecom monopolist because his companies have roughly 70 percent of the wireless market and an 80 percent share of landlines. Critics blame him for excessive prices, and a report released by the OECD in late January (after our interview) stated that the lack of competition in Mexico in telecommunications has led to high prices for consumers and businesses and has cost the Mexican economy $25 billion a year. Slim vehemently disagrees.
But how to do so? Slim is sceptical of traditional charity. "I am convinced that the private sector needs to give support, not money, because charity has not solved poverty in hundreds of years." He believes the best course for chipping away at poverty is using digital tools for education to, as he says, "create human capital." That's where Telmex, the Carlos Slim Foundation and the Telmex Foundation come in.
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(This story appears in the 30 March, 2012 issue of Forbes India. You can buy our tablet version from Magzter.com. To visit our Archives, click here.)


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The Miami Dolphins' 2012 finale dispelled any illusion they could compete with the AFC's best. Joe Philbin's first year as coach ended with a 28-0 loss at New England, an ugly exclamation point to Miami's fourth consecutive losing season.
Philbin, though, won mostly favorable reviews despite going 7-9, and rookie Ryan Tannehill's promising play was a plus, so for a change Miami went into the offseason with stability at coach and quarterback. But the need for significant shakeups elsewhere was clear, and general manager Jeff Ireland spent the offseason revamping the receiving, linebacker and cornerback corps.
As a result, the Dolphins could have 10 new starters this season. Their roster appears faster and deeper, and it's definitely younger.
"Everybody has the college mentality around here," said former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Mike Wallace, the most heralded free-agent acquisition. "It's a lot different coming from where I come from with the older guys. I think everybody is hungry, everybody wants to get better, and everybody wants to be what we need to be to have a winning record."
Five things to watch as the Dolphins try to finish above .500 — and perhaps even win a playoff game for the first time since 2000.
1. DOLPHINS WILL IMPROVE IF TANNEHILL DOES: The first-round draft choice became the Dolphins' 17th starting quarterback since 2000, then became their first rookie QB to start all 16 games. His passer rating was 27th in the NFL, and touchdowns were tough to come by. But he threw for 3,294 yards — more than fellow rookies Robert Griffin III or Russell Wilson — and the Dolphins believe a better supporting cast will allow Tannehill to improve dramatically in 2013.
2. JEFF IRELAND NEEDS GOOD SEASON: The general manager has been much-maligned due to their 27-37 record over the past four years, and may need a breakthrough by the team in 2013 to keep his job. A stockpile of draft picks and considerable salary cap space allowed Ireland to be aggressive during the offseason, and in free agency he signed Wallace, the top available receiver, and six other likely starters. He also traded up nine spots in the draft to select linebacker-end Dion Jordan of Oregon with the No. 3 overall choice. Dolphins fans, including team owner Stephen Ross, are certain to grade Ireland on how the newcomers perform.
3. BIG PLAYS MAY BE ONLY A SNAP AWAY: The Dolphins ranked 27th in yards last season, when the wideouts totaled three touchdowns, and Philbin lost his biggest playmaker via free agency when Reggie Bush signed with Detroit. But the coach believes speedy second-year pro Lamar Miller will provide a breakaway threat to rival Bush, and a revamped receiving corps might be Miami's best group of pass catchers in 20 years. Wallace gives Tannehill the deep threat he lacked last year, and Ireland also acquired tight end Dustin Keller and slot receiver Brandon Gibson to team with Brian Hartline, who had a career-high 74 catches in 2012 and will now benefit from single coverage.
4. BALL-HAWKING A PRIORITY: Miami forced only 10 interceptions and recovered just six opposing fumbles last year to tie for fourth worst in the NFL in takeaways. That was the biggest deficiency in an otherwise solid defense, and to address the problem Ireland went shopping. Jordan is expected to help as a pass rusher to complement veteran Cameron Wake. Karlos Dansby and Kevin Burnett, the team's top tacklers, have been replaced by two younger, faster free agent acquisitions, Dannell Ellerbe and Philip Wheeler. Miami also signed veteran cornerback Brent Grimes, who won raves in offseason practices, and added cornerbacks Jamar Taylor and Will Davis in the second and third rounds of the draft.
5. DOLPHINS CHASE LEBRON: From the Don Shula Expressway to Dan Marino Boulevard, Miami has always been a football town in a football state. But LeBron James and the two-time NBA champion Miami Heat gave South Florida a serious case of hoops fever. Now it's the Heat who are the talk of the town, even in July, while the Dolphins have lately played home games in a half-empty stadium. Everyone agrees about what would bring fans back to the Dolphins: winning.
Dolphins open camp with 'college mentality'
The Miami Dolphins' 2012 finale dispelled any illusion they could compete with the AFC's best. Joe Philbin's first year as coach ended with a 28-0 loss at New England, an ugly exclamation point to Miami's fourth consecutive losing season.

subset: commoncrawl


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Looking for an effective home fitness workout? End your search by using the following strength training routines.
Split Lunge With Overhead Press Strength Training Routine
Reps: 10-12 reps
Stand with left foot flat on top of a BOSU Balance Trainer and step back with right foot, keeping heel lifted. Hold a medicine ball in front of chest, elbows bent. Bend knees into a lunge, lowering right knee toward floor and keeping left knee aligned over ankle [A].
Straighten both legs, pressing medicine ball straight up overhead [B]. Repeat for reps, then switch legs. Fitness workout intensity boost: Alternate leg lunging onto BOSU.
Double-Leg Stretch With Ball Strength Training Routine
Reps: 10-12 reps
Lie faceup on floor, knees bent 90 degrees, soles of feet on a stability ball. Exhale, contract abdominals and lift upper torso off floor, reaching arms forward [A]. Inhale, extend legs and roll ball away from you until heels are resting on ball; at the same time, extend arms overhead and next to ears [B].
Use abs to keep back firm against floor. Exhale and circle arms back to sides of knees as you bend knees to return to [A] position. Fitness workout intensity boost: Hold the [B] position for 3 counts.
Single-Leg Extension And Curl Strength Training Routine
Reps: 10-12 reps
Tie a light- or medium-resistance tube around leg of couch or other sturdy object. Secure left foot inside tube handle, facing away from couch, hands on hips. Bend left knee and lift left foot a few inches off floor. (Hold onto a chair back for balance if necessary.) Tighten abdominals and straighten left leg without lifting or lowering thigh [A]. Complete reps, then turn and face couch, re-securing left toe in handle.
Lift heel off floor so just toes are touching floor, then bend left knee and curl heel up toward buttocks, keeping left thigh vertical [B]. Finish set, then switch to right leg and repeat. Fitness workout intensity boost: After completing reps on left side, perform 1 set of partial squats, lowering butt only halfway before switching to right side.
Mix and match these workout routines to create a workout that suits your needs. Be sure to check out the following page for additional strength training routines.
[header = Fitness workout: mix & match these effective home strength training routines.]
Use the following workout routines as an entire fitness workout plan or mix them up, choosing the strength training routines to fit your preferences.
Lunge And Row With A Twist Strength Training Routine
Reps: 10-12 reps
Secure a medium-resistance tube to a door at waist height using a doorjamb attachment. Face door with feet hip-width apart and grasp both handles in left hand, palm in, moving back until tubing is taut [A].
Step back with left leg, heel lifted. Bend both knees into a lunge, left knee pointing at floor, right knee bent and over ankle, as you pull left elbow back in a rowing motion, left palm at ribs, twisting torso to the left [B]. Straighten legs and return arm and torso to starting position, leaving left leg back. Complete reps on left leg, then switch legs. Fitness workout intensity boost: Rest top of back foot on a stability ball or BOSU.
Curl And Press 2 Strength Training Routine
Reps: 10-12 reps
Attach light- or medium-resistance tubing to top of doorframe with a doorjamb attachment. Face door and grasp both handles in left hand with overhand grip, left elbow pointing down. Stand with right foot in center of a second light- or medium-resistance tube on floor, grasping both handles in right hand with underhand grip [A].
Choke up on tubes to remove slack. Tighten abdominals and bend right elbow into a biceps curl, keeping elbow close to side while straightening left arm in triceps push-down, elbow close to side, palm pressing down toward left thigh [B]. Complete 1 set, then switch sides. Fitness workout intensity boost: Lift leg on same side as triceps press-down slightly off the floor, toes resting next to other ankle.
One-Arm Dumbbell Chest Press Strength Training Routine
Reps: 10-12 reps
Lie faceup on a BOSU Balance Trainer with hips on floor and upper to middle back, shoulders and head supported on BOSU, feet flat on floor hip-width apart, knees bent and over ankles. Holding dumbbells in hands, raise arms up over chest, elbows over shoulders, palms facing out. Lift hips off floor into a bridge, your body forming a straight line between knees and shoulders [A].
Bend left elbow and lower dumbbell to side, elbow aligned with shoulder, wrist over elbow [B]. Press arm back up and straighten to starting position. Repeat with right arm to complete 1 rep. Fitness workout intensity boost: Perform exercise with upper back, shoulder and head supported on a stability ball.


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Editor's note: The names of juveniles throughout these stories have been changed to protect their privacy. Although their criminal case files are public record, their corrections files are not.
The boys in the Nova cottage at Adobe Mountain School had been locked in their cells for six days. They had not been allowed to go to school or to the cafeteria or to chapel. No weekly phone calls. They had not showered, or washed their clothes. Some had been without a mattress on their metal bed frames for weeks. Leftover food and garbage sat on the floors of their cells; some boys banged on the doors, demanding to use the bathroom. A streak of dried urine ran under the door of one cell. Inside there was more urine and feces on the floor.
Terri Capozzi followed a trail of blood, seeping into the hallway, to the door of the cell belonging to a boy named Roberto. She looked through the window.
"The room was in complete disarray," Capozzi, the youth rights ombudsman for the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections, would later write in a memo obtained by New Times. "Looking down on the floor, I saw the bottom half of a pint milk container set carefully in the middle of the blood-spattered floor. It appeared that the container was filled to the brim with blood.
" . . . As I stepped into the empty room, I noticed on the floor not far from the milk carton a wad of white gauze bound together. It was blood-soaked on one end. When I looked up at the walls, I realized that the container was a bucket, the gauze a rudimentary paintbrush and that [Roberto's] blood was the paint. The walls were filled with carefully drawn ornate designs, carefully rendered. I was awestruck by what occurred in this room."
Capozzi was told the mess had been made in the past 30 minutes, but her associate, Adobe Mountain youth rights specialist Brenda Lewis, confirmed it had been there for at least several hours. Roberto, a 15-year-old serving time for burglary, had been in and out of the infirmary for days, treated for self-inflicted cuts.
The Nova boys were locked down because they'd been misbehaving, and were supposed to be participating in a marathon group-counseling session. But just one brief session had been held the previous night, they told Lewis, when she visited them early on the afternoon of Day Six.
As Capozzi and Lewis left the cottage, the boys were allowed to go to dinner in the cafeteria for the first time in almost a week. Capozzi was speaking with Roberto -- he had never cut himself before coming to Adobe, she would write, but now was "clearly mentally compromised" and suicidal -- when Joe Taylor, the school's superintendent, approached. He called her into his office and ordered her off school property, angry that she'd crossed him by speaking with kids without his permission, undermining him and his staff.
Capozzi was furious.
"I am anxiously awaiting your response to this serious personnel and management issue," Capozzi concluded in her May 19, 1999, memo to ADJC director David Gaspar and legal services director Lou Goodman.
The response: Taylor has since been promoted to ADJC assistant director, in charge of the agency's Safe Schools program.
As for Roberto, he was released from Adobe but returned in November, after he ran away from a residential treatment center. And he's still cutting himself up.
The story of Roberto and what happened in the Nova cottage may be particularly chilling, but it is not the only example of abuse of children in the custody of the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections. Contrary to the agency's name, policymakers long ago gave ADJC the mandate to rehabilitate troubled kids, not punish them -- and certainly not abuse them.
And yet reports of mistreatment -- including verbal and sexual abuse, inappropriate use of restraints and solitary confinement, and violence against both juveniles and staff -- are common at the state's facilities, which typically house just under 1,000 Arizona youths at a time.
New Times has spent more than nine months investigating conditions within ADJC. Among the findings:
ADJC no longer follows the practices put into place by a federal court order in 1993 that were designed to ensure that proper conditions are maintained for youth in detention. ADJC violates the intent of the now-expired court order by:
Routinely putting children in solitary confinement in specialized "separation units" for days or weeks, sometimes even months, without adequate education or other services.
Locking children in their cells for days at a time, also in violation of a department policy that prohibits lock downs lasting longer than two hours at a time.
Providing substandard mental health services. Undertrained staff counsel children, and there are waiting lists for beds in mental health cottages.
Failing to provide enough staff. The staff-to-youth ratio should be at least one staff member for every eight youths.
In addition, ADJC violates its own internal policies and goes against acceptable national practices in the following areas:
Staff members often use violence to control kids when it is not necessary. Sometimes staffers are disciplined, sometimes not.
Staff members have sexual relations with kids.
Kids are not adequately supervised.
Kids are not the only ones in danger. Corrections officers and teachers are put at risk due to staffing shortages and because department policies are not followed.
Because ADJC's youth rights division is run internally, it is impossible for juveniles to have adequate due process. The department's grievance policy is not utilized properly. Kids' complaints are sometimes not followed up on, and kids report they fear reprisals if they file grievances.
Contrary to recommendations by national experts, ADJC keeps kids detained long past their sentences, and does not always adequately prepare them to be released.
In many cases, children detained in Arizona are treated more harshly than their adult counterparts in the state. Kids serve time for petty offenses, receive longer sentences and are denied luxuries -- like radios and televisions in their cells -- that adult prisoners take for granted.
In preparing this story, New Times reviewed tens of thousands of pages of documents released under the state's public records law -- including internal-affairs reports, incident reports, grievances, lawsuits, claims and statistics on offenses, use of force, exclusion and isolation. In addition, New Times obtained hundreds of pages of confidential internal memos, reports and juvenile case histories. Current ADJC employees at many levels -- from entry-level youth corrections officers to highly trained counselors to administrators and teachers -- were interviewed. All requested that their names not be used, for fear they would be fired.
ADJC turned down requests by the paper to interview Joe Taylor, Terri Capozzi and all other ADJC employees, allowing only director Gaspar and Public Information Officer Steve Meissner to speak for the agency. Agency officials also refused requests for interviews with juveniles currently detained by ADJC. Gaspar and Meissner declined to speak about individual juvenile cases, even though New Times is not using kids' names; they would not talk about personnel matters, either.
They refused to comment on Roberto and the lockdown at Nova cottage.
The same month of the Nova lockdown, in a different cottage at Adobe, staff showed kids a movie called "Blood In/Blood Out: Bound By Honor." The film is a violent, sexually explicit depiction of gang life on the streets -- and in the prisons -- of California. Not only does "Blood In/Blood Out" glamorize a life of crime, it's instructional: In many scenes, characters are shown making and using weapons in prison.
After the movie was shown, "unit youth broke up into two gangs modeled after those aggrandized in the movie. The youth began accruing weapons rapidly," ombudsman Terri Capozzi wrote in a complaint to ADJC officials.
Metal shanks and rods wrapped with masking tape were found in at least two youths' cells. They were put in solitary confinement, where they were told to "write a song or poem on what it means to be a positive youth."
It sounds as though ADJC is in need of reform. But the tragedy is that the practices uncovered by New Times have all taken place since 1998, after the system had already undergone substantial transformation ordered by the federal court. At the time, the agency was essentially pronounced cured, and, in fact, declared a national model.
A 1987 class-action lawsuit against ADJC resulted in the court order that dictated standards for everything from education to counseling to solitary confinement. The order expired in 1998, but while the practices were to be kept in place, scrutiny vanished. Even the department's most vociferous watchdogs admit they've ignored ADJC since.
"Something very fundamental will have to happen here," says Jan Christian, who served as executive director of the Governor's Task Force on Juvenile Corrections during the creation and implementation of the federal court order.
Christian, along with other local and national experts, reviewed the information New Times gathered. She is more than disheartened.
"I think a lot of people would say, `Oh, those are the old days when we used to take crazy people and lock them up and have them sit in their own feces and draw pictures with their own blood -- that really wouldn't happen again.'"
Christian and others say they assumed all was well under Gaspar, the latest director, whose extensive background in corrections and mental health treatment made him a natural to lead the agency. Indeed, Gaspar has earned himself and his agency a national reputation -- and some national awards -- for innovative programming in areas like substance-abuse treatment and family therapy. Gaspar is a big fan of research, and frequently touts studies that show the department's recidivism rates are down and other success indicators up.
But Gaspar fails to mention that his most recent data is almost entirely from 1998 and earlier. And critics say he's more concerned with what people outside his agency think of him than what really goes on inside.
In an interview last month, Gaspar was unwilling to address many of the specific concerns raised by New Times. In fact, he seemed surprised that anyone would question what goes on inside the walls of his agency. After all, he says, his job is really tough; no one else wants the kids he's got in custody. They are sent by county courts as a last-ditch attempt at reform, usually after committing many offenses.
"You've got the 900 worst kids in the state that no one else can handle," he says.
He's wrong. In 1994, Arizona voters approved a ballot measure that automatically bumps violent youth offenders to adult court. Since the law was implemented, ADJC's population has not only declined in numbers, but the kids are younger, and tend to be in for a series of petty offenses rather than heinous violent crimes.
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That does not mean that Gaspar and his staff have an easy job. This can be a tough population. There are still some violent kids, including both hardcore and wannabe gang members. More significantly, the population includes the seriously mentally ill, kids with substance-abuse problems, kids who have been physically, verbally and sexually abused in their homes and on the streets.
Rehabilitation is more important than ever. And even though Gaspar insists he's all about rehabilitation, insiders say his philosophy is not reflected on the ground level at Adobe Mountain and ADJC's other facilities.
"The director is always telling us that he wants us to treat these kids as if they were our own," says one high-level supervisor, who has been with the agency for more than three years and has seen the decline in quality of care since the federal court order expired. "And the scary part is, if this is the way you treated your own kids, CPS would remove them."
Read more stories in the Slammed special report.


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How happy are you? If we believe the statistics, then chances are you're not a happy camper, at least according to the newly released findings of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development's Better Life Index for 2012.
Each year, this survey rates life satisfaction factor in 36 developed countries, based on indicators such as economic prosperity, health care, employment, and a strong social support network. The USA didn't make it to the top 10, taking 12th place behind "happier" nations such as Australia, Switzerland, and Scandinavian countries.
"If you are sad, anxious, stressed out or depressed you should find effective 'pick-me-uppers'," says Jason Kozma, owner and personal trainer at Santa Monica Personal Training. "Fortunately, that doesn't mean you have to move to another country or a happier state."
Whatever problems or challenges you are facing in your personal or professional life, there is evidence that a regular exercise program will help combat the blues. In fact, a Duke University study released at the end of the 1990s showed that a regular fitness routine could be as effective in treating depression as certain medications.
How can physical activity lift your mood? In several ways, Kozma says:
- Exercise produces endorphins and raises the body's levels of dopamine, seratonin, and norepinephrine – natural "feel good" chemicals.
- It helps release emotional tension and pent-up frustrations, as well as distract you from worries and negative thoughts that cause stress and anxiety.
- Exercise boosts our confidence and makes us more resilient and empowered, so the more you work out, the better you'll be able to handle the curveballs life throws at you.
What kind of fitness program will lift your mood most effectively?
"Start with resistance training and interval training, followed by stretching and breathing exercises to release stress and tension," Kozma suggests. "When you fully exert, you can fully relax."
You may not think of resistance training and interval training as a '"feel-good" exercise but Kozma notes that any workout that will make you healthier, stronger, and fitter, will boost your morale as well.
"If you manage to avoid and prevent medical conditions related to inactivity, such as obesity, heart disease, certain types of cancer, and diabetes, and if you significantly reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's, dementia, and other age-related physical and mental disabilities, that should certainly make you happier," he points out.
Published on Jul 24, 2012


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This week I was walking my dogs on the Western Prom in Portland and witnessed a rarity: a pickup soccer game. The 5 boys were in the 10-12 year range, and were playing a makeshift half-field contest, 2-on-2 with 1 goalie.
As best I could tell, 3 boys were African and 2 Hispanic or Middle Eastern, as they all chattered back and forth in accented English. One of them might be the future of American soccer, but we might never know.
Seeing this impromptu match reminded me that I began playing competitive soccer at age 7 and mentally, have never stopped.
I use the word "competitive" with great purpose, because amongst Americans, I'm an anomaly. I spent most of my formative years in Europe, playing formally and informally every moment I could, before returning stateside for college.
Once back, the American way interfered, and my physical saturation in the game ended – even though I continued to play in one manner or another until my early 40s, when my knees could no longer take it.
But that's the environment foreign players grow up with, and U.S. national men's team coach Jurgen Klinsmann knows we can never replicate it here. The only thing close is our inner city culture of playground basketball.
Past that, American youth soccer players are too organized, too planned, too coached, too class-stratified and too focused on getting a college scholarship. Eventually, an overwhelming majority lose interest in playing.
Globally, though, kids play day, night, at school during recesses, on weekends and vacations from dawn to dusk. There are no meddling parents, no megalomaniac coaches, no participation fees, uniform fees, travelling fees, etc.
Young boys seek out games involving adults, and beg to be included. It's not uncommon to see a weekend or summer pick up contest with 12 year olds taking it right to 30 year olds, and celebrating the inevitable merciless rough housing as a rite of passage, and a respectful salute that they belong.
Importantly, every match – whether a 6 hour midsummer marathon played on an empty dirt lot or a 20 minute neighborhood skirmish in the street while dodging passing cars – is played with the urgency and passion of a World Cup final.
Debates linger for weeks afterward. Manhood challenges persist. Gauntlets are dropped. Then the cycle starts over.
Klinsmann instinctively grasps we will never get THERE.
Still, he is keenly aware that American society's orientation toward athletic competition and seemingly bottomless resources can be a plus toward making quick progress to growing better quality field players – just as Americans are acknowledged for developing world-class goalkeepers such as World Cup face-saver, Tim Howard.
In short, to build a stronger national team, we need … better players.
While this subject can fill volumes, I examine in brief how Klinsmann can do this in my Portland Sun weekly column, "The vindication of Jurgen Klinsmann."
Since we will never engender the country-wide spontaneity of the global pick up game, we must then use the matchless American predilection toward organization and structure to develop our best young players in youth soccer academies.
Now, the irony isn't escaping me, and I can already hear the naysayers: "Telly, you just told us the pickup game is the way overseas, and now you're telling us they have super organized youth academies, too, and we need those here?"
And the best players from the sandlot, or my beloved Western Prom, are plucked for junior programs, but somehow make their way to play back in the 'hood, because it's a way of life. Your village is still your village. Your people are still your people. No pro team's youth farm ever trumps that.
Those are the 1%. And we need to take our 1%, whatever their ethnic backgrounds and economic situations, and get them in programs where they can flourish.
What do you think? Forget duplicating societal passion; let's talk results.
The Belgians, typically a mediocre European national team, revamped their entire youth development system in the last 15 years and we saw the stark difference in their abilities as they knocked the U.S. out of the World Cup during last week's round of 16.
Importantly, their roster was a refection of central Europe's emerging ethnic and racial diversity. And they don't look mediocre anymore.
Can Klinsmann make this work in the U.S., or will he run into the same paternalistic obstructionism as we have seen in the NCAA and college sports? Or, as I found 35 years ago as a freshman college walk-on, despite my years of overseas experience and excellence in open tryouts?
While many of our "experts" here are already criticizing Klinsmann for his World Cup coaching, the Brits – where soccer was born – are watching this incomprehensible treatment and already wondering how to pry Klinsmann away from us to turn their team around.
The time for change is now. Wise up, U.S. Soccer, or we may continue to reap the mediocrity we've been sowing.


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My family had the opportunity to review Activision's latest movie-themed game for the Nintendo DS: Ice Age: Continental Drift - Arctic Games.
According to the press release:
In Ice Age: Continental Drift – Arctic Games, a secret treasure has fallen into the hands of the Ice Age gang and trouble has stirred over the glaciers as to who will keep the prized riches. Naturally, the best way to settle the score is through a series of wintery sporting events! Join the jolly "Herd" or the mischievous "Pirates" to compete in the first ever Arctic Games to determine who can land their paws on the prize. Play as Manny, Diego, Sid, and other prehistoric pals in competitive games like glacier hopping, ski jumping, and squirrel cannon. Gamers can compete through story mode, free play, and tournament style games to reach for new records and earn gold, silver, and bronze acorn medals. Ice Age: Continental Drift – Arctic Games is perfect for gamers of all ages to get together and laugh their way through silly competition. It's time to team up with your favorite sub-zero friend and go for the gold!
Considering the Olympic games going on right now, the kids had a good time playing something with the same type of goals and themes. There's a story mode where one can listen to longer dialogues (and smack-talking) between the Herd and the Pirates. The story apparently differs somewhat from the movie plot; in this game, the Herd and Pirates challenge each other to an acorn-shaped cornucopia of food. The dialogue leads you into each of the ten games. The winning team from each event earns 5 units of food, the losing team earns 2 units. Whichever team earns the most food after all of the events wins. There exists opportunity for individuals to earn high scores in each of the events, whether in story mode or free-play mode.
You can play with one or two players on a single DS. One player gets to choose which team: the Pirates or the Herd. Two player allows each player to be one team or the other.
The games are very very simple, in line with its ESRB "E" rating. Here are summaries of each event. Any mention of collecting acorns = bonus points or bonus time:
Bob-Smashing: Manny (if you're the Herd) or Captain Gutt (if you're the Pirates) fly down a hill smashing targets and collecting acorns. Control Manny or Captain Gutt by using the control pad to steer right or left, and the "A" button to maintain speed.
Glacier Hopping: Diego or Shira run from left to right across a path, dodging obstacles and collecting acorns. Use the control pad to move and the "A" button to jump. The fastest time wins, acorns will remove time.
Coconut Slingshot: Using the stylus, Peaches or Raz will fling coconuts towards targets and acorns. The furthest targets earn the most points.
Mountain Drift: Granny or Gupta slalom ski down a hill. Keep within the gates while collecting acorns for the fastest time. Missed gates will yield a time penalty, while acorns are a time bonus.
Scrat Cannon: Scrat is launched out of the Pirate cannon. The player has to maneuver Scrat onto trampoline targets using the touch screen to maintain altitude and the "Y" and "A" buttons to steer left and right. I will say that I couldn't even get Scrat to the first trampoline in this event, so I got zero points the two times I tried. My kids could do it just fine, though.
Shell Slide: Sid plays a game of curling against Squint. Slide turtle shells across the ice towards a target. The most shells on the target yields the most points, and knocking the opponent's turtle shells off the target will remove points for your opponent.
Ice Smash: Diego or Shira run through a maze and the player has to make the tiger thump him/herself downward to crack through the ice to the next lower level. Thump on snowballs for acorn credits and jump over snowballs to keep from slowing down. The fastest time wins.
Style Jump: Sid or Squint will fly down a ramp to take off on a ski jump. Try to use the stylus on the touch screen to do tricks for points.
Slip Slide: Ellie or Captain Gutt (again) slide down a snowy hill. Speed is key in this game, all the player has to do is keep the character out of the snow piles (which slows you down) and employ the "speed arrows" for quicker times. The fastest time wins.
Prehistoric Plumber: My least favorite of all 10 games. Maneuver Scrat up and down a crevasse of ice and seal up leaks. Use the stylus to do this. It's more a "how well can I use my DS stylus" exercise than really a game of skill. As usual, my sons could do this with ease while I fumbled.
If you're in story mode, then at the conclusion of all ten events, the final food tally is calculated and a winner is declared. More smack talk ensues and the story then concludes.
For fans of the Ice Age franchise, this game is a welcome addition; even if you've seen the movie in theaters right now, the video game's storyline is unique enough to maintain interest. Bringing most of the original characters' voices into the making of the game always helps, too.
Ice Age: Continental Drift - Arctic Games is rated "E" (Everyone) by the ESRB and is available on Kinect for Xbox 360 for a suggested retail price of $39.99, Wii and Nintendo 3DS for $29.99, and Nintendo DS for $24.99.
A complimentary copy of this game was provided for review purposes.


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The Texas House of Representatives passed a bill that requires new disclosure requirements for mortgage servicing:
|By: Rodriguez, Keffer, et al.
|H.B. No. 213
|relating to the duties of a mortgage servicer of certain
|residential mortgage loans.
|SECTION 1. Title 5, Finance Code, is amended by adding
|Chapter 397 to read as follows:
|Sec. 397.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "mortgagee" and
|"mortgage servicer" have the meanings assigned by Section 51.0001,
|Property Code.
|Sec. 397.002. APPLICABILITY. This chapter applies only to
|a loan secured by a first lien on residential real property that:
|(1) is not a federally related mortgage loan, as
|defined by 12 U.S.C. Section 2602; and
|(2) is serviced by a mortgage servicer other than the
|mortgagee of the loan.
|[Sections 397.003-397.050 reserved for expansion]
|Sec. 397.051. RECORDKEEPING. A mortgage servicer shall
|maintain written or electronic records of each written request for
|information regarding a dispute or error involving the debtor's
|account until the loan is paid in full, otherwise satisfied, or
|Sec. 397.052. PROVISION OF GENERAL INFORMATION ON REQUEST.
|(a) A mortgage servicer shall provide the following to a debtor in
|response to a debtor's written request:
|(1) a copy of the original note or, if the original
|note is unavailable, an affidavit of lost note; and
|(2) a statement that:
|(A) identifies and itemizes all fees and charges
|assessed under the loan transaction and provides a full payment
|history identifying in a clear and conspicuous manner all of the
|debits, credits, application of and disbursement of all payments
|received from or for the benefit of the debtor, and other activity
|on the loan, including any escrow or suspense account activity; and
|(B) covers the two years preceding the receipt of
|the request or the period for which the servicer has serviced the
|loan, whichever is shorter.
|(b) If the mortgage servicer claims that delinquent or
|outstanding sums were owed on the loan before the two-year period
|preceding the receipt of the request under Subsection (a) or before
|the servicer began servicing the loan, whichever is shorter, the
|servicer shall provide an account history beginning with the
|earliest month for which the servicer claims outstanding sums were
|owed on the loan and ending on the date of the request for
|information. For purposes of this subsection, the date of the
|request for information is presumed to be not later than the 30th
|day before the date the servicer receives the request.
|(c) A mortgage servicer must provide a statement under
|Subsection (a) on or before the 25th business day after the date the
|servicer receives a written request from the debtor that:
|(1) includes or otherwise enables the servicer to
|identify the name and account of the debtor; and
|(2) includes a statement that the account is or may be
|in error or otherwise provides sufficient detail to the servicer
|regarding information sought by the debtor.
|Sec. 397.053. PROVISION OF INFORMATION REGARDING DISPUTE OR
|ERROR. (a) A mortgage servicer shall provide a written statement
|to a debtor in response to a debtor's written request for
|information regarding a dispute or error involving the debtor's
|account that includes the following information, if requested:
|(1) whether the account is current and an explanation
|of any default and the date the account went into default;
|(2) the current balance due on the loan, including the
|principal due, the amount of any funds held in a suspense account,
|the amount of any escrow balance known to the servicer, and whether
|there are any escrow deficiencies or shortages known to the
|(3) the identity, address, and other relevant
|information about the current holder, owner, or assignee of the
|loan; and
|(4) the telephone number and mailing address of a
|servicer representative with the information and authority to
|answer questions and resolve disputes.
|(b) A mortgage servicer must provide a statement under
|Subsection (a) on or before the 10th day after the date the servicer
|receives a written request from the debtor that:
|(1) includes or otherwise enables the servicer to
|identify the name and account of the debtor; and
|(2) includes a statement that the account is or may be
|in error or otherwise provides sufficient detail to the servicer
|regarding information sought by the debtor.
|[Sections 397.054-397.100 reserved for expansion]
|Sec. 397.101. ENFORCEMENT GENERALLY. The Department of
|Savings and Mortgage Lending, the attorney general, or any party to
|a loan to which this chapter applies may enforce this chapter.
|Sec. 397.102. ACTION BY DEBTOR. In addition to any other
|legal and equitable remedy available, a debtor injured by a
|violation of this chapter may bring an action for recovery of actual
|damages, including reasonable attorney's fees.
|SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.


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By By Andrew Drwiega, Military Editor | June 1, 2011
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At the U.S. Army Aviation's annual exposition, Quad-A, EADS North America took along one of its three company-funded technical demonstrator aircraft (TDA) which was virtually a challenge of "we're here; where's everyone else?" The aircraft is known as the Armed Aerial Scout 72X.
The Armed Aerial Scout competition is one that virtually all the manufacturers will view as vital to win, given the hundreds of aircraft that will be procured. But in equal measure the U.S. Army is being ultra cautious as it does not want to have a procurement nightmare three times in a row—the first two being the Boeing/Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche in 2004, then the Bell Textron 407 ARH in 2008.
The problem facing the Army is at what point does it make a decision and what exactly does it buy, having already spent a good deal of money on extending the life of its Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warriors, while also trying to select an aircraft that will be able to project and develop its capabilities into the future.
This is a really difficult task. The lean financial times that now exist and are likely to continue through the procurement cycle of the AAS mean that it is likely to either be "off-the shelf" (in as much as military programs with their flood of additional capabilities can ever be regarding commercially designed aircraft) or offers such good value at a price that will not be prohibitively expensive.
Many of the contenders have good points: the EADS AAS-72X is a version of the already in-service UH-72 Lakota (both aircraft being based on Eurocopter's EC145).
The selection of this aircraft would bring a premium saving in general maintenance costs and give the Army two large, similar fleets of aircraft. While the 72X is still very much in the developmental stage, EADS North American vice president/program manager for the AAS, Gary Bishop, said that "The Army's requirements, when known, will dictate what the full offering will be and that they were waiting in anticipation for those requirements to be made public."
Boeing argues the economic potential of its AH-6i differently, in that the company claims its light reconnaissance aircraft will have an 85 percent commonality in parts with its bigger brother, the Apache Longbow. Also weighing in on the side of the AH-6i is the fact that Boeing has been conducting optionally manned trials with the aircraft for a number of years, and this capability is one that the Army is standing by as one that it feels needs to be inherent in any AAS platform that it selects. However, the AAS-72X team is also pursuing manned/unmanned teaming, as every competitor who eventually enters this competition will have to confirm. This manned/unmanned teaming requirement of the AAS could well be the lynchpin (alternatively the Achilles heel) of the whole program. It throws a spear-tip development project (expense written all over this) into a requirement for a cost-sensitive solution. Even with a Block approach (similar to the Apache Longbow program), this requirement is fraught with danger along the lines of Comanche (is it reconnaissance, or attack, or both). The Army customer will clearly need an internal understanding of what the manned/unmanned teaming option needs to achieve so that it does not start competing with unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
Boeing's AH-6i light attack/reconnaissance helicopter successfully completed its first flight on Sept. 16, 2009, seven months after work was started on the prototype aircraft. The production agreement between Boeing (holder of the design rights to the aircraft) and MD Helicopters, the company that is willing and eager to manufacture them at its plant in Mesa, Ariz. (next door to Boeing, in fact), still does not appear to have been completely finalized. Although MD Helicopters' owner Lynn Tilton was present at Boeing's stand during the Army Aviation annual exposition in Nashville, Tenn., during April, through mid-May there has been no official statement that the agreement to pursue collaborative production opportunities signed in July 2010 has been fully concluded and full demarcation of job share and responsibilities drawn up.
In October 2010, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency informed Congress that Saudi Arabia was potentially looking to order a wide range of helicopters from Boeing, Sikorsky and MD Helicopters through its Foreign Military Sales (FMS) procedure. The order was to include: 36 AH-64D Block III Apaches, 72 Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawks, 36 AH-6i light attack helicopters and 12 MD-530Fs, together with 243 T700-GE-701D engines, defense systems, weapons and a complete plethora of equipment and support.
The 'Arab Spring' movement across the Middle East has meant that further news of this huge military sale has been kept out of the headlines, especially as there has been a focus of late on the requirements of the Saudi National Guard, with overtones of control being asserted on the internal population rather than any external threat from old advisories in the region such as Iran. However, the inclusion of the AH-6i adds Saudi Arabia to Jordan as Middle East customers.
The Jordanian Air Force became the official military launch customer for the AH-6i when its government signed a letter of intent (LoI) in early 2010 for the helicopter.
The other, now confirmed, open competition in the U.S. is that surrounding the Air Force's requirement for 93 aircraft in its Common Vertical Lift Support Program (CVLSP). The competition to replace the 62 old Bell Huey UH-1Ns of Air Force Global Strike Command and other agencies also demands an in-production, non-developmental, government or commercial off-the-shelf (GOTS/COTS) aircraft.
The Air Force expects to announce the beginning of the process with the request for proposal during the summer, with contract award in 2012 and aircraft in service by 2015. The role incorporates homeland security-type missions, including "nuclear weapon convoy escort, 24/7 adverse weather capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) emergency security response/operational support, and mass passenger transport/operational support airlift (OSA) in the National Capital region."
Alongside that is the HH-60 recapitalization program. This will seek to find a replacement for the Air Force's remaining 99 Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawks, currently being used for combat search and rescue (CSAR) both in the U.S. and operationally. AgustaWestland has already thrown its bid of the AW139M into the ring for consideration, stating that this type offers "30 percent more cabin volume and 50 percent more payload than the legacy CVLSP platform."
The parent company of Russian Helicopters, state-controlled defense group Obononprom, has withdrawn its plans for a partial floatation of the helicopter business after failing to attract enough investors. While Russian companies have found it hard to conduct successful floatations in recent times and reports indicate that the valuation of the company—set between $1.8 billion and $2.4 billion—was considered to be too high.
Investors unfamiliar with Russian Helicopters perhaps ought to be reminded that the organization, founded in 2007, represents the collective interests of Russia's leading helicopter manufacturers: Mil, Kamov, Ulan-Ude, Kazan and Rostvertol. The organization was given a massive boost by the U.S. Army's formation of a Non Standard Rotary Wing Aircraft (NSRWA) program office (PEO) in June 2010. This move was justified by the need for Army Aviation to support the non-standard Russian helicopters being used and procured by the Iraqi and Afghan military. NSRWA recently acquired 21 Mi-17s for the Afghan forces, and as U.S. soldiers are assisting not only in training but in Afghan operations, then the Army considered that a duty of care was required to safeguard its own people.
Russian Helicopters is a world player in the helicopter market. Statistics available during the floatation bid revealed that 214 helicopters had been built last year with organizational revenues at a reported $2.7 billion. Russian Helicopters claims a 13.5 percent share of global helicopter sales and there are 8,500 Russian helicopters registered around the world, giving a global market ownership of around 13 percent (these figures must be seen in the light of the organization's dominance of the Russian and CIS markets of 85 percent—and the Russian government has recently confirmed that its own Ministry of Defense has signed the first of three long-term contracts for new aircraft deliveries over the period of 2011 to 2018 (although no numbers are available). These contracts are part of the Russian State Armament program for 2011–2020 and are not open to outside competition.
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) competition to replace its aged fleet of 16 S-70B2 Seahawks (following the debacle that surrounded the procurement of Kaman's SH-2G Seasprite helicopters) is gathering importance for the winner.
The two contenders in the Air 9000 Phase 8 Future Naval Aviation Combat System competition are the Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky team Romeo MH-60R against Australian Aerospace's MRH-90 bid. The decision is expected by the end of June.
Sikorsky is not only looking at the RAN order for 24 aircraft, but has the requirements of Saudi Arabia in mind. The Saudi Ministry of Interior is already the launch customer for at least three of the Polish-built S-70i (with a further 12 options), but last year's stated intent to purchase 180 helicopters for the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG) though a $25-billion package has 72 UH-60M Black Hawks as their preferred choice (in addition to 36 Block III Apaches and 36 AH-6i light attack helicopters and 12 MD530s). Keeping with the Middle East theme, there are also additional orders for Qatar and the UAE in the offing.
This April, Sikorsky announced that it has manufactured more than 100 MH-60R and 200 MH-60Seahawk multi-mission helicopters for the U.S. Navy. According to company records, the MH-60S has flown upwards of 370,000 flight hours since 2002 and the MH-60R has accumulated more than 90,000 since 2006.
This longevity of service must weigh heavily significantly with those in the RAN who have to decide on the type to be procured. While the MRH-90 has been ordered by a wide variety of international customers, its poor acquisition track record to date with the Army must be telling. However, once the Army has ironed out its issues with the aircraft, the Australian Defense Force would have a common platform at land and sea (and it would be more than ironic if that happened, given that the Army has just ditched its own Black Hawk fleet in favor of the TTL NH-90).
Sikorsky's international success can also include the decision of the Turkish Government's Defense Industry Executive Committee (DIEC) to acquire 109 Black Hawks based on the S-70i configuration. The contract is worth $3.5 billion. Sweden too has opted for 15 UH-60Ms, to be set up in the CSAR role for service in Afghanistan, to fill a gap left by the late running of its order for 13 tall-cabin TTL NH-90s.
The NH-90 has in many ways been a victim of its own success, and perhaps NH Industries collective avarice in trying to maximize sales during the early stages by agreeing to so many variations—a challenge even acknowledged officially by Eurocopter (one of the three partners alongside AgustaWestland and Fokker): "While the specific customization offered to customers has ensured the aircraft's commercial success on the export market, it has also resulted in 23 different variants, which have entailed new challenges and increased complexity." However, more than 530 NH-90 variants have been ordered around the world, indicating not only a great sales job but also many countries now with high expectations.
At Heli-Expo this year in March, Bell Helicopter announced its 407AH, a commercially available armed version that pushes on from where its failed ARH bid with the U.S. Army left off. Whether or not this will be entered into a request for proposal once the AAS competition begins can only be anticipated.
Suggested weapons systems may include a Dillon M134T minigun and M260 2.75" rocket launchers. At time of writing the 407AH was still not listed on the company's website under military products, giving the feeling that it might be directed more toward the international parapublic/home defense/National Guard markets.
AgustaWestaland's Lynx replacement, the AW159 Wildcat, seems to have survived (for now) the UK Ministry of Defense's swinging cuts, with latest news reports suggesting even these haven't been sufficient and more may be on the way.
But with the AW159 being manufactured at AgustaWestland's Yeovil facility, the cutting of the 62 aircraft in the program (34 for the Army and 28 for the Royal Navy) would be disastrous for any attempt by the manufacturer to convert existing foreign military users of Lynx or Super Lynx to the newly designed helicopter. Only the Sultanate of Oman bought the Super Lynx in any significant number (16) through May.
Several Lynx operators have already decided to covert to other airframes such as the NH-90 maritime version, the NFH. These include the Norwegian Air Force (replacing its Mark 86 aircraft) and the Royal Netherlands Navy.
The funding problems surrounding the development of new helicopters seem to ebb and flow. While Boeing and Bell rely on trusted stalwarts such as the Apache, Chinook, V-22, AH-1Z CobraHuey UH-1Y with the development of existing platforms such as the AH-6i and the 407AH, Eurocopter, Sikorsky and AgustaWestland are pushing ahead with new concept models including the X2/S-97, the X3 and other technologies (such as environmental) which may spin back to offer further improvements to their military range.
With the new economic dynamos of India and China kicking into high gear, there is the possibility that the likes of Russian Helicopters and Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) will find the right set of conditions to not only invest in their own S&T projects, but will also be able to attract the sharpest minds from around the world to lead them. Any rotorcraft OEM not committed to funding its own S&T programs, or waiting for government assistance which could now take several years to begin flowing again, could find themselves becoming fatally outpaced by new competitors. Programs such as the Joint Multi Role (JMR), emphasized by Army Aviation branch chief Maj. Gen. Anthony Crutchfield at Quad-A in April, with its target date of 2030, together with projects such as the Joint Heavy Lift requirement in the U.S. and Europe, need to be examined carefully by the OEMs. Those who have taken huge profits out of the defense contracting business to date need to take a hard look at the opportunities of the future and invest deeply now to guarantee their place at the top table in a decade's time.


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When I first talked about the dies AccuQuilt sent me, I mentioned that dies like the Equilateral Triangles and Hexagons were designed to work together. If you sew six of the triangles together, they're the same size as the corresponding hexagon—and that's really all there is to this pincushion! But I'll walk you through the details.
For most of the pincushions I've made so far, I used two different fabrics (longtime readers may recognize scraps from my Hilltop Drive quilt for Stitch), but you could also make it scrappy with a different fabric for each triangle. In my next post I'll show you how I matched the stripes up using just one fabric for the pink pincushion.
Each of these dies has three sizes of the shapes; this tute uses the biggest ones, but the process would be the same to make a smaller pincushion with the smaller shapes.
What you need
- Scraps of fabric for triangles, each at least 3×3"
- 4½×5¼" scrap of fabric for backing
- AccuQuilt GO! Equilateral Triangles Die (55079)
- AccuQuilt GO! Hexagons Die–2", 3", 5" (55011)
- AccuQuilt GO! or GO! Baby die cutter and 6×12" cutting mat
- Ground walnut shells (sold by pet stores as bird litter) or other filling
- Button
- Extra scraps of fabric or felt for flower embellishment (optional)
- Needle and thread, sewing machine, and the other usual suspects
How to make it
Seam allowances are ¼". Sew all pieces with right sides together unless otherwise specified.
- Using the dies, cut out 6 large triangles and 1 large hexagon. I cut 3 triangles from each of my fabrics. Arrange the triangles to form a hexagon, alternating fabrics. Try to align the fabric's grain with the dies' blades so at least one edge of each piece will be on the straight of grain.
- To avoid Y-seams, sew the triangles together to make 2 half-hexagons, 3 triangles each. (Use a short stitch length if you're filling with small particles like walnut shells.) Chain-piecing makes this super easy: sew the first 2 triangles from the left half-hexagon, then the first 2 triangles of the right half-hexagon, then add the third triangle to the left section, then the third to the right. Press the seam allowances in opposite directions for each half-hexagon.
- Put the half-hexagons right sides together, matching up the outer edges and the seams. Pin if desired (I just rely on my machine's dual feed for small projects like this), and sew the half-hexagons together on the longest edge. Press the seam allowance to one side. You should have a pieced hexagon equal in size to the die-cut hexagon, and thanks to the blunt corners of the triangles, no dog ears to chop off. I forgot to take a picture of this for the blue and green pincushion, so here it is in pink:
- Put the pieced and die-cut hexagons right sides together. To help turn the open edge in after filling the cushion, start sewing perpendicular to the edge, sewing in ¼" and then pivoting 90 degrees to sew the actual seam. This photo shows the stitching at the start of my seam on the left, and the presser foot is positioned to sew out to the edge the same way after sewing all the way around the hexagons:
Leave a gap as shown for filling, and sew the hexagons together using the triangle seams as guides for where to pivot at corners—when your needle meets the stitching, leave it down in the fabric (shown below), lift the presser foot, pivot to sew the next side, put the foot back down, and keep going until you get back the triangle you started on (finish the end as shown above).
- Clip the corners (and pretend my seams are perfect).
- Turn the cushion right side out through the gap, using a chopstick or other blunt tool to gently push out the corners, then give it a quick press. Looks much tidier this way, no?
- Spoon walnut shells into the cushion through the opening. You may want to set the cushion in a small box or bowl to catch any shells that go astray. Walnut shells are supposed to act like emery to sharpen pins, and I also like that they give the pincushions a little more heft than polyfill. A 7-pound bag of ground shells cost me about $10 at the pet store and is way, way, way more than I needed for all four of these cushions; I'm going to share the remains with anybody at my quilt guild who wants to make pincushions for our quilt show shop. Anyway, stuff the pincushion as full as you're comfortable with, but make sure there's a little give so you can cinch through the center without bursting seams and showering your sewing space in nut shells. Then ladder-stitch the opening closed.
- If your button isn't particularly dazzling, cut a flower or two from felt or fabric and center it right side up on the top of the pincushion. Using strong thread, sew the button centered on top, sewing all the way through the pincushion to cinch it in the middle. The stitches on the back may want to pull the weave of the fabric open if your cushion is heavily filled; if you prefer, sew through another small button on the back to support the stitches.
All done! You can probably whip up a cushion faster than it took to read the instructions.
These pincushions would be great foundations for embellishing further—you could insert rickrack in the side seam or put more elaborate fabric flowers on top, or even just use a fancier button than I had in my stash. Leave a comment if you have other ideas!
If you've got a charity event coming up, feel free to make bunches of 'em to sell—the combination of scrap-friendliness and quick die cutting means they can be cranked out efficiently.
As mentioned above, stay tuned for details on how I marked up my die to fussy-cut striped fabric…and to learn how you could win your own Go Baby cutter and dies from AccuQuilt!


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The Association of Airport Operators (AOA) will be one of a handful of non-agency organisations to join from 1 July, said APPC chairman Michael Burrell.
The body is amending the wording of its code, which currently applies just to 'political consultants', to reflect the move.
Burrell is concerned the Government is likely to press ahead with a statutory lobbying register applicable only to agencies and reasons that in-house public affairs practitioners signing up to the APPC could head off such action.
'We will say to the Government, if you're thinking of bringing in a register that only covers multi-client consultancies that looks odd given our voluntary register is open to in-house practitioners,' he said.
AOA CEO Darren Caplan urged all organisations and individuals that lobby professionally, including trade associations, trade unions, voluntary and charity bodies, law firms and management consultancies 'to join representative bodies such as the APPC, CIPR and PRCA so that no-one who lobbies could be accused by the public of lobbying under the radar'.
Caplan added it would be 'indefensible' for the Cabinet Office to draft a statutory register that did not include business organisations or trade unions. The AOA is also a PRCA Public Affairs Group member and Caplan is a member of the CIPR.
The APPC's agency membership was last week boosted by the addition of Bell Pottinger Public Affairs (BPPA) for the first time in its 19-year history.
Former BPPA chairman Peter Bingle, who left last May, had opposed signing up to the APPC, though the agency enlisted to the PRCA register in 2010.
Without naming Bingle, MD of BPPA Stephen Lotinga attributed the delay to 'differences in personalities among various people at BPPA and APPC in the past'.
Confirming BPPA would remain part of the PRCA, Lotinga said: 'We want to play an active part in the industry and we recognise the APPC is central to that, especially for public affairs.'


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Kirk Brannock is a Principal Engineer in the Mobile Platforms Group and is focused primarily on platform security concerns. His e-mail is [email protected] Prashant Dewan is a Research Scientist at Intel Labs. His e-mail is [email protected] Frank McKeen is a Research Scientist at Intel Labs. His e-mail is [email protected] Uday Savagaonkar is a Senior Research Scientist at Intel Labs. His e-mail is [email protected] Copyright (c) 2009 Intel Corporation. All rights reserved.
The Internet and the connected environment have brought substantial changes to the nature of applications. Applications are evolving to bring valuable data to the client platform. Applications can be distributed across many platforms. Each platform performs a particular task of the application. The application interacts with the user of a computer and other applications. Applications today can dynamically download information, and information can be forwarded from one computer to another without any user intervention. This allows applications to take advantage of remote and local computational resources.
Many applications contain intellectual property (IP) that may be valuable to outside parties or even the owner of the machine (for example, getting a look at an earnings report before it is released). In some cases this IP is not sold to the computer owner but rather rented (for example, when you rent a movie). When IP is rented, the computer user does not own the rights to it, but rather is provided access for some defined period.
In addition, database applications provide the ability to distribute records to many machines. These databases store millions of records, such as financial and medical, as well as other valuable and important records, and keeping track of this information has proved to be problematic. There are many reports of lost laptops containing thousands of records.
There are also numerous reports of servers being overrun with malware that removes many files that contain personal information.
Ecosystem Issues
The computer ecosystem today is dominated by open platforms. These platforms are constructed with a myriad of software components from different vendors, and all of the components vary in quality. A computer may include components from as many as a dozen manufacturers. Many of these components use privileged drivers that are inside the TCB of the application; they have access to the application's data.
Computer platforms contain hundreds of settings and parameters that affect the security and integrity of the platform. It takes a panel of experts to understand how to secure such a platform, given the implications of all the various settings; yet, for the most part, platform users are untrained in software or security. The result is that platforms are often mis-configured with respect to security protection.
Moreover, the current ecosystem encourages the download of both code and data. There is no way for users to tell if the files they download contain only the code they expect. For instance, many users are deceived by a download that purports to provide a service but at the same time deposits other code in their system—code that is in effect malware. Today's platforms allow remote download of code that executes at privileged levels. A user can accidentally download code that will alter the operating system (OS) configuration.
All of these factors make machines vulnerable to attacks that can result in the release of confidential data.
Why a Secure Execution Zone is Needed
As the Internet has evolved, innovation has resulted in new applications that require the ability to securely store data and protect them from unauthorized usage and tampering. The value of data has risen in recent years. For example, the theft of files containing personal information leads to identity theft. Data are also a company's or a manufacturer's intellectual property (IP); these data contain trade secrets of the application. Data in applications, such as those shown in Table 1, require protection. Many applications have legal requirements to protect data. For instance, medical records must meet protection standards imposed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA). The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 imposes protection of corporate financial data to prevent insider trading and the compromise of a company's integrity.


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|Tale of the Tape
|Matches played: 24
|Matches started: 24
|Goals: 2
|Assists: 1
|Related Content
#8. Omar Gonzalez
Pos: D | LA Galaxy | Age: 22
So when is USMNT manager Jurgen Klinsmann going to call him up? That's the question on the minds of many MLS fans after the new German boss bypassed Gonzalez in the first two camps he's assembled. Establishing himself on the international level seems like a natural next step in the development of Gonzalez, who is sure to gain Defender of the Year consideration in this his third season in the league. When he is not in the lineup, the league-leading Galaxy feel it big time. 'Gonzo' is a ball magnet along the back line, snuffing out countless attacks with solid timing and anticipation. Now he wants to do it for the Red-White-and-Blue.
What the TDs and coaches say: "He has a big, big future … Physical defender with big presence … He's going to be All-Star quality centerback in the league for a decade … Understands game well and has good distribution … Doesn't take a lot of risks … Lacks speed and change of pace but he gets the job done … Doesn't turn as quick as some of the elite defenders but if you look at the movements, he's gotten smarter and is a good reader of the game … Next few years needs to play with more composure and possession … If you look at where he's at for his age, he's doing very well. As he matures, can he start to affect the game even more? … He doesn't have elite athleticism and you need to pair him up with someone with more pace to be successful."


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Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station will conduct its biennial emergency plan graded exercise Tuesday, March 27.
DELTA - Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station will conduct its biennial emergency plan graded exercise Tuesday, March 27. The exercise is designed to gauge the ability of plant personnel and offsite emergency organizations to respond quickly and effectively in the event of an actual emergency. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will evaluate Peach Bottom's performance during the exercise
Pennsylvania municipalities and counties within the 10-mile radius of the station will also participate by staffing their Emergency Operations Centers. Other participants include the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the Pennsylvania Bureau of Radiation Protection. The Federal Emergency Management Agency evaluates the performance of state, county and municipal emergency organizations during the biennial exercise. "At Exelon, we take our emergency preparedness responsibilities very seriously," said Peach Bottom Site Vice President Tom Dougherty. "Throughout the year, we work with a dedicated team of emergency management professionals in Pennsylvania and Maryland with one goal in mind, keeping families safe in the unlikely event of an emergency."
This graded exercise is the largest of many emergency preparedness drills and training activities conducted at Peach Bottom and all Exelon Nuclear sites. The exercise will begin Tuesday afternoon and conclude that evening. Residents near Peach Bottom may see exercise activities and hear plant announcements but no sirens will be activated during the drill. All announcements will be proceeded by and concluded with: "This is a drill." Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station is located on the west bank of the Conowingo Pond (Susquehanna River) in York County, Pa. The station is home to two boiling water reactors capable of generating 2,280 megawatts combined. Both reactors began commercial operation in 1974.