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As always, the I CARE Foundation works toward the goal of preventing international child abductions. One of the major keys to protecting innocent children from abduction is raising awareness of the realities of international abduction with the hope that our messages about the risks and warning signs that a kidnapping is being planned may allow a parent or other stakeholders the opportunity to prevent abduction. Historically, the U.S. rate of reported cases of outbound abduction has declined by approximately 15% during the fiscal years 2011 and 2012, and that is after nearly 30 years of reported growth. This tells us that abduction prevention efforts are working.
Now one of the most concerning risk factors that will lead to international child abduction is the use of a would-be taking parent to use a secondary passport not issued by the United States government in order to depart the country as shared in detail in the article published on behalf of the I CARE Foundation titled Summer Vacation. Child Abduction. Dual Citizenship. Two Passports. How To Prevent Abduction.
I urge any parent who believes they are at risk of abduction to read both articles that I have listed.
One of the most effective tools available for at-risk parents trying to prevent abduction is the Prevent Departure Program, which is a secure screening program that lists any individual considered by the courts or law enforcement to be a high-risk child abductor. In order to be placed on the Prevent Departure Program, there are certain requirements, one of which presently includes that the person cannot be a citizen of the United States of America. Thus, only aliens residents (or non-residents) physically located in the United States may be put on the Prevent Departure Program at the request of the Department of State to the Department of Homeland Security.
Unfortunately, the caveat is that in order for a person to be considered a candidate for the Prevent Departure Program they are not American citizens, which presents a problem since individuals who possess dual citizenship, including American citizenship, cannot be placed on the Prevent Departure Program list. Hopefully, there will be a modification in policy so that American citizens who are considered to be high-risk child abductors can be placed on a secure screening list. The following press release provides details of the need to have the Prevent Departure Program policy modified: Peter Thomas Senese & The CARE Foundation Supports GAO Recommendation to Create Departure Screening List for High-Risk U.S. Citizens Considered High-Risk Child Abductors.
So what is the Prevent Departure Program and how can it be applied?
Case Study
Lets begin by suggesting Parent A is a citizen of another country but lives in the United States with Parent B. Parent B is a United States citizen. Parent A need not be married to Parent B.
During the course of A and B's relationship, a child is born in the United States. When this occurs, the child is automatically a United States Citizen by birth.
In all likelihood, the child also will retain automatic citizenship to the nation that Parent A is a national of.
Let us assume both parents enjoy a right of custody to the child either through marriage, or, in cases where there is no marriage, either by state statue or by court orders.
During the course of time, Parent A decides to end the relationship and desires to return to their nation of origin with the child.
Now, Parent B, having great concern that Parent A intends to take the child and flee the United States and go to another country, obtains court orders forbidding Parent A from taking the child out of the country. The court orders for Parent A to turn over to the court the child's US passport if one has been issued, and further directs the child's name to be registered with the Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program, thus essentially removing the potential abducting parent from being able to remove the child from the United States using an American passport issued in the child's name.
In addition, Parent B successfully requests that the court notify the embassy of the country Parent A is a citizen of, whereas, the court informs the embassy that a child custody dispute is alive and well in the jurisdiction of the child's country of habitual residency, and the court requests for that foreign embassy not to issue a passport in the child's name, thus securing the inability of the child from departing until the court proceedings are finalized.
Problem solved? No
In many circumstances, a pending departure is already well planned before the targeted parent becomes aware of it. Parent A may already have in their possession a passport issued by their nation of origin for the child. If this is the case, it is very difficult for the US court to seize the foreign passport of the child, particularly if it is not known whether a passport has been issued in the child's name.
If a passport has not been issued in the child's name, then in all likelihood, Parent A will attempt to obtain one regardless if the child's passport application requires Parent B's signature or not. In fact, certain countries do not require the signature of the mother of a child, only the father.
In addition, each nation obtains a sovereign right to oversee their own citizens, and since the child may be considered a citizen of the country of Parent A too, the embassy is not required or obligated to follow the U.S. court's orders. They have every right and may issue a passport in the child's name despite requests not to do so. And make no mistake about this, in more cases than not, particularly if Parent A is very persuasive when communicating with someone from their own embassy, they will successfully obtain the passport.
If Parent A has possession of a non-US passport for their child, they very well may be able to physically leave the country with the child and illegally abduct the child. What is perhaps even more troubling is the fact that Parent B has no way or right to know if a passport was issued from the native country of Parent A in the name of the child.
A disaster waiting to happen? You bet it is.
But there is hope for those parents who find themselves in a scenario where Parent A is not an American citizen living in the United States with their child and, Parent A possess a foreign passport for the child of the relationship.
Since 2003, United States citizens have had available a very effective international child abduction prevention tool called 'The Prevent Departure Program'. Unfortunately, many parents at risk of having their child internationally abducted are not aware that this incredibly useful tool is available to them.
In the aftermath of 911, the Department of Homeland Security's 'Prevent Departure Program' was created to stop non-U.S. citizens from departing the country. The program applies to non-US citizens physically located in America considered individuals at risk of child abduction. The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) oversees this program and it is monitored 24 hours a day.
What the 'Prevent Departure Program' does is provide immediate information to the transportation industry, including all air, land, and sea channels a single point of contact at Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and provides a comprehensive database of individuals the United States believes may immediately depart to a foreign country.
The program only applies to aliens, and is not available to stop U.S. citizens or dual U.S./foreign citizens from leaving the country.
Under Section 215 of the 'Immigration and Nationality Act' (8 U.S.C. 1185) and it's implementing regulations (8 CFR Part 215 and 22 CFR Part 46), it authorizes departure-control officers to prevent an alien's departure from the United States if the alien's departure would be prejudicial to the interests of the United States. These regulations include would-be abductions of U.S. citizens in accordance to court orders originating from the child's court of habitual residency.
If the abductor and child are identified, they will be denied boarding. In order to detain them after boarding is denied, there must be a court order prohibiting the child's removal or providing for the child's pick-up, or a warrant for the abductor.
In order for an at risk parent to participate in the program, all of the following must be demonstrated:
- Subject may NOT be a US citizen; and,
- The nomination must include a law enforcement agency contact with 24/7 coverage; and,
- There must be a court order showing which parent has been awarded custody or shows that the Subject is restrained from removing his/her minor child from certain counties, the state or the U.S.; and,
- The Subject must be in the US; and,
- There must be some likelihood that the Subject will attempt to depart in the immediate future.
With respect to the established guidelines listed above, note that in order to request the listing of the other parent, that person must be an alien of the United States. The program does not apply to US citizens at risk of leaving the country.
The second mandate states a request to place an individual's name on the Prevent Departure Program must include support by a law enforcement agency or from the Department of State's Office of Children's Issues, which has the authority of requesting for the Department of Homeland Security to list a suspected child abductor on the 'Prevent Departure Program'.
The third criteria: possessing a custodial order, is essential. Regardless if the other parent has joint custody or rights of visitation, critically, you must make sure that there are injunction orders in place prohibiting the child from being removed from the jurisdiction of habitual residency. Unfortunately, many international parental child abductions are well planned out in advance of the actual abduction, and the targeted parent has no idea that an abduction is in progress until it is too late. This is why it is essential for parents in partnership with non-nationals to be fully aware of the warning signs associated with a potential international child abduction.
The fourth criteria states the obvious: in order to prevent an alien-parent suspected of abducting a child on U.S. soil, that parent must be on U.S. soil.
The fifth criteria requests that the applying parent demonstrate that the alien-parent has demonstrated the likelihood of abducting the child across international borders in the immediate future. Remember – you need to document and record as much evidence as possible.
For many parents who face the risk of having their child abducted and removed across international borders, the nightmare that both targeted parent and victimized child face is unbearable.
The Prevent Departure Program is not for everyone and should not be abused; however, in situations where an abduction threat is real and the targeting parent intent on abducting a child is a non-US citizen possessing the capacity to breach court orders and abduct a child of a relationship, the Prevent Departure Program may be a useful tool.
For more information on the 'Prevent Departure Program', please visit the U.S. Department of State's website or contact the Office of Children's Issues.
Finally, the Department of State's Office Of Children's Issues Abduction Prevention Division is in charge of requesting that an individual be considered a candidate to be listed on the Prevent Departure Program. From our experience, it is critically important that a court order be issued stating that a specific person be listed on the Prevent Departure Program, and that person is restrained from traveling outside of the United States with the specified children of the partnership considered by the court to be at risk of possible abduction.
For more information on international parental child abduction please visit the I CARE Foundation. Some of you may be interested in also visiting the official website of my deeply inspired novel about abduction titled CHASING THE CYCLONE, which contains a great amount of information on abduction.
Kindest regards to all -


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Teen vampires made a killing at this year's People's Choice Awards, but veteran stars Sandra Bullock and Johnny Depp snagged top honors too.
"The Twilight Saga," "True Blood" and "The Vampire Diaries" all sucked up the most Internet votes for Wednesday's televised awards show on CBS.
"Twilight" won four trophies, including favorite movie, franchise and on-screen team for heartthrobs Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner, who also picked up the breakout male actor award.
U.S. & World
Another Taylor, country sensation Taylor Swift took home her latest awards show trophy for favorite female artist.
Campy vampire HBO fable "True Blood" got the nod for favorite TV obsession and the soapy supernatural CW series "The Vampire Diaries" won favorite new TV drama.
Bullock, who is receiving heavy Oscar buzz for her role in "The Blind Side," was named the people's favorite movie actress. Her film "The Proposal" also won best comedy.
"I've had two wonderful experiences this year, and I think most actresses will tell you if you had one in five years you'd be lucky," Bullock told reporters after the awards show, Reuters reported.
Sacha Baron Cohen, appearing as himself and not as his alter-egos Borat or Bruno, presented Johnny Depp with a special award as favorite movie actor of the decade.
"I sincerely thank you all for bestowing upon me all your great treasures," Depp told the audience.
Other winners in movie categories included Jackman as favorite action star and "Up" for favorite family movie.
Queen Latifah, who returned as host of the fan-favorite ceremony for the fourth consecutive year, kicked off the show at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles with a jazzy name-dropping number.
Hugh Jackman, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Ashton Kutcher and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres were also on hand to accept their awards.
Pop diva Mariah Carey, one day after giving a widely-mocked giggly acceptance speech at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, upped a game a bit when accepting an award for favorite R&B star.
She still needed hubby Nick Canon to hold her long form-fitting dress to keep from tottering over as she braved stairs to accept the award.
"This dress is a drama," she said after thanking Canon.
In talking to reporters backstage at the show, Carey blamed her earlier loopy performance in Palm Springs, in part, on having drank a bit too much alcohol on an empty stomach and on hanging out with "Precious" director Lee Daniels.
"There's a time for celebration and a time for not, but really, technically, it's kind of like a party atmosphere…we had splashes of champagne, and I love Lee [Daniels] but he's a bad influence," she said, Reuters reported.
Other People's Choice winners in categories spanning movies, TV and music included "Inglourious Basterds" as favorite independent movie and Lady Gaga as favorite pop and breakout music artist.
TV winners included "Idol" as favorite competition show, "Glee" as favorite new TV comedy, Steve Carell as favorite TV comedy actor, "How I Met Your Mother" star Alyson Hannigan as favorite TV comedy actress, "The Big Bang Theory" as favorite TV comedy, "House" as favorite TV drama its star Hugh Laurie named favorite TV drama actor, and "Supernatural" as favorite fantasy TV show.
Throughout the show, Latifah appeared in spoofs of "Twilight" and "Paranormal Activity," which featured a cameo by Cloris Leachman clad in a sexy leather ensemble. The show also featured performances by Mary J. Blige, Cobra Starship and Nicole Scherzinger, as well as debut footage from "Clash of the Titans," "Robin Hood" and "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains."

subset: commoncrawl


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In Sunday night's Super Bowl XLVII loss to the Ravens, 49ers wide receiver Randy Moss was the intended target of quarterback Colin Kaepernick on a second-quarter pass that was easily intercepted by safety Ed Reed. In Moss' defense, Kaepernick's throw seemed too high to be considered "catchable." But Moss, going over the middle, made no effort whatsoever to reel it in.
Former NFL linebacker Bill Romanowski, now a commentator on CSN Bay Area's 49ers Postgame Live, laid into Moss on set after San Francisco's 34-31 loss.
"Randy Moss alligator armed it, he didn't go up for the ball!" Romanowski shouted. "He said he was the best receiver in the DAMN world — okay, you hear me? OH GOD! That's what pisses me off! You're playing in the SUPER BOWL, guys!"
Former NFL wide receiver Dwight Clark is also a CSN Bay Area post-game commentator and gave his take.
"He didn't alligator arm it," said Clark. "He didn't even reach up for it! He watched it sail over his head!"
After a six-yard interception return by Reed, the Ravens took over at the Niners' 38-yard line. Baltimore couldn't convert a fake field-goal try, so Moss' interception only wound up costing San Francisco seven yards worth of field position.
The Ravens didn't turn the takeaway into any points.


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Jan 17, 2017
Hello Ros,
I have now paid the invoice, but I would like to write to you just to say a big THANK YOU for getting me the Penguin!
The ChatterMate Penguin became a nice memory for me when I was in New Zealand, and I am so greatful to you for arranging so that I could have it! :-)
Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Ros,
Many thanks for your very kind email. I really appreciate your prompt reply!
I appreciate your advice regarding the decorations and customs. These are a gift for my daughter's exchange student family so when she returns home on the weekend I will show her and see if she loves them as much as I do!
Thanks so very much again - I am truly grateful for your kind assistance.
Kind Regards
Thanks again for the great customer service. It's a refreshing change!
Best regards,
Hey Roz,
Thank you for your emails. Just loved my first order. The cute little Aussie bush critters are going to be used for an office Christmas decoration. My colleagues also liked them and talked about making an order to your site. I'll send you a photo when completed.
I'll be ordering more to send to my daughter's host family in America.
Fabulous service from you.
Kind regards,
Thankyou. Order arrived today. One very happy grandson with his new beastly binoculars.
Spiders and their webs can really decorate their surroundings - have you ever seen a web covered in dew? It's like the web is covered in diamonds.
The decorative spider charm is made from Tibetan silver, the hooks are sterling silver plated and made into earrings here in Australia.
These earrings make delightful gifts for friends and family here in Australia or overseas.
There are over 2400 species of spider in Australia and they vary in sizes, species and colours. Some look like they are encrusted with jewels from their colours and markings.
Spiders play a very important role in the natural world, they are one of the greatest natural forms of insect pest control. Could you imagine what your next outdoor picnic or bbq would be like without spiders if they weren't here to do their important role of pest control?
For hygiene reasons The Land Down Under - Australia does not allow exchanges or returns on earrings - please choose carefully.
Signup for our monthly newsletter the "e-Telegraph"


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Russian WWII Model 1940 Helmet (Ssh40)
Model 1940 was a modified version of Model 1939 helmet. The SSH40 was standard Russian military helmet used during the WWII.
Offered helmet is most likely refurbished World War II helmet and are in good condition. It shows sign of storage please refer to pictures for more detail. The liner is correct oilcloth 3 pads and riveted canvas chinstrap.
Dated 1950
Size P-1
Marked with LMZ factory stamps
Note: They were also issued by Polish Army in East from 1943 on.
You will receive helmet in pictures
Soviet WW2 M40 SSH40 Helmet size P-1 dated 1950
- Product Code: O-12
- Availability: Out Of Stock


text: At HomeFeatured ShopsThe Learning CompanyCarmen Sandiego Carmen Sandiego is back for kids 7-12! Download the new game on the App Store! For her 30th anniversary, Carmen Sandiego is back with her V.I.L.E. Henchmen for a new generation of kid adventurers ready for excitement and chaos. Test your skills as an ACME Agent by traveling the world, tracking down clues and capturing the elusive villains in three adrenaline-filled missions. But that's not all. This exciting kids app, brought to you by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, also contains History and Geography fun facts so you can learn while you test your mind and skills as an Agent, and maybe surprise your parents and teachers along the way. Ready for more suspense and mystery? You can now download the newest mission packs. Each pack includes 3 new missions, 2 new mini-game challenges and four new locations. Download Carmen Sandiego Returns today and let a new generation of ACME agents catch our favorite villain! Carmen SandiegoT-Shirts The perfect gift for Carmen fans everywhere. Now available on Amazon! Buy Now CARMEN SANDIEGO RETURNS™ Download the game now on iOS! DOWNLOAD NOW FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK Enter contests, win prizes and join the fun! Follow Us Stay in the know Sign up to receive exclusive updates on new levels, countries & more! Sign Up Now Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Contact Copyright © 2015 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.


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Kendall Jenner is branching out.
The 16-year-old daughter of Bruce and Kris Jenner (half-sister to the Kardashian sisters) will make her acting debut on CBS' "Hawaii Five-0," a rep for the network confirmed to Access Hollywood.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Reality TV's Brunette Bombshell Kim Kardashian!
U.S. & World
The budding model/actress will play a sales assistant in the crime drama, which stars Alex O'Loughlin, Scott Caan and Daniel Dae Kim.
The teen shared her excitement over the new gig with fans on her personal website on Friday, writing, "This is such an incredible opportunity for me and I'm excited for this new experience!!!"
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Young Hollywood Starlets!
Kendall is not the first Kardashian-Jenner sister to be bitten by the acting bug – Khloe Kardashian has appeared on "90210" and "Law & Order: LA," while Kim Kardashian has made appearances on "CSI: NY," "Last Man Standing," and is currently enjoying a small role on Lifetime's "Drop Dead Diva."
"Hawaii Five-0's" Season 3 premiere will air on September 24 at 10/9c on CBS.
Kendall's episode will air in October.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Celebrity Siblings
-- Erin O'Sullivan
Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Hot Mama! The 'Dash'-ing Kourtney Kardashian
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
PLAY IT NOW: Has Kris Jenner Had The Sex Talk With Her Youngest Daughters?
PLAY IT NOW: Graham Stookey Talks The Basement Tracks & How He Got His Start In Music
More from Access: [ Kendall Jenner 'Hawaii Five-0' Young Hollywood ]


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Metro Vancouver mayors want the province to give them a share of the B.C. carbon tax to help fund a $7.5-billion transportation investment plan that includes a new four-lane Pattullo Bridge, more buses and rapid transit projects in Surrey and Vancouver.
The plan, unveiled by the mayors Thursday, suggests the provincial government reallocate $250 million it collects in existing carbon taxes from Metro residents and businesses to TransLink or, barring that, to increase the carbon tax in Metro Vancouver to fund transit projects in the next five years before moving to some form of mobility pricing, such as tolling every bridge or charging drivers per distance travelled, in the long-term.
Mayors argue the plan is desperately needed to handle another million people — and potential three million more automobile trips per day — in the region by 2041.
"Imagine the impact on congestion if we fail to meet those new demands," said North Vancouver District Mayor Richard Walton, head of the mayors' council on regional transportation. "Doing nothing to prepare for this growth is simply not an option."
B.C.'s Transportation Minister Todd Stone congratulated the mayors on coming up with a comprehensive vision Thursday, but said there was no chance the province would reallocate the carbon tax funding to TransLink for Metro transportation. It would, however, be willing to discuss the idea of creating a new regional carbon tax to help fund the mayors' proposed $7.5-billion transit investment plan.
Mayors have scrambled in the past 12 weeks to come up with the 10-year investment plan, which is part of an overall 30-year vision, ahead of a June 30 deadline imposed by the provincial government ahead of a public referendum on transportation funding.
The plan, which must be approved by the provincial government, also relies on using existing property taxes, capped at three per cent and collected by TransLink, as well as new transit revenue, tolls on the new Pattullo Bridge when it's built and cost-sharing by the provincial and federal governments on mega projects such as light rail in Surrey, a subway in Vancouver and the new Pattullo Bridge. The three projects total about $5 billion altogether.
Stone said the province would not use existing provincial revenues to fund new Metro transportation projects. "We have said consistently that the referendum will be triggered on any new sources of funding. The existing carbon tax is not a new source of funding.
"I'm not going to be the minister that tells the people of the Lower Mainland that we're going to jack up your income taxes so the mayors can use the carbon tax to fund transportation."
Walton said it makes sense to use the carbon tax to fund transit because it aligns with Metro's goal of ensuring 50 per cent of all travel by transit, bike or foot by 2041.
Mayors say if the plan is approved, it would reduce traffic congestion by 10 per cent and allow drivers and transit users to save 20 to 30 minutes per day on some of the most congested corridors. It would also bring walking, cycling and transit mode share from 25 per cent today to 36 per cent by 2045, representing more than one million new trips.
Stone said the province would have to analyze the report before meeting with mayors again in the coming weeks, both on the issue of the carbon tax and the mayors' plan to have the provincial and federal governments each pay a third of major capital projects.
While the province has said it would be willing to participate in funding major capital projects, as long as they fit in with the province's agenda and have a good business plan, there has been no confirmation from the federal government.
"That's a lot of money, particularly over a 10-year time frame," Stone said.
Among the priorities are an underground subway line in Vancouver, running from the Commercial-Broadway SkyTrain station to Arbutus, at $1.98 billion, with buses from there to the University of B.C., and $2 billion in light rail lines in Surrey along King George Boulevard and 104 Avenue and along Fraser Highway to Langley. The plan also calls for a new four-lane $980 million Pattullo Bridge, which can be expanded to six lanes later on.
Also included in the plan are 11 new B-line buses, improved West Coast Express, 50 per cent more SeaBus service, 400 new buses, increased HandyDart, upgrades to the Expo Line, Canada Line and Millennium Line and investments in cycling and walking paths.
According to the mayors, the plan would boost TransLink's annual budget from $1.4 billion to $2.2 billion. By 2025, an estimated $390 million in funding would be needed each year.
Mobility pricing is expected to generate about $250 million per year, which would reduce the price of gas paid at the pump by about 6 cents per litre, according to the plan.
Former premier Mike Harcourt described the new plan as an "extraordinary accomplishment" for Metro Vancouver.
"It's really exciting because it's going to have people spending a third less on gridlock and congestion, have them spending more time with their families. It's going to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions, it's going to result in a higher quality of life and it's going to transform the way people live," he said.
While Harcourt believes it's too early to speculate on the outcome of a possible referendum on a new tax, he believes the funding proposal is realistic and the public will line up behind the transit plan.
"As long as they see that it's actually going to happen and that we're already paying $2 billion a year to deal with congestion and gridlock, I think people are prepared to invest in mobility," he said.
Gordon Price, director of The City Program at Simon Fraser University, said he believes a referendum on a new carbon tax could be successful if three things happen: voters believe they're getting value for their money; the alternative is seen to be worse ("if people think that by not supporting the referendum it's retaining the status quo"); and the premier and all levels of the political class support it.
If the referendum weren't successful, Price believes, "bad, bad" things would happen. "We get a second-rate transportation system and probably a third-rate region."
Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan, the lone mayor to oppose the plan, argued Metro should have gone with a more realistic plan that would have been more palatable to the public. He maintains he had "grave doubts" that the province would reallocate the carbon tax for Metro transportation, and said the rapid-transit projects should have been postponed until TransLink had funding in place, noting the province would eventually fund them.
"Why should we go out there and sell a project to the public when we haven't convinced the federal and provincial governments to buy in?" Corrigan said. "We should be looking at what we can do to make buses run more efficiently and stop dreaming in technicolour."
Walton argued the region's transportation system has been deprived of funding for a number of years and "we are seeing the effects played out in people's daily commute on transit, and in the system throughout Metro Vancouver."
"Surrey and Vancouver and New Westminster have absolutely critical projects; they have needs that are here now," Walton said. "At this point Burnaby already has that significant infrastructure."
Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart warned Metro Vancouver was headed to becoming another Los Angeles, while Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson said there would be chaos without transit funding. Robertson said he hopes the province realizes the urgency the region is facing and kick in some cash.
"We're going to face real serious consequences," he said.
Stone suggested the mayors post their proposed plan on the TransLink website to have residents weigh in ahead of the public referendum. No date has yet been set for the referendum, which has been opposed by regional mayors.
The plan calls for:
- A new tolled four-lane Pattullo Bridge
- New Light Rail Transit lines in Surrey
- Broadway corridor Millennium Line extension to Arbutus in Vancouver to meet capacity needs
- 11 new B-Line routes providing 200 kilometres of bus service
- 50 per cent more SeaBus service: every 10 minutes during peak hours, and 15 minutes the rest of the day
- 30 per cent increase in HandyDart Service: improved service for those who cannot use transit without assistance
- Fleet expansion and system upgrades to meet growing demand: West Coast Express, Canada Line, Expo Line and Millennium Line
- A 25 per cent bus service increase resulting in more frequent service to more areas across the region, and an additional 400 new buses to the existing fleet of 1,830
- Maintaining and upgrading the 2,300 kilometres of Major Road Network to keep vehicles and goods moving
- Investments in cycling routes to make biking a safer and more viable transportation choice
Follow me: @KSinoski


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Taxability of Debt Discharge Income
How it should be reported.
May 12, 2011
In the current economic climate, it is likely that practitioners are encountering more clients with debt discharge income than in the recent past. Often, the question that comes up is, is it taxable income and if it is taxable, how should it be reported? Taxpayers will sometimes receive a 1099-C (cancellation of debt) when they receive $600 or more of debt cancellation, whether or not the income is currently taxable. It is up to the tax preparer and taxpayer to determine the taxability of the income.
Form 1099-C
While 1099-C (PDF) is often required to be filed, not all entities are required to file them. The following entities are required to file 1099-C:
In addition, entities are normally not required to file 1099-C for the following types of debt, types of debtor and debt cancellation situations:
Exceptions and Exclusions to Including Debt Discharges As income
Section 108 provides a number of exclusions from taxable income for income debt discharges even if a taxpayer does receive a 1099-C.
Under Sec. 108(a), exclusions from income are provided for debt discharge related to:
The current exclusions from income provided under Sec. 108(a) do not necessarily mean that the debt discharge income is not taxable indefinitely. In some cases, the income is deferred through a reduction of tax attributes discussed below.
Other exclusions in Sec. 108 include exclusions for income from debt discharge from:
Student Loans
Some student loans are written with a stipulation that if the borrower works for a certain number of years in a specified profession, either a portion or the entire amount of the loan will not need to be repaid. Examples of these professions are teaching, pharmacy and nursing. These amounts of forgiven debt are not taxable income.
Debt That Would Have Been Deductible If Paid
A discharge of debt that would have resulted in a deduction for the taxpayer if the taxpayer had paid the debt is not includible in income. For example, if a cash basis taxpayer has accrued interest that a lender forgives, it is not included in income.
Seller-Financed Property
In cases of debt discharges outside of bankruptcy and where the debtor is not insolvent, a discharge of debt related to a purchase of seller-financed property that would otherwise be treated as debt discharge income is not included in income. Instead, the amount discharged is treated as a purchase price reduction on the property.
In the case of debt discharge in bankruptcy, there is no taxable income, but there is a reduction of tax attributes. However, the taxpayer cannot reduce the attributes below zero.
For the insolvency exclusion, a calculation needs to be made to determine whether the taxpayer is insolvent. Debt discharge income is not taxable to the extent the taxpayer is insolvent. Insolvency is the amount by which liabilities exceed the fair market value (FMV) of assets. The taxpayer must reduce tax attributes by the amount of the excluded income.
Qualified Farm Debt
If debt is qualified farm debt, a portion of the debt discharged is not recognized as income. There are three conditions that the taxpayer must meet to qualify for this exclusion:
The exclusion amount is limited to the adjusted tax attributes of the taxpayer and the aggregate adjusted bases of any property used for a trade or business or the production of income held by the taxpayer as of the beginning of the tax year following the tax year in which the discharge occurs. Any discharge in excess of these items is taxable.
The taxpayer must reduce tax attributes by the amount of the excluded income. The taxpayer reduces tax attributes in the following order: first, the basis of depreciable property, then the basis of land used in the farming business and, finally, the basis of other business and income producing property.
Qualified Real Property Business Indebtedness
A taxpayer may elect exclude a discharge of qualified real property business debt from income. The exclusion does not apply to cancellation of debt in bankruptcy or to the extent the taxpayer is insolvent. The exclusion is available for debt that secures real property used in a trade or business besides farming. The taxpayer makes the election on Form 982 (PDF), which must be attached to a timely filed (including extensions) income tax return. The exclusion is limited to:
The amounts used in this calculation are the amounts immediately before the debt cancellation. In addition, the exclusion is subject to a second limit of the adjusted basis of all depreciable real property held by the taxpayer.
Principal Residence
There is a special exclusion for principal residence debt of up to $2 million ($1 million for married taxpayers filing separately) for debt discharges occurring before January 1, 2013. This exclusion is applicable to:
The exclusion does not apply to a vacation home or second residences. The taxpayer must reduce the basis of the property (but not below zero) by the amount of the debt excluded.
Tax Attributes (Bankruptcy and Insolvency Exclusions)
There is a specific order in which a taxpayer should reduce their tax attributes for the bankruptcy or insolvency exclusions: net operating losses (NOL), general business credit carryovers, minimum tax credits, capital losses, basis of property, passive-activity loss and credit carryovers and foreign tax credits. However, the taxpayer may make an election on Form 982 to reduce the basis in depreciable property first. If the taxpayer reduces the basis of depreciable property and sells the property at a gain, the amount of basis reduction is taxed as ordinary income to the extent of the gain. (CPA Insider™ readers should note that this order does not apply to discharges of qualified farm indebtedness, discussed above.)
Precedence of Sec. 108(a) Exclusions
There is also an order of precedence for the exclusions. Bankruptcy takes precedence over the other four exclusions. The principal residence exclusion comes before the insolvency exclusion unless an election is made. The insolvency exclusion comes before farm debt and real property business indebtedness.
Re-acquisition of Applicable Debt Instrument
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) made some changes to debt discharge income recognition. Debt discharge from the reacquisition of an applicable debt instrument after Dec. 31, 2008 and before Jan. 1, 2011, is includible in gross income ratably over a period of five tax years. The taxpayer recognizes the income ratably over five years beginning in 2014.
Modification of Debt
Debt does not have to be completely discharged to represent debt discharge income. A significant modification of debt may constitute debt discharge income. Whether the modification is significant depends on the facts and circumstances and include the following changes:
The amount of debt-discharge income is the amount that the issue price of the principal of the old debt exceeds the new principal issue price. If the interest rate is below the applicable federal rate, interest needs to be imputed and the principal amount may change.
When a taxpayer is involved with debt discharge income, the question of whether the income is partly or fully taxable depends on the taxpayer's situations and is subject to several possible exceptions and/or exclusions.
Rate this article 5 (excellent) to 1 (poor). Send your responses here.
Debbie Mitchell, CPA, MBA, MST, is a principal with Braver PC Accountants and Advisors.


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Washington, D.C. - U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu will host the first-ever Clean Energy Ministerial, bringing together ministers and stakeholders from more than 20 countries to launch or join new initiatives that will accelerate the world's transition to clean energy technologies.
Government delegations will meet on Monday, July 19. On Tuesday, July 20, ministers, CEOs and other clean energy leaders will discuss their experiences and announce joint initiatives in a Public Forum. The meeting grows out of a Global Partnership launched by the leaders of the Major Economies Forum.
The countries attending represent 70 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, 80 percent of global gross domestic product and 80 percent of the global market for clean energy technologies.
For more information, visit the Clean Energy Ministerial website.
|Clean Energy Ministerial
|Steven Chu, U.S. Secretary of Energy
Ministers and delegations invited from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, the European Commission, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway, China, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom
|The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, 1150 22nd Street, NW (Monday, July 19)
The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1330 Pennsylvania Ave, NW (Tuesday, July 20)
Washington, D.C.
|Please RSVP at CleanEnergyMinisterial.org.
|Due to space constraints, each print outlet will be allowed one reporter at a time. TV and radio outlets will be allowed a cameraperson and a producer.
|July 19-20, 2010
|Please note that times, other than daily start times, are tentative and subject to change.
|July 19 - The Ritz-Carlton Hotel
|8:30 - 9:00 am
|Press Registration
|9:00 - 10:00 am
|Welcome: David Sandalow, Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy
Opening Remarks: Dr. Steven Chu, U.S. Secretary of Energy
Report Summary: Nobuo Tanaka, Executive Director, International Energy Agency
|11:15 am
|Ministers Photo
|July 20 - The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
|*** Broadcast live on the Clean Energy Ministerial Webcast page.
|8:00 - 8:30 am
|Press Registration
|9:00 - 9:45 am
|Press Conference: Secretary Chu and other ministers
|10:00 - 10:30 am
|Opening Remarks: Secretary Chu
|10:30 am - 12:00 pm
|Panel Discussion: Energy Efficiency and Smart Grid
|12:00 - 1:45 pm
|Luncheon Speakers: Gary Locke, U.S. Secretary of Commerce; John Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology; and Dr. Kristina Johnson, U.S. Under Secretary of Energy
|Press is welcome to cover the luncheon speakers but will not be served lunch.
|2:00 - 3:15 pm
|Panel Discussion: Clean Energy Supply
|3:30 - 4:45 pm
|Panel Discussion: Energy Access
|4:45 - 5:30 pm
Please RSVP at CleanEnergyMinisterial.org.
NOTE CHANGE OF ENTRANCE - Press should enter through the main Reagan Center door on 14th Street and bring a photo ID.
Please arrive early as everyone will have to go through a magnetometer. Press check-in opens at 8:00 am and closes at 8:30 am for the 9:00 am press conference.
Throw for press conference and panel discussions: 55 feet


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Posts Tagged 'Floral Arrangements'
Drying Sunflowers for Floral Arrangements
Posted by: mehwish9 on: March 22, 2012
- In: Flower | Flowers | Gadgets | Garden | GARDENS | Growing Flowers | Orchid Flowers | Orchids Tips | Sunflowers | Types of Orchids
- Leave a Comment
Most of us know that sunflowers come only in bright yellow color. That's not actually true. Sunflowers are available in other colors also like pale and dark orange and deep red. Drying such beautifully colored flowers for floral arrangements is quite enjoyable. After drying, these flowers can be used in a number of ways combined with other flowers and foliage. But for all this to happen, you need to follow some reliable method of drying. Here an easy way to dry sunflowers is presented after which you can use these flowers for beautiful floral arrangements.
Method of Drying
Method of drying sunflowers for floral arrangements is as follows:
- First step is the careful selection of flowers. For floral arrangements, choose the flowers that are newly opened without having broken or damaged petals. After selecting suitable flowers, cut the stem in such a way that only ¼ inch remains back.
- Next step is to cut a wire having a length of 2 inches. The top half inch of wire should be now bent in the form of a hook.
- Now the long end of wire is pushed into flowers so that the hook comes at center of flower and the flower is protruded from its back. Keep in mind that the hook should not be visible from the front. Actually the purpose of hook is to attach floral wire to the flowers so that they can be easily placed in floral arrangements.
- Take some silica gel and make a layer of about one inch in a container made of plastic. Make sure that the lid of the container is tight. Take flowers and lay them on the top of silica gel layer. Keep in mind to place the flowers facing upwards. Now gently push sunflowers into gel.
- In the next step, silica crystals are sprinkled on the top of flowers. To keep the sunflowers in their natural shape, try to make sure that crystals reach between and under sunflowers petals. Continue to sprinkle the gel until the flowers are fully covered with. Now cover the container with its lid and leave the flowers in the mixture for 2 days.
- After two days, remove lid. In order to remove gel and disclose the center of flowers, brush the gel carefully. If the center of flower is dried then it is ready to be used but if it is not dried completely then leave it for one more day.
- The last step is to lift the flowers out of gel. To perform this process successfully, take down or slip your fingers under sunflowers and lift them. Now remove the excessive gel by turning flowers upside down and tapping them on the back. Your sunflowers are now dried and ready to be used for arrangements. These flowers can also be stored in sealed bags if you don't have any intentions to use them immediately.
Following the above method will enable you to dry sunflowers in a better way to use them for floral arrangements which can further be used for various purposes.


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Chicago's Lake Shore Drive reopened early Monday morning, hours after police said they took a murder suspect into custody following an intense standoff that lasted more than eight hours.
Authorities with the Henry County Sheriff's Office in Georgia said Joseph Andrew Felton Jr., 43, was wanted for a homicide in that state. He was at Northwestern Memorial Hospital with wounds that were said to be self-inflicted.
Felton's wife, Sheray Latriest Felton, was found slain Saturday.
The ordeal that ended in the crash and standoff on Lake Shore Drive began in south suburban Harvey when authorities, provided with a vehicle description and registration, GPS location and arrest warrant information, spotted Felton's car shortly after noon and started a chase that went on for nearly 20 miles.
Chicago Police Bureau of Patrol Chief Wayne Gulliford said the car struck multiple vehicles during the pursuit, including a Chicago police vehicle. An officer was treated at an area hospital for injuries that weren't life-threatening. The car also hit a civilian vehicle carrying two adults and 10-year-old child. They also were treated at an area hospital for injuries that weren't life-threatening.
Felton's car finally stopped when it crashed near the Theatre on the Lake just north of West Fullerton Parkway on Lake Shore Drive shortly after 1 p.m. It was immediately surrounded by dozens of squad cars and at least two armored police vehicles.
Police did not confirm the identity of the man in the vehicle but said he was was armed with knives and told negotiators he had "a large number of guns and he was not coming out of the vehicle alive." He displayed what negotiators said was erratic and unstable behavior.
Felton's sister, Lastella Felton, was at the scene and told NBC Chicago that she was told her brother was asking for her. She said the family learned Saturday that he was wanted for murder.
"We just found out about that yesterday, we had no idea about that so police are working with us," she said.
Lastella Felton was escorted by police at the scene but said she could not get close enough to her brother.
She said her brother has a history of violence and called him "a bad seed," but she noted the incident "could have been resolved many, many hours ago."
Scanner information indicated that shots were fired, but police could not confirm that information. Witnesses reported hearing up to three or four shots.
"Will you come out, please?" a negotiator said Sunday afternoon, aiming a bullhorn at the damaged, dark-colored car. "We're not going to hurt you. ... We'll get you some water, something to eat. What do you think of that?"
"Your family's out here and really cold," a police negotiator later said. "If you want to see your family, wave your hand."
Authorities ultimately used a "distraction device" and the man in the vehicle was removed just after 9:45 p.m.
Authorities said Felton lived in the Chicago area with his wife until a few months ago. Sheray Felton's sister, Nancy Mays, said her sister moved to Georgia a few months ago to get away from Felton, but he later followed her there.
"He's a very controlling person, and she wanted to get away from the controlling situation," Mays said.
Sheray sought an order of protection against Felton last May in Will County, but it was dismissed when no one appeared in court, records show.
Felton was charged with misdemeanor domestic battery in Will County in July. Steger Police Chief Gregory Rambo said Felton was accused of slapping Sheray and pulling her wig off at a liquor store in the south suburb.
Sheray told police that Felton's violence "had been increasing" and that he had spit in her face earlier in the day in Chicago. That domestic battery charge was later dismissed because of a lack of a complaining witness, according to court records.
Mays struggled through tears Sunday to talk about her sister. Sheray had a 21-year-old son, she said, and two puppies that she loved.
Mays said she loved Sheray "very, very dearly."


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Intellectual Property Experts Serving New Brunswick
Change State | Show all New Brunswick experts
Find an Intellectual Property Expert
Experts in intellectual property matters such as patents, software copyrights, trade secrets and contract disputes. Also deal with calculation of damages, lost profits and reasonable royalties. Intellectual Property experts serve as expert witnesses and forensic consultants in New Brunswick legal matters, and provide expert reports and testimony for judges, attorneys, lawyers, law firms, insurance companies and government agencies in Federal and state court trials and arbitrations in New Brunswick.
The listings below are of Intellectual Property experts serving New Brunswick.
Featured ListingsLitigation Economics, LLC
Stanley P. Stephenson, PhD
Tampa, FL
Specializes in economic damages assessment in complex litigation, especially in loss of personal earnings or loss of company profits. Extensive testifying experience in federal and state courts.
Expert ListingsWeston Anson (Chairman)
CONSOR Intellectual Asset Management
La Jolla, CA
Weston Anson is Chairman of CONSOR®, the leading intellectual asset consulting firm specializing in trademark, technology, and copyright licensing, valuation, and expert testimony. The firm is headquartered in La Jolla, California, and has offices in New York and London. Mr. Anson served for six years as Vice President of the Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association and is a lifetime member of the Board of Advisors.
ForensisGroup, Inc.
The Expert of Experts
Pasadena, CA
20,000+ clients nationwide trust ForensisGroup. SAVE TIME. SAVE MONEY. Get the RIGHT EXPERT promptly. NO COST searches, referrals & initial discussion. Our TECHNICAL ADVANTAGE gives you COMPETITIVE EDGE. We are your Expert Witness Services firm since 1991.
Christopher K. Wilson
Christopher Wilson
Redwood City, CA
Christopher Wilson is a recognized expert in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and vehicle sensors such as maps, GPS, radar, vision, and occupant sensing systems. He has over 25 years experience in developing advanced vehicle technology and three years working as a testifying expert including more than 10 reports and one deposition.
Arrowfish Consulting | Economic Damages and Business Valuation Experts
Jeremiah Grant, CVA, CLCS, MBA
Salt Lake City, UT
Arrowfish draws from a deep
pool of PhD Economists, MBAs, CPAs,
CFAs, ASAs and other credentialed
experts to provide the experience and
subject-matter expertise needed for each
The Arrowfish team has over 200 years of experience to leverage in quantifying damages in your patent, copyright and trademark infringement matters.
River Sonic Solutions LLC
Dr. Christopher Daft
San Francisco, CA
Award winning, Oxford Educated scientist with experience in patent infringement, product liability, source code analysis and medical devices.
Dr Daft has testified three times at deposition and twice at trial. He has testified in ITC, PTAB and Superior Court cases.
Extensive Intellectual Property experience including patent development, analysis, licensing, and strategy. Serial inventor who holds 23 U.S. Patents with several pending. Completed more than 98 hours of SEAK Expert Witness Training Seminars, including patent-specific training.
Litigation experience includes medical devices, medical imaging and wearable electronics in medical malpractice, patent infringement and product liability cases.
InnoCentrix LLC
Jeffrey Gotro, Ph.D.
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Dr. Gotro has over 30 years' experience in
polymers/plastics and holds a Ph.D. in
Materials Science from Northwestern University
(specialty in polymer science). Unique skill in
explaining complex polymer technology in
simple terms. Expert in polymers/plastics
applications, polymer chemistry and physics,
characterization and processing. Litigation
experience in patent infringement, polymer
product liability, fitness for use, and polymer
material selection. He is an inventor on 15
issued US Patents with 4 patent applications
pending and has published 61 technical papers
including 4 book chapters.
RnDDx Solutions, LLC
Gary D Fletcher, PhD
Media, PA
Yale Physics PhD | Patent Litigation Expert Witness | Medical Devices and Diagnostics Research & Product Development | Expert in Blood Collection, Separation, Cell Preparation for Diagnostics & Therapeutics | 13 Patents in In Vitro Diagnostics, Point-of-Care Diagnostics, Blood Collection | Expert in Infrared, Optical, X-ray, Spectroscopy & Imaging Instrumentation for Measurements of Physical, Chemical, & Biological Material Properties
S Systems Inc.
John Strawn
Larkspur, CA
Seasoned expert witness in patent litigation, trade secret, software copyright. 19 Depositions. Several sets of IPRs. Testified at trial 3 times. I do my own work and write my own reports. Validity; infringement; source code comparison; plaintiff; defendant.
Telecommnet Consulting
Tal Lavian Ph.D.
Sunnyvale, CA
I have served as an expert in over 60 patent-related cases where I wrote expert reports and testified in depositions, courts and in front of a jury. I have testified in Federal courts, in USPTO PTAB IPR, and in the ITC. The cases involved leading companies including Google, Motorola, Amazon, Microsoft, Cisco Systems, Juniper Networks, Huawei, HP, T-Mobile, Ericsson, LG, Facebook, Samsung. and Apple.
Core Devices Inc.
John Izuchukwu
Saint Louis, MO
Dr. Izuchukwu is an expert in product liability and patent infringement cases. His areas of expertise include endoscopic surgical staplers, skin staplers, ligation devices, clip appliers, linear and circular cutters, graspers, suturing devices, respiratory devices, respiratory masks, anesthesia machines, drug delivery devices, compressed gas containers, surgical staplers, pressure regulators, oxygen conservers, oxygen concentrators, cryogenic oxygen devices, compressed oxygen cylinders breathing circuits, endoscopic devices liquid oxygen systems, breathing tubes, sleep diagnosis and monitoring devices, sleep apnea products, sleep masks and sleep therapy devices, such as CPAP machines, CPAP devices, BPAP machines, BPAP devices and portable ventilators. During his industry career, he designed more than two dozen commercially successful medical devices, manufacturing process and quality control procedures, in compliance with FDA and CE Quality Systems Regulations. With 19 utility patents issued to him, Dr. Izuchukwu has successfully testified as an expert witness on product liability prosecution and defense cases, and has served as a consultant as well as expert on patent litigation cases. His forensic skills includes ability to pin-point causes of device and equipment failures, whether attributable to design or manufacturing defects, operator misuse or error. Attorneys have found Dr. Izuchukwus unique educational, professional and life experience to be useful, when arguing their cases. In fact his expert testimony has led to several uncontested positive conclusions.
Econ One Research
Stephan Levy
Arlington, VA
Dr. Stephan Levy is an economist with over 22 years experience analyzing antitrust, intellectual property, and other commercial litigation claims. Clients have entrusted Dr. Levy with evaluating complex issues, such as defining relevant antitrust markets, determining market power using direct and indirect evidence, analyzing the competitive effects of horizontal and vertical conduct, estimating damages, determining reasonable royalties, and analyzing the commercial success of patented innovations. He has been designated as an expert witness in several antitrust and other commercial litigations and has testified before administrative and Federal courts. Dr. Levy has testified and consulted in numerous industries including pharmaceuticals, health care, sports and entertainment, and telecommunications. He has held positions at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and several prominent consulting firms, and he is a former instructor at Indiana University. He holds a B.A. in economics from Tulane University and a Ph.D. in business economics and public policy from Indiana Universitys Kelley School of Business.
Sidespin Group
Istvan Jonyer
San Francisco, CA
Dr. Istvan Jonyer MBA is a scientist, academic, engineer, educator, investor, and serial entrepreneur with over a decade of research, development, and management experience. He served as Assistant Professor of Computer Science at OSU, was a software engineer at Nortel Networks, and headed up partnerships for Google TV at Google. Holds a PhD in machine learning.
Hampton IP & Economic Consulting, LLC
Scott D. Hampton, CPA/ABV/CFF
Centerville, UT
Hampton IP & Economic Consulting, LLC, an
investigative accounting firm, is a leader in the
field of economic valuation, financial impact
analyses, and litigation services.
Our principal Scott Hampton has over 34 years of
experience in litigation and has been designated as
an expert on more than 100 litigation matters
involving intellectual property.
Apparel Consultants
Gabriele Goldaper
Marina Del Rey, CA
More than 45 years experience in the Fashion/Garment/Textile Industry, as a retailer, manufacturer, educator, management consultant to over 200 apparel companies,key executive for major public & private clothing companies & college instructor. She has been designated in more than 150 fashion industry legal disputes including for Copyrights,Trademarks and Trade dress. She has been deposed & testified in bench and jury trials and arbitrations. You can also contact Ms. Goldaper by cell at (310) 721-7054.
Thomas Roney, LLC
Thomas Roney, President
Dallas, TX
Thomas Roney, LLC experts provide expert economic damages reports and testimony. The firm's economic, forensic accounting and finance experts specialize in personal injury, employment and discrimination, business litigation/lost profits/valuations, franchise disputes and intellectual property matters. We have offices in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and Atlanta.
Chief Experience Officer, Inc.
Eric Gould Bear
Austin, TX
100+ patents and patent applications in software and hardware human interaction. 25+ years designing user interfaces and establishing user experience strategies for major corporations. Former university professor and Fortune 500 executive. Hands-on experience with litigation workflow throughout user interface patent infringement law suits.
Global Digital Forensics
Joseph Caruso
Oceanside, NY
Global Digital Forensics specializes in the Forensic Analysis of all types of digital assets and media (Computer Forensics) for corporate clients, law firms and government agencies.
James G. Rice, PhD
Mechanical Engineering, IP/Patent Litigation
Keswick, VA
Experienced expert witness working with top law firms on patent litigation in the area of mechanical engineering. Over 40 years experience in industry and academia. Has provided litigation support in over 75 patent cases over the last 18 years.Dr. Rice has been deposed more than 40 times and has testified at trial 9 times.
Media, Technology, And Copyright
Michael Einhorn
Roseland, NJ
Dr. Michael A. Einhorn is an economic consultant and expert witness active in intellectual property, media, entertainment, antitrust, and valuation of commercial and personal losses. He has designed and applied innovative techniques in matters involving copyright, trademark, publicity right, and patent damages. He is the author of the book MEDIA, TECHNOLOGY, AND COPYRIGHT. He also taught as a professor of economics and law at Rutgers University. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Phillips, Fractor & Company, LLC
G. Michael Phillips
Pasadena, CA
Our expert witnesses and consultants provide services in economics, finance, statistics, valuation, and forensic accounting. Strategically located in Southern California, our firm enjoys an international clientele. Visit our website at www.rule26.com for more information on how we can help address economics, statistics, finance, valuation, and forensic accounting issues you may face.
A Photography Expert Witness
Jeff Sedlik, Professor
Pasadena, CA
The leading consultant and testifying forensic expert witness on all issues related to photography: Copyright, licensing, contracts, business practices, industry standards, stock photography, model releases, rights of privacy/publicity, evaluation of lost or damaged photographs and film, evaluation of photography assets, technical matters, forensic digital analysis, forensic photography, litigation support.
Leon A. Kappelman, Ph.D.
Solutions-Organizations-Systems Inc.
Dallas, TX
Research scientist, educator and consultant, have served as an expert witness in federal, state and local courts on high-tech intellectual property disputes concerning patents, copyrights, and trade secrets, as well as failed software development and/or implementation projects.
BrandMarketing Services, Ltd. (New York, Connecticut, Florida
Larry Chiagouris
Services Nationwide, NY
Rare combination of ADVERTISING and MARKETING expert who has substantial experience as BOTH a SENIOR EXECUTIVE and ACCOMPLISHED Ph.D ACADEMICIAN. Called guru and expert by the media. Substantial trial/deposition experience at federal level. Former Chairman of Advertising Research Foundation and member of AMA board of directors. Fast turnaround.
Software Analysis Group
Steven Kursh, Ph.D., CSDP, CLP
Boston, MA
Steven R. Kursh, Ph.D., CSDP, CLP is a seasoned management consultant and expert witness. He has extensive technical and management experience in the computer software industry. He has and retail. He has been admitted by the Courts in numerous IP and contract dispute matters. His clients include Adobe Bank of America Samsung HP and Honeywell.
Adam Carinci, MD, MBA
Adam Carinci, MD, MBA
Rochester, NY
Dr. Adam J Carinci M.D. is a nationally recognized and sought after clinician speaker and expert witness with over a decade of pain medicine experience. He is double-board certified in both Anesthesiology and in Pain Medicine and maintains an active full time medical practice. Dr. Carinci is Chief of the Pain Management Division and Director of of the Pain Treatment Center at the University of Rochester Medical Center and an Associate Professor at the University of Rochester School of Medicine. Prior to his current position, Dr. Carinci was the Director of the Pain Medicine Center at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Instructor at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Carinci trained at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
Expert In Intellectual Property And Product Liability
Michael Nranian
South Lyon, MI
Michael Nranian has over 30 years of experience focusing in Product Development, Intellectual Property, Patent Litigation, Legal and Technical Compliance, & Product Liability Litigation. He is a Professional Engineer, & Certified Project Management Professional. He has an in-depth background and education in Law, Intellectual Property, Electrical, Chemical, & Computer Engineering, Product Liability, & Business.


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Doctor of Philosophy, Michigan State University
Master of Arts, San Diego State University (2012)
Master of Arts, San Diego State University (1989)
Bachelor of Arts, Alma College
Office: Whittaker Hall, Room 209Office Hours: M/W 12:15-1:15 pm, Tu 11-12 am, or
by appointmentPhone: 845-569-3165Email: email@example.com
PHL 1020 Logic
PHL 3070 Philosophy of Law
PHL 3080 Philosophy of Education
Professor Teall is originally from Michigan. His doctoral
dissertation was on Kant's political philosophy.
Logic, philosophy of education, philosophy of technology
Use of technology in education


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B.J. Hoeptner Evans
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: (719) 228-6800
E-Mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. (June 15, 2011) – With six FIVB Volleyball World League matches down and six to go, the U.S. Men's National Team is in Hoffman Estates, Ill., for its most important matches of the tournament so far on June 17-18 against Poland at the Sears Centre Arena.
The U.S. Men sit in second place at 4-2 in Pool A while Brazil leads the group at 5-1 with Poland third at 3-3. To make it to the World League Final Round on July 6-10 in Poland, the United States must finish ahead of Poland, which, as the host country, gets an automatic bid to the Final Round.
The U.S. went 1-1 against Poland in their first two World League matches, played on May 27-28 in Lodz, Poland. Although he was happy the United States came back to win the second match, U.S. Men's Head Coach Alan Knipe (Huntington Beach, Calif.) was frustrated with his team's loss in the first match.
"We've got to do a better job in our first match in World League," he said. "It took a while to get back into team competition mode. We did some good things the first night, but we weren't able to sustain them."
Since that first match in Poland, Knipe has been happy with his team's progress, particularly a victory over Brazil on June 12 that was the South American country's first 2011 World League loss.
But he suspects that Poland will also be an improved team and will attract a large Polish crowd from nearby Chicago.
"They've had a nice first half and gotten some good wins," Knipe said of Poland. "They know they're hosting. They are working toward the Final Round. I expect them to play better."
Poland is being led by Bartosz Kurek, who leads all World League scorers with 104 points on 84 kills, 15 blocks and five aces. Zbigniew Barton is second with 82 points on 72 kills, nine blocks and one ace. Marcin Mozdzonek is third among all blockers with 18 blocks (14 faults) on 57 attempts and an average of 0.95 blocks per set.
Poland libero Krzysztof Ignaczak leads all World League diggers with 73 digs (27 faults) on 114 attempts and an average of 3.84 digs per set.
Since those first two matches in Poland, the biggest change for the United States has come at setter. Brian Thornton (San Clemente, Calif.) was brought in during the second set of the first U.S. match against Puerto Rico and has started in the position ever since, ahead of Olympians Donald Suxho (Korce, Albania) and Kevin Hansen (Newport Beach, Calif.).
"He's setting with a lot of confidence right now," Knipe said. "He's setting with good location. He is the product of some good opportunity with Donny continuing to make strides (coming back from a 2010 knee injury) and Kevin coming back from an emergency appendectomy and the birth of his daughter."
The trip to Hoffman Estates will also see the return of outside hitter Sean Rooney to the team. Rooney grew up in nearby Wheaton.
Among the best players in the FIVB World League so far, Rich Lambourne (Tustin, Calif.) is the top libero. Clay Stanley (Honolulu, Hawaii) is second among servers with 12 aces (20 faults) on 95 attempts and an average of 0.55 aces per set.
Reid Priddy (Richmond, Va.) is the United States' leading scorer and fifth overall with 82 kills, nine blocks and six aces for a total of 97 points. Priddy's overall kill percent is 49.4 putting him ninth among all World League spikers.
David Lee (Alpine, Calif.) is fifth among all blockers with 20 blocks (36 faults) on 86 attempts and an average of 0.91 blocks per set. Ryan Millar (Alpine, Utah) is seventh among all blockers with 19 blocks (28 faults) on 93 attempts and an average of 0.86 blocks per set.
To visit the FIVB World League web site, click here.
Tickets to see the U.S. Men play Poland at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates are available at the Sears Centre Arena Box Office (5333 Prairie Stone Parkway), online at SearsCentre.com or by calling (888) SEARSTIX (732-7784).
Tickets to see the U.S. Men take on world No. 1 Brazil in Tulsa at the Reynolds Center at the University of Tulsa are available online at TulsaHurricane.com. Tickets are available at the box office (800 South Tucker Drive) by calling (918) 631-4688 or in person (office hours 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday-Friday).
Tickets to see the U.S. Men play Puerto Rico on July 1-2 (7 p.m. PT both nights) at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach can be purchased by visiting the Long Beach State athletics web site, by calling the ticket office at (562) 985-4949 or by visiting the box office (open 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. starting June 6; the address is 1250 Bellflower Blvd.).
For more information, visit the USA Volleyball World League web site.
2011 FIVB World League
14-Player Roster for June 17-18 in Hoffman Estates, Ill.
(12-player rosters for each match are announced shortly prior)
No. Name (Position, Height, Hometown, College)
1 Matt Anderson (OH, 6-10, West Seneca, N.Y., Penn State)
2 Sean Rooney (OH, 6-9, Wheaton, Ill., Pepperdine)
3 Evan Patak (Opp, 6-8, Pleasanton, Calif., UC Santa Barbara)
4 David Lee (MB, 6-8, Alpine, Calif., Long Beach State)
5 Rich Lambourne (L, 6-3, Tustin, Calif., BYU)
6 Paul Lotman (OH, 6-7, Lakewood, Calif., Long Beach State)
7 Donald Suxho (S, 6-5, Korce, Albania, USC)
8 Reid Priddy (OH, 6-5, Richmond, Va., Loyola Marymount)
9 Ryan Millar (MB, 6-8, Alpine, Utah, BYU)
10 Brian Thornton (S, 6-3, San Clemente, Calif., UC Irvine)
12 Russell Holmes (MB, 6-7, Fountain Valley, Calif., BYU)
13 Clay Stanley (OPP, 6-9, Honolulu, Hawai'i, Hawaii)
14 Kevin Hansen (S, 6-5, Newport Beach, Calif., Stanford)
18 Scott Touzinsky (OH, 6-6, St. Louis, Mo., Long Beach State)
Head Coach: Alan Knipe (Huntington Beach, Calif.)
Team Leader: John Hawks (Huntington Beach, Calf.)
Assistant Coach: Gary Sato (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Medical Doctor: Michael Terry (Burr Ridge, Ill.)
Trainer: Ron Larsen (Lafayette, Calif.)
Technical Coordinator: Chris Jackson (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Medical Support: Aaron Brock (Storm Lake, Iowa)
Pool A Standings
Team record (points)
1. Brazil 5-1 (15)
2. Poland 3-3 (9)
4. Puerto Rico 0-6 (0)
U.S. Schedule and Results
Date: May 27-28
Opponent: Poland
Location: Atlas Arena in Lodz, Poland
May 27: Poland def. USA, 25-20, 25-22, 25-19
May 28: USA def. Poland, 25-22, 25-19, 37-35
Date: June 3-4
Opponent: Puerto Rico
Location: Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico
June 3: USA def. Puerto Rico, 24-26, 29-27, 25-17, 25-17
June 4: USA def. Puerto Rico, 25-23, 26-24, 22-25, 25-12
Date: June 11-12
Opponent: Brazil
Location: Mineirinho in Belo Horizonte, Brazil
June 11: Brazil def. USA, 19-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-21
June 12: USA def. Brazil, 25-21, 25-22, 16-25, 26-24
Date: June 17-18 (7 p.m. both nights)
Opponent: Poland
Location: Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Ill. - BUY TICKETS
Date: June 24-25 (7 p.m. both nights)
Opponent: Brazil
Location: Reynolds Center at the University of Tulsa (Okla.) - BUY TICKETS
Date: July 1-2 (7 p.m. both nights)
Opponent: Puerto Rico
Location: Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, Calif. - BUY TICKETS
Date: July 6-10
Opponent: Teams must qualify
Location: Gdansk-Sopot, Poland


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The shooting that left a doctor in critical condition Thursday at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore is only the latest example of a rising trend of violence in health care settings, experts say.
"Once considered safe havens, health care institutions today are confronting steadily increasing rates of crime, including violent crime," said an alert issued in June by the Joint Commission, a national accrediting agency.
Since 2004, the number of assaults, rapes and murders reported to the Joint Commission rose steadily, with the greatest number of reports in the last three years: There were 36 incidents nationwide in 2007, 41 in 2008 and 33 in 2009.
That number is likely far lower than the actual number of incidents because violence in health settings in often underreported, the group said.
Violence is often perpetrated by staff, visitors, patients — and intruders, the agency warned.
The suspect in the shooting at Johns Hopkins reportedly was hiding inside a patient's room on the eighth floor of the hospital. It was unclear whether the shooter was related to the patient, news reports said.
A key to preventing violence in hospitals is controlling access, said Russell L. Colling, a health care security consultant who contributed to the Joint Commission report.
Cops: Doctor shooting suspect still holed up
"The roots of violence need to be investigated and evaluated beginning at the unit level," Colling wrote. "Nurses and other health care staff should question the presence of all visitors in patient rooms and not assume that someone is a family member or friend."


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The Hope College Chorus is seeking singers from the community to join with Hope students, faculty, staff and other community members.
The chorus will meet every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in Wichers Auditorium of Nykerk Hall of Music. The group will be preparing across the spring semester to perform works by Rachmaninoff and Walton in a combined concert with the Holland Chorale, choirs from Calvin College and the Holland Symphony Orchestra on Saturday-Sunday, April 20-21, at Zeeland East High School.
No audition is required. Those interested in participating should contact director Brad Richmond by e-mail at email@example.com or by calling (616) 395-7651.
Nykerk Hall of Music is located in the central Hope campus at the former 127 E. 12th St. between College and Columbia avenues.


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Through my association with the Sweat Pink Ambassadors I recently got the opportunity to try a free sample of customized oatmeal from My Oatmeal! My Oatmeal is an awesome online company that allows you to customize rolled oats, steel-cut oats, or a blend of the two with tons of flavors, nuts, dried fruit, and other add-ins. Although this is something I could totally do myself at home (like my Banana Bread Oatmeal), it was so much fun to look through the ideas on the site and come up with my own blends :-). I ended up making two 1 pound bags – one with regular rolled oats and one with steel-cut oats which I've been meaning to try! In order to keep myself on some kind of path with the myriad of ingredients offered I tried to re-create some flavors I already knew. I used my rolled oats batch to make a "Blueberry Muffin" blend with dried blueberries, chia seeds, ground flax, and sliced almonds. For the steel-cut oats, I made an "Oatmeal Raisin Cookie" blend using dark raisins, walnuts, ground flax, and coconut chips.
I love the way the site works – as you add ingredients to your blend, the price for your chosen size automatically updates, and a Nutritional Facts label updates with all the pertinent facts for your blend – it helped me keep an eye on calories and protein, as well as how much I was spending! It helped reign me in when I started to get carried away! The Nutritional Facts label is also on the bags when you get them, along with all your ingredients 🙂
I chose to leave any sweeteners out of my mix, since I rarely eat sweet things I tend to be sensitive to sugar so I wanted to add my own later own – but the site has a great selection of natural sweeteners you can add, and they are slowly increasing their organic options! 🙂
I cooked up both types of oatmeal as mid-morning snacks this week and loved them both! They are so hearty and filling that I ended up eating lunch really late one day since the oatmeal was really carrying me over. The steel-cut oats take much longer to cook, about 20 minutes on the stove, but the bag gives a great microwave option where you soak the oats overnight and then microwave them the next day. I tried this method (and the stove method) and it worked great for me! I am so happy with My Oatmeal's products and I'll definitely be making more blends in the future!
Full disclosure: I received a free sample of My Oatmeal in exchange for my fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own 🙂


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5 Tricks for Festival-Perfect Makeup
During the summer you want your skin to radiate with a glow, not with sweat and oil—but that's easier said than done when you're spending a whole day in the heat! Let's be realistic. For music festivals especially, you're not going to have the time or the resources (hello, porta-potty!) to touch up. So to build a fresh, dewy look that will actually last, you're going to need to prep the right way. Celebrity makeup artist Nick Barose is a pro at creating a glow minus the grease. And just in the nick of time, because oil-blotting papers can only take us so far when there are hours of dancing to be done!
Here are the guru's five tips for a gorgeous festival-faring look.


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INDIANAPOLIS -- Pacers forward Danny Granger could miss another week with a sore left knee.
Granger missed the first 54 games with the same injury and sat out the second half of Sunday night's victory against Chicago after aggravating the injury.
"We're looking at it as being precautionary, understanding it's still a long season, there's still a lot of time left," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said before Indiana hosted the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night. "We want him to get back to 100 percent and this is the best way to do it. (He) did not push through when there's above average soreness.
"We're looking at it as it's hopefully going to be a short-term thing."
The team issued a statement saying an MRI done on Granger's knee showed no new damage. The team says he will be re-evaluated next week. Vogel thought Granger had the MRI on Monday and said he would have been available in a playoff situation.
Granger has led the Pacers in scoring each of the last five seasons. The team did not make a move before the February trade deadline in hopes Granger would give it another outside shooting presence. Vogel explained that Granger hasn't felt pain while playing, just soreness afterward or during the halftime break.
"We all wanted him to come back and within a week be playing 38 minutes and be pain-free," Vogel said. "That was the best-case scenario. This isn't anywhere near the worst-case scenario. It's just part of the process.
"Not as smoothly as we would have hoped, but we're still very confident that he's going to give us a big lift down the stretch."
Guard Lance Stephenson moves back into the starting lineup with Granger out. He has 52 starts this season and has averaged 8.5 points while shooting 47.0 percent from the field.
"We got guys that haven't been in the rotation that are itching for minutes," Vogel said. "We just hit the rewind button to a couple weeks ago when Orlando (Johnson) was getting more minutes and Lance was getting more minutes and Sam Young and or Gerald Green. Tonight we'll go with Sam."
The Pacers (38-22) lead the Central Division and are No. 2 in the Eastern Conference.


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The package, which the government expects to finalise in October or November, will include improved subsidies and tax breaks for large wind farms. The government hopes it will help realise its ambition of building 2GW of new wind power capacity in Finland by 2020.
In May, the four-party coalition government supported the licence for the construction of two or three nuclear reactors. This would have normally attracted broad criticism from groups within the Eduskunta (parliament), including the Greens, who are opposed to an increase in the country's nuclear energy base.
However, prime minister Matti Vanhanen had infused the plan with a counterbalance of new investments and state support for wind and biofuels. The cornerstone of this is a new target for Finland to secure 38% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. Renewables currently contribute 28% of the country's energy, mostly from biomass.
A preliminary decision on granting licence permits for two nuclear power plants had been made in April. However, there was dissension inside the coalition, with Green ministers Anni Sinnemaki and Tuija Brax voting against the awarding of the permits.
The Greens were sceptical about one of the applications by Fennovoima. They questioned the company's technical and economic ability to handle and store nuclear waste. These complaints were dismissed by its government partner, the Centre Party.
"We have had the capability in Finland to handle both temporary and the final storage of nuclear waste for years," said economic affairs minister Mauri Pekkarinen of the Centre Party. "I doubt that this will become a problem, or an issue, for Fennovoima."
The Green Party eventually signed off the energy package after the government strengthened its support of renewables, though it maintained it was still against nuclear power.
"We will work to ensure that the government lives up to its commitments regarding new generation from wind power and biofuels," says justice minister Tuija Brax.
The Eduskunta is expected to vote on the construction of the two nuclear power plants at the beginning of July. This vote takes place against a backdrop of party positioning before parliamentary elections in March 2011.
The Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Finance (MoF) have formed a working party to investigate how Finland's energy mix can be balanced. Nuclear and wind energy in particular have not traditionally been seen as good partners due to the need for nuclear to be operational 100% of the time.


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When all is said and done, I could not be happier! I will renew my posting habits and share, yet again with all of you faithful friends.
Tag Archives: happy
Three Pictures I Almost Deleted
I'm Back to blogging!
dear followers, friends and other blog dweller a lot has happened since iv'e last been an active poster.
I bought a home, got married and now my wife is pregnant.
We are so happy and very excited. I have put the photography business to the side and replaced that time for capturing memories just like i used to!
thank you all for the support!
– mike
this is aphoto of my beautiful wife april in the woodlands of Missouri
Black and white
like us on facebook! www.facebook.com/ortizfamilyphotography
To All my followers. We need help
I am a U.S army combat wounded veteran and i have always worked for someone. finally my dream has been realized recently and my passion now allows me to work for myself . My wife and I recently started a small photography business and we need your help! we need Facebook likes! and we need your word of mouth if you are in california or otherwise. Share our website and we will be ever so grateful! we do it all and we are just starting out. i hope that you can all understand the need for small business and local help. god bless.


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As the child poverty rate continues to climb, NCCP's unique role has never mattered more. No other group has our ability to identify the most relevant data, craft recommendations grounded in solid research, and communicate with the real decision makers at all levels of government.
If you would like to get involved, there are a few ways you can help.
Contributions of all sizes – large and small – allow NCCP not only to maintain the scope and excellence of our extraordinary research tools, but also to launch new endeavors to leverage our expertise. Your generosity can assist us in a variety of ways – from helping to fund the basic necessities of conducting ongoing, nationwide research, to underwriting full-scale projects to help combat poverty in America. We welcome inquiries from interested individuals, corporate donors, foundation officers, and others who wish to invest in children's – and our nation's – future.
Contributions can be made to the
NCCP Annual Fund or the
Jane Knitzer Directorship in Early
(Find out more about Dr. Knitzer.)
One aspect of our work is helping to raise awareness – among policymakers, leaders, the media, and the general public – about the issues that impact poor and low-income children and families. Our supporters can help us in our efforts to raise awareness in several ways.
You can get involved by distributing our publications to those who would find them helpful, or by organizing events – such as presentations, discussions, or fundraisers – in your city or at your workplace or academic institution. We also welcome the creativity and brainstorming of supporters interested in donating their time, so feel free to share your ideas with us. If we approve one of your ideas, we will be happy to provide whatever assistance we can – for example by answering your questions, linking you to relevant publications and research, or connecting you to key staff members.
To learn more about getting involved, please contact:
Morris Ardoin
Director, External Affairs
E: email@example.com
You can help to increase our web presence by linking to our website, citing our recommendations and research publications, posting an NCCP banner on your blog or web page, or becoming a fan of NCCP on Facebook.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact:
Amy Palmisano
Manager, Design and Production
E: email@example.com


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The Tour de France got off to a flying start in Yorkshire today as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge waved the cyclists on their way with a spectacular display by the Red Arrows.
The Duke and Duchess were joined by Prince Harry to welcome the world's best cyclists for the "Grand Depart" of the 101st Tour de France.
Crowds of fans cheered loudly as the cyclists gathered outside the 18th century stately home Harewood House, where they took off their helmets as they were greeted with a rendition of the French and British national anthems, performed by the Band of the Corps of Royal Engineers.
The Duchess of Cambridge, wearing a bottle green Erdem coat over a green Suzannah dress and carrying a grey clutch purse, the Duke and Prince Harry then chatted with the lead riders.
British reigning Tour de France champion Chris Froome looked relaxed as he talked to the royal party, while Mark Cavendish - who is hoping to win today's sprint finish - beamed and appeared to thank Kate for coming.
The duchess then cut the ribbon to officially start the race.
Marcel Kittel (Giant-Shimano) won the 190.5-kilometre opening stage from Leeds to claim the yellow jersey on the opening day for a second successive year.
However Britain's Mark Cavendish suffered a dramatic fall as he collided with Australian Simon Gerrans in the final 500 metres and was seen clutching his shoulder and midrift as he rolled over the line. He was later taken to hospital.
The RAF's Red Arrows delighted crowds by performing a flyover that left a trail of red, white and blue vapour - the national colours of France and the UK.
The royals had driven down the long drive to the grand house and were met by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and members of the Earl of Harewood's family. The earl's three-year-old grandson, Otis Shard, gave the duchess a bouquet of flowers.
The trio seemed to enjoy the casual atmosphere outside the house - with William and Harry both wearing open necked shirts and jeans with a blazer.
All three responded to shouts of "give us a wave" from the crowd. But the biggest cheers were reserved for the Tour riders who cruised down the tree-lined drive preceded by race director Christian Prudhomme in a pink car with the man who brought the event to the UK - Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive Gary Verity.
The Duke and Duchess and Prince Harry watched from just next to the start line as the teams sped down the hill and out of the park, and William was heard to say: "The only better view would have been on the back of one of those motorbikes."
Cycling fever has gripped the nation and hundreds of thousands of fans lined the streets of Leeds to watch the start of the race.
Spectators flocked from all over the country to cheer on Froome as he hopes to retain the winner's famous yellow jersey he won last year, while excited locals will be hoping fellow Briton Cavendish will pedal to victory in the first stage in his mother's home town of Harrogate.
The 198 racers enjoyed clear skies and bright sunshine as they left Leeds town hall at 11am in a leisurely ceremonial start, and began racing in earnest when they departed Harewood House.
Riders will pedal 190.5km from Leeds to Harrogate, weaving through the Yorkshire Dales and Moors and taking in three ferocious climbs.
Tomorrow they will arrive in York for a stage taking in some of the most challenging climbs in Britain, ending in Sheffield.
On Monday the Tour moves south to Cambridge with a stage ending beneath the gaze of Buckingham Palace on The Mall in central London - which was also the final finishing line in the 2012 London Olympics cycling road race.
The Tour then goes to Ypres in Northern France to mark 100 years since the outbreak of the First World War.
After 21 stages and some 2,272 miles, riders will finish on the Champs Elysees in Paris on July 27.
Britons have won the past two Tours, and the nation is hoping we can continue our reign of dominance and retain the title.
Sir Bradley Wiggins, 34, claimed the crown in 2012 becoming the first British winner of the toughest cycling race on the planet, while Froome, 29, sped to victory last year.
The nation will be crossing its fingers that three is the magic number and Froome, who is the overwhelming favourite, can defend his title.
Up to three million people are expected to watch the Tour's two-day visit to Yorkshire.
After the Tour's launch, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry visited the small North Yorkshire village of West Tanfield.
Thousands of people, who had lined the streets since early this morning, cheered as the royal party arrived in a convoy of Range Rovers.
There was a carnival atmosphere in the small village, which has a population of around 500, and the streets were decked with bunting and yellow bicycles, stalls; there was live entertainment, a fairground and a hot air balloon festival for visitors.
The village, near Ripon, has even commissioned its own beer from the Pennine Brewing Company - the Tour D'Ale - in celebration of the sporting event.
Mr Clegg, who represents the Yorkshire constituency of Sheffield Hallam, used Twitter to urge viewers watching the race to get on their bikes. He wrote: "All eyes are on Yorkshire today for £TDF £GrandDepart - but if we want a lasting legacy we need to get more people cycling."


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Two of the themes in Joni Page's life were established at an early age. "I wanted a convertible," Joni recalls, "like Nancy Drew had." Given that Joni had also established an affinity for vintage Corvette roadsters, that's the direction her drop-top dreams took, eventually being fulfilled in the form of this triple-black '93 convertible. It probably wouldn't be a stretch to say that the fictional detective influenced Ms. Page's choice of occupation as well, given she is also known as Animal Services Officer Joni Page of the Santa Ana, California, Police Department.
After earning a degree in criminal justice from California State University, Fullerton, Joni started off her law enforcement career by working in the Santa Ana city jail. After three years of helping to keep locked-up Southern California criminals in check, Joni decided to make a change, and transferred to the Animal Services section of the Santa Ana Police Department. "I like it," she says of the position she's held for two years. "There are hard days, and it's sad sometimes." No doubt Joni is thinking of a recent case, where she had to remove 81 cats and one dog from a one-bedroom apartment-all were too ill to be saved. On the other hand, there are the animals that can be helped, and that's what Joni focuses on, saying, "I like it 'cause of the animals I deal with."
One small downside to the job, however, is Officer Page's daily conveyance, which she refers to as "The Doggie Wagon." It may be well suited to the job, but, for a person whose idea of a nice ride is a Corvette convertible, piloting a paddy wagon leaves a bit to be desired in the driving excitement department. "The public watches," Joni has observed, "so you can't really put the pedal to the metal." That desire for something with the proper "oomph" was fulfilled last year-of course, the pedal in question was touching fiberglass rather than metal when pushed to the floor.
Joni's partner in Corvette crime was (and is) her husband, Jason. Jason had owned a '77 Corvette prior to meeting Joni. Though the Shark was long gone, the memories and desire were still there. "He was into it," Joni recalls, "and that was cool with me." After the couple married, careers were started (Jason minds the store at Page by Page, the duo's audio book rental and sales business), a daughter, Alexandra, born, and of course, Corvettes were dreamed of the whole time. They finally took the plunge last summer.
"It wasn't a conscious decision," Joni remembers. "We were always looking in the Auto Trader, but figured we couldn't afford it." That assumption was quickly reversed during the couple's first trip to Corvette Mike's Anaheim, California, showroom. "We happened to be in the area and decided to stop by, as we had never been there," Joni tells us. "The car was screaming to come home with us...it took about two minutes to decide."
The car in question was a triple-black '93 convertible, stock except for Borla mufflers and chrome ZR-1-style wheels, and showing just over 20,000 miles on the clock. The deal was made, and the Pages immediately set out to give their new black beauty a bit of attitude. Plastic surgery was performed by adding a high-rise hood and an ACI rear wing, both from the Corvette Central catalog. The engine is stock for the most part. The LT1 breathes through an opened-up airbox and K&N filter; out back, the Borlas were replaced with a pair of muffler eliminator pipes. A 2,700-rpm stall speed torque converter and 3.75:1 gears hint at the Page's future plans for their Vette-we'll get to that in a moment.
In it's current form, with some extra-dark tinting added to the windows, the '93 is just what the doctor ordered for when Officer Page gets off duty. "That sound, and those tinted windows...after people watching me all day, no one can see me...I just go," Joni exults. And while she issues the standard "we watch it" disclaimer, she does 'fess up to some extracurricular activity. "You should see our street," Joni admits with a laugh. "Our neighbors probably hate it, but half of our tires are on the road." Hey, it just sounds like a little healthy stress release to us!
As for where this Vette is heading...well, we're pretty certain its gonna get harder for Joni to motor around unnoticed. There's talk of an ATI supercharger, and the Pages have already ordered a 12-point rollcage from Chassis Engineering. With larger tires and the proper seatbelts, Joni figures they should be ready for a run at the track. That should be some run, given that Jason, the mechanic in the family, has said, "I wanna see what it feels like to go 10s." And though he comments that Joni has "no idea" what it's like to go that fast, he thinks it's great that she's into it. When asked if he's concerned, Jason just says, "No, I want her to!"
Joni, of course, answers, "Oh, yeah," when asked if she's into this hardcore stuff. "I want my opportunity to take it to the races...Jason's the mechanic...just let me drive it." In fact, Joni concedes that the '93 could "ultimately" end up as a race car. "But not," she says, "until I get a '60." See, while she's "biding time" weighing her professional options (which could be taking the next step and becoming a full-fledged police officer, or going back to college for a law degree), Joni's also saving for the car she's wanted all along. And, while they're also getting their C4 into fighting shape, the whole family has embraced the Corvette hobby. Joni and Jason recently made their first trip to Bowling Green for the 50th Anniversary Kick Off; at home, 12-year-old Alexandra has already decided that she also wants a Corvette. Officer Joni may want to keep a low profile during her off hours, but we have a feeling that the Page family and their Corvettes are going to find it increasingly difficult to stay incognito.